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{{Infobox sports league
| title = National Hockey League<br /><small>''Ligue nationale de hockey'' (French)</small>
| champion = [[St. Louis Blues]] (1st title)
| most_champs = [[Montreal Canadiens]] (24 titles)
<ref group="nb">While the Montreal Canadiens have 24 Stanley Cup wins in their history, the Stanley Cup has not always been the NHL championship trophy.  Prior to 1926, it was an inter-league championship.  The Canadiens won one Stanley Cup championship prior to the formation of the NHL (in [[1916 Stanley Cup Finals|1916]] as a member of the [[National Hockey Association]]), and 23 Stanley Cups as a member of the NHL. Montreal also won the NHL championship on two occasions where they did not win the Stanley Cup: in [[1919 Stanley Cup Finals|1918–19]] when the Spanish flu cancelled the Stanley Cup finals against the [[Seattle Metropolitans]] of [[Pacific Coast Hockey Association]] and in [[1925 Stanley Cup Finals|1924–25]] when they lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the [[Western Canada Hockey League]]'s [[Victoria Cougars]].  Thus, the team has a total of 25 NHL championships.</ref>
| logo = NHL.png
| pixels = 100px
| sport = Ice hockey
| founded = November 26, 1917<br/>Montreal, [[Quebec]], Canada
| inaugural = [[1917–18 NHL season|1917–18]]
| commissioner = Gary Bettman
| headquarters = New York City, |New York, U.S.
| teams = [[#List of teams|31]] (32 in 2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/teams.htm?navid=nav-tms-main |title=Rosters, Arena Information, and Aerial Maps – NHL.com – Teams |publisher=National Hockey League |accessdate=November 10, 2013}}</ref> 
| countries = Canada (7 teams) <br> United States (23 teams; 24 in 2017)
| continent = North America
| TV =  '''Canada''': Sportsnet<ref group="nb">As Rogers Media is the sole national rightsholder in Canada, Rogers sub-licensed some games to the CBC and TVA Sports.</ref> <br>
TVA Sports
<br>
'''United States'''
<br>
NBC
<br>
NHL Network
| website = http://www.nhl.com
}}
The '''National Hockey League''' (NHL; French: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 30 member clubs: 23 in the [[United States]] and 7 in [[Canada]]. Headquartered in New York City, the NHL is widely considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season.

The National Hockey League was organized on November 26, 1917, at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal after the suspension of operations of its predecessor organization, the [[National Hockey Association]] (NHA), which had been founded in 1909 in Renfrew, Ontario.<ref>''The National Hockey League Official Record Book & Guide 2009'' 77th Edition, p. 9. New York: National Hockey League (2008)</ref> The NHL immediately took the NHA's place as one of the leagues that contested for the Stanley Cup in an annual interleague competition before a series of league mergers and folds left the NHL as the only league left competing for the Stanley Cup in 1926.

At its inception, the NHL had four teams—all in Canada, thus the adjective "National" in the league's name. The league expanded to the United States in 1924, when the [[Boston Bruins]] joined, and has since consisted of American and Canadian teams. From 1942 to 1967, the league had only six teams, collectively (if not contemporaneously) nicknamed the "Original Six". The NHL added six new teams to double its size at the 1967 NHL expansion. The league then increased to 18 teams by 1974 and 21 teams in 1979. Between 1991 and 2000, the NHL further expanded to 30 teams. It added its 31st team in 2017 and has approved the addition of a 32nd team in 2021.

The league's headquarters have been in New York City since 1989 when the head office moved there from Montreal.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Todd|first1=Jack|title=Americans and Bettman have stolen Canada's game|url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/opinion+americans+bettman+have+stolen+canada+game/7251426/story.html|accessdate=January 31, 2018|work=Calgary Herald|date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>

After a labour-management dispute that led to the cancellation of the entire [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]], the league resumed play in 2005–06 under a new collective agreement that included a salary cap. In [[2008–09 NHL season|2009]], the NHL enjoyed record highs in terms of sponsorships, attendance, and television audiences.<ref name=JohnCollins>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aGY7pu.INAhA|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|title=NHL Borrows From NFL as It Pursues Bigger TV Contract|first=Curtis|last=Eichelberger|date=May 29, 2009|accessdate=June 29, 2009}}</ref>

The [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) considers the Stanley Cup to be one of the "most important championships available to the sport".<ref>{{cite web|title=Triple Gold Goalies... not|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=850|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|author=Podnieks, Andrew|date=March 25, 2008|accessdate=June 17, 2017}}</ref> The NHL draws many highly skilled players from all over the world and currently has players from approximately 20 countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=QuantHockey.com |url=http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality-totals/active-nhl-players-2011-12-stats.html|accessdate=November 19, 2012}}</ref> Canadians have historically constituted the majority of the players in the league, with an increasing percentage of American and European players in recent seasons.

The current NHL champions are the [[St. Louis Blues]], who defeated the Boston Bruins four games to three in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.


==History==
{{Emergence of the NHL}}

===Early years===

The National Hockey League was established in 1917 as the successor to the [[National Hockey Association]] (NHA). Founded in 1909, the NHA [[1910 NHA season|began play one year later]] with seven teams in [[Ontario]] and [[Quebec]], and was one of the first major leagues in professional ice hockey. But by [[1916–17 NHA season|the NHA's eighth season]], a series of disputes with [[Toronto Blueshirts]] owner Eddie Livingstone led the other team owners, representing the [[Montreal Canadiens]], [[Montreal Wanderers]], [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]], and [[Quebec Bulldogs]] to meet about the league's future.<ref name="mcfarlane_15_16">{{harvnb|McFarlane|1997|pp=15–16}}</ref> Realizing the NHA constitution left them unable to force Livingstone out, the four teams voted instead to suspend the NHA, and on November 26, 1917, formed the National Hockey League. Frank Calder was chosen as its first president, serving until his death in 1943.<ref>{{Harvnb|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=159}}</ref>

The Bulldogs were unable to play, and the remaining owners created a new team in Toronto, the [[Toronto Arenas|Arenas]], to compete with the Canadiens, Wanderers and Senators.<ref>{{harvnb|McKinley|2006|p=77}}</ref> The first games were played on December 19, 1917.<ref name="Jenish 2">{{cite book|last1=Jenish|first1=D'Arcy|title=The NHL : 100 years of on-ice action and boardroom battles|date=2013|publisher=Doubleday Canada|isbn=0385671466|page=16}}</ref> The Montreal Arena burned down in January 1918, causing the Wanderers to cease operations,<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Early Leagues and the Birth of the NHL |url=http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=his_EarlyLeagues |last=McFarlane |first=Brian |publisher=National Hockey League |accessdate=January 17, 2010 |ref=harv |postscript=<!--None--> |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20091130110236/http://capitals.nhl.com:80/team/app/?service=page |archivedate=November 30, 2009 }}</ref> and the NHL continued on as a three-team league until the Bulldogs returned in 1919.<ref name="pincus24">{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=24}}</ref>

