How Many Teams in NHL? Full 2025 Breakdown of Teams, Divisions & Conferences

Total Number of NHL Teams in 2025

As of the 2024–25 season, the NHL consists of 32 teams. That total has grown over time as the league expanded beyond its early core markets in Canada and the northeastern United States. Today, those 32 clubs cover a broad geographic range, from Florida to British Columbia and from Southern California to Quebec.

Why the NHL Settled on 32 Franchises

Thirty-two is a convenient number for league organization. It divides cleanly into two conferences of 16 teams each and further into four divisions of eight teams apiece. This symmetry simplifies scheduling, allows for balanced playoff brackets, and helps keep competitive opportunities relatively even across the league.

With 32 teams, the league can support a long 82-game regular season while still making sure every club plays each other at least once at home and once on the road. It also creates enough variety in opponents that fans see a mix of familiar rivals and less frequent but still interesting matchups.

Brief History of NHL Expansion to 32 Teams

The NHL began in 1917 with just four teams and remained a small, primarily Canadian league for decades. In 1967, it famously doubled in size from six teams to twelve in one massive expansion, adding markets like Los Angeles, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Over the following decades, additional rounds of expansion and relocation introduced teams in the U.S. Southeast, Midwest, and West.

Two recent additions brought the league to its current size. The Vegas Golden Knights joined in 2017–18 as the 31st franchise and quickly became competitive, even reaching the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. The Seattle Kraken followed in 2021–22 as the 32nd team, balancing the conferences and giving the Pacific Northwest its own NHL club. Official league history pages on NHL.com outline these changes in more detail.

Could the NHL Expand Again?

League officials occasionally acknowledge interest from prospective markets such as Houston, Quebec City, and some U.S. Sun Belt cities. However, reaching 32 teams already created a structurally tidy setup. Any further expansion would need to keep conferences and divisions balanced or be accompanied by re-alignment. For now, 32 franchises appear stable, but discussions about growth remain a recurring topic in media coverage and fan forums.

Conferences and Divisions: How the 32 Teams Are Organized

The NHL is split into two conferences—Eastern and Western—each containing two divisions. This structure shapes both the schedule and the playoff picture. Teams play more games against divisional rivals, which builds intense repeat matchups and local storylines.

Eastern Conference Overview

The Eastern Conference is made up of the Atlantic Division and the Metropolitan Division. These divisions include many of the league’s oldest franchises and some of its most passionate markets.

Atlantic Division teams typically include Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. The Metropolitan Division is home to Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington. Rivalries between these clubs—such as Bruins vs. Canadiens or Rangers vs. Islanders—are central to the NHL’s identity.

Western Conference Overview

The Western Conference consists of the Central Division and the Pacific Division. These divisions cover a massive geographic area stretching from the Midwest to the Pacific coast.

Central Division teams generally include Arizona, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, and Winnipeg. The Pacific Division features Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Vancouver, and Vegas. Long-distance travel is a constant challenge for many Western teams, especially those on the coasts who frequently cross multiple time zones.

Why Divisional Structure Matters to Fans

Because teams play divisional opponents more often, standings within those eight-team groups are crucial for playoff qualification. Finishing near the top of a division often means a more favorable matchup in the first round of the playoffs, while sliding down the table can push a team into a tougher wild-card path.

Divisional structures also dictate how frequently fans see certain opponents in person. A supporter in Toronto, for example, will watch Atlantic Division foes repeatedly but only see certain Western Conference teams at home once per season. Understanding the division layout helps you predict which matchups you will experience most often.

How Many Canadian Teams in the NHL?

Out of the league’s 32 franchises, seven are based in Canada. These teams reflect the sport’s deep roots in Canadian culture and occupy some of the most passionate markets in the game.

The Seven Canadian NHL Franchises

The Canadian teams include the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets. Several of these franchises—particularly Montreal and Toronto—have histories extending back to the earliest days of the league and boast large, multi-generational fan bases.

These seven clubs are spread across multiple provinces and time zones, from Quebec in the east to British Columbia in the west. They also straddle both conferences, contributing to rivalries within and across Canada, such as the Battle of Alberta between Calgary and Edmonton or historic showdowns between Montreal and Toronto.

Canadian Players Across the League

While there are only seven Canadian franchises, players from Canada appear on rosters throughout the NHL. Fans often ask broader questions like how many canadians on NHL teams when examining the league’s talent pool. Over time, the percentage of Canadian-born players has declined slightly as hockey has grown internationally, but Canadians still represent a significant share of the league’s star power.

The mix of Canadian, American, European, and other international players adds diversity to team styles and fan bases. It also means that classic rivalries are not just about geography, but about national pride and different hockey cultures meeting on the same ice.

A Complete List of NHL Teams

Fans sometimes search phrases like what are the NHL teams when they are learning the league from scratch or choosing a club to support. Here is a high-level rundown of all 32 franchises, organized by conference and division.

Eastern Conference Teams

Atlantic Division: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs.

Metropolitan Division: Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals.

Western Conference Teams

Central Division: Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets.

Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights.

Statistical databases such as Hockey-Reference’s team index provide deeper historical information on each of these franchises, including years of operation, playoff records, and championship histories.

