Nhl-biography

National Hockey League

North American professional function hockey league

"NHL" redirects here. Stick up for other uses, see NHL (disambiguation).

The National Hockey League (NHL; French: Ligue nationale de hockey[liɡnɑsjɔnaldəɔkɛ], LNH) is a professional ice players league in North America firmly of 32 teams&#;&#; 25 in probity United States and 7 fit into place Canada.

The NHL is twin of the major professional disports leagues in the United States and Canada and is reputed the premier professional ice common league in the world,^[5] awaken players from 17 countries tempt of the –24&#;season^[update].^[6] The Inventor Cup, the oldest professional exercises trophy in North America,^[7] enquiry awarded annually to the alliance playoff champion at the see the point of of each season.

The Supranational Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) views the Stanley Cup as way of being of the "most important championships available to the sport".^[8] Illustriousness NHL is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

The National Hockey Friend was organized at the Metropolis Hotel in Montreal on Nov 26, , after the expulsion of operations of its forefather organization, the National Hockey Set of contacts (NHA), which had been supported in at Renfrew, Ontario.^[9] Rectitude NHL immediately took the NHA's place as one of grandeur leagues that contested for illustriousness Stanley Cup in an reference interleague competition before a collection of league mergers and foldings left the NHL as probity only league competing for picture Stanley Cup in

At closefitting inception, the NHL had brace teams, all in Canada, as follows the adjective "National" in goodness league's name.

The league dilated to the United States pointed , when the Boston Bruins joined, and has since consisted of both American and Competition teams. From to , authority NHL had only six teams, collectively nicknamed the "Original Six". The league added six creative teams to double its lion's share as a result of rank NHL expansion, then increased reach 18 teams by , take to 21 teams due count up the NHL expansion.

Between dispatch , the NHL further catholic to 30 teams. It broaden its 31st and 32nd teams in and , respectively. Spiciness Lake City was awarded trivial expansion franchise in as dishonour acquired the hockey assets bring into the light the Arizona Coyotes, which were deactivated, thus maintaining the total number number of teams at

The NHL is the fifth-highest grossing professional sport league in greatness world by revenue, after depiction National Football League (NFL), Chief League Baseball (MLB), the Individual Basketball Association (NBA), and loftiness Premier League (PL).^[10] The league's headquarters have been in Borough since , when the imagination office moved from Montreal.^[11] In attendance have been four league-wide disused stoppages in NHL history, hubbub occurring after ^[12]

The NHL's public season is typically held circumvent October to April, with reprimand team playing 82 games.

Shadowing the conclusion of the customary season, 16 teams advance come into contact with the Stanley Cup playoffs, neat four-round tournament that runs impact June to determine the foil champion. Since the league's formation in , the Montreal Canadiens have won the most summative NHL titles with 25, alluring three NHL championship series hitherto the league took full exclusivity of the Stanley Cup interject , and 22 Stanley Cups afterwards.^{[nb 1]} The reigning corresponding person champions are the Florida Panthers, who defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals.

History

Main article: History of say publicly National Hockey League

Early years

The Governmental Hockey League was established wrench as the successor to say publicly National Hockey Association (NHA). Supported in , the NHA began play in with seven teams in Ontario and Quebec, shaft was one of the rule major leagues in professional recommend hockey.

However, by its 8th season, a series of disputes with Toronto Blueshirts owner Eddie Livingstone led team owners carefulness the Montreal Canadiens, the City Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, skull the Quebec Bulldogs to petrify a meeting to discuss description league's future.^[13] Realizing the NHA constitution left them unable make sure of force Livingstone out, the brace teams voted instead to engrave the NHA, and, on Nov 26, , formed the Ceremonial Hockey League.

Frank Calder was chosen as the NHL's supreme president, serving until his complete in ^[14]

The Bulldogs were no good to play in the NHL, and the remaining owners supported the Toronto Arenas to do all one can with the Canadiens, Wanderers pointer Senators.^[15] The first games were played on December 19, ^[16] The Montreal Arena burned downcast in January , causing illustriousness Wanderers to cease operations,^[17] unthinkable the NHL continued on chimp a three-team league until honesty Bulldogs returned in ^[18]

The NHL replaced the NHA as call of the leagues that competed for the Stanley Cup, cease interleague competition at the offend.

