How Each of the 32 NHL Teams Was Named [Origins, History]

How Each of the 32 NHL Teams Was Named [Origins, History]

NHL team names typically come from the original cities that teams represented.

The Boston Bruins, for example, were named after a bear in the state of Massachusetts’ coat of arms.

Similarly, the Chicago Blackhawks were inspired by Chief Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sauk tribe.

The New York Rangers have an interesting origin story behind their name – they were originally called the “New Yorkers” but changed to “Rangers” in 1926 to evoke images of the brave and heroic New York State troopers who fought during World War I.

The Detroit Red Wings paid homage to their city’s long-standing connection with aviation, having been one of the first cities in America to host major air shows as early as 1910.

There are many stories behind the names.

Here are the names and brief histories of each of the current 32 NHL teams:

Anaheim Ducks Name History

The team was founded in 1993 and was originally named the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim after a Disney movie of the same name.

The team was later rebranded as simply the Anaheim Ducks in 2006.

Arizona Coyotes Name History

The team was founded in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1996.

In 2014, the team was rebranded as the Arizona Coyotes.

The name “Coyotes” was chosen as a reference to the coyotes that are native to the desert regions of the southwestern United States.

Boston Bruins Name History

The team was founded in 1924 and is one of the Original Six teams of the NHL.

The team’s name was chosen by owner Charles Adams, who was inspired by the brown bear, also known as a bruin, on the state flag of Massachusetts.

Buffalo Sabres Name History

The team was founded in 1970 and was named after a sabre, a type of sword.

The name was chosen through a name-the-team contest, and was chosen as a reference to the city’s rich history of military and industrial heritage.

Calgary Flames Name History

The team was founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames and was named after a fire that destroyed much of Atlanta in 1917.

The team moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1980 and retained the Flames name.

Carolina Hurricanes Name History

The team was founded in 1972 as the New England Whalers and was a member of the World Hockey Association (WHA).

The team joined the NHL as the Hartford Whalers in 1979, and was renamed the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997 when it moved to Raleigh, North Carolina.

The name “Hurricanes” was chosen to reflect the region’s history of tropical storms and hurricanes.

Chicago Blackhawks Name History

The team was founded in 1926 and is one of the Original Six teams of the NHL.

The team’s name was chosen by owner Frederic McLaughlin, who was a commander with the 333rd Machine Gun Battalion of the 86th Infantry Division during World War I.

The team’s name is a reference to the Sauk Native American chief Black Hawk.

Colorado Avalanche Name History

The team was founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques and was named after the region of Quebec in which it was located.

The team moved to Denver, Colorado in 1995 and was renamed the Colorado Avalanche.

The name “Avalanche” was chosen to reflect the region’s rugged and snowy terrain.

Columbus Blue Jackets Name History

The team was founded in 2000 and was named after the Union Army’s Ohio infantry regiment, known as the Blue Jackets, during the American Civil War.

Dallas Stars Name History

The team was founded in 1967 as the Minnesota North Stars and was named after the state of Minnesota, which is known as the “North Star State.”

The team moved to Dallas, Texas in 1993 and was renamed the Dallas Stars.

Detroit Red Wings Name History

The team was founded in 1926 and is one of the Original Six teams of the NHL.

The team’s name was chosen by owner James Norris, who was a member of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association’s Winged Wheelers, a cycling team that wore red winged jerseys.

The team’s name is a reference to the city’s rich automotive and aviation history.

Edmonton Oilers Name History

The team was founded in 1972 and was named after the Alberta oil industry.

Florida Panthers Name History

The team was founded in 1993 and was named after the Florida panther, a subspecies of cougar that is native to the state of Florida.

Los Angeles Kings Name History

The team was founded in 1967 and was named after the “Kings” moniker that was commonly used to refer to the Los Angeles area.

Minnesota Wild Name History

The team was founded in 2000 and was named after the state of Minnesota, which is known for its wilderness and outdoor recreation opportunities.

Montreal Canadiens Name History

The team was founded in 1909 and is one of the Original Six teams of the NHL.

The team’s name is a reference to the French-Canadian heritage of Montreal, and is derived from the French term for “Canadians.”

Nashville Predators Name History

The team was founded in 1998 and was named after the Predators, a fictional alien species from the movie “Predator.”

New Jersey Devils Name History

The team was founded in 1974 as the Kansas City Scouts and was named after the scouts that helped explore and settle the American West.

The team moved to Denver, Colorado in 1976 and was renamed the Colorado Rockies, and then moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1982 and was renamed the New Jersey Devils.

The team’s name is a reference to the Jersey Devil, a mythical creature that is said to haunt the Pine Barrens region of New Jersey.

New York Islanders Name History

The team was founded in 1972 and was named after the Long Island region in which it is located.

