Defunct & Relocated Teams
Montreal Wanderers: Played 1 season (1917-1918), actually ended up only being
half a season. Their arena burnt down before the second half of the season could
start causing them to not have a place to play. Overall record: 1-5-0
Quebec Athletic Club: Played 1 season (1919-1920), The club was sold to a
Hamilton, Ontario based company and moved to Hamilton shortly after the sale was
final. Overall record: 4-20-0
Hamilton Tigers: Played 5 seasons (1920-1925), the club was not relocated
and became defunct because of a players strike. The players were bought by the
New York Americans. Overall record: 47-78-1
Pittsburgh Pirates: Played 5 seasons (1925-1930), the club struggled
financially due to the Great Depression, ownership moved the team to
Philadelphia. Renaming them the Quakers. The team made 2 playoff appearances.
Overall record: 67-122-23
Philadelphia Quakers: Played 1 season (1930-1931, the team continued to
struggle due to the Great Depression, folding after the 1930 season. Overall
record: 4-36-4
Ottawa Senators: Played 16 seasons (1917-1934), the team was quite a success
for most of its tenure, making the playoffs 9 times and winning the Stanley Cup
4 times. However due to the Great Depression and financial struggles, the team
was relocated to St. Louis, being named the Eagles. Overall record:
258-221-63
St. Louis Eagles: Played 1 season (1934-1935), the financial woes got no
better in St. Louis, causing the team to fold after only 1 season of play.
Overall Record: 11-31-6
Montreal Maroons: Played 14 seasons (1924-1938), The team made the playoffs
11 times in its 14 year history, winning the Stanley Cup twice. Due to financial
woes the team folded after the 1938 season. Overall record: 271-260-91
Brooklyn Americans: Played 17 seasons (1925-1942), the team, while not the
most consistent team, did make 5 playoff appearances in its 17 year history. The
team suspended operations in 1942 due to the lack of players during World War II
and financial struggles. The team formally ceased to exist in 1946. Overall
record: 255-402-127
California Golden Seals: Played 9 seasons (1967-1976), team with what I
consider, the best name ever was constantly in financial trouble. The team made
2 playoff appearances in its 9 seasons in California. The team moved to Cleveland
in season of better financial conditions and the teams minority owner was from
Cleveland. Overall record: 182-401-115
Kansas City Scouts: Played 2 seasons (1974-1976), the team was not very
competitive in its 2 seasons in Kansas City and was quickly sold to a group of
investors who had the intention of moving the team, which they did to Colorado.
Overall record: 27-110-23
Cleveland Barons: Played 2 seasons, (1976-1978), the team was not very
competitive in Cleveland and continued to struggle financially. They merged with
the Minnesota North Stars for the 1979 season, making Cleveland lose its hockey
team. Overall record: 47-87-26
Atlanta Flames: Played 8 seasons in Georgia (1972-1980), the team was highly
successful in its 8 seasons, making the playoffs 6 times, although never
capturing the Stanley Cup. The team was sold to Nelson Skalbania with the
intention of the team moving, which they did to Calgary, becoming the Flames.
Overall record: 268-260-108
Colorado Rockies: Played 6 seasons (1976-1982), The team never made the
playoffs in its 6 years in the Rocky Mountains, they were sold to John McMullen
who moved the team to his home state of New Jersey. Overall record:
113-281-86
Minnesota North Stars: Played 26 seasons (1967-1993), the team was highly
popular and competitive during most of its time in Minnesota, making the
playoffs 17 times. The North Stars were moved to Dallas, Texas, becoming the
Stars after the ’93 season because of financial issues. The State of Hockey was
devastated, however only 4 years later the NHL agreed to bring hockey back to
Minnesota, and the Wild debuted in 2000. The Wild had 10 straight years of
sellouts and continues to be one of the league leaders in attendance. North
Stars overall record: 758-970-334 *(I am quite biased on this, owing to the fact
the blogger is a huge supporter of hockey and the Minnesota Wild)
Quebec Nordiques: Played 16 seasons (1979-1995), the team was pretty
consistent throughout its time in Quebec City, making the playoffs 9 times. Due
to financial struggle, the team was sold to a Denver based company and moved
there, becoming the Colorado Avalanche. Overall record: 497-599-160
Winnipeg Jets: Played 17 seasons (1979-1996), the team was successful in its
stay in Manitoba. Making the playoffs 11 times. The team was sold to a group of
investors with the intention of moving the team, in search of a better financial
situation, which they did, moving them to Phoenix, becoming the Coyotes. Overall
record: 506-660-172
Hartford Whalers: Played 18 seasons (1979-1997), The team had its ups and
downs in Connecticut. Making the playoffs 8 times in 18 years. The team moved to
Carolina in 1998 becoming the Hurricanes, in search of better financial times.
