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What Divisions Are In The Eastern Conference?

The East is made up of two divisions the Atlantic and Metropolitan Division.

Past Eastern Conference Winners

What a run by Pittsburgh winning back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships twice and three Stanley Cups since 2008.

* Won the Stanley Cup

History of The Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference dates back to 1993 when Gary Bettman changed the names of the two Conference to helps fans better understand where the teams play.

Teams With The Most Eastern Conference Titles

The New Jersey Devils hold the most Eastern Division championships winning it five times since 1993. Tampa and Pittsburgh are hot on their heels with four of their own.

What Divisions Are In The Western Conference?

The West is made up of two divisions the Central and Pacific Division.

Past Western Conference Winners

Six times in the past 10 years the West has won the Cup. Including back-to-back years now. It’s a pretty remarkable run.

* Won the Stanley Cup

History of The Western Conference

Just like the Eastern Conference, the West was created back in 1993. The league re-named the division to help fans understand the alignment of the league.

Teams With The Most Western Conference Titles

Detroit may not be in the West any longer, but they bullied the Division for a long time. Specifically between 1995 and 1998, winning it three times and finishing runner-up once more.

What Teams Are In The Atlantic Division?

There are eight teams in the Atlantic Division which you will see a little history on each below.

Boston Bruins

The original six franchise and six-time Stanley Cup Champion set the NHL record for points in a single season in 2022-23 with 135 points in 82 games. The Bruins are responsible for giving us legends like Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Willie O’Ree

Buffalo Sabres

They’ve got the longest playoff drought in North American sports. Buffalo hasn’t seen the postseason in 12 years now. The Sabres Cup dreams were dashed by a Brett Hull skate in the crease. Look it up.

Detroit Red Wings

Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Steve Yzerman. The club from Motor City gave us some of the biggest names in the sport. It’s probably why their 11 Stanley Cup championships are the most for an American team.

Florida Panthers

Attendance issues seem to be the only thing the Panthers are known for these days. But maybe a trip to the Final in 2023 can cure those attendance issues?

Montreal Canadiens

Le Blue-Blanc-Rouge has 24 Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters at the Bell Center. They’ve also given the sports some of its biggest icons from Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, Jean “Le Gros Bill” Beliveau and Guy LaFleur. And that’s just scratching the surface. 

Ottawa Senators

It's been tough sledding for the Sens of late, finishing sixth or worst in the Atlantic Division over the last five seasons. However, in the first decade of the 2000's, the 1992 expansion team had glimpses of success, including its only Stanley Cup appearance in 2006-07, losing to the Anaheim Ducks, and its only Presidents' Trophy in 2002-03.

Tampa Bay Lightning

This powerhouse franchise from the Sunshine State is the modern equivalent of a dynasty in the NHL thanks to two Cup championships and three Final appearances in a row. 

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs are at the center of the hockey universe. And it’s done them no favors. With all of that fan and media attention, the Buds haven’t won a championship since 1967. When the league only had six teams. But hey, at least they gave us Tim Horton, the guy who created the double-double (sorta).

Past Atlantic Division Winners

I don’t know about you, but I forgot that the Montreal Canadiens were that good not so long ago. I didn’t expect to see them on this list. 

* Won the Presidents' Trophy

History of The Atlantic Division

The Atlantic Division has existed since 1993. Prior to 93, the division was known as the Patrick Division.

In 1998, the alignment of the Atlantic Division changed. It went from seven teams to five with all five teams being from neighboring states New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

That alignment lasted until 2013 when the Atlantic Division changed once again. This time it would hold all of the Canadian teams in the Eastern Conference as well as Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida and Tampa.

Teams With The Most Atlantic Division Titles

The New Jersey Devils hold the most Atlantic Division championships winning it nine times from 1997 to 2010.

What Teams Are In The Central Division?

History and recent success encapsulates the NHL's Central division.

Arizona Coyotes

It’s been a tough go ever since they relocated from Winnipeg. While there are number of passionate hockey fans in the desert, the desert doesn’t seem to have the same love for the Coyotes. A new arena has been rejected three times and now they find themselves playing in a 5,000 college rink for the foreseeable future.

Chicago Blackhawks

This original six franchise was the gem of the NHL when they won three Stanley Cups in six years. But all of that is tainted after a scandal proved the club prioritized winning over protecting its players. 

Colorado Avalanche

Former captain and now GM Joe Sakic has brought glory back to his beloved franchise. With a Cup win in 2022, the Avs are back at the top of the NHL like when Joe was still lacing up his skates all the way back in 2009.

Dallas Stars

The Stars came into existence when the Minnesota North Stars were relocated to the Lone Star State. Dallas has gone to three Cup Final in franchise history, winning once in 1999.

Minnesota Wild

Expansion brought hockey back to Minnesota in 2000. The Wild are one of only six NHL teams that have never drafted first overall and never won a Stanley Cup.

Nashville Predators

Just like the Wild, the Predators are one of those few NHL franchises that have not only never won a Stanley Cup, but they’ve never selected first overall at the draft. But unlike the Wild, at least Nashville came (kind of) close. Smashville made it to the Cup Final in 2017, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

St. Louis Blues

In 2019, the Blues did the improbable. They went from the bottom of the NHL standings, to making the playoffs and eventually winning the Stanley Cup. The 2019 Blues are the NHL Cinderella Story.