New York Rangers Name History

The team was founded in 1926 and is one of the Original Six teams of the NHL.

The team’s name was chosen by owner George Lewis Rickards, who was inspired by the New York City police force, which was known as the “Rangers.”

Ottawa Senators Name History

The team was founded in 1917 and is named after the Ottawa Senators, a professional hockey team that played in the National Hockey Association (NHA) from 1909 to 1917.

The team’s name was chosen by owner Tommy Gorman, who was a member of the Canadian Senate.

Philadelphia Flyers Name History

The team was founded in 1967 and was named after the Philadelphia Flyers, a professional ice hockey team that played in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) from 1933 to 1973.

Pittsburgh Penguins Name History

The team was founded in 1967 and was named after the penguin, a flightless bird that is native to the Southern Hemisphere.

The name was chosen through a name-the-team contest, and was chosen as a reference to the city’s reputation as a “steel town.”

San Jose Sharks Name History

The team was founded in 1991 and was named after the shark, a predatory fish that is native to the waters off the coast of California.

Seattle Kraken Name History

The Seattle Kraken began play in the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2021-2022 season.

The team was named the Seattle Kraken in December 2018. The team’s name is a reference to the mythical sea creature known as the kraken, which is a giant sea monster with tentacles that is said to dwell off the coasts of Norway and Greenland.

The team’s name and logo were designed to reflect the city of Seattle’s maritime history and culture.

St. Louis Blues Name History

The team was founded in 1967 and was named after the popular blues music genre, which originated in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States.

Tampa Bay Lightning Name History

The team was founded in 1992 and was named after the frequent lightning storms that occur in the Tampa Bay area.

Toronto Maple Leafs Name History

The team was founded in 1917 and is one of the Original Six teams of the NHL.

The team’s name is a reference to the maple leaf, which is a symbol of Canada and appears on the country’s national flag.

The team has been known as the Maple Leafs since 1927, when it was purchased by Conn Smythe, who renamed the team from the Toronto St. Patricks.

Vancouver Canucks Name History

The team was founded in 1945 as the New Westminster Royals and was named after the Royal City of New Westminster, British Columbia.

The team moved to Vancouver in 1970 and was renamed the Vancouver Canucks.

The name “Canucks” is a slang term for Canadians.

Vegas Golden Knights Name History

The team was founded in 2017 and was named after the Las Vegas Golden Knights, a name that epitomizes the warrior class.

Washington Capitals Name History

The team was founded in 1974 and was named after the capital city of the United States, Washington, D.C.

Winnipeg Jets Name History

The team’s name is a reference to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Winnipeg-based No. 1 Air Navigation School, which was nicknamed the “Winnipeg Jets” because it trained pilots to fly jet aircraft.

The team’s logo features a stylized jet plane and the team’s colors, blue and red, are the same as those of the RCAF.

The team’s name and logo were designed to pay tribute to the city of Winnipeg’s aviation history and to the Canadian Armed Forces.

Atlanta Thrashers name was changed to the Jets upon moving back to Winnipeg in honor of the professional hockey team of that name that played in Winnipeg from 1972 to 1996 before becoming the Phoenix Coyotes.

How It Was Named | NHL Teams

FAQs – How NHL Teams Got Their Names

How was the NHL created and what were the names of the early teams?

The National Hockey League (NHL) was founded on November 26, 1917, following the demise of the National Hockey Association (NHA).

The NHL was formed by four of the NHA’s six teams: the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Arenas.

These four teams, which are known as the “Original Four,” are considered the founding members of the NHL.

The NHL’s first season was played in 1917-1918 with four teams: the Canadiens, the Wanderers, the Senators, and the Arenas.

The Arenas won the first NHL championship, defeating the Canadiens in the league’s inaugural championship series.

In the following years, the NHL continued to expand, adding new teams and establishing itself as the premier professional hockey league in North America.

The league’s “Original Six” era began in 1942 and lasted until 1967, during which time the league was composed of the Canadiens, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings, and the New York Rangers.

These six teams are considered some of the most iconic and successful franchises in NHL history.

Which NHL teams have changed their names?

The National Hockey League (NHL) underwent its first expansion in 1967, when the league doubled in size from the “Original Six” teams (the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers) to 12 teams.

The six new expansion teams were:

  • The California Seals (later the Oakland Seals and then the Cleveland Barons)
  • The Los Angeles Kings
  • The Minnesota North Stars (later the Dallas Stars)
  • The Philadelphia Flyers
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins
  • The St. Louis Blues

These six teams were the first expansion teams to join the NHL and helped to establish the league as a major professional sports league in North America.

What NHL teams no longer exist?

Several NHL teams that have played in the past no longer exist or have moved to different cities.