Overall record: 534-709-177
Atlanta Thrashers: Played 11 seasons (1999-2011), The team struggled mightily
and endured great financial woes, the team was told to a Winnipeg-based company
and moved to Winnipeg for the 2012 season. The team was renamed the Winnipeg
Jets. The Thrashers made 1 playoff appearance. Overall record: 342-437-45-78
half a season. Their arena burnt down before the second half of the season could
start causing them to not have a place to play. Overall record: 1-5-0
Quebec Athletic Club: Played 1 season (1919-1920), The club was sold to a
Hamilton, Ontario based company and moved to Hamilton shortly after the sale was
final. Overall record: 4-20-0
Hamilton Tigers: Played 5 seasons (1920-1925), the club was not relocated
and became defunct because of a players strike. The players were bought by the
New York Americans. Overall record: 47-78-1
Pittsburgh Pirates: Played 5 seasons (1925-1930), the club struggled
financially due to the Great Depression, ownership moved the team to
Philadelphia. Renaming them the Quakers. The team made 2 playoff appearances.
Overall record: 67-122-23
Philadelphia Quakers: Played 1 season (1930-1931, the team continued to
struggle due to the Great Depression, folding after the 1930 season. Overall
record: 4-36-4
Ottawa Senators: Played 16 seasons (1917-1934), the team was quite a success
for most of its tenure, making the playoffs 9 times and winning the Stanley Cup
4 times. However due to the Great Depression and financial struggles, the team
was relocated to St. Louis, being named the Eagles. Overall record:
258-221-63
St. Louis Eagles: Played 1 season (1934-1935), the financial woes got no
better in St. Louis, causing the team to fold after only 1 season of play.
Overall Record: 11-31-6
Montreal Maroons: Played 14 seasons (1924-1938), The team made the playoffs
11 times in its 14 year history, winning the Stanley Cup twice. Due to financial
woes the team folded after the 1938 season. Overall record: 271-260-91
Brooklyn Americans: Played 17 seasons (1925-1942), the team, while not the
most consistent team, did make 5 playoff appearances in its 17 year history. The
team suspended operations in 1942 due to the lack of players during World War II
and financial struggles. The team formally ceased to exist in 1946. Overall
record: 255-402-127
California Golden Seals: Played 9 seasons (1967-1976), team with what I
consider, the best name ever was constantly in financial trouble. The team made
2 playoff appearances in its 9 seasons in California. The team moved to Cleveland
in season of better financial conditions and the teams minority owner was from
Cleveland. Overall record: 182-401-115
Kansas City Scouts: Played 2 seasons (1974-1976), the team was not very
competitive in its 2 seasons in Kansas City and was quickly sold to a group of
investors who had the intention of moving the team, which they did to Colorado.
Overall record: 27-110-23
Cleveland Barons: Played 2 seasons, (1976-1978), the team was not very
competitive in Cleveland and continued to struggle financially. They merged with
the Minnesota North Stars for the 1979 season, making Cleveland lose its hockey
team. Overall record: 47-87-26
Atlanta Flames: Played 8 seasons in Georgia (1972-1980), the team was highly
successful in its 8 seasons, making the playoffs 6 times, although never
capturing the Stanley Cup. The team was sold to Nelson Skalbania with the
intention of the team moving, which they did to Calgary, becoming the Flames.
Overall record: 268-260-108
Colorado Rockies: Played 6 seasons (1976-1982), The team never made the
playoffs in its 6 years in the Rocky Mountains, they were sold to John McMullen
who moved the team to his home state of New Jersey. Overall record:
113-281-86
Minnesota North Stars: Played 26 seasons (1967-1993), the team was highly
popular and competitive during most of its time in Minnesota, making the
playoffs 17 times. The North Stars were moved to Dallas, Texas, becoming the
Stars after the ’93 season because of financial issues. The State of Hockey was
devastated, however only 4 years later the NHL agreed to bring hockey back to
Minnesota, and the Wild debuted in 2000. The Wild had 10 straight years of
sellouts and continues to be one of the league leaders in attendance. North
Stars overall record: 758-970-334 *(I am quite biased on this, owing to the fact
the blogger is a huge supporter of hockey and the Minnesota Wild)
Quebec Nordiques: Played 16 seasons (1979-1995), the team was pretty
consistent throughout its time in Quebec City, making the playoffs 9 times. Due
to financial struggle, the team was sold to a Denver based company and moved
there, becoming the Colorado Avalanche. Overall record: 497-599-160
Winnipeg Jets: Played 17 seasons (1979-1996), the team was successful in its
stay in Manitoba. Making the playoffs 11 times. The team was sold to a group of
investors with the intention of moving the team, in search of a better financial
situation, which they did, moving them to Phoenix, becoming the Coyotes. Overall
record: 506-660-172
Hartford Whalers: Played 18 seasons (1979-1997), The team had its ups and
downs in Connecticut. Making the playoffs 8 times in 18 years. The team moved to
Carolina in 1998 becoming the Hurricanes, in search of better financial times.
Overall record: 534-709-177
Atlanta Thrashers: Played 11 seasons (1999-2011), The team struggled mightily
and endured great financial woes, the team was told to a Winnipeg-based company
and moved to Winnipeg for the 2012 season. The team was renamed the Winnipeg
Jets. The Thrashers made 1 playoff appearance. Overall record: 342-437-45-78