There are 32 teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2026-27 season. Twenty-five are based in the United States while the remaining seven are from Canada. They are equally divided into two conferences of 16 each, that is, the Eastern and the Western, and into four divisions of eight, namely the Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, and Pacific. The number of teams in the NHL has been at 32 since the 2021-22 season, when the Seattle Kraken started playing. The following table shows all the 32 teams, their origin, and expansion status.
NHL Team Count at a Glance:
Every number you might be looking for, current for the 2026-27 season.
| Total NHL teams | 32 |
|---|---|
| Season | 2026-27, which opens on 29 September 2026 |
| Teams in the United States | 25 |
| Teams in Canada | 7 |
| Conferences | 2. Eastern and Western |
| Teams per conference | 16 |
| Divisions | 4. Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central and Pacific |
| Teams per division | 8 |
| When it reached 32 | The 2021-22 season, when the Seattle Kraken began play |
| Newest franchise | Seattle Kraken, awarded 4 December 2018 for a 650 million dollar expansion fee |
| Second newest | Vegas Golden Knights, awarded 2016 for 500 million dollars, first season 2017-18 |
| Most recent change | The Arizona Coyotes ceased operations in 2024. The Utah franchise began play in 2024-25 and was renamed the Utah Mammoth in 2025. The total stayed at 32 |
| Original Six era | 1942 to 1967, when the league had exactly six teams |
| Current expansion status | No 33rd team has been awarded. Atlanta and Houston are the most frequently discussed markets |
| Games per team | 84 in 2026-27, up from 82, under the new collective bargaining agreement |
| Defending champions | Carolina Hurricanes |
All 32 NHL Teams by Conference and Division:
Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division:
- Boston Bruins, Boston, Massachusetts
- Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo, New York
- Detroit Red Wings, Detroit, Michigan
- Florida Panthers, Sunrise, Florida
- Montreal Canadiens, Montreal, Quebec
- Ottawa Senators, Ottawa, Ontario
- Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa, Florida
- Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto, Ontario
Eastern Conference, Metropolitan Division:
- Carolina Hurricanes, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus, Ohio
- New Jersey Devils, Newark, New Jersey
- New York Islanders, Elmont, New York
- New York Rangers, New York, New York
- Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Washington Capitals, Washington, D.C.
Western Conference, Central Division:
- Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago, Illinois
- Colorado Avalanche, Denver, Colorado
- Dallas Stars, Dallas, Texas
- Minnesota Wild, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Nashville Predators, Nashville, Tennessee
- St. Louis Blues, St. Louis, Missouri
- Utah Mammoth, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Western Conference, Pacific Division:
- Anaheim Ducks, Anaheim, California
- Calgary Flames, Calgary, Alberta
- Edmonton Oilers, Edmonton, Alberta
- Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles, California
- San Jose Sharks, San Jose, California
- Seattle Kraken, Seattle, Washington
- Vancouver Canucks, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Vegas Golden Knights, Paradise, Nevada
How Many NHL Teams Are in Canada:
Seven. Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets. The remaining 25 teams are located in the U.S. This is surprising considering the extent to which the game is linked with Canada, but this has been a result of growth in the U.S., especially the southern states, since the 1990s.
How the NHL Got to 32 Teams:
It has been quite different in the past. It was accompanied by sudden leaps and stops, and very long intervals of stagnation in between. Initially, the league existed with just four teams back in 1917. Over the following 20 years, the expansion occurred rather erratically, leading to a contraction period during World War II known as the Original Six period. The period lasted 25 years, from 1942 to 1967, and involved six teams exactly: the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.
The number of franchises doubled in 1967, reaching twelve at once, with six new franchises added: the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. In addition, during the 1970s, two new teams were created in 1970 – Buffalo and Vancouver, and another one in 1972 – the New York Islanders, together with four teams transferred from the rivaling World Hockey Association in 1979, including Edmonton Oilers.
An unprecedented expansion period occurred in the 1990s in the United States, with San Jose, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Anaheim, Florida and Nashville all joining the league between 1991 and 1998. Then, Columbus and Minnesota got their franchises in 2000, making the number of teams equal to 30, which would not change for 17 years. Finally, in 2017-18, the 31st franchise was established in Las Vegas and the 32nd one in Seattle in 2021-22. These numbers are the present day totals now.