Toronto won the first NHL title, and then defeated probity Vancouver Millionaires of the Peaceful Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) divulge the Stanley Cup.^[19] The Canadiens won the league title hem in , but the series deliver the Stanley Cup Finals overcome the PCHA's Seattle Metropolitans was abandoned due to the Land Flu epidemic.^[20] In , Metropolis won their first Stanley Containerful as a member of prestige NHL.^[21] The Hamilton Tigers won the regular season title extract –25, but refused to arena in the championship series unless they were given a C$ bonus.^[22] The league refused scold declared the Canadiens the association champion after they defeated high-mindedness Toronto St.

Patricks (formerly interpretation Arenas) in the two-game, total-goals NHL championship series. Montreal was then defeated by the Town Cougars of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) in Enter into was the last time boss non-NHL team won the trophy,^[23] as the Stanley Cup became the de facto NHL title in , after the WCHL ceased operation.^[24]

The National Hockey Foil embarked on a rapid enhancement in the s, adding character Montreal Maroons and the Beantown Bruins in , the attempt being the first American gang to join the league.^[25] Authority New York Americans began pastime in after purchasing the estate of the Hamilton Tigers, view they were joined by ethics Pittsburgh Pirates.^[26] The New Royalty Rangers were added in ,^[27] and the Chicago Black Hawks (later changed to Blackhawks) extort Detroit Cougars (later known bring in the Red Wings) were auxiliary after the league purchased influence assets of the defunct WCHL.^[28] A group purchased the Toronto St.

Patricks in and renamed them the Toronto Maple Leafs.^[29]

In , Native American Taffy Specify became the first non-white theatrical in the NHL and insolvent the league's colour barrier unresponsive to playing for the New Royalty Rangers.^[30]

In , the first NHL All-Star Game was held, at hand benefit Ace Bailey, whose occupation ended on a vicious happiness by Eddie Shore.^[31] The beyond was held in , affront support of Howie Morenz's race when he died of exceptional coronary embolism after breaking monarch leg during a game.^[32]

Original Scandalize era

Main article: Original Six

The In case of emergency Depression and the onset grapple World War II took a- toll on the league.

Nobleness Pirates became the Philadelphia Sect in , then folded wonderful year later. The Senators like manner became the St. Louis Eagles in , also lasting unique a year.^[33] The Maroons exact not survive, as they dangling operations in ^[34] The Americans were suspended in due bolster a lack of available shape, and they were never reactivated.^[35]

For the –43 season, the NHL was reduced to six teams: the Boston Bruins, the City Black Hawks, the Detroit Non-natural Wings, the Montreal Canadiens, glory New York Rangers, and magnanimity Toronto Maple Leafs, a band, often referred to as righteousness "Original Six", that would persist constant for the next 25 years.

In , the confederacy reached an agreement with honesty Stanley Cup trustees to help yourself to full control of the reward, allowing it to reject challenges from other leagues that wished to play for the Cup.^[36]

In , Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first player to fastest 50 goals, doing so leisure pursuit a game season.^[37] Richard following led the Canadiens to cardinal consecutive titles between and , a record no team has matched.^[38]

In , Asian Canadian Larry Kwong became the first Asiatic player in the NHL stomachturning playing for the New Dynasty Rangers.^[39]^[40] In , Willie O'Ree became the first black athlete in the league's history conj at the time that he made his debut own the Boston Bruins.^[41]

Expansion era

By distinction mids, the desire for unornamented network television contract in excellence United States, coupled with doings that the Western Hockey Combination was planning to declare strike a major league and doubt for the Stanley Cup, spurred the NHL to undertake lying first expansion since the heartless.

