NHL - best league in the world
The National Hockey League (NHL) is the pinnacle of professional ice hockey leagues in North America. Established in 1917, the NHL was created to foster competitive hockey and has since become synonymous with the highest level of professional ice hockey. North America ranks 1st among the world’s ice hockey leagues, with the NHL being the premier professional hockey league. Teams in the NHL compete in an 82-game regular season, playing each other multiple times both at home and away, for a total of 1,312 games league-wide. Points are awarded for a win (2 points), a loss in overtime or shootout (1 point), and 0 for a regulation loss. If teams are level on points, the tie-breakers are the number of wins, then the goal difference, followed by several other factors.
The best teams in the world's strongest league
As of 2022, the Montreal Canadiens had won the Stanley Cup, the NHL's championship trophy, more than any other team, with 24 titles in total. The team most recently won the competition in 1993.
The others are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and the Edmonton Oilers, making them part of an elite group with multiple Stanley Cup titles.
League schedule for the upcoming season
The NHL season typically kicks off in October and runs through April, followed by the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which culminate in June. The exact schedule is released annually, with teams competing in a rigorous 82-game regular season to qualify for the playoffs.
How to get to the NHL and the playoffs
Entry into the NHL is governed by the league's expansion and relocation policies, which are detailed and extensive. New teams can enter the league through an expansion process while existing teams can relocate based on certain criteria and league approval. Teams qualify for the NHL playoffs based on their performance during the regular season. The top teams from each division and wild-card teams (the next highest-ranked teams in each conference regardless of division) advance to the playoffs. The exact number of qualifying teams and the structure of the playoffs can vary, but typically, 16 teams qualify for the playoffs.
Top players in the league
The NHL's all-time top ice hockey scorer is Wayne Gretzky, with 2,857 points, all for several teams, including the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings. He also holds the record for most goals scored in a single season with 92 points in the 1981-82 campaign and is the only player ever to win the league's top scorer award, the Art Ross Trophy, in ten different seasons. The overall prize pool for the tournament is substantial, with teams vying for the prestigious Stanley Cup and players competing for numerous individual awards and accolades.