The NHL replaced the NHA as one of the leagues that competed for the Stanley Cup, which was an interleague competition back then. Toronto won the first NHL title, and then defeated the [[Vancouver Millionaires]] of the [[Pacific Coast Hockey Association]] (PCHA) for the [[1918 Stanley Cup Finals|1918 Stanley Cup]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=197}}</ref> The Canadiens won the league title in 1919; however their Stanley Cup Final against the PCHA's [[Seattle Metropolitans]] was abandoned as a result of the Spanish Flu] epidemic.<ref name="pincus23">{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=23}}</ref> Montreal in 1924 won their first Stanley Cup as a member of the NHL.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sandor|2005|p=33}}</ref> The [[Hamilton Tigers]], won the regular season title in [[1924–25 NHL season|1924–25]] but refused to play in the championship series unless they were given a C$200 bonus.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=35}}</ref> The league refused and declared the Canadiens the league champion after they defeated the [[Toronto Maple Leafs|Toronto St. Patricks]] (formerly the Arenas) in the semi-final. Montreal was then defeated by the [[Victoria Cougars]] of the [[Western Canada Hockey League]] (WCHL) for the [[1925 Stanley Cup Finals|1925 Stanley Cup]]. It was the last time a non-NHL team won the trophy,<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SilverwareTrophyWinner.jsp?tro=STC&year=1924-25 |title=Victoria Cougars—1924–25 Stanley Cup |accessdate=January 17, 2010 |work=Legends of Hockey |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |ref=harv |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> as the Stanley Cup became the ''de facto'' NHL championship in 1926 after the WCHL ceased operation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sandor|2005|p=35}}</ref>

The National Hockey League embarked on rapid expansion in the 1920s, adding the [[Montreal Maroons]] and [[Boston Bruins]] in 1924. The Bruins were the first American team in the league.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://bruins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=5489 |title=The History of the Hub of Hockey |accessdate=May 16, 2008 |publisher=Boston Bruins Hockey Club |ref=harv |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> The [[New York Americans]] began play in 1925 after purchasing the assets of the Hamilton Tigers, and were joined by the [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Holzman|Nieforth|2002|p=262}}</ref> The [[New York Rangers]] were added in 1926.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=33}}</ref> The [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] and [[Detroit Red Wings|Detroit Cougars]] (later Red Wings) were also added after the league purchased the assets of the defunct WCHL.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=29}}</ref> A group purchased the Toronto St. Patricks in 1927 and immediately renamed them the Maple Leafs.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=39}}</ref>

===The Original Six===
The first NHL All-Star Game was held in 1934 to benefit Ace Bailey, whose career ended on a vicious hit by Eddie Shore.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=47}}</ref> The second was held in 1937 in support of Howie Morenz's family when he died of a coronary embolism after breaking his leg during a game.<ref>{{Harvnb|McKinley|2006|p=120}}</ref>

The Great Depression and the onset of World War II took a toll on the league. The Pirates became the [[Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)|Philadelphia Quakers]] in 1930, then folded one year later. The Senators likewise became the [[St. Louis Eagles]] in 1934, also lasting only one year.<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=33}}</ref> The Maroons did not survive, as they suspended operations in 1938.<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=37}}</ref> The Americans were suspended in 1942 due to a lack of players, and never revived.<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=43}}</ref>

The league was reduced to six teams for the [[1942–43 NHL season]]: the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs. These six teams remained constant for 25 years, a period known as the Original Six. The league reached an agreement with the Stanley Cup trustees in 1947 to take full control of the trophy, allowing the NHL to reject challenges from other leagues that wished to play for the Cup.<ref>{{cite book|last=Diamond |first=Dan |author2=Zweig, Eric |author3=Duplacey, James |title=The Ultimate Prize: The Stanley Cup |year=2003 |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|isbn=0-7407-3830-5 | page=40}}</ref>

[[Image:Montreal Canadiens hockey team, October 1942.jpg|thumb|Montreal Canadiens in 1942]]
Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first player to score 50 goals, doing so in a 50-game season.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p196108&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo |title=The Legends—Rocket Richard |accessdate=January 18, 2010 |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |ref=harv |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> Richard later led the Canadiens to five consecutive titles between 1956 and 1960, a record no team has matched.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=100}}</ref> Willie O'Ree broke the league's colour barrier on January 18, 1958 when he made his debut with the Boston Bruins and became the first black player in league history.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13894 |title=Players—Willie O'Ree |accessdate=January 18, 2010 |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |ref=harv |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref>

===Post-Original Six expansion===
By the mid-1960s, the desire for a network television contract in the U.S., and concerns that the [[Western Hockey League (minor pro)|Western Hockey League]] was planning to declare itself a major league and challenge for the Stanley Cup, spurred the league to undertake its first expansion since the 1920s. The league doubled in size for the [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68 season]], adding the [[Los Angeles Kings]], [[Minnesota North Stars]], [[Philadelphia Flyers]], [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], [[California Seals]] and [[St. Louis Blues]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Diamond|1991|p=175}}</ref> Canadian fans were outraged that all six teams were placed in the United States,<ref>{{Harvnb|McKinley|2006|pp=194–195}}</ref> and the league responded by adding the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in [[1970–71 NHL season|1970]] along with the [[Buffalo Sabres]], who are located on the Canada–US border.<ref>{{Harvnb |McFarlane |1990 |pp=106–107}}</ref> Two years later, the emergence of the newly founded [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA) led the league to add the [[New York Islanders]] and [[Atlanta Flames]] to keep the rival league out of those markets.<ref>{{Harvnb|Boer|2006|p=13}}</ref> In 1974, the [[Washington Capitals]] and [[Kansas City Scouts]] were added, bringing the league up to 18 teams.<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=115}}</ref>

The National Hockey League fought the WHA for players, losing 67 to the new league in its first season of [[1972–73 WHA season|1972–73]],<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=113}}</ref> including Bobby Hull, who signed a ten-year, $2.5 million contract with the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)|Winnipeg Jets]], the largest in hockey history at the time.<ref>{{Harvnb|Willes|2004|p=33}}</ref> The league attempted to block the defections in court, but a counter-suit by the WHA led to a Philadelphia judge ruling the NHL's reserve clause to be illegal, thus eliminating the elder league's monopoly over the players.<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=133}}</ref> Seven years of battling for players and markets financially damaged both leagues, leading to a 1979 merger agreement that saw the WHA cease operations while the NHL absorbed the Winnipeg Jets, [[Edmonton Oilers]], [[Hartford Whalers]] and [[Quebec Nordiques]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Willes|2004|p=214}}</ref> The owners initially rejected this merger agreement by one vote, but a massive boycott of Molson Brewery products by fans in Canada caused the Montreal Canadiens, which was owned by Molson, to reverse its position, along with the Vancouver Canucks. In a second vote the plan was approved.<ref>{{Harvnb|Willes|2004|p=251}}</ref>

Wayne Gretzky played one season in the WHA for the [[Indianapolis Racers]] (eight games) and the [[Edmonton Oilers]] (72 games) before the Oilers joined the National Hockey League for the [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80 season]].<ref name="LOHGretzky">{{Cite journal |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p199901&page=bio&list=#photo |title=The Legends—Wayne Gretzky |accessdate=January 18, 2010 |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |ref=harv |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> Gretzky went on to lead the Oilers to four Stanley Cup championships in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988, and set single season records for goals (92 in [[1981–82 NHL season|1981–82]]), assists (163 in [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]]) and points (215 in 1985–86), as well as career records for goals (894), assists (1,963) and points (2,857).<ref name="LOHGretzky" /> He was traded to the Kings in 1988, a deal that dramatically improved the league's popularity in the United States, and provided the impetus for the 1990s expansion cycles that saw the addition of nine teams: the [[San Jose Sharks]], [[Tampa Bay Lightning]], [[Ottawa Senators]], [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]], [[Florida Panthers]], [[Nashville Predators]], [[Atlanta Thrashers]] now [[Winnipeg Jets]], and in 2000 the [[Minnesota Wild]] and [[Columbus Blue Jackets]].<ref name="EOHGretzky">{{Cite journal |url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/dynasty_highlights_gretzkytrade.html |title=Edmonton's Saddest Hockey Day—The Gretzky Trade |accessdate=January 18, 2010 |publisher=Edmonton Oilers Heritage Foundation |ref=harv |postscript=<!--None-->}}</ref> On July 21, 2015, the NHL confirmed that it had received applications from prospective ownership groups in Quebec City and Las Vegas for possible expansion teams,<ref name="NHL update">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=775295|title=Update on NHL expansion application process|publisher=nhl.com|date=July 21, 2015|accessdate=July 21, 2015}}</ref> and on June 22, 2016, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the addition of a 31st franchise, based in Las Vegas, into the NHL for the 2017–18 season.<ref name="Vegas expansion">{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expands-to-las-vegas/c-281010682?tid=281011650 |title=Las Vegas awarded NHL franchise |publisher=NHL |date=June 22, 2016}}</ref>

