The National Hockey League—The Original Six

The term “Original Six” has long been used to describe the Montréal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers; the teams that were the members of an unchanged league from the Second World War until the great expansion of 1967.

At the time of its formation in 1917, the name National Hockey League (NHL) was a misnomer, with the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs (known as the Arenas at the time) as its only charter members. Every other NHL club is an expansion team. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the league had boldly made expansion attempts to cities like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis, and could once boast second teams in both Montreal and New York. But as the Second World War loomed and the economies of both Canada and the United States waned, the league was left with just six teams.

Even though the economy boomed after the War, league president Clarence Campbell held fast to a no-expansion policy, a reversal of pre-Second World War thought. The six teams would solidify a smaller but stronger league.

However, It was soon realized that the league had no real competitive balance. Save for four Cup wins by the Red Wings’ dynasty of the early 1950s and the 1961 triumph by the Chicago Blackhawks, most Stanley Cup titles from 1944-67 was won by either the Maple Leafs or the Canadiens. Because of special territorial rights granted to the teams, the Leafs and Canadiens always saw the best prospects come to them. There was no draft at the time, so young prospects signed with whatever team made an offer—or the best offer. Because almost all of the talent in the league was Canadian, the Leafs and Canadiens were the sentimental favourites for most young stars.

There were attempts made to break the NHL monopoly; Los Angeles and San Francisco franchises from the minor-pro Western Hockey League had long petitioned to join the NHL as expansion clubs. However, the governors, who feared long train rides across the continent for the eastern teams to play California clubs (the Chicago road trip was already a serious drain on the other five teams), continually rejected these suitors.

In 1952, the Cleveland Barons, the top team in the American Hockey League, applied to join the NHL. The Barons, like the Edmonton Flyers of the Western Hockey League, were a powerhouse minor-league team with a strong fan base and enough talent to compete at a higher lever . Their application was flatly rejected by the league. Angered, Barons management tried to pry the Stanley Cup from the sole control of the NHL. They petitioned for the right to challenge for the cup, just as many did in 1893-1926. They offered to play the Wings, the 1953 champs, for the Cup, but were rebuffed.

In 1967, the NHL finally relented expansion pressures, as six new teams were allowed into the league. The Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Oakland Seals and Pittsburgh Penguins were five of the new six.  Competition for the last slot was a heated battle between several cities, including Vancouver, Baltimore and St. Louis. The St. Louis bid, boosted by financial support and lobbying by the Blackhawks, won the final franchise, naming it the Blues.

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