The history of NHL expansion (part 2)

1978: After the California Golden Seals has been moved to Cleveland and renamed the Barons for two years, they merge with the North Stars. That reduces the number of the NHL teams from 18 to 17. Meanwhile, the North Stars move to Dallas and are renamed the Stars in 1993.

1979: The league takes four teams from the World Hockey Association. The addition of the Hartford Whalers, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Quebec Nordiques brings the NHL from 17 to 21 teams. The Nordiques move to Denver in 1995 and are renamed the Colorado Avalanche, the Jets move to Phoenix in 1996 and become the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes, and the Whalers relocate in 1997 and are renamed the Carolina Hurricanes, based in Raleigh, N.C.

1991: A new era of NHL expansion started with the San Jose Sharks taking part in the league as the 22nd teams.

1992: The addition of the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning brings the NHL from 22 to 24 teams. The original Senators had played in the NHL from 1917 to 1934. The Lightning is Florida’s first NHL franchise.

1993: The NHL adds the Florida Panthers (based in Miami) and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as its 25th and 26th teams, respectively.

1998: The Nashville Predators join the league, bringing the number of teams to 27.

1999: Nineteen years after the departure of the Flames, the NHL comes back to Atlanta with the addition of the league’s 28th team Atlanta Thrashers. However, the team relocates to Winnipeg in 2011, becoming the second iteration of the Jets.

2000: The League reaches 30 teams after adding the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild. Playing in St. Paul, Minn., the Wild brings the league back to Minnesota 7 years after the North Stars depart for Dallas.

2016: The addition of a franchise in Las Vegas that started playing in the 2017-18 season brings the NHL to 31 teams. It is Las Vegas’s first major professional sports team.