===Labour issues===
There have been four league-wide work stoppages in league history, all happening since [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]].
The first was a strike by the National Hockey League Players' Association in April 1992 which lasted for ten days, but the strike was settled quickly and all affected games were rescheduled.<ref name="labour_history">{{Cite news|title=We've been here before |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/flashback.html |author=CBC Sports |publisher=cbc.ca |date=January 29, 2004 |accessdate=June 9, 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050409050550/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/flashback.html |archivedate=April 9, 2005 }}</ref>

A lockout at the start of the [[1994–95 NHL season|1994–95 season]] forced the league to reduce the schedule from 84 games to just 48, with the teams playing only intra-conference games during the reduced season.<ref name="labour_history" /> The resulting collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was set for renegotiation in 1998 and extended to September 15, 2004.<ref name="2004_lockout">{{Cite journal|title=The hockey lockout of 2004–05 |last=audohar |first=Paul D. |journal=Monthly Labor Review |url=http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2005/12/art3full.pdf |date=December 2005|format=PDF |ref=harv}}</ref>

With no new agreement in hand when the contract expired on September 15, 2004, league commissioner Gary Bettman announced a [[2004–05 NHL lockout|lockout]] of the players union and closed the league's head office.<ref name="2004_lockout" /> The league vowed to install what it dubbed "cost certainty" for its teams, but the Players' Association countered that the move was little more than a euphemism for a salary cap, which the union initially said it would not accept. The lockout shut down the league for 310 days, the longest in sports history. The NHL became the first professional sports league to lose an entire season.<ref name="2004_lockout" /> A new collective bargaining agreement was eventually ratified in July 2005, including a salary cap. The agreement had a term of six years with an option of extending the collective bargaining agreement for an additional year at the end of the term, allowing the league to resume as of the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]].<ref name="2004_lockout" />
On October 5, 2005, the first post-lockout season took to the ice with all 30 teams. The NHL received record attendance in the 2005–06 season: an average of 16,955 per game.<ref name="season_review">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/hockey_features/season_review.html |title=A season to remember |publisher=CBC.ca |first=John |last=Molinaro |date=April 20, 2006 |accessdate=June 9, 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618174146/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/hockey_features/season_review.html |archivedate=June 18, 2006 }}</ref> After losing a season to a labour dispute in 2005, the League's TV audience was slower to rebound because of American cable broadcaster ESPN's decision to drop the sport.<ref name="ibisworld">[http://www1.ibisworld.com/pressrelease/pressrelease.aspx?prid=107 Super Bowl XLII versus the Economy]</ref> The league's post-lockout agreement with NBC gave the league a share of revenue from each game's advertising sales, rather than the usual lump sum paid up front for game rights. The league's annual revenues were estimated at approximately $2.27 billion.<ref name="ibisworld"/>

At midnight September 16, 2012, the labour pact expired, and the league again locked out the players.<ref>{{cite news|title=On ice: NHL locks out its players|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57513713/on-ice-nhl-locks-out-its-players/|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=September 16, 2012}}</ref> The owners proposed reducing the players' share of hockey-related revenues from 57 percent to 47 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8382911/nhl-officially-locks-players-cba-expires |title=NHL imposes league-wide lockout |first= Katie |last=Strang | publisher=ESPNNewYork.com |date=September 16, 2012 |accessdate=September 16, 2012}}</ref> All games were cancelled up to January 14, 2013, as well as the 2013 NHL Winter Classic and the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend.<ref>{{cite web|title=NHL announces cancellation of 2012–13 regular-season schedule through January 14|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=648084|publisher=nhl.com|accessdate=December 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name="2013WinterClassic-cancelled">{{cite web|title=NHL cancels 2013 Winter Classic|url=http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/02/nhl-cancels-2013-winter-classic/related/|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=November 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="2013AllStar-cancelled">{{cite news|title=NHL cancels games through Dec. 14, All-Star game|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57553761/nhl-cancels-games-through-dec-14-all-star-game/|publisher=CBS News|accessdate=November 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Dec30-cancelled">{{cite web|author=Canadian Press |title=NHL Announces Game Cancellations Through Dec. 30 |publisher=BellMedia |work=www.tsn.ca |date=December 10, 2012 |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=411343 |accessdate=December 10, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211112604/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=411343 |archivedate=December 11, 2012 }}
</ref> A tentative agreement was reached on January 6, 2013, on a ten-year deal.<ref>{{cite news |title=NHL OWNERS TO VOTE ON CONTRACT WEDNESDAY |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nhl-owners-vote-contract-wednesday |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=January 8, 2013}}</ref> On January 12, the league and the Players' Association signed a memorandum of understanding on the new deal, allowing teams to begin their training camps on January 13, with a shortened 48-game season schedule that began on January 19.<ref>{{cite web|title=NHL, players finalize agreement, camps can open Sunday|url=http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/1828151?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CDetroit%20Red%20Wings%7Cp|publisher=Detroit Free Press|accessdate=January 13, 2013}}</ref>

===Player safety issues===
Player safety has become a major issue within the past five years and concussions, which result from a hard hit to the head, have been the biggest cause. With recent studies showing how concussions can affect retired players and how it has decreased their quality of life after retirement, concussions have become a very important topic of debate when it comes to player safety issues. This had significant effects on the league as elite players were being taken out of the game, such as Sidney Crosby being sidelined for approximately 10 and a half months, which adversely affected the league's marketability.<ref>{{cite news|author=Josh Hargreaves |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/crosby-discusses-lengthy-recovery-road-from-concussions-safety-of-the-game/article14118504/ |title=Crosby discusses lengthy recovery road from concussions, safety of the game |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=September 5, 2013 |accessdate=March 14, 2014 |location=Toronto}}</ref> As a result, in December 2009, Brendan Shanahan was hired to replace Colin Campbell and given the role of Senior Vice-President of Player Safety. Shanahan began to hand out suspensions on high-profile perpetrators responsible for dangerous hits, such as Raffi Torres receiving 25 games for his hit on Marian Hossa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/21/video-brendan-shanahan-explains-raffi-torres-25-game-suspension/ |title=Video: Brendan Shanahan Explains Raffi Torres’ 25 Game Suspension « CBS Chicago |publisher=Chicago.cbslocal.com |date=April 21, 2012 |accessdate=March 14, 2014}}</ref>

To aid with removing high speed collisions on icing, which had led to several potential career ending injuries such as Hurricanes' Defencemen Joni Pitkanen, the league mandated hybrid no-touch icing for the 2013–14 NHL season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nhl-players-approve-hybrid-icing-safety-trumps-subjectivity-231456246--nhl.html |title=NHL players approve hybrid icing, as safety trumps subjectivity &#124; Puck Daddy – Yahoo Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=September 30, 2013 |accessdate=March 14, 2014}}</ref>