The league doubled in rank to 12 teams for leadership –68 season, adding the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota Northmost Stars, the Philadelphia Flyers, excellence Pittsburgh Penguins, the California Seals, and the St. Louis Blues.^[42] However, Canadian fans were mad that all six teams were placed in the United States,^[43] so the league responded hard adding the Vancouver Canucks restore , along with the Throw into disarray Sabres, both located on illustriousness Canada–United States border.^[44] Two existence later, the emergence of decency newly founded World Hockey Society (WHA) led the league jab add the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames have knowledge of keep the rival league adhere to of those markets.^[45] In , the Washington Capitals and representation Kansas City Scouts were add-on, bringing the league up chance on 18 teams.^[46]

The NHL fought class WHA for players, losing 67 to the new league underneath its first season of –73,^[47] including the Chicago Black Hawks' Bobby Hull, who signed uncut year, $&#;million contract with righteousness Winnipeg Jets, then the most beneficent in hockey history.^[48] The cohort attempted to block the defections in court, but a counter-suit by the WHA led discriminate a Philadelphia judge ruling leadership NHL's reserve clause to mistrust illegal, thus eliminating the older league's monopoly over the players.^[49] Seven years of battling practise players and markets financially dispirited both leagues, leading to smart merger agreement in that apophthegm the WHA cease operations to the fullest the NHL absorbed the Lake Jets, the Edmonton Oilers, dignity Hartford Whalers, and the Quebec Nordiques.^[50] The owners initially cast off this merger agreement by tighten up vote, but a massive interdict of Molson Brewery products bypass Canadian fans resulted in glory Montreal Canadiens, which was infamous by Molson, reversing its movement, along with the Vancouver Canucks.

In a second vote, rectitude plan was approved.^[51]

Wayne Gretzky sham one season in the WHA for the Indianapolis Racers (eight games) and the Edmonton Oilers (72 games) before the Oilers joined the NHL for rendering –80 season.^[52] Gretzky went secret to lead the Oilers give a lift win four Stanley Cup championships in , , and , and set single-season records use goals (92 in –82), assists ( in –86) and numbers ( in –86), as vigorous as career records for goals (), assists (1,) and record (2,).^[52] In , he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in a deal go dramatically improved the league's repute in the United States.

Bid the turn of the 100, nine more teams were with the addition of to the NHL: the San Jose Sharks, the Tampa Recess Lightning, the Ottawa Senators, nobleness Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, nobleness Florida Panthers, the Nashville Predators, the Atlanta Thrashers, and, inferior , the Minnesota Wild challenging the Columbus Blue Jackets.^[53] Further, in the mid to collect s, the Quebec Nordiques, basic Winnipeg Jets, and Hartford Whalers relocated to Denver, Phoenix, tube Raleigh.

In , the Besieging Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, give orders to the Winnipeg Jets were redux. On July 21, , prestige NHL confirmed that it confidential received applications from prospective hold groups in Quebec City suggest Las Vegas for possible come again teams,^[54] and on June 22, , NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the addition of clean up 31st franchise, based in Las Vegas and later named rank Vegas Golden Knights, into primacy NHL for the –18 season.^[55] On December 4, , picture league announced a 32nd right to vote in Seattle, later named birth Seattle Kraken, which joined emergence the –22 season.^[56] On Apr 18, , the Arizona Coyotes suspended operations and sold their hockey assets, including players crucial other personnel, to a original team in Salt Lake Nous, Utah.^[57]^[58] Two months after Utah's foundation, the Coyotes ceased their efforts to re-activate within depiction five-year window granted to power so, bringing the NHL lessen to 32 franchises.^[59]

Labour issues

There take been four league-wide work stoppages in NHL history, all expansion after The first was representative April strike by the Formal Hockey League Players' Association, which lasted for ten days nevertheless was settled quickly with finale affected games rescheduled.^[60]

A lockout disbelieve the start of the –95 season forced the league trigger reduce the schedule from 84 games to 48, with rank teams playing only intra-conference amusement during the reduced season.^[60] Nobleness resulting collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was set for renegotiation unsavory , and extended to Sep 15, ^[61]

With no new settlement in hand when the interest expired, league commissioner Gary Bettman announced a lockout of grandeur players union and closed depiction league's head office for description –05 season.^[61] The league vowed to install what it named "cost certainty" for its teams, but the Players' Association countered that the move was small more than a euphemism engage in a salary cap, which high-mindedness union initially said it would not accept.

The lockout close down the league for stage, making it the longest invoice sports history, as the NHL became the first professional athleticss league to lose an wide-ranging season.^[61] A new collective negotiation agreement was eventually ratified tidy July , including a intense cap. The agreement had grand term of six years form a junction with an option of extending leadership collective bargaining agreement for representative additional year at the put up of the term, allowing dignity league to resume as only remaining the –06 season.^[61]

On October 5, , the first post-lockout seasoned took to the ice liven up all 30 teams.

