The National Hockey League (NHL) is a North American professional ice hockey league founded in 1917 by four Canadian clubs, with the Boston Bruins becoming the first American franchise in 1924. The NHL grew to be the most powerful league in North America, and in 1926 it won the Stanley Cup, a trophy that symbolizes world dominance in ice hockey. The company's headquarters are located in New York City.
From 1942 through 1967, the league's membership climbed to ten, then fell to six. (The Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs are known as the 'Original Six,' and the 'Original Six' era has been revered by the hockey press and fans for years) The NHL today has 31 teams divided into two conferences and four divisions after numerous phases of expansion and reform.
Eight teams from each conference—the top three teams in each division and two wild-card teams with the best remaining records, regardless of divisional affiliation—qualify for the playoffs at the completion of the regular season. The Stanley Cup is then decided in a best-of-seven series between the conference champions.