On November 25, 2013, ten former players, Gary Leeman, Rick Vaive, Brad Aitken, Darren Banks, Curt Bennett, Richie Dunn, Warren Holmes, Bob Manno, Blair Stewart and Morris Titanic sued the league for negligence on protecting players from concussions. The suit came three months after the NFL agreed to pay former players US$765 million due to a player safety lawsuit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=437509 |title=Former NHL players sue league over concussions |publisher=Tsn.ca |date=November 25, 2013 |accessdate=March 14, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131131031/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=437509 |archivedate=January 31, 2014 }}</ref>

===Women in the NHL===
From 1952 to 1955, Marguerite Norris served as president of the [[Detroit Red Wings]], the first woman NHL executive and the first woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup. In 1992 Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play a game in any of the major professional North American sports leagues, as a goaltender for the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in an NHL pre-season game against the [[St. Louis Blues]], stopping seven of nine shots.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=642005|title=Part 1: Manon Rhéaume shatters hockey's gender barrier|work=NHL.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whockey.com/profile/canada/rheaume.html|title=Manon Rheaume|publisher=}}</ref> In 2016 Dawn Braid was hired as the [[Arizona Coyotes]]’ skating coach, making her the first female full-time coach in the NHL.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bieler |first=Des |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/08/24/nhls-first-female-full-time-coach-hired-by-arizona-coyotes/ |title=NHL’s first female full-time coach hired by Arizona Coyotes |publisher=The Washington Post |date= |accessdate=2016-08-25}}</ref>

==Organizational structure==
<!-- NHL Board of Governors redirects to this section; please fix that incoming redirect if this section header is changed. Thanks! -->
The Board of Governors is the ruling and governing body of the National Hockey League. In this context, each team is a member of the league, and each member appoints a Governor (usually the owner of the club), and two alternates to the Board. The current chairman of the Board is Boston Bruins owner, Jeremy Jacobs. The Board of Governors exists to establish the policies of the league, and to uphold its constitution. Some of the responsibilities of the Board of Governors include:<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com/article/646798 |title=NHL's secret constitution revealed |publisher=theStar.com |accessdate=March 12, 2011 |location=Toronto |first=Kevin |last=McGran |date=June 6, 2009}}</ref>
* review and approve any rule changes to the game.
* hiring and firing of the commissioner.
* review and approve the purchase, sale, or relocation of any member club.
* review and approve the salary caps for member clubs.
* review and approve any changes to the structure of the game schedule.

The Board of Governors meets twice per year, in the months of June and December, with the exact date and place to be fixed by the Commissioner.

===Executives===
The chief executive of the league is Commissioner Gary Bettman. Some of the principal decision makers who serve under the authority of the commissioner include:
* Deputy Commissioner & Chief Legal Officer: Bill Daly
* Executive VP & CFO: Craig Harnett
* Chief Operating Officer: John Collins
* Executive VP & Director of Hockey Operations: Colin Campbell
* NHL Enterprises: Ed Horne
* Senior Vice-President of Player Safety: Stephane Quintal

==Teams==
The NHL consists of 31 teams, 24 of which are based in the United States and seven in Canada. The NHL divides the 30 teams into two conferences: the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]] and the [[Western Conference (NHL)|Western Conference]]. Each conference is split into two divisions: the Eastern Conference contains 16 teams (eight per division), while the Western Conference has 14 teams (seven per division). The current alignment has existed since the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]].

The number of NHL teams has held constant at 30 teams since the [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01 season]] when the [[Minnesota Wild]] and the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] joined the league as expansion teams. That expansion capped a period in the 1990s of rapid expansion and relocation when the NHL added 9 teams to grow from 21 to 30 teams, and relocated four teams mostly from smaller northern cities (e.g., Hartford, Quebec) to larger warmer metropolitan areas (e.g., Dallas, Phoenix). The league has not contracted any teams since the Cleveland Barons folded in 1978. The league will expand for the first time in 17 years<ref>{{cite news|last1=Heitner|first1=Darren|title=The NHL Leads the Way in Bringing Pro Sports to Las Vegas|url=http://www.inc.com/darren-heitner/nhl-leads-the-way-in-bringing-pro-sports-to-las-vegas.html|accessdate=29 June 2016|publisher=Inc.com|date=22 June 2016}}</ref> to 31 teams in 2017 with the addition of the [[Vegas Golden Knights]]<ref name="Vegas expansion"/> and then approved a 32nd team in Seattle that will begin playing in the 2021–22 season.

According to Forbes, in 2015, five of the "Original Six" teams are the top five most valuable clubs: the [[New York Rangers]] at approximately $1.2 billion, the [[Montreal Canadiens]] at $1.18 billion, the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] at $1.15 billion, the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] at $925 million, and the [[Boston Bruins]] at $750 million.<ref name="valuable teams">{{cite web |last=Ozanian |first=Mike |title=The NHL's Most Valuable Teams |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2015/11/24/the-nhls-most-valuable-teams-2 |publisher=''Forbes'' |date=November 24, 2015 |accessdate=May 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="valuation list"/> At least eight NHL clubs, however, operate at a loss.<ref name="valuation list">{{cite web |title=NHL Vakuations |url=http://www.forbes.com/nhl-valuations/list/ |publisher=''Forbes'' |accessdate=May 23, 2016}}</ref> The NHL is also susceptible to the Canadian–U.S. exchange rate: revenue from tickets, local and national advertising in Canada, and local and national Canadian media rights are collected in Canadian dollars, but all players' salaries are paid in US dollars regardless of whether a team is located in Canada or the U.S.<ref name="valuable teams"/>