Winnipeg Jets

There’s no other name that comes to mind when you think of the Winnipeg Jets than Teemu Selanne. The Finnish Flash scored an NHL record 76 goals for the Jets as a rookie back in 1992-93.

Past Central Division Winners

No one team has dominated the division over the past decade. That healthy volatility shows just how competitive the Central is. It’s easily one of the toughest divisions in the league. 

* Temporary Re-Alignment
** Presidents' Trophy Winner

History of The Central Division

Just like the Atlantic Division, the Central was formed in 1993. Before that, the division was known as the Norris Division.

The original Central Division lineup was wild by today’s standards. While there were a few familiar names one in particular really stands out:

Teams With The Most Central Division Titles

Detroit stands well ahead of the field here with three times more championships than the next team.

What Teams Are In The Metropolitan Division?

The newest division has some of the marquee modern-day superstars such as Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

Carolina Hurricanes

This bunch of jerks has serious Stanley Cup aspirations. They haven’t hoisted the Cup since they beat the Oilers back in 2006. The Canes have been one of the top teams in this division for a long time.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets have rarely been relevant in the NHL. They’ve only made the playoffs six times since they entered the league in 2000. And they’ve only made the second round once, in 2020 after sweeping the 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning. 

New Jersey Devils

Change can be uncomfortable. The Devils went from winning Cups with legends like Martin Brodeur to falling to the bottom of the NHL standings and getting first-overall picks like Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. Now with a core of young guns, the Devils are back and looking for another Cup.

New York Islanders

The Islanders are a true NHL dynasty, winning four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983. The Isles also hold the record for consecutive playoff series wins at 19. A record that won’t likely be broken anytime soon.

New York Rangers

You can’t say this fanbase isn’t passionate. They still chant “Potvin Sucks” at every game since Islanders star Dennis Potvin injured Ulf Nilsson way back in 1979. They’ve been doing it for 40+ years now.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers had massive success in the mid 70’s with back-to-back Cups in 1974 and 1975. They flirted with success in the late 80 with appearances in two Cup Final and were in the Final again in 1997 and 2010. They lost all four of those Cup series. 

Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby was as advertised for the Pens. They’ve made the playoffs in every year but two in Crosby’s reign. They’ve won three Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017 pushing the franchise championship total to five since 1967.

Washington Capitals

After getting bounced by the Penguins in three playoffs. The Caps finally got the best of their nemesis in 2018 and won their first championship in franchise history. It was only their second trip to the Cup Final. Not bad.

Past Metropolitan Division Winners

The Capitals were the class of the Metro for a long time winning the division five times in a ro from 2016 to 2020.

*Presidents' Trophy Winners

History of The Metropolitan Division

The Metro isn’t very old, dating back to 2013. It went away in 2020-21 during the COVID re-alignment. The eight teams that are currently in the Metro, have been there from the start.

Teams With The Most Metropolitan Division Titles

Washington’s domination over this division has them well above any other side. But with back-to-back division titles in 2022 and 2023 Carolina is coming for them.

What Teams Are In The Pacific Division?

The funky Pacific division is the host of the two most-recent expansion teams in the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights. Additionally, three teams up north make up fun, physical division.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have gone from owning the Pacific to being extras at this point. But with all that losing they’re doing they might just be able to turn it around ASAP.

Calgary Flames

If you’re just tuning into the NHL you’d never know that the Flames were a good team at one point. With former stars Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, they were one of the better teams in the league.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have transitioned from one phenom in Wayne Gretzky to a new one in Connor McDavid. Now, McDavid won’t likely break any of the Great One's records or win as many Cups. but McDavid is redefining the modern game.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings might have hit most NHL fans radar when Wayne Gretzky was trade to LA from Edmonton back in the early 90’s, but the Kings have a rich history with some legendary players to go with winning the Cup in 2012 and 2014. Think of players like Marcel Dionne and Luc Robitaille. 

San Jose Sharks

For years San Jose was at the top of the NHL. They’ve made the Conference Finals five times and the Cup Final one. They’ve won only one of those Conference Finals.  

Seattle Kraken

They’ve only been in the league since 2022 but in those two seasons they’ve already made the playoffs once and won a round, defeating the defending Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche.

Vancouver Canucks

Always the bridesmaid but never the bride. Vancouver has made the Stanley Cup Final three times in their history but have never won the Cup. They came close in 1994 and 2011 going all the way to Game 7 in each of those Final.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas has only been in the league for six years and already have a rich legacy of success. They’ve made the postseason in five of those six seasons, gone to the Conference Finals three times and the Stanley Cup Final once. And of course, they won the Cup in 2023.

Past Pacific Division Winners

What a run for Anaheim between 2014 and 2017. They’ve fallen off since then but they’ve got a crop of young studs that might be able to turn that around. 

History of The Pacific Division

Like most of the other divisions in the NHL, the Pacific was created in 1993. Previously, it was the Smythe Division. 

The first Pacific Division had six teams, all of them are still members of today’s Pacific Division:

Teams With The Most Pacific Division Titles

The two teams at the top of the most Pacific Division Titles are both now rebuilding through the draft. Both could be back at the top of the division real soon.