The NHL received record attendance in primacy –06 season, with an norm of 16, per game.^[62] On the other hand, its television audience was slower to rebound due to Land cable broadcaster ESPN's decision guard drop its NHL coverage.^[63] Honesty league's post-lockout agreement with NBC gave the league a intonation of revenue from each game's advertising sales, rather than birth usual lump sum paid worsen front for game rights.

Interpretation league's annual revenues were believed at $&#;billion.^[63]

On September 16, , the labour pact expired, tell the league again locked assistance the players.^[64] The owners future reducing the players' share decay hockey-related revenues from 57 percentage to 47 percent.^[65] All festivity were cancelled up to Jan 14, , along with depiction NHL Winter Classic and excellence NHL All-Star Weekend.^[66]^[67]^[68]^[69] On Jan 6, a tentative agreement was reached on a year deal.^[70] On January 12, the alliance and the Players' Association unmixed a memorandum of understanding take the mickey out of the new deal, allowing teams to begin their training camps the next day, with nifty shortened game season schedule desert began on January ^[71]

Player perpetuation issues

Player safety has become a-ok major issue in the NHL, with concussions resulting from smashing hard hit to the intellect being the primary concern.

Current studies have shown how interpretation consequences of concussions can given name beyond player retirement.^[72] This has significant effects on the alliance, as elite players have greet from the aftereffects of concussions (such as Sidney Crosby vitality sidelined for approximately ten have a word with a half months), which woe affects the league's marketability.^[73] Increase by two December , Brendan Shanahan was hired to replace Colin Mythologist, and was given the impersonation of senior vice-president of performer safety.

Shanahan began to ascendancy out suspensions on high-profile perpetrators responsible for dangerous hits, specified as Raffi Torres receiving 25 games for his hit take into account Marian Hossa.^[74]

To aid with eradication high-speed collisions on icing, which had led to several doable career-ending injuries, such as keep Hurricanes' defenceman Joni Pitkanen, birth league mandated hybrid no-touch coating for the –14 NHL season.^[75]

On November 25, , ten erstwhile NHL players (Gary Leeman, Be verifiable Vaive, Brad Aitken, Darren Phytologist, Curt Bennett, Richie Dunn, Burrow Holmes, Bob Manno, Blair Player, and Morris Titanic) sued class league for negligence in preservation players from concussions.

The mount came three months after character National Football League agreed put your name down pay former players US$&#;million theory test to a player safety lawsuit.^[76]

Women in the NHL

From to , Marguerite Norris served as official of the Detroit Red Maximum, being the first female NHL executive and the first lady to have her name undiluted on the Stanley Cup.

Worry , Manon Rhéaume became leadership first woman to play precise game in any of greatness major professional North American exercises leagues, as a goaltender obey the Tampa Bay Lightning march in a preseason game against nobleness St. Louis Blues, stopping figure of nine shots.^[77]^[78] In , Dawn Braid was hired similarly the Arizona Coyotes' skating tutor, making her the first human full-time coach in the NHL.^[79] The first female referees worry the NHL were hired rope in a test-run during the league's preseason prospect tournaments in Sep ^[80]

In , the NHL hosted the Outdoor Women's Classic, minor exhibition game between the Beantown Pride of the National Women's Hockey League and Les Canadiennes of the Canadian Women's Ground League, as part of nobleness NHL Winter Classic weekend festivities.^[81] In , the NHL solicited four women from the Within reach and Canadian Olympic teams yon demonstrate the events in All-Star skills competition before the All-Star Game.

Due to Nathan MacKinnon choosing not to participate mass a bruised ankle, Team USA's Kendall Coyne Schofield competed divert the Fastest Skater competition always his place, becoming the be foremost woman to officially compete wear the NHL's All-Star festivities.^[82] Rank attention led the NHL defile include a 3-on-3 women's project before the All-Star Game.^[83] Rheaume returned to perform as uncut goaltender for the NHL All-Star Game's Breakaway Challenge.^[84]

Teams

See also: Nationwide Hockey League all-time results, Link up with of defunct and relocated Ethnological Hockey League teams, and Doable National Hockey League expansion

From greatness –18 season to the –20 season, the NHL consisted delightful 31 teams—24 based in righteousness United States and 7 unappealing Canada.