{{clear}}

===List of teams===

====Current====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left"
|-
! style="background:white; align=center" | Division
! style="background:white; align=center" | Team
! style="background:white; align=center" | City
! style="background:white; align=center" | Arena
! style="background:white; align=center" | Capacity
! style="background:white; align=center" | Founded
! style="background:white; align=center" | Joined
|-
! style=background:#C41230 colspan=10 | [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|<span style="color:#FFFFFF">Eastern Conference</span>]]
|-
! style="background:#ddf;" rowspan="8"| [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic]]
| '''[[Boston Bruins]]'''
| Boston, MA
| TD Garden
| align=center | 17,565
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1924
|-
| '''[[Buffalo Sabres]]'''
| Buffalo, NY
| KeyBank Center
| align=center | 19,070
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1970
|-
| '''[[Detroit Red Wings]]'''
| Detroit, MI
| Joe Louis Arena
| align=center | 20,027
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1926
|-
| '''[[Florida Panthers]]'''
| Sunrise, FL
| BB&T Center
| align=center | 19,250
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1993
|-
| '''[[Montreal Canadiens]]'''
| Montreal, QC
| Bell Centre
| align=center | 21,288
| align=center | 1909
| align=center | 1917
|-
| '''[[Ottawa Senators]]'''
| Ottawa, ON
| Canadian Tire Centre
| align=center | 18,694
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1992
|-
| '''[[Tampa Bay Lightning]]'''
| Tampa, FL
| Amalie Arena
| align=center | 19,092
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1992
|-
| '''[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]'''
| Toronto, ON
| Air Canada Centre
| align=center | 18,819
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1917
|-
! style="background:#dfd;" rowspan="8"| [[Metropolitan Division|Metropolitan]]
| '''[[Carolina Hurricanes]]'''
| Raleigh, NC
| PNC Arena
| align=center | 18,680
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979*
|-
| '''[[Columbus Blue Jackets]]'''
| Columbus, OH
| Nationwide Arena
| align=center | 18,500
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 2000
|-
| '''[[New Jersey Devils]]'''
| Newark, NJ
| Prudential Center
| align=center | 16,514
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1974*
|-
| '''[[New York Islanders]]'''
| New York, NY
| Barclays Center
| align=center | 15,795
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1972
|-
| '''[[New York Rangers]]'''
| New York, NY
| Madison Square Garden
| align=center | 18,006
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1926
|-
| '''[[Philadelphia Flyers]]'''
| Philadelphia, PA
| Wells Fargo Center
| align=center | 19,543
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1967
|-
| '''[[Pittsburgh Penguins]]'''
| Pittsburgh, PA
| PPG Paints Arena
| align=center | 18,387
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1967
|-
| '''[[Washington Capitals]]'''
| Washington, D.C.
| Verizon Center
| align=center | 18,506
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1974
|-
! style=background:#003E7E colspan=10 | [[Western Conference (NHL)|<span style="color:#FFFFFF">Western Conference</span>]]
|-
! style="background:#fdf;" rowspan="8"| [[Pacific Division (NHL)|Pacific]]
| '''[[Anaheim Ducks]]'''
| Anaheim, CA
| Honda Center
| align=center | 17,174
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1993
|-
| '''[[Arizona Coyotes]]'''
| Glendale, AZ
| Gila River Arena
| align=center | 17,125
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979*
|-
| '''[[Calgary Flames]]'''
| Calgary, AB
| Scotiabank Saddledome
| align=center | 19,289
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1972*
|-
| '''[[Edmonton Oilers]]'''
| Edmonton, AB
| Rogers Place
| align=center | 18,641
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979
|-
| '''[[Los Angeles Kings]]'''
| Los Angeles, CA
| Staples Center
| align=center | 18,230
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1967
|-
| '''[[San Jose Sharks]]'''
| San Jose, CA
| SAP Center at San Jose
| align=center | 17,562
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1991
|-
| '''[[Vancouver Canucks]]'''
| Vancouver, BC
| Rogers Arena
| align=center | 18,910
| align=center | 1945
| align=center | 1970
|-
| '''[[Vegas Golden Knights]]'''
| Paradise, NV
| T-Mobile Arena
| align=center | 17,500
| colspan = "2" style="text-align:center;"| 2017
|-
! style="background:#ffd;" rowspan="7"| [[Central Division (NHL)|Central]]
| '''[[Chicago Blackhawks]]'''
| Chicago, IL 
| United Center
| align=center | 19,717
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1926
|-
| '''[[Colorado Avalanche]]'''
| Denver, CO
| Pepsi Center
| align=center | 18,007
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979*
|-
| '''[[Dallas Stars]]'''
| Dallas, TX
| American Airlines Center
| align=center | 18,532
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1967*
|-
| '''[[Minnesota Wild]]'''
| St. Paul, MN
| Xcel Energy Center
| align=center | 17,954
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 2000
|-
| '''[[Nashville Predators]]'''
| Nashville, TN
| Bridgestone Arena
| align=center | 17,113
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1998
|-
| '''[[St. Louis Blues]]'''
|St. Louis, MO
| Scottrade Center
| align=center | 19,150
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1967
|-
| '''[[Winnipeg Jets]]'''
| Winnipeg, MB
| MTS Centre
| align=center | 15,294
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 1999*
|}

====Future====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left"
|-
! style="background:white; align=center" | Division
! style="background:white; align=center" | Team
! style="background:white; align=center" | City
! style="background:white; align=center" | Arena
! style="background:white; align=center" | Capacity
! style="background:white; align=center" | Founded
! style="background:white; align=center" | Joined
|-
! style="background:#fdf;"|[[Pacific Division (NHL)|Pacific]]
| '''Seattle'''
| Seattle, Washington
| Seattle Center Arena
| ''<span title="To be determined" >TBD</span>''
| colspan = "2" style="text-align:center;"|2021
|}
; Notes

# ''An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.''
# ''The [[Edmonton Oilers]], [[Hartford Whalers]], [[Quebec Nordiques]], and [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)|original Winnipeg Jets]] all joined the NHL in 1979 as part of the NHL–WHA merger.''