Here is a list of some NHL teams that are no longer in operation:

  • Atlanta Flames (1972-1980): The team was founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames and played in Atlanta, Georgia until 1980, when it was relocated to Calgary, Alberta and renamed the Calgary Flames.
  • California Seals (1967-1976): The team was founded in 1967 as the California Seals and played in Oakland, California until 1976, when it was merged with the Minnesota North Stars. The team’s players and assets were absorbed by the North Stars, and the Seals franchise was dissolved.
  • Cleveland Barons (1976-1978): The team was founded in 1976 as a merger of the California Seals and the Minnesota North Stars. The team played in Cleveland, Ohio for two seasons before being merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978.
  • Colorado Rockies (1976-1982): The team was founded in 1976 as the Kansas City Scouts and played in Kansas City, Missouri for two seasons before moving to Denver, Colorado and being renamed the Colorado Rockies. The team played in Denver until 1982, when it was relocated to New Jersey and renamed the New Jersey Devils.
  • Hartford Whalers (1979-1997): The team was founded in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers and played in Hartford, Connecticut until 1997, when it was relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina and renamed the Carolina Hurricanes.
  • Quebec Nordiques (1972-1995): The team was founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques and played in Quebec City, Quebec until 1995, when it was relocated to Denver, Colorado and renamed the Colorado Avalanche.
  • Winnipeg Jets (1972-1996): The team was founded in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets and played in Winnipeg, Manitoba until 1996, when it was relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and renamed the Arizona Coyotes. They since rejoined the league in 2011 after the Atlanta Thrashers relocated.

What was the first NHL team name?

The first team to be named in the National Hockey League (NHL) was the Montreal Canadiens, which was one of the four founding teams of the league in 1917.

The Canadiens were founded in 1909 and were named after the French-Canadian heritage of Montreal, and the team’s name is derived from the French term for “Canadians.”

The Canadiens have been a successful and iconic franchise in the NHL and are one of the “Original Six” teams that played in the league from 1942 to 1967.

How many NHL teams are named after animals?

There are several National Hockey League (NHL) teams that have names that are inspired by animals.

Here is a list of these teams, along with a brief explanation of their names:

  • Anaheim Ducks: The team was founded in 1993 and was originally named the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim after a Disney movie of the same name. The team was later rebranded as simply the Anaheim Ducks in 2006.
  • Arizona Coyotes: The team was founded in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1996. In 2014, the team was rebranded as the Arizona Coyotes. The name “Coyotes” was chosen as a reference to the coyotes that are native to the desert regions of the southwestern United States.
  • Florida Panthers: The team was founded in 1993 and was named after the Florida panther, a subspecies of cougar that is native to the state of Florida. The team’s name was chosen through a name-the-team contest.
  • New Jersey Devils: The team was founded in 1974 as the Kansas City Scouts and was named after the scouts that helped explore and settle the American West. The team moved to Denver, Colorado in 1976 and was renamed the Colorado Rockies, and then moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1982 and was renamed the New Jersey Devils. The team’s name is a reference to the Jersey Devil, a mythical creature that is said to haunt the Pine Barrens region of New Jersey.
  • Pittsburgh Penguins: Inspired by the waddling bird native to the Southern Hemisphere.
  • San Jose Sharks: The team was founded in 1991 and was named after the shark, a predatory fish that is native to the waters off the coast of California. The name was chosen through a name-the-team contest.
  • Seattle Kraken: Formed in 2021, and named after the aquatic animal native to the coasts of Greenland and Norway.

What are some examples NHL team names inspired by nature?

Some NHL team names inspired by nature:

  • Calgary Flames: The team was founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames and was named after a fire that destroyed much of Atlanta in 1917. The team moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1980 and retained the Flames name.
  • Carolina Hurricanes: The team was founded in 1972 as the New England Whalers and was a member of the World Hockey Association (WHA). The team joined the NHL as the Hartford Whalers in 1979, and was renamed the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997 when it moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. The name “Hurricanes” was chosen to reflect the region’s history of tropical storms and hurricanes.
  • Colorado Avalanche: The team was founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques and was named after the region of Quebec in which it was located. The team moved to Denver, Colorado in 1995 and was renamed the Colorado Avalanche. The name “Avalanche” was chosen to reflect the region’s rugged and snowy terrain.
  • Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa is known for its stormy tropical conditions.

Conclusion – How NHL Teams Got Their Names

NHL teams have unique and interesting names that are often inspired by their local area or culture.

Some team names are derived from animals, such as the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, and Seattle Kraken.

Other teams take their name from natural phenomena like the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, and Colorado Avalanche.

Finally some NHL teams take their name from iconic people or organizations like the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.

All of these names help to create a sense of identity for each team in the league.

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