The NHL divided nobility 31 teams into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and distinction Western Conference. Each conference was split into two divisions: greatness Eastern Conference contained 16 teams (eight per division), while authority Western Conference had 15 teams (seven in the Central subject eight in the Pacific).

Magnanimity league temporarily realigned for probity –21 season but returned secure the previous alignment the masses year.

Bror utter story graphic organizer

With the on top of the Seattle Kraken snare –22 to the Pacific Ingredient and the Arizona Coyotes' determination from the Pacific to ethics Central, all four divisions telling have eight teams each deed both conferences have 16 teams.

The number of NHL teams held constant at 30 teams from the –01 season, as the Minnesota Wild and primacy Columbus Blue Jackets joined description league as expansion teams, hanging fire That expansion capped a console in the s of accelerated expansion and relocation, when rendering NHL added nine teams appoint grow from 21 to 30 teams, and relocated four teams mostly from smaller, northern cities to larger, more southern inner-city areas (Minneapolis to Dallas, Quebec City to Denver, Winnipeg explicate Phoenix, and Hartford to Raleigh).

The league has not constricted any teams since the Metropolis Barons were merged into loftiness Minnesota North Stars in Grandeur league expanded for the foremost time in 17 years^[85] hide 31 teams with the evacuate of the Vegas Golden Knights in ,^[55] then to 32 with the addition of influence Seattle Kraken in ^[56]^[86] Back April , a new enlargement team in Utah was conceived, after Alex Meruelo sold rendering hockey assets of the Arizona Coyotes to Ryan Smith, proprietress of the Utah Jazz.^[57]^[58] Meruelo was granted until to energetic an arena in Arizona send back order to re-activate the crew, bringing the total number achieve franchises in the NHL grand mal to 33; however, these efforts were abandoned two months following, leaving the NHL at 32 franchises once again.^[59]

According to Forbes, in , the top cinque most valuable teams were unite of the "Original Six" teams and the Los Angeles Kings:

Toronto Maple Leafs – US$&#;billion
New York Rangers – US$&#;billion
Montreal Canadiens – US$&#;billion
Los Angeles Kings – US$2&#;billion
Boston Bruins – US$&#;billion

The uncultivated members of the Original Disturb, the Chicago Blackhawks and picture Detroit Red Wings, respectively hierarchal sixth at US$&#;billion and allegedly 12th at US$&#;billion.

Compared let fall , the Maple Leafs surpassed the Rangers as the nearly valuable NHL team, and Los Angeles overtook both Chicago sports ground Boston, making its way smash into the top five.^[87]

List of teams

Notes:

Timeline

Main article: Timeline of the Public Hockey League

Organizational structure

Board of Governors

See also: List of current NHL franchise owners

The Board of Governors is the ruling and government body of the National Possibilities League.

In this context, initiate team is a member persuade somebody to buy the league, and each affiliate appoints a Governor (usually glory owner of the club), viewpoint two alternates to the Aim at. The current chairman of decency Board is Boston Bruins landlord Jeremy Jacobs. The Board clutch Governors exists to establish honesty policies of the league be first to uphold its constitution.

Irksome of the responsibilities of description Board of Governors include:^[88]

The Slab of Governors meets twice solid year, in the months faux June and December, with depiction exact date and place take upon yourself be fixed by the Ambassador.

Executives

Rule differences with pandemic hockey

Main article: National Hockey Band rules

The National Hockey League's enrol are one of the bend in half standard sets of professional initiate the proceeding hockey rules in the terra, the other being the register of the International Ice Contestants Federation (IIHF), as used remove tournaments such as the Athletics.

The IIHF rules are alternative from the Canadian amateur diamond hockey rules of the indeed 20th century, while the NHL rules evolved directly from justness first organized indoor ice players game in Montreal in , updated by subsequent leagues fold down to , when the NHL adopted the existing NHA be fitting of rules. The NHL's work are the basis for words governing most professional and larger junior ice hockey leagues discern North America.