====Defunct and relocated teams====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''First'''
|First year in the NHL
|-
|'''Last'''
|Last year in the NHL
|-
|'''Record'''
|Win–loss–tie–overtime record
|-
|'''Win%'''
|Winning percentage
|-
|'''PA'''
|NHL (1918–1926) / Stanley Cup playoff (1927–) appearances
|-
|'''SC'''
|[[Stanley Cup]] wins
|-
| style="background:#ff9;"|*
|Denotes active franchise
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|- style="font-weight:bold; background:#ddd;"|
! width="14.1%"|Team
! First
! Last
! width="12.5%"|Relocated to
! Seasons
! width="8.9%"|Record
! Win%
! PA
! SC
! class=unsortable|Reason for relocation/disbandment
! class=unsortable|Reference
|-
| [[Montreal Wanderers]]||1917||1918{{ref label|Note4|g|g}}||{{ntsh|0}}Defunct||1||{{ntsh|1}}1–5–0||.167||0||0||Lack of available players due to [[World War I]] and arena burned down<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTW/|title=Montreal Wanderers Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Quebec Bulldogs]]||1919||1920||[[Hamilton Tigers (ice hockey)|Hamilton Tigers]]||1||{{ntsh|4}}4–20–0||.167||0||0||Sold to a Hamilton-based company<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/QBC/|title=Quebec Bulldogs Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hamilton Tigers]]||1920||1925||{{ntsh|0}}Defunct||5||{{ntsh|47}}47–78–1||.377||0||0||Ceased operations due to players' strike; players were bought by the [[New York Americans]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Pincus|2006|p=35}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAM/|title=Hamilton Tigers Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]]{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}||1925||1930||[[Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)|Philadelphia Quakers]]||5||{{ntsh|67}}67–122–23||.370||2||0||Financial problems during the Great Depression<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PTP/|title=Pittsburgh Pirates Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)|Philadelphia Quakers]]||1930||1931||{{ntsh|0}}Defunct||1||{{ntsh|4}}4–36–4||.136||0||0||Financial problems during the Great Depression<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PHQ/|title=Philadelphia Quakers Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]{{ref label|Note2|b|b}}||1917||1934||[[St. Louis Eagles]]||16{{ref label|Note5|h|h}}||{{ntsh|258}}258–221–63||.534||9||4||Financial problems during the Great Depression<ref>{{Cite news|work=The Ottawa Evening Citizen|date=April 7, 1934|title=No NHL Hockey Team for Ottawa Next Winter |page=1}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OTS/|title=Ottawa Senators Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[St. Louis Eagles]]||1934||1935||{{ntsh|0}}Defunct||1||{{ntsh|11}}11–31–6||.292||0||0||Financial problems during the Great Depression<ref>{{Cite news|title=St Louis Out of Title Hunt: League Buys Franchise Splits Players Among Remaining Eight Clubs|newspaper=[[Leader-Post]]|accessdate=May 18, 2011|date=October 16, 1935|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T3lTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OTgNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1637,5205364&dq=st-louis-eagles+eighteen&hl=en}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/STE/|title=St. Louis Eagles Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Montreal Maroons]]||1924||1938||{{ntsh|0}}Defunct||14||{{ntsh|271}}271–260–91||.509||11||2||Financial problems during the Great Depression<ref>{{cite book|title=The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol II|author=Coleman, Charles L.|publisher=Progressive Publications|year=1969}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MTM/|title=Montreal Maroons Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[New York Americans|Brooklyn Americans]]{{ref label|Note6|c|c}}||1925||1942||{{ntsh|0}}Defunct||17||{{ntsh|255}}255–402–127||.406||5||0||Financial problems, plus lack of players due to [[World War II]]; formally ceased in 1946.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYA/|title=New York Americans Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[California Golden Seals]]{{ref label|Note7|d|d}}||1967||1976||[[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]]||9||{{ntsh|182}}182–401–115||.343||2||0||In search of better financial conditions; Cleveland is the hometown of minority owner George Gund III.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed the NHL Forever|year=2011|last=Bass|first=Alan|page=83|isbn=1-4502-8605-4}}</ref>||<ref name="barons">{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CLE/|title=Cleveland Barons Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kansas City Scouts]]||1974||1976||[[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]]||2||{{ntsh|27}}27–110–23||.241||0||0||Financial problems; sold to a group of investors with the intention to move.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scout Move Almost Complete|newspaper=Leader-Post|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=May 27, 2011|date=July 16, 1976|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_DdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Hz4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1000,69419}}</ref>||<ref name="devils">{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NJD/|title=New Jersey Devils Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]]||1976||1978||[[Minnesota North Stars]] (merge)||2||{{ntsh|47}}47–87–26||.375||0||0||Both teams with financial problems<ref name=a1978>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=163}}</ref>||<ref name="barons"/>
|-
| [[Atlanta Flames]]||1972||1980|| style="background:#ff9;"|[[Calgary Flames]]*||8||{{ntsh|268}}268–260–108||.506||6||0||Financial problems; sold to Nelson Skalbania with the intention to move to Calgary.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Flames Sold, To Move to Calgary|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|date=May 24, 1980|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lwAtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mM0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3822,3502982&dq=atlanta+flames+sold+to+calgary&hl=en|accessdate=May 18, 2011}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGY/|title=Calgary Flames Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Colorado Rockies]]{{ref label|Note3|e|e}}||1976||1982|| style="background:#ff9;"|[[New Jersey Devils]]*||6||{{ntsh|113}}113–281–86||.325||0||0||Sold to John McMullen in search of better financial conditions; New Jersey is McMullen's home state.<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=206}}</ref>||<ref name="devils"/>
|-
| [[Minnesota North Stars]]||1967||1993|| style="background:#ff9;"|[[Dallas Stars]]*||26||{{ntsh|758}}758–970–334||.449||17||0||In search of better financial conditions.<ref name=cnnstars>{{Cite news|title=Spleen for Green |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138154/3/index.htm|work=Sports Illustrated|author=Montville, Leigh|accessdate=May 12, 2011|date=April 19, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/D_Magazine/2010/January/The_35_Biggest_Moments_in_Modern_Dallas_History_11.aspx|title=The 35 Biggest Moments in Modern Dallas History|work=D Magazine|date=December 16, 2009|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DAL/|title=Dallas Stars Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Quebec Nordiques]]||1979||1995|| style="background:#ff9;"|[[Colorado Avalanche]]*||16||{{ntsh|497}}497–599–160||.459||9||0||Financial problems; sold to a Denver-based group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0010425|title=Nordiques Move to Colorado|work=Maclean's|date=June 5, 1995|author=Deacon, James|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/COL/|title=Colorado Avalanche Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]]{{ref label|Note6|f|f}}||1979||1996|| style="background:#ff9;"|[[Arizona Coyotes]]*||17||{{ntsh|506}}506–660–172||.442||11||0||Sold to a group of investors with the intention to move in search of better financial conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FhsOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kn0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6918,308177&hl=en|title=Phoenix isn't only city interested in Winnipeg Jets|date=December 3, 1995|page=2B|accessdate=April 30, 2011|work=The Daily Courier}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PHX/|title=Phoenix Coyotes Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hartford Whalers]]||1979||1997|| style="background:#ff9;"|[[Carolina Hurricanes]]*||18||{{ntsh|534}}534–709–177||.438||8||0||In search of better financial conditions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/27/nyregion/another-blow-to-hartford-whalers-to-leave-rejecting-arena-offer.html?pagewanted=3&src=pm|title=Another Blow to Hartford: Whalers to Leave, Rejecting Arena Offer|work=The New York Times|first=Jonathan|last=Rabinovitz|date=March 27, 1997|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CAR/|title=Carolina Hurricanes Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Atlanta Thrashers]]||1999||2011|| style="background:#ff9;"|[[Winnipeg Jets]]*||11{{ref label|Note9|i|i}}||{{ntsh|342}}342–437–45–78||.447||1||0||Financial problems; sold to a Winnipeg-based.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/ATL/|title=Atlanta Thrashers Franchise Index|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=June 1, 2011}}</ref>
|}
;Notes
*{{note label|Note1|a|a}} This team was not affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB).
*{{note label|Note2|b|b}} This team was not affiliated with the present-day [[Ottawa Senators]].
*{{note label|Note6|c|c}} The team was formerly known as the New York Americans (1925–41), and was not affiliated with the Rangers, the Islanders, or the Devils. In addition, the Devils relocated from East Rutherford to Newark in 2007, while the Islanders relocated from Uniondale to Brooklyn in 2015. However, the Devils and the Islanders have never relocated out of the New York metropolitan area.
*{{note label|Note7|d|d}} The team was formerly known as the California Seals (1967) and Oakland Seals (1967–70).
*{{note label|Note3|e|e}} This team was not affiliated with the Colorado Rockies of MLB.
*{{note label|Note6|f|f}} This team was not affiliated with the present-day [[Winnipeg Jets]].
*{{note label|Note4|g|g}} The Wanderers played four games during the 1917-18 season before becoming defunct; a further two games were defaulted before the club folded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1918.html|title=1917-18 NHL Season Summary|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Hockey-Reference.com|accessdate=April 30, 2011}}</ref>
*{{note label|Note5|h|h}} The Senators were on hiatus during the 1931-32 season.
*{{note label|Note9|i|i}} The 2004-05 season was cancelled due to the season lockout.

==Game==
[[Image:NHL Logo former.png|left|upright|thumb|NHL logo, used from 1946 until 2005]]

Each National Hockey League regulation game is 60 minutes long. The game is composed of three 20-minute periods with an intermission between periods.<ref name="intermission">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/rulebook/rule90.html |title=Time of match |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=December 2, 2006 |year=2006 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}</ref> 
At the end of regulation time, the team with the most goals wins the game. If a game is tied after regulation time, overtime ensues. During the regular season, overtime is a five-minute, three-on-three sudden-death period, in which whoever scores a goal first will win the game.
[[Image:WeaverLankow.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Los Angeles Kings]]' Mike Weaver clearing the puck away from [[Calgary Flames]]' Daymond Langkow, December 21, 2005.]]

If the game is still tied at the end of overtime, the game enters a shootout. Three players for each team in turn take a penalty shot. The team with the most goals during the three-round shootout wins the game. If the game is still tied after the three shootout rounds, the shootout continues but becomes sudden-death. Whichever team ultimately wins the shootout is awarded a goal in the game score and thus awarded two points in the standings. The losing team in overtime or shootout is awarded only one.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://proicehockey.about.com/od/rules/a/shootout_debate_2.htm |title=How the NHL Shootout Works |accessdate=August 4, 2008 |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Jamie |work=About.com |publisher=The New York Times Company}}</ref> Shootout goals and saves are not tracked in hockey statistics; shootout statistics are tracked separately.