How the Number of Teams Affects the Schedule and Playoffs

Having 32 clubs has a direct impact on how the NHL’s schedule and playoff system operate. It influences the number of games, the structure of postseason brackets, and even travel and rest patterns throughout the year.

Schedule Balance and Game Variety

With 32 teams split evenly between conferences, the league can create a schedule in which each team plays a mix of divisional, conference, and inter-conference opponents. Fans get to see every other club at least twice per season—once at home and once on the road—while still enjoying extra matchups against local rivals.

The number of teams also determines how often clubs visit each other’s arenas and how likely certain matchups are to happen in the playoffs. For example, with eight teams per division, the chance of a particular pair facing off in a divisional playoff series is higher than it would be in a looser structure with more clubs per group.

Playoff Qualification and Brackets

The league’s 32-team setup feeds into a 16-team playoff format, with eight qualifiers from each conference. While specific seeding rules can evolve, the basic structure remains: a bracket that eventually produces one conference champion from the East and one from the West, who then meet in the Stanley Cup Final.

Because half the league reaches the postseason, each team must fight for position not just within its division but across the conference. The distribution of teams across strong and rebuilding cycles also shapes which divisions feel particularly competitive in any given year.

Geography, Markets, and Fan Experience

The answer to how many teams exist is tied closely to where those teams are located. Geography dictates travel burdens, local rivalries, and television viewership patterns. It also affects what time games start for fans in different regions.

Traditional vs. Emerging Hockey Markets

Some NHL cities—such as Montreal, Toronto, Boston, and Detroit—are considered traditional hockey markets with long histories and deeply embedded fan cultures. Others, like Las Vegas or certain Sun Belt cities, are relative newcomers. The blend of old and new markets helps the league maintain heritage while expanding its reach.

Cross-Border Rivalries and Time Zones

Cross-border rivalries between Canadian and American teams remain a huge part of the league’s identity. Time zones add another layer of complexity; Western teams often start games later in the evening for viewers in the Eastern time zone, which can affect national television schedules and how often fans see certain opponents live.

Why Knowing the Number of Teams Matters for Fans

Understanding how many teams the league has—and where they are located—does more than satisfy curiosity. It shapes how new fans choose a club to follow, plan travel, and think about the broader culture of the sport.

Choosing a Team to Support

Many newcomers to the NHL pick a favorite team based on geography, family ties, star players, or even colors and logos. Having a clear overview of all 32 franchises and their locations makes that decision easier. You might gravitate toward the closest team, the one your friends follow, or a club whose story or history resonates with you.

Following Rivalries and Storylines

Knowing which teams share divisions and conferences helps you understand why certain games feel more intense than others. Rivalry matchups, long playoff histories, and regional bragging rights all stem from the league’s structure and the number of franchises competing within it.

Connecting League Structure to Fan Culture and Gear

Fans who dive deeper into team histories and identities often express that connection through clothing and accessories tied to their favorite club or division. Guides that explore NHL apparel can help you translate knowledge of the league’s structure into thoughtful wardrobe choices, whether you are representing a hometown team or supporting a distant favorite.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Number of NHL Teams

Has the NHL always had 32 teams?

No. The league started with just four teams in 1917 and remained relatively small until the major expansion of 1967. Since then, additional rounds of expansion and relocation gradually increased the total to 32, with the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken as the most recent additions.

Are more expansion teams likely in the near future?

League officials occasionally mention interest from potential markets, but there are no guaranteed timelines for additional expansion. Any new franchises would need to keep the number of teams balanced between conferences and fit within existing arena and media arrangements.

Why are there only seven Canadian teams?

Historical circumstances, arena availability, market size, and business considerations have shaped where teams are located. While Canada has deep hockey roots, the NHL also pursues growth in U.S. markets with large TV audiences and strong corporate support. This balance has left the league with seven Canadian and twenty-five American teams.

How many teams make the NHL playoffs?

Sixteen of the 32 teams qualify for the playoffs—eight from each conference. The exact seeding format can change, but the goal is to have a balanced bracket that leads to a conference champion from the East and West and, ultimately, a Stanley Cup Final matchup.

Does the number of teams affect how often clubs play each other?

Yes. With 32 teams, the schedule must balance divisional repetition with league-wide variety. Teams face their divisional opponents more frequently and see other conference clubs less often. Any significant change in the number of teams would require adjustments to this scheduling model.

Conclusion: A 32-Team League Shaping Modern NHL Hockey

As of 2025, the answer to how many teams compete at the highest level of professional hockey in North America is clear: the NHL features 32 franchises divided into two conferences and four divisions, including seven Canadian clubs and twenty-five based in the United States. This structure shapes everything from rivalries and travel to playoff races and television schedules.

Whether you are a new follower trying to pick a favorite team or a long-time fan deepening your understanding of the league, knowing how those 32 clubs are organized helps every game make more sense. From historic powerhouses in traditional markets to newer franchises in emerging hockey cities, each team contributes to a complex, interconnected ecosystem that keeps the NHL engaging across an 82-game season and a grueling postseason chase. As you explore schedules, standings, and fan culture, this foundational knowledge of league structure will make the entire sport easier—and more fun—to follow.