The National Hockey League (NHL) expanded from its original six teams in 1967, doubling the size of the league to twelve teams. This NHL expansion marked the first major one in NHL history and had a significant impact on the league’s future growth.
Here is a brief history of each of the six teams that were added in the 1967 NHL expansion:
- California Seals (Oakland Seals)
The California Seals were originally founded as the Oakland Seals and played their home games at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. The team struggled on the ice and never made it past the second round of the playoffs in their nine seasons in the league. They changed their name to the California Golden Seals in 1970 and moved to Cleveland in 1976, becoming the Cleveland Barons. The Barons lasted just two seasons before merging with the Minnesota North Stars.
- Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are one of the most successful expansion teams in NHL history. They played their home games at the Forum in Inglewood, California, and made the playoffs in six of their first ten seasons. The Kings made their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1993 and won their first championship in 2012.
- Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars played their home games at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. The team struggled in their first few seasons but made the playoffs in five of their last seven seasons in Minnesota. The North Stars made it to the Stanley Cup Final twice but lost both times. The team relocated to Dallas in 1993 and became the Dallas Stars.
- Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers played their home games at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team quickly became known for their aggressive playing style and won their first Stanley Cup championship in 1974. The Flyers won a second championship in 1975.
- Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins played their home games at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team struggled in their early years but drafted superstar Mario Lemieux in 1984. Lemieux led the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, and the team won three more championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017.
- St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues played their home games at the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. The team reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first three seasons but lost each time. The Blues made it to the Final again in 2019 and won their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history in 2019.
In conclusion, the 1967 NHL expansion marked a significant moment in league history, doubling the number of teams and helping to spread the game of hockey across North America. The six teams added in that expansion have all had unique histories and have helped to shape the NHL over the past several decades.
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