There are no shootouts during the playoffs. Instead, multiple sudden-death, 20-minute five-on-five periods are played until one team scores. Two games have reached six overtime periods, but none have gone beyond six.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Oh, what a night ... and morning. Stars-Canucks ranks sixth among longest OT games. |publisher=Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/specials/playoffs/2007/04/12/OT.games/ |accessdate=April 26, 2007 |date=April 12, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103141020/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/specials/playoffs/2007/04/12/OT.games/ |archivedate=November 3, 2007 }}</ref> During playoff overtime periods, the only break is to clean the loose ice at the first stoppage after the period is halfway finished.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/18470542/ |title=Playoff overtime format needs change |publisher=NBCSports.com |last=Clement |first=Bill |year=2008 |accessdate=May 9, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220122859/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/18470542/ |archivedate=February 20, 2009 }}</ref>

[[Image:NHL Hockey Rink.png|thumb|Diagram of an NHL hockey rink: 1. penalty boxes<br>2. team benches<br>3. scorekeepers' area]]

National Hockey League games are played on a rectangular hockey rink with rounded corners surrounded by walls and Plexiglas. It measures 200 feet (60.96 m) by 85 feet (25.91 m) in the NHL,<ref name="rink">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule02.html|title=Dimensions of Rink|year=2005|publisher=NHL.com|author=National Hockey League|accessdate=June 8, 2006}}</ref> approximately the same length but much narrower than [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] standards. The centre line divides the ice in half,<ref name="lines">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule05.html|title=Division of ice surface|year=2005|publisher=NHL.com|author=National Hockey League|accessdate=June 8, 2006}}</ref> and is used to judge icing violations. There are two blue lines that divide the rink roughly into thirds, delineating one neutral and two attacking zones.<ref name="lines" /> Near the end of both ends of the rink, there is a thin red ''goal line'' spanning the width of the ice, which is used to judge goals and icing calls.

A trapezoidal area behind each goal net has been introduced.<ref name="crease">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule04.html|title=Goal crease|year=2005|publisher=NHL.com|author=National Hockey League|accessdate=June 8, 2006}}</ref> The goaltender can play the puck only within the trapezoid or in front of the goal line; if the goaltender plays the puck behind the goal line and outside the trapezoidal area, a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game is assessed.<ref name="crease_penalty">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26355|title=Rule 63 – Delaying the Game|year=2009|publisher=NHL.com|author=National Hockey League|accessdate=March 14, 2010}}</ref> The rule is unofficially nicknamed the "Martin Brodeur rule".<ref name="Diamos2007">{{cite news|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10616F835550C758DDDA00894DD404482|title=New Rule Will Take a Weapon Away from Brodeur|date=September 16, 2005|work=The New York Times (subscription required)|author=Diamos, Jason.|accessdate=March 2, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/18/Sports/Brodeur_not_handling_.shtml|title=Brodeur not handling new rule well|date=September 18, 2005|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|author=Jones, Tom.|accessdate=March 2, 2007}}</ref><ref name="Brodeur hopes NHL banishes trapezoid">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/brodeur_hopes_nhl_banishes_trapezoid/|title=Brodeur hopes NHL banishes trapezoid|year=2009|publisher=Fire&Ice|accessdate=November 10, 2009}}</ref><ref name="NHL decides to keep trapezoid">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/nhl_decides_to_keep_trapezoid/|title=NHL decides to keep trapezoid|year=2009|publisher=Fire&Ice|accessdate=November 10, 2009}}</ref>

Since the 2013–14 season, the league trimmed the goal frames by 4 inches (10 cm) on each side and reduced the size of the goalies' leg pads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=684940|title=Hybrid Icying tops list of rules changes for 2013–2014 season|last=Rosen|first=Dan|publisher=NHL.com|accessdate=December 2, 2013}}</ref>

==Rules==
The National Hockey League's rules are one of the two standard sets of professional ice hockey rules in the world. The rules themselves have evolved directly from the [[First indoor hockey game|first organized indoor ice hockey game]] in Montreal in 1875, updated by subsequent leagues up to 1917, when the NHL adopted the existing NHA set of rules. The NHL's rules are the basis for rules governing most professional and major junior ice hockey leagues in North America. Infractions of the rules, such as offside and icing, lead to a stoppage of play and subsequent face-offs, while more serious infractions leading to penalties to the offending teams. The league also determines the specifications for playing equipment used in its games.

The league has regularly modified its rules to counter perceived imperfections in the game. The penalty shot was adopted from the Pacific Coast Hockey Association to ensure players were not being blocked from opportunities to score. For the 2005–06 season, the league changed some of the rules regarding being offside. First, the league removed the "offside pass" or "two-line pass" rule, which required a stoppage in play if a pass originating from inside a team's defending zone was completed on the offensive side of the centre line, unless the puck crossed the line before the player. Furthermore, the league reinstated the "tag-up offside" which allows an attacking player a chance to get back onside by returning to the neutral zone. The changes to the offside rule were among several rule changes intended to increase overall scoring, which had been in decline since the expansion years of the mid-nineties and the increased prevalence of the neutral zone trap. Since 2005, when a team is guilty of icing the puck they are not allowed to make a line change or skater substitution of any sort before the following face-off (except to replace an injured player or re-install a pulled goaltender). Since 2013, the league has used hybrid icing, where a linesman stops play due to icing if a defending player (other than the goaltender) crosses the imaginary line that connects the two face-off dots in their defensive zone before an attacking player is able to. This was done to counter a trend of player injury in races to the puck.

The league's rules differ from the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), as used in tournaments such as the Olympics, which were themselves derived from the Canadian amateur ice hockey rules of the early 20th century. In the NHL, fighting leads to major penalties while IIHF rules, and most amateur rules, call for the ejection of fighting players. Usually a penalized team cannot replace a player that is penalized on the ice and is thus short-handed for the duration of the penalty, but if the penalties are coincidental, for example when two players fight, both teams remain at full strength. Also, unlike minor penalties, major penalties must be served to their full completion, regardless of number of goals scored during the power play. The NHL and IIHF differ also in playing rules, such as icing, the areas of play for goaltenders, helmet rules, officiating rules, timeouts and play reviews.

The league also imposes a conduct policy on its players. Players are banned from gambling and criminal activities have led to the suspension of players. The league and the Players' Association agreed to a stringent anti-doping policy in the 2005 bargaining agreement. The policy provides for a twenty-game suspension for a first positive test, a sixty-game suspension for a second positive test, and a lifetime suspension for a third positive test.

==Season structure==
The National Hockey League season is divided into a regular season (from early October through early to mid April) and a postseason (the [[Stanley Cup]] playoffs).

During the regular season, clubs play each other in a predefined schedule. In the regular season, each team plays 82 games: 41 games each of home and road. Eastern teams play 30 games in their own geographic division—four or five against each of their seven other divisional opponents—and 24 games against the eight remaining non-divisional intra-conference opponents—three games against every team in the other division of its conference. Western teams play 28 or 29 games in their own geographic division-four or five against each of their six other divisional opponents-and 21 or 22 games against the seven remaining non-divisional intra-conference opponents-three games against every team in the other division of its conference, with one cross-division intra-conference match-up occurring in four games. All teams play every team in the other conference twice-home and road.

The league's regular season standings are based on a point system. Two points are awarded for a win, one point for losing in overtime or a shootout, and zero points for a loss in regulation. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points in each division is crowned the division champion, and the league's overall leader is awarded the Presidents' Trophy.

