Smythe Division facts for kids
The Smythe Division was a group of hockey teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). It was created in 1974. This division was part of the new Clarence Campbell Conference. A conference is a larger group of divisions. The division was named after Conn Smythe, who owned the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1927 to 1961. In 1993, the NHL changed its divisions. Most teams from the Smythe Division then became part of the Pacific Division. Teams from the Smythe Division won the Stanley Cup six times.
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First Teams in the Smythe Division
When the Smythe Division started, these teams were part of it:
The Vancouver Canucks were the only team that moved from the old East Division. The Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and Minnesota North Stars came from the old West Division. The Kansas City Scouts were a brand new team. Today, the Scouts are known as the New Jersey Devils. The North Stars are now called the Dallas Stars.
Other NHL Conferences and Divisions
The new Patrick Division was also in the Clarence Campbell Conference. The other main group of teams was the Prince of Wales Conference. The East Division and the new Adams Division were in the Prince of Wales Conference. This was the first time the NHL used conferences. Teams from the old West Division were moved into all these new divisions.
Changes to the Smythe Division Teams
Over the years, the teams in the Smythe Division changed.
- In 1976, the Kansas City Scouts moved to Denver, Colorado. They started playing as the Colorado Rockies.
- In 1978, the Minnesota North Stars moved to the Adams Division.
In 1979, another hockey league called the World Hockey Association (WHA) closed down. Four teams from the WHA joined the NHL. The Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets joined the Smythe Division.
In 1981, the NHL changed its divisions and conferences again. Many teams moved to new groups.
- The Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues left the Smythe Division. They moved to the Norris Division, which was also in the Clarence Campbell Conference.
- The Calgary Flames moved from the Patrick Division.
- The Los Angeles Kings moved from the Norris Division.
Both the Flames and Kings joined the Smythe Division.
After these changes, the Smythe Division had these teams:
In 1982, the Colorado Rockies moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey. They became the New Jersey Devils and joined the Patrick Division. The Winnipeg Jets moved from the Norris Division to the Smythe Division.
The division stayed the same until 1991. That year, a new team called the San Jose Sharks was formed in San Jose, California. They joined the Smythe Division.
New NHL Divisions in 1993
In 1993, the NHL changed its conferences and divisions once more.
- The Eastern Conference now had the Northeast Division and the Atlantic Division.
- The Western Conference had the Central Division and the Pacific Division.
The Winnipeg Jets moved to the Central Division. All the other teams from the Smythe Division moved to the Pacific Division. A new team, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, also joined the Pacific Division. They played in Anaheim, California.
Stanley Cup Wins by Smythe Division Teams
Teams from the Smythe Division won the Stanley Cup several times:
- In 1984, the Edmonton Oilers were the first Smythe Division team to win the Stanley Cup.
- The Oilers won again in 1985, 1987, and 1988.
- In 1989, the Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup.
- In 1990, the Edmonton Oilers won the last Stanley Cup for the Smythe Division.
See also
In Spanish: División Smythe para niños
