History of the National Hockey League (1942–1967)

The Original Six era of the National Hockey League began in 1942 with the demise of the Brooklyn Americans, reducing the league to six teams. The Stanley Cup, was the de facto championship since 1926, becoming the de jure championship in 1947. Toronto and Montreal evidenced dynasties, as the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup nine times from 1942 onwards, while the Canadiens won ten times, including five consecutive titles between 1956 and 1960.

About History of the National Hockey League (1942–1967) in brief

The Original Six era of the National Hockey League began in 1942 with the demise of the Brooklyn Americans, reducing the league to six teams. This structure remained stable for a quarter century; the era ended in 1967 when the NHL doubled in size adding six expansion teams. The Stanley Cup, was the de facto championship since 1926, becoming the de jure championship in 1947. Toronto and Montreal evidenced dynasties, as the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup nine times from 1942 onwards, while the Canadiens won ten times, including five consecutive titles between 1956 and 1960. The NHL continued to develop throughout the era. In 1943, in an attempt to ‘open up’ the game, the league introduced the centre-ice red line allowing players for the first time to pass out of their defensive zone. In 1959, Jacques Plante became the first goaltender to regularly wear a face mask for protection. The first amateur draft was held in 1963 as part of efforts to balance talent distribution within the league. In the 1930s and early 1940s, both the Great Depression and World War II were detrimental to the NHL. In 1930, the Pittsburgh Pirates relocated to become the Philadelphia Quakers before folding in 1931. In 1934, the Ottawa Senators became the St. Louis Eagles, and likewise ceased operations after one year in their new market. The Montreal Maroons suspended operations in 1937 as the Montreal market was unable to support two teams. In 1942, the New York Americans, renamed the Brooklyn American, suspended operations due to financial difficulty, and a lack of players due to the war.

In 1946, with Dutton’s recommendation, Clarence Campbell was named president of the NHL, and remained until retirement in 1977. The league President Frank Calder collapsed during a meeting, dying shortly after. In February 1943, league President Red Dutton agreed to take over as president, but later resigned due to ill-health. There was no more expansion or contraction until 1967. The Canadiens did not lose a game on home ice in 1944–45, finishing with a 38–4–7 record. The Rangers managed only six in a 50-game schedule that year, giving up 310 goals that year. Their 1944 Stanley Cup victory was the team’s first in 14 seasons, again in 14–8–7. In 1944, the Canadiens dominated the league, finishing a record 38–5–7, with a fewest losses in one season for the fewest in fewest games. The Bruins won a fight with the Canadiens over the services of Bert Gardiner, the Bruins’ goaltender, in need of a goaltender, the 1950s. In 1956, Willie O’Ree broke the NHL’s colour barrier when he dressed for the Bruins in 1958. In 1960, the Rangers won a game over the Montreal Canadiens, with only five returning players returning from the previous season the previous year. In 1961, the NHL Players Association was formed in 1967, ten years after Ted Lindsay’s attempts at unionization failed. In 1962, the New York Rangers, Rangers, and New York Islanders won the NHL championship.

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