NHL Expansion and Realignment (1942 - 2023)

The 'Original six era' was one of the most significant periods in the NHL. From 1942 to 1967, the original six teams carried the NHL. Even though this was the league with the fewest amount of teams, it was still fun to watch. Many people that liked hockey but didn't live in one of the major hockey markets had to go without a professional team. In the 1960s, the NHL realized it needed to expand to grow the sport.

For one of the smallest sports organizations at the time, the NHL would see the largest expansion of teams in professional sports history. The NHL would double its number of teams. The six new teams would be the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Minnesota North Stars, the California Seals, the La Kings, and the St. Louis Blues. With six new markets, hockey fans could see more games on TV. Also, with the expansion of TV, fans could watch their teams at home. For three years, the NHL would have 12 teams.