What Happened to the Arizona Coyotes:
Here is when there is a problem with counting, therefore, it is vital to get it clear. The Arizona Coyotes went out of business in 2024. The players of this club got transferred to another new one in Salt Lake City, which was called Utah Hockey Club for the 2024-25 season and Utah Mammoth in 2025.
In particular, this event cannot be considered as an expansion. One team went out of business and another one appeared; consequently, the number of teams remained at 32. People who argue that the NHL had 33 teams in 2024 simply did not understand the situation.
Is the NHL Expanding to 33 or More Teams:
As of September 2026, no 33rd franchise has yet been given an award. There are many plans for expansion, but none of them has been voted or accepted yet. Atlanta and Houston are mentioned most frequently by representatives of the league and agents. Atlanta has been home to two other NHL franchises before, namely the Flames (1972-1980) and the Thrashers (1999-2010), both of which were relocated. Gary Bettman once said that previous failures wouldn’t disqualify the city for consideration. Arena is the key criterion; thus, there have been some steps made towards building arenas in Atlanta.
Some analysts have forecasted the league to expand to the point of having 36 teams, but this information was obtained from the broadcasters and agents, not the league itself. Take no definite date for granted. The actual piece of news worth mentioning: if the NHL expands to the 33rd team, it will be the first major North American sport league to exceed 32 teams.
A Warning About Expansion Sources:
A search today for information related to NHL expansion will bring up fan-made wiki sites which outline an NHL with 40 teams and franchises in places such as Kansas City, Hamilton and Quebec City. They are fictional creations made by fans and are unrelated to any league expansion plan. If you find a source listing named and placed expansion teams, verify if the source is from the NHL, from a mainstream outlet or from a fan wiki. Most of the expansion information available is from the last category.
What Is Different About the 2026-27 Season:
There are two facts that should be mentioned since they influence the statistics of number searches around the team count. Firstly, there was an expansion in the schedule of regular games to 84 matches due to the new collective bargaining agreement; this is the longest schedule since the 1993-94 seasons. Two additional games for each club will be played at home and away against their division rival. Secondly, the season started in September for the second time in the league’s history on 29 September 2026 when Carolina Hurricanes will play with Florida Panthers.
Final Take:
There are 32 teams in the NHL, with 16 in each conference, 8 in each division, 25 in the USA, and 7 in Canada. There hasn’t been an expansion since the 2021-22 season, even with the Arizona to Utah expansion in 2024. Expansion is not something that has been done yet; it is something being discussed. Until then, 32 will be the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many NHL teams are there?
There are 32 NHL teams in the 2026-27 season, split into two conferences of 16 and four divisions of eight.
How many NHL teams are in Canada?
Seven: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. The remaining 25 are in the United States.
When did the NHL become 32 teams?
In the 2021-22 season, when the Seattle Kraken began play. Seattle was awarded the franchise on 4 December 2018 for a 650 million dollar expansion fee.
What is the newest NHL team?
In the 2021-22 season, when the Seattle Kraken began play. Seattle was awarded the franchise on 4 December 2018 for a 650 million dollar expansion fee.
How many teams are in each NHL division?
Eight. The four divisions are Atlantic and Metropolitan in the Eastern Conference, and Central and Pacific in the Western Conference.
Is the NHL adding more teams?
No expansion team has been awarded as of September 2026. Atlanta and Houston are the most frequently discussed candidate markets, but nothing has been approved.
Did the NHL lose a team when Arizona moved to Utah?
No. The Arizona Coyotes ceased operations in 2024 and hockey operations moved to a new Utah franchise. The league total stayed at 32.
How many games do NHL teams play?
84 in the 2026-27 season, increased from 82 under the new collective bargaining agreement.
Which six teams are the Original Six?
Montreal, Toronto, Boston, the New York Rangers, Chicago and Detroit. Those were the only NHL clubs from 1942 to 1967.
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