Anaheim Ducks apparel, due to the team\u2019s unique eggplant and jade color scheme, was extraordinarily popular in the 1990s. [Image: Andrew Gardecki\/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong> 1993<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n1 (2007)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Ryan Getzlaf, forward Rickard Rakell, Goalie John Gibson<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong> Paul Kariya (1994-03), Teemu Selanne (1995-01), Ryan Getzlaf (2005-22), Scott Niedermayer (2005-10), Chris Pronger (2006-09) <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You love 1990s nostalgia, particularly the Disney variety. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Ducks, who were founded by Disney in\nresponse to the popularity of the \u201cMighty Ducks\u201d movie franchise, play second\nfiddle to the Los Angeles Kings in that region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re coming out of a rebuild with a budding\ncrop of talented young players but still may be a few years from legitimate\nStanley Cup contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arizona\nCoyotes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe 2021-22 season could be the last for the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena, their home in Glendale, Arizona since 2003. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1996<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n0<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nForward Phil Kessel, forward Clayton Keller, defenseman Jakub Chychrun<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nKeith Tkachuk (1996-01), Jeremy Roenick (1996-01)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You\u2019re a schizophrenic sports fan who wouldn\u2019t be affected if they\nmoved. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Coyotes, who moved to the southwest from\nWinnipeg in 1996, have been flirting with relocation for more than a decade at\nthis point, which has also coincided with just one postseason appearance since\n2012. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2021-22 season should be their last at\nGila River Arena, meaning the team is essentially a free agent when this season\nends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boston\nBruins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBobby Orr created thousands of new Boston Bruins fans with his spectacular skill and skating while also guiding the team to two championships in the 1970s. [Image: Aaron Frutman\/Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong> 1924<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n6 (1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 2011)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Patrice Bergeron, forward Brad Marchand, forward Taylor Hall, defenseman\nCharlie McAvoy<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong> Johnny\nBucyk (1957-78), Bobby Orr (1966-76), Phil Esposito (1967-75), Raymond Bourque\n(1979-00), Cam Neely (1987-96), Joe Thornton (1997-05), Zdeno Chara (2006-20)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You\u2019d love to support tradition. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Bruins are arguably the most classic NHL\nteam, with the legendary spoked B logo and support from across hockey-mad New\nEngland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orr created a generation of hockey fans with\nhis smooth skating and incredible skill, but Neely carried the torch through his\nrugged and skilled play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modern-day stars like Chara, Bergeron and\nMarchand helped bring Boston back to the forefront, winning the Cup in 2011 and\nhelping Boston reach the Stanley Cup final in 2013 and 2019 as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buffalo\nSabres<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nJack Eichel became the most recent Buffalo Sabres star to exit Western New York when he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on November 4, 2021. [Image: Lisa Gansky\/Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1970<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n0<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nForward Jeff Skinner, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nGilbert Perreault (1971-87), Phil Housley (1982-90), Dave Andreychuk (1982-93),\nAlex Mogilny (1989-95), Pat Lafontaine (1991-97), Dominik Hasek (1992-01) <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You\u2019re loyal and love a good project. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Sabres have had some near-misses \u2014 Hasek\ncarried them to the Stanley Cup final in 1999 and they went to the Eastern\nConference final in consecutive years in 2006 and 2007 \u2014 but have the sport\u2019s\nlongest playoff drought and just traded captain and star center Jack Eichel in\na rebuilding move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sabres fans are among the most loyal in\nhockey, although their patience is wearing thin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calgary\nFlames<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Calgary Flames have played their home games at the Saddledome since 1983. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1980<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n1 (1989)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nForward Johnny Gaudreau, forward Matthew Tkachuk, goalie Jacob Markstrom<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats: Al MacInnis (1981-94), Lanny\nMcDonald (1982-89), Joe Nieuwendyk (1986-95), Theo Fleury (1988-98), Jarome\nIginla (1995-12), Miikka Kiprusoff (2003-13), Mark Giordano (2006-21)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should support them if:<\/strong> You prefer the upstart in a rivalry. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Flames have always played understudy to\nthe tradition-laden Edmonton Oilers. The Flames have only gotten to the\nmountain\u2019s summit once, 1989, yet annually go to battle with a competent and\nstar-laden lineup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some reason, recent playoff success has\nbeen hard to come by as Calgary hasn\u2019t advanced past the second round since its\nrun to Game 7 of the Cup final in 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carolina\nHurricanes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nRod Brind\u2019Amour helped the Hurricanes hoist the Stanley Cup as a player in 2006 and is hoping to win the trophy as Carolina\u2019s coach. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1997<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n1 (2006)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Sebastian Aho, forward Teuvo Teravainen, forward Jordan Staal,\ndefenseman Jaccob Slavin, goalie Frederik Andersen <\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nRon Francis (1999-04), Rod Brind\u2019Amour (2000-10) Eric Staal (2003-16), Cam Ward\n(2005-18)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You like your sports to be a little bit fun or fashion yourself a\njerk. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Hurricanes have had a run of relevance\nunder coach Rod Brind\u2019Amour and led by its loaded roster and creative marketing\nteam that has leaned into its quirkiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carolina, which moved from Hartford in 1997,\nhas donned the legendary Hartford Whalers jersey at least one night every\nseason since 2018-19, dubbed itself the \u201cBunch of Jerks\u201d in response to\nnow-disgraced hockey commentator Don Cherry\u2019s complaints in 2019 and have\nparticipated in the arena-wide \u201cStorm Surge\u201d where they produce elaborate\ncelebrations after home victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chicago\nBlackhawks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDuncan Keith won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs when Chicago won its most recent championship in 2015. [Image: Lisa Gansky\/Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1927<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n6 (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Jonathan Toews, forward Patrick Kane, defenseman Seth Jones, goalie\nMarc-Andre Fleury<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nBobby Hull (1957-72), Glenn Hall (1957-67), Stan Mikita (1958-80), Tony\nEsposito (1969-84), Doug Wilson (1977-91), Duncan Keith (2006-21), Marian Hossa\n(2009-17)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You like blue bloods and are not afraid to shield your eyes at times. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Blackhawks are coming out of a dynastic\ndecade where they won the Stanley Cup three times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, before that dynasty they were among\nthe most irrelevant teams in the NHL, to the point where they were blacked out\non local TV. Chicago had gone 49 years between championships and only won once\nin a 72-year stretch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now they\u2019re headed back for a rebuild while\nalso attempting to manage a scandal involving a sexual assault coverup that\nmarred their 2010 title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colorado\nAvalanche<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nJoe Sakic was the first Colorado Avalanche player to lift the Stanley Cup and is hoping to build a championship team in the Rockies as team general manager. [Image: H\u00e5kan Dahlstr\u00f6m\/Flickr, CC BY 2.0]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong> 1995<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n2 (1996, 2001)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Nathan MacKinnon, forward Mikko Rantanen, forward Gabriel Landekog,\ndefenseman Cale Makar<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nJoe Sakic (1995-09), Peter Forsberg (1995-04), Patrick Roy (1995-03), Raymond\nBourque (2000-01), Rob Blake (2000-06) <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You love speed and skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Avalanche took the NHL by storm from the\nminute they moved west from Quebec City, claiming the Cup twice, reaching the\nWestern Conference final six times in a seven-year stretch and developing one of\nthe fiercest rivalries in league history with the Detroit Red Wings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colorado is back as the preseason favorite to\nwin the Cup after reaching the playoffs each of the past three seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Columbus\nBlue Jackets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Columbus Blue Jackets fire a cannon after goals scored during home games at Nationwide Arena. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n2000<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n0 <\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nForward Boone Jenner, forward Max Domi, forward Patrik Laine, defenseman Zach\nWerenski, goalie Joonas Korpisalo<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nRick Nash (2002-13), Sergei Bobrovsky (2012-19), Nick Foligno (2012-21)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You love the smell of smoke in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Blue Jackets\u2019 identity league-wide comes\nfrom the cannon the team blasts off after every home goal at Nationwide Arena. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took Columbus nearly two decades to win a\nplayoff round \u2014 it famously won its first postseason series against the\ndominant Tampa Bay Lightning \u2014 and is back to rebuilding after not renewing the\ncontract of coach John Tortorella after the 2020-21 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dallas\nStars<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Dallas Stars brought the Stanley Cup to Texas in 1999. [Image: Wikipedia]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1993<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n1 (1999)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nForward Tyler Seguin, forward Jamie Benn, forward Alex Radulov, defenseman Miro\nHeiskanen<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nMike Modano (1993-10), Joe Nieuwendyk (1995-02), Sergei Zubov (1996-09), Ed\nBelfour (1997-02), Brett Hull (1998-01)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You love Texas. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Stars moved from Minnesota in 1993 and\nimmediately became one of the league\u2019s most dominant teams, becoming the first\nSun Belt team to win the Cup in 1999 and reaching the Cup final in 2000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dallas has had a few good, not great, years \u2014\nnotably their upstart run to the Stanley Cup final in the bubble playoffs of\n2020 after hosting that year\u2019s Winter Classic \u2014 but haven\u2019t quite been able to\nreach the summit in the new century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Detroit\nRed Wings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Detroit Red Wings last won the Stanley Cup in 2008. [Image: Michael Righi\/Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1933<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n11 (1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Dylan Larkin, forward Tyler Bertuzzi, forward, Filip Zadina, defenseman\nMoritz Seider<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nTed Lindasy (1944-57), Gordie Howe (1946-71), Terry Sawchuk (1949-64), Alex\nDelvecchio (1950-74), Steve Yzerman (1983-06), Nick Lidstrom (1991-12), Sergei\nFedorov (1990-03), Brendan Shanahan (1996-06), Pavel Datsyuk (2001-16), Henrik\nZetterberg (2002-18) <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You love timeless teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Red Wings are classic. They have arguably\nthe best alumni base. They play in Hockeytown USA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have arguably the coolest playoff\ntradition \u2014 throwing octopus on the ice in a nod to when it took just eight\nwins to claim the Stanley Cup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only thing they don\u2019t quite have yet is a\nwinning club, although with Yzerman calling the shots as the team\u2019s general\nmanager, that can\u2019t be too far off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Edmonton\nOilers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWayne Gretzky helped maked Edmonton the City of Champions in Canada by winning four championships with the Oilers in a five-year span. [Image: Richard Bartlaga\/Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong> 1979<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n5 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Connor McDavid, forward Leon Draisaitl, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins,\ndefenseman Darnell Nurse<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nWayne Gretzky (1979-88), Mark Messier (1979-91), Jari Kurri (1980-90), Paul\nCoffey (1980-87), Glenn Anderson (1980-91), Grant Fuhr (1981-91), Ryan Smyth\n(1994-07)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You love old-time dynasties. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Oilers organization is still clinging to\nthe five championships it won in a seven-year span, while also trying to revive\nEdmonton\u2019s moniker as Canada\u2019s City of Champions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
McDavid and Draisaitl are a veritable 1-2\npunch as two of the league\u2019s best players, but the Oilers have struggled to put\nenough talent around them to become even a championship contender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That duo is still fun to watch, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florida\nPanthers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Florida Panthers have struggled to capture South Florida\u2019s attention since moving to Sunrise in 1998 yet are on the rise. [Image: Ines Hegedus-Garcia\/Flickr, CC BY 2.0]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1993<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n0<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Aleksander Barkov, forward Jonathan Huberdeau, forward Sam Bennett,\nforward Sam Reinhart, defenseman Aaron Ekblad, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nJohn Vanbiesbrouck (1993-98), Scott Mellanby (1993-01), Pavel Bure (1999-02),\nRoberto Luongo (2000-06, 2014-19), Olli Jokinen (2000-09)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You support endangered species. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Panthers have long been one of the NHL\u2019s\nmost moribund organizations. Outside of their famous Year of the Rat run to the\nCup final, Florida has been largely irrelevant and a threat to move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, the Panthers have one of the NHL\u2019s best\nyoung cores and are poised for a run of relevance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will the team be supported? Stay tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Los\nAngeles Kings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDustin Brown and the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup twice in a three-year span in 2012 and 2014. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1967<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n2 (2012, 2014) <\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Anze Kopitar, defenseman Drew Doughty, goalie Jonathan Quick<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nMarcel Dionne (1975-87), Luc Robitaille (1986-94, 2003-06), Wayne Gretzky\n(1988-96), Rob Blake (1989-01, 2006-08), Jeff Carter (2012-20)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You love the glitz and glam of Hollywood. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Kings may be down the pecking order of\nSouthern California sports, but they are still the top hockey act in town\nthanks to a mid-2010s run that included two championships and a trip to the\nWestern Conference final in 2013. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kings are notable for their splash-making\nas they brought Wayne Gretzky to the US in 1988 and moved the NHL from out of\nthe dark ages and toward the mainstream \u2014 particularly as celebrities flooded\nthe Great Western Forum, LA\u2019s home arena at the time, to get a glimpse of \u201cThe\nGreat One\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minnesota\nWild<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMikko Koivu was the Minnesota Wild captain for 10 seasons before he departed for Columbus in 2020. [Image: Andy Witchger\/Flickr, CC BY 2.0]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n2000<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n0<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nForward Kirill Kaprizov, forward Joel Eriksson-Ek, forward Mats Zuccarello,\ndefenseman Matt Dumba, defenseman Jared Spurgeon<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nMarian Gaborik (2000-09), Mikko Koivu (2005-20), Niklas Backstrom (2006-15),\nRyan Suter (2012-21)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You support second chances. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Wild have unfortunately had similar\nsuccess to the North Stars before them only with much more rabid fan support.\nLosing a team will inspire that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Wild haven\u2019t yet achieved star status in\nthe NHL zeitgeist, but they\u2019re trying with a young core of skilled players,\ncoach Dean Evason and general manager Bill Guerin appear to be moving in the\nright direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Montreal\nCanadiens<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, by far the most of any NHL team. [Image: Ken Lund\/Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1917<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n24 (1924, 1925, 1930, 1931, 1944, 1946, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960,\n1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1993)<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nForward Brendan Gallagher, forward Jonathan Drouin, defenseman Jeff Petry,\ndefenseman Shea Weber, goalie Carey Price<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nGeorges Vezina (1917-26), Maurice Richard (1942-60), Jean Beliveau (1950-71),\nJacques Plante (1952-63), Henri Richard (1955-75), Yvon Cournoyer (1963-79),\nKen Dryden (1971-79), Guy Lafleur (1971-85), Larry Robinson (1972-89), Patrick\nRoy (1984-95)<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should support them if:<\/strong> You speak French or love a winning tradition. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Canadiens are sports royalty, essentially\nhockey\u2019s New York Yankees, with the timeless uniforms, endless traditions and\nlitany of star alumni looming over the present-day roster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Montreal is currently stuck in its longest\nchampionship drought in franchise history, but that shouldn\u2019t stop any\nprospective fans from cheering on le bleu, blanc et rouge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nashville\nPredators<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nNashville Predators fans have started throwing catfish on the ice in an homage to the region\u2019s southern roots. [Image: Brent Moore\/Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nEstablished in:<\/strong>\n1998<\/p>\n\n\n\nStanley Cups won:<\/strong>\n0<\/p>\n\n\n\nStar players:<\/strong>\nCenter Matt Duchene, forward Filip Forsberg, defenseman Roman Josi, defenseman\nMattias Ekholm<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll-time greats:<\/strong>\nTomas Vokoun (1998-07), David Legwand (1999-14), Shea Weber (2005-16), Mike\nFisher (2010-18) Pekka Rinne (2005-21)<\/p>\n\n\n\n