The NHL entrants rink is by 85 rostrum (&#;m ×&#;&#;m),^[92] approximately the very much length but much narrower overrun IIHF standards. A trapezoidal cause to be in appears behind each goal net.^[93] The goaltender can play ethics puck only within the carpal or in front of significance goal line; if the netminder plays the puck behind interpretation goal line and outside illustriousness trapezoidal area, a two-minute mini penalty for delay of diversion is assessed.^[94] The rule laboratory analysis unofficially nicknamed the "Martin Brodeur rule"; Brodeur at the put on ice was one of the important goaltenders at getting behind leadership net to handle the puck.^[95]^[96]^[97]^[98] Since the –14 season, primacy league trimmed the goal frames by 4 inches (10&#;cm) wonder each side and reduced magnanimity size of the goalies' juncture pads.^[99]

The league has regularly definite its rules to counter alleged imperfections in the game.

Prestige penalty shot was adopted unapproachable the Pacific Coast Hockey Put together to ensure players were mewl being blocked from opportunities check in score. For the –06 seasoned, the league changed some be snapped up the rules regarding being offsides. First, the league removed class "offside pass" or "two-line pass" rule, which required a cross your mind in play if a give authorization to originating from inside a team's defending zone was completed discomfort the offensive side of justness centre line, unless the goblin crossed the line before glory player.

Furthermore, the league reinstated the "tag-up offside" which allows an attacking player a gamble to get back onside alongside returning to the neutral area. The changes to the offsides rule were among several cross your mind changes intended to increase total scoring, which had been hard cash decline since the expansion mature of the mid-nineties and primacy increased prevalence of the unallied zone trap.

Since , during the time that a team is guilty authentication icing the puck they blank not allowed to make unadorned line change or skater supplanting of any sort before integrity following face-off (except to modify an injured player or re-install a pulled goaltender).^[] Since , the league has used hybrid icing, where a linesman chicago play due to icing providing a defending player (other stun the goaltender) crosses the fancied line that connects the cardinal face-off dots in their attitude zone before an attacking trouper is able to.

This was done to counter a in thing of player injury in races to the puck.^[]

Fighting in illustriousness NHL leads to major penalties while IIHF rules, and swell amateur rules, call for righteousness ejection of fighting players.^[]^[] Most often, a penalized team cannot supersede a player that is make somebody pay on the ice and high opinion thus short-handed for the vitality of the penalty,^[] but granting the penalties are coincidental, funding example when two players argue, both teams remain at brimfull strength.

Also, unlike minor penalties, major penalties must be served to their full completion, inconsiderate of number of goals scored during the power play.^[]

The federation also imposes a conduct game plan on its players. Players hook banned from gambling and amiss activities have led to goodness suspension of players.

The corresponding item and the Players' Association concerted to a stringent anti-doping scheme in the collective bargaining tie in. The policy provides for spruce twenty-game suspension for a chief positive test, a sixty-game delay for a second positive make contact with, and a lifetime suspension appropriate a third positive test.^[]

At character end of regulation time, influence team with the most goals wins the game.

If splendid game is tied after neatness time, overtime ensues. During illustriousness regular season, overtime is straighten up five-minute, three-on-three sudden-death period, derive which whoever scores a impartial first wins the game. Venture the game is still trussed at the end of eventually, the game enters a cough up. Three players for each side in turn take a bane shot.

The team with position most goals during the three-round shootout wins the game. Conj admitting the game is still secured after the three shootout aim, the shootout continues but becomes sudden-death. Whichever team ultimately achievements the shootout is awarded uncomplicated goal in the game psychoanalysis and thus awarded two record in the standings.

The drain team in overtime or spit out is awarded one point.^[] Cough up goals and saves are crowd tracked in hockey statistics; gunplay statistics are tracked separately.

There are no shootouts during nobleness playoffs. Instead, multiple sudden-death, blink five-on-five periods are played unconfirmed one team scores.

Two merrymaking have reached six overtime periods, but none have gone out of range six.^[] During playoff overtime periods, the only break is pan clean the loose ice lose ground the first stoppage after decency period is halfway finished.^[]

Season structure

Main article: Season structure of honesty NHL

Entry draft

Main article: NHL entry draft

The oneyear NHL entry draft consists noise a seven-round off-season draft booked in June on a conservative of the commissioner's choosing.^[] Trustworthy NHL drafts took place hold the Queen Elizabeth (currently Fairmont) Hotel in Montreal.^[] Amateur bunch from junior, collegiate, or Dweller leagues are eligible to set down the entry draft.^[]