The National Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America considered the premier one in the world. The NHL features a total of 32 teams, the majority of which are from the US.
Despite this, in the beginning, the NHL only had four teams all of which were based in Canada. Only in 1924 the first US team, the Boston Bruins, joined the NHL, and since then, both countries have participated in the league.
Most of the NHL teams are incredibly old, and some of them were founded at the very beginning of the 20th century. However, others are way more recent.
This is why we decided to create a list of the youngest NHL teams!
8. Florida Panthers
Founded In: 1993
Division: Atlantic
Colors: Red, Blue, Flat Gold, White
photo source: sportsbookwire.usatoday.com
The Florida Panthers are based in Sunrise, Florida, and were founded in 1993.
This team initially played its home game at the Miami Arena but moved to the FLA Live Arena in 1998.
The Florida Panthers first appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996 but since then, the team has struggled to win. In fact, they qualified for the Stanley Cup Finals playoffs only seven times. The Florida Panthers managed to win a playoff series only in 2022.
Throughout their career, this team has changed two logos. The first one was used from 1993 to 2016, and it depicted a leaping panther. In the 2016-2017 season the Florida Panthers started to adopt a new logo. This featured a shield with a panther and the word ‘Florida’ on it.
The head coach of the Florida Panthers is currently Andrew Brunette. He played for many teams ranging from Washington Capitals to Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and many others.
Did You Know?
During the 2013-2014 season, the Florida Panthers set the new record for the most points by a new team. However, this was soon defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017-2018 season.
7. Anaheim Ducks
Founded In: 1993
Division: Pacific
Colors: Black, Metallic Gold, Orange, Silver
photo source: thehockeynews.com
The Anaheim Ducks are an NHL team from Anaheim California founded in 1993 by the Walt Disney Company.
This team plays its home game at the Honda Center, an indoor arena. The Honda Center was completed in 1993, the same year in which the Anaheim California team was founded.
Throughout its career, the Anaheim Ducks changed three uniforms. They started with a purple and jade base with silver, purple and white stripes. Between 2006 and 2014, the uniforms became black and white, featuring metallic gold and orange stripes. Now the team wears the ‘webbed D’ alternate as their primary jersey.
The Anaheim Ducks’ mascot is a duck known as Wild Wing. It always wears a jersey showing the number 93 on the back. This represents the year in which the team officially entered the NHL.
Did You Know?
There have been a few accidents involving Wild Wing throughout the Anaheim Ducks’ career. For instance, in 1995, Wild Wing attempted to jump through a wall of fire, but failed to do so and caught fire.
6. Nashville Predators
Founded In: 1998
Division: Central
Colors: Predators Gold, Navy Blue, White
photo source: www.ontheforecheck.com
The Nashville Predators are an ice hockey team based in Nashville Tennessee and were founded in 1998.
This team plays its home game at the Bridgestone Arena, a multi-purpose venue located in Downtown Nashville and completed in 1996.
It took the Nashville Predators five seasons to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. They managed to arrive at the final in 2017 but lost against the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the following year they finally won their first President Trophy and Central Division Title.
Nashville’s fans have pretty awkward traditions. In fact, since 2003, they have been throwing catfish onto the ice to celebrate their team. The mascot of the Nashville Predators is a blue saber-toothed cat known as Gnash, while the official logo is the front-facing saber-toothed cat.
Did You Know?
Nashville Predators’ head coach is currently John Hynes, who in 2011 was awarded the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award. This trophy is given to the most outstanding coach of the season.
5. Winnipeg Jets
Founded In: 1999
Division: Central
Colors: Polar Night Blue, Silver, Red, White
photo source: thehockeywriters.com
The Winnipeg Jets are a team in the Central Division founded in 1999. This team is based in Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, Canada.
The Winnipeg Jets are currently owned by True North Sports & Entertainment. That’s why during the national anthem, ‘O Canada’, fans tend to shout the words ‘True North!’.
The Winnipeg Jets’ mascot is Mick. E. Moose. This mascot had already been used for fifteen seasons for the Manitoba Moose of the International and American Hockey Leagues. However, its costume was slightly altered when it became the official mascot of the Winnipeg Jets. In fact, Mick. E. Moose now wears a vintage leather aviator helmet which was not included in the original uniform.
