The NHL (National Hockey League) is the world’s top professional ice hockey league, founded in 1917 and made up of 32 teams across the United States and Canada. NHL teams play for the Stanley Cup, won most recently by the Carolina Hurricanes in June 2026. The 2026-27 NHL season is the first played over 84 games.
| Founded | 1917, Montreal |
|---|---|
| Teams | 32 (25 US, 7 Canada) |
| Structure | 2 conferences, 4 divisions |
| Commissioner | Gary Bettman, since 1993 |
| Trophy | Stanley Cup |
| Reigning champion | Carolina Hurricanes (2026) |
| Most Cups | Montreal Canadiens, 24 |
| 2026-27 season | 29 Sept 2026 – 10 Apr 2027, 84 games |
| Salary cap | $104.0M upper limit |
