20 NHL Teams That No Longer Exist
Updated October 9, 2026
Updated October 9, 2026
The NHL has been around since 1917, but not every team has survived. Over the decades, franchises have folded, relocated, merged or changed their identities, leaving behind some of hockey's most recognizable names.
From the Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers to the Atlanta Thrashers and Arizona Coyotes, several former NHL teams still have passionate fan bases. Others, including the Montreal Maroons and Philadelphia Quakers, disappeared long before the league became the 32-team competition we know today.
Here are 20 former NHL teams, what happened to them and, where applicable, which modern franchises inherited their history.
Former NHL team | NHL years | What happened? |
|---|---|---|
Arizona Coyotes | 1996–2024 | Franchise became inactive |
Atlanta Thrashers | 1999–2011 | Moved to Winnipeg |
Quebec Nordiques | 1979–1995 | Became Colorado Avalanche |
Hartford Whalers | 1979–1997 | Became Carolina Hurricanes |
Minnesota North Stars | 1967–1993 | Became Dallas Stars |
Original Winnipeg Jets | 1979–1996 | Moved to Phoenix |
Atlanta Flames | 1972–1980 | Became Calgary Flames |
Colorado Rockies | 1976–1982 | Became New Jersey Devils |
Kansas City Scouts | 1974–1976 | Moved to Colorado |
California Golden Seals | 1967–1976 | Became Cleveland Barons |
Cleveland Barons | 1976–1978 | Merged with Minnesota |
Montreal Maroons | 1924–1938 | Folded |
Original Ottawa Senators | 1917–1934 | Moved to St. Louis |
St. Louis Eagles | 1934–1935 | Folded |
New York Americans | 1925–1942 | Suspended operations |
Montreal Wanderers | 1917–1918 | Folded |
Hamilton Tigers | 1920–1925 | Players moved to New York |
Quebec Bulldogs | 1919–1920 | Became Hamilton Tigers |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 1925–1930 | Became Philadelphia Quakers |
