Past And Present NHL Team Names and How They Originated

Who Is The Oldest NHL Team?

The oldest NHL team is the Montreal Canadiens, founded in 1909. They are one of the “Original Six” teams that made up the NHL from 1942 to 1967.

What Does NHL Stand For?

NHL stands for National Hockey League.

Why Are The Oilers Named The Oilers?

The Oilers were originally named the Edmonton Eskimos after the local Canadian football team. In 1996, the name was changed to the Oilers to reflect the city's oil industry.

Why Are The Canadiens Named The Canadiens?

The Canadiens were originally named the Montreal Hockey Club. In 1910, the team was renamed the Canadiens to reflect the French-Canadian heritage of Montreal.

Why Are The Blue Jackets Named The Blue Jackets?

The Blue Jackets were named after the Union Army soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. The team's logo features a blue jacket with a red stripe, which is the uniform of the Union Army.

Other Interesting NHL Team Names

• Anaheim Ducks: Named after the Disney movie "The Mighty Ducks".
• Arizona Coyotes: Named after the desert animal.
• Boston Bruins: Named after a local wool company.
• Buffalo Sabres: Named after the U.S. Air Force's 31st Fighter Group, known as the "Sabres".
• Calgary Flames: Named after the city's oil industry.
• Carolina Hurricanes: Named after the state's history of hurricanes.
• Chicago Blackhawks: Named after the Black Hawk War.
• Colorado Avalanche: Named after the natural disaster.
• Columbus Blue Jackets: Named after the Union Army soldiers who fought in the American Civil War.
• Dallas Stars: Named after the state's lone star flag.
• Detroit Red Wings: Named after the city's automobile industry.
• Edmonton Oilers: Named after the city's oil industry.
• Florida Panthers: Named after the state's large panther population.
• Los Angeles Kings: Named after the city's status as the "City of Angels".
• Minnesota Wild: Named after the state's natural beauty.
• Montreal Canadiens: Named after the French-Canadian heritage of Montreal.
• Nashville Predators: Named after the city's nickname, "Music City".
• New Jersey Devils: Named after the state's folklore.
• New York Islanders: Named after the team's home arena, which is located on Long Island.
• New York Rangers: Named after the team's home arena, which is located in Madison Square Garden.
• Ottawa Senators: Named after the Canadian Senate.
• Philadelphia Flyers: Named after the city's aviation industry.
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Named after the city's steel industry.
• San Jose Sharks: Named after the state's large shark population.
• Seattle Kraken: Named after the mythical sea creature.
• St. Louis Blues: Named after the city's musical heritage.
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Named after the state's frequent thunderstorms.
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Named after the city's large maple tree population.
• Vancouver Canucks: Named after the city's large population of British Columbians, who are known as "Canucks".
• Vegas Golden Knights: Named after the city's gambling industry.
• Washington Capitals: Named after the state's capital, Washington, D.C.
• Winnipeg Jets: Named after the city's Royal Canadian Air Force base.