The Stanley Cup playoffs, which go from April to the beginning of June, is an elimination tournament where two teams play against each other to win a best-of-seven series in order to advance to the next round. The final remaining team is crowned the Stanley Cup champion. Eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs: the top three teams in each division plus the two conference teams with the next highest number of points. The Stanley Cup playoffs are an elimination tournament where the teams are grouped in pairs to play best-of-seven series and the winners moving on to the next round. The two conference champions proceed to the Stanley Cup Final. In all rounds, the higher-ranked team is awarded home-ice advantage, with four of the seven games played at this team's home venue. In the Stanley Cup Final, the team with the most points during the regular season has home-ice advantage.

==Entry Draft==
The annual NHL Entry Draft consists of a seven-round off-season draft held in late June. Amateur players from junior, collegiate, or European leagues are eligible to enter the Entry Draft. The selection order is determined by a combination of the standings at the end of the regular season, playoff results, and a draft lottery. The 14 teams that did not qualify for the playoffs are entered in a weighted lottery to determine the initial draft picks in the first round, with the 30th-place team having the best chance of winning the lottery. Once the lottery determines the initial draft picks, the order for the remaining non-playoff teams is determined by the standings at the end of the regular season. For those teams that did qualify for the playoffs, the draft order is then determined by the order in which they were eliminated, with the Stanley Cup winner getting the 30th and last pick, and the runner-up is given the 29th pick.

==Trophies and awards==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em; float:right"
|+ '''Stanley Cup championships'''<br><small>Defunct teams not included.</small>
! Team
! Titles
|-
| [[Montreal Canadiens]] ||24*
|-
| [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] || 13
|-
| [[Detroit Red Wings]] || 11
|-
| [[Boston Bruins]] || 6
|-
| [[Chicago Blackhawks]] || 6
|-
| [[Edmonton Oilers]] || 5
|-
| [[New York Islanders]] || 4
|-
| [[New York Rangers]] || 4
|-
| [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] || 4
|-
| [[New Jersey Devils]]  || 3
|-
| [[Colorado Avalanche]] || 2
|-
| [[Los Angeles Kings]] || 2
|-
| [[Philadelphia Flyers]] || 2
|-
| [[Anaheim Ducks]] || 1
|-
| [[Calgary Flames]] || 1
|-
| [[Carolina Hurricanes]] || 1
|-
| [[Dallas Stars]] || 1
|-
| [[St. Louis Blues]] || 1
|-
| [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] || 1
|-
| [[Washington Capitals]] || 1
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="6"| <small>*Includes one pre-NHL championship</small>
|}
===Teams===
The most prestigious team award is the Stanley Cup, which is awarded to the league champion at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team that has the most points in the regular season is awarded the Presidents' Trophy.

The [[Montreal Canadiens]] are the most successful franchise in the league. Since the formation of the league in 1917, they have 25 NHL championships (three between 1917 and 1925 when the Stanley Cup was still contested in an interleague competition, twenty-two since 1926 after the Stanley Cup became the NHL's championship trophy). They also lead all teams with 24 Stanley Cup championships (one as an NHA team, twenty-three as an NHL team). 

The longest streak of winning the Stanley Cup in consecutive years is five, held by the Montreal Canadiens from 1955–56 to 1959–60. The 1977 edition of the Montreal Canadiens, the second of four straight Stanley Cup champions, was named by ESPN as the second greatest sports team of all-time. Montreal, however, has not won a Stanley Cup since 1993.

The next most successful NHL franchise is the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] with 13 Stanley Cup championships, but they have not won one since 1967. The [[Detroit Red Wings]], with 11 Stanley Cup championships, are the most successful American franchise.

===Players===
There are numerous trophies that are awarded to players based on their statistics during the regular season; they include, among others, the Art Ross Trophy for the league scoring champion (goals and assists), the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the goal-scoring leader, and the William M. Jennings Trophy for the goaltender(s) for the team with the fewest goals against them.

The other player trophies are voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association or the team general managers. These individual awards are presented at a formal ceremony held in late June after the playoffs have concluded. The most prestigious individual award is the Hart Memorial Trophy which is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player; the voting is conducted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association to judge the player who is the most valuable to his team during the regular season. The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the person deemed the best goaltender as voted on by the general managers of the teams in the NHL. The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top defenceman, the Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top rookie, and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is awarded to the player deemed to combine the highest degree of skill and sportsmanship; all three of these awards are voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

In addition to the regular season awards, the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs. Furthermore, the top coach in the league wins the Jack Adams Award as selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association. The National Hockey League publishes the names of the top three vote getters for all awards, and then names the award winner during the NHL Awards Ceremony.

Players, coaches, officials, and team builders who have had notable careers are eligible to be voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Players cannot enter until three years have passed since their last professional game, the shortest such time period of any major sport. One unique consequence has been Hall of Fame members (specifically, Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur, and Mario Lemieux) coming out of retirement to play once more. If a player was deemed significant enough, the three-year wait would be waived; only ten individuals have been honoured in this manner. In 1999, Wayne Gretzky joined the Hall and became the last player to have the three-year restriction waived. After his induction, the Hall of Fame announced that Gretzky would be the last to have the waiting period waived.

==International competitions==
{{main|List of international games played by NHL teams}}

:''See also: [[List of international ice hockey competitions featuring NHL players]].''

The National Hockey League has occasionally participated in international club competitions. Most of these competitions were arranged by the NHL or NHLPA. The first international club competition was held in [[Super Series '76|1976]], with eight NHL teams playing against the [[Soviet Championship League]]'s [[HC CSKA Moscow]], and [[Krylya Sovetov Moscow]]. Between 1976 and 1991, the NHL, and the Soviet Championship League would hold a number of exhibition games between the two leagues known as the [[Super Series]]. No NHL club had played a Russian club from the end of the Super Series in 1991 to 2008, when the New York Rangers faced [[Metallurg Magnitogorsk]] in the [[2008 Victoria Cup]].

In addition to the Russian clubs, NHL clubs had participated in a number of international club competitions with various European leagues. In the 2000s the NHL had organized four [[NHL Challenge]] series between NHL, and European clubs. From 2007 to 2011, the NHL organized exhibition games prior to the beginning of the season, known as the NHL Premier, between NHL clubs and teams from a number of European leagues. The 2011 NHL Premiere was the last NHL-organized club competition involving European teams. NHL clubs have also participated in IIHF-organized club tournaments. The most recent IIHF-organized event including a NHL club was the [[2009 Victoria Cup]], between the Swiss [[National League A]]'s [[ZSC Lions]], and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Since 1998, during the quadrennial [[Olympic Games|Winter Olympic]] years, the NHL has suspended its all-star game and expanded the traditional all-star break to allow NHL players to represent their countries in the [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|Olympic ice hockey tournament]]. Conversely, the annual [[Ice Hockey World Championships]] are held every May at the same time as the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thus, NHL players generally only join their respective country's team in the World Championships if their respective NHL team has been eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, or did not make the playoffs.

As well as participating in the above international club competitions, the NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association organizes the [[World Cup of Hockey]]. Unlike the Ice Hockey World Championships and the Olympic tournament, both run by the International Ice Hockey Federation, the World Cup of Hockey is played under NHL-rules and not those of the IIHF. The tournament takes place prior to the NHL pre-season. The event is planned to be a quadrennial event beginning in 2016.<ref name=sn-wch2016>{{cite web|title=New-look World Cup of hockey back for 2016|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/new-look-world-cup-of-hockey-back-for-2016/|website=Sportsnet.ca|accessdate=January 24, 2015}}</ref>

==Footnotes==
<references group="nb"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{NHL seasons}}
{{Wikipedia}}

[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]