Northeast Division (NHL) facts for kids
The Northeast Division was a special group of ice hockey teams in the NHL. It was created in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference. Before this, many of these teams were in the Adams Division.
Even though no team from this division won the Stanley Cup while it existed, the teams in it have won a lot of Stanley Cups overall. Together, they have won 42 championships! The Montreal Canadiens won 24, the Toronto Maple Leafs won 13, and the Boston Bruins won 5. This makes it the division with the most Stanley Cup wins in NHL history.
Contents
Teams in the Northeast Division
The teams in the Northeast Division changed a few times over the years.
Teams from 1993 to 1995
When the division started, these teams were part of it:
- Boston Bruins
- Buffalo Sabres
- Hartford Whalers
- Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Quebec Nordiques
Most of these teams came from the old Adams Division. The Pittsburgh Penguins joined from the Patrick Division.
Teams from 1995 to 1997
A big change happened in 1995:
- The Quebec Nordiques team moved to Denver, Colorado. They became the Colorado Avalanche.
- The Colorado Avalanche then joined the Pacific Division.
The other teams stayed the same.
Teams from 1997 to 1998
Another team moved in 1997:
- The Hartford Whalers moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. They became the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Carolina Hurricanes joined the Northeast Division for this season.
Teams from 1998 to 2013
In 1998, there were more changes:
- The Carolina Hurricanes moved to the Southeast Division.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins moved to the Atlantic Division.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs joined the Northeast Division from the Central Division.
These five teams stayed together until the division ended.
The Division Ends in 2013
The Northeast Division was closed down in 2013. This happened because the NHL changed how its divisions were set up. All five teams from the Northeast Division moved into the new Atlantic Division.
Division Champions by Year
Here are the teams that won the Northeast Division each season:
- 1994—Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1995—Quebec Nordiques
- 1996—Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1997—Buffalo Sabres
- 1998—Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1999—Ottawa Senators
- 2000—Toronto Maple Leafs
- 2001—Ottawa Senators
- 2002—Boston Bruins
- 2003—Ottawa Senators
- 2004—Boston Bruins
- 2005—No season due to the NHL Lockout
- 2006—Ottawa Senators
- 2007—Buffalo Sabres
- 2008—Montreal Canadiens
- 2009—Boston Bruins
- 2010—Buffalo Sabres
- 2011—Boston Bruins
- 2012—Boston Bruins
- 2013—Montreal Canadiens
Major Awards Won by Division Teams
Teams from the Northeast Division also won some big NHL awards:
Stanley Cup Winners
One team from the Northeast Division won the Stanley Cup while being part of this division:
- 2011—Boston Bruins
Presidents' Trophy Winners
The Presidents' Trophy is given to the team with the best record in the regular season. Two teams from the Northeast Division won this award:
- 2003—Ottawa Senators
- 2007—Buffalo Sabres
Northeast Division Titles Won by Each Team
Here's how many times each team won the Northeast Division:
| Team | Number of Championships Won | Last Year Won |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | 5 | 2012 |
| Ottawa Senators | 4 | 2006 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 | 1998 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 3 | 2010 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 2 | 2013 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 1 | 1995 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1 | 2000 |
| Hartford Whalers | 0 | — |
See also
In Spanish: División Metropolitana de la NHL para niños