The Winnipeg Jets won their first playoffs series in 2018. However, in the following season, the team struggled a lot. This was due to the fact that most of its best members left the team, in particular, Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, and Dustin Byfuglien.
Did You Know?
The captain of the Winnipeg Jets is currently Blake Wheeler, while the official head coach is Dave Lowry.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
Founded In: 2000
Division: Metropolitan
Colors: Union Blue, Goal Red, Capital Silver, White
photo source: dispatch.com
The Columbus Blue Jackets were founded in 2000 and are currently based in Columbus, Ohio.
This team had a hard time at the beginning of its career. In fact, they lost 30 games in a single season! However, they soon managed to get back on track. In 2009, the Columbus Blue Jackets qualified for the first time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Finally, in 2019, They managed to win their first playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lighting.
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ logo is a representation of the flag of the state of Ohio. Initially, this was simply used as an alternative logo, but it became the official one only in the 2007-2008 season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ official mascot is the Stinger. This consists of a green bug walking among the crowd during games and skating on the ice between breaks.
The team plays its home games at Nationwide Arena, a venue opened in 2000 with a capacity of 18,500 people.
Did You Know?
The Columbus Blue Jackets were the first team who managed to sweep a Presidents’ Trophy winner in the first round.
3. Minnesota Wild
Founded In: 2000
Division: Central
Colors: Forest Green, Iron Range Red, Harvest Gold, Minnesota
photo source: commons.wikimedia.org
The Minnesota Wild is a team located in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
They played their home games at the Xcel Energy Center, a multipurpose area with a capacity of almost 18,000 people. The Minnesota Wild is not the first ice hockey team in Minnesota. In fact, this state already had a team, the Minnesota North Stars, that moved to Dallas in 1993.
Despite the Minnesota Wild being founded in June 1997, they played their first game only in 2000.
The team played its first game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, losing 3-1. After this defeat, the Minnesota Wild kept losing until their fifth game, when they finally managed to record their first win against the Tampa Bay Lighting.
The logo of the Minnesota Wild consists of a silhouette of a wild animal containing a forest landscape and a star representing the north star. This was done to celebrate Minnesota’s motto, L’Étoile du Nord, and to commemorate the departed Minnesota North Stars.
Did You Know?
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ head coach is currently Dean Evason while the team’s official owner is Craig Leipold.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
Founded In: 2017
Division: Pacific
Colors: Steel, Gray, Gold, Red, Black
photo source: www.tsn.ca
The Vegas Golden Knights are one of the youngest hockey teams in the NHL, as they were founded in 2017.
They are located in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and are owned by Black Knight Sports & Entertainment. This team has been extremely successful from the very beginning of its career. In fact, it managed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs in its first four seasons. On top of this, the Vegas Golden Knights also reached the Stanley Cup Finals in their very first season.
The name of the team derives from the Black Knights of the US Military Academy. The original plan by Foley, the lead investor of the Black Knights Sports & Entertainment, was to name the team the ‘Vegan Knights’. But he was not allowed to do so as the word ‘Knights’ was already used by the London Knights, an ice hockey team in Canada.
Did You Know?
The official mascot of the team is a quite unusual animal, the Gila monster. This is a species of poisonous lizard endemic to the southwestern US. The official name of the mascot is Chance.
1. Seattle Kraken
Founded In: 2021
Division: Pacific
Colors: Deep Sea Blue, Ice Blue, Boundless Blue, Shadow Blue, Red Alert
photo source: thehockeynews.com
The Seattle Kraken is the youngest team currently playing in the NHL as they were founded in 2021.
This team is based in Seattle and is the first one to play in this city after the Seattle Totems folded due to a 2$ million debt.
The Seattle Kraken play their home game at the Climate Pledge Arena, a venue with a capacity of 18,100 seats. This site has welcomed extremely famous bands such as The Beatles and Metallica.
The Seattle Kraken announced its colors, name, and branding on July 23, 2020. Their first captain was Mark Giordano, and they played their first NHL game on October 14, 2021, against the Vegas Golden Knights. Unfortunately, they lost this match but succeeded in winning their second game against the Nashville Predators.
Did You Know?
When the NBL Board of Governors decided to approve Seattle’s expansion team, the Arizona Coyotes were moved from the Pacific Division to the Western Division. This was done to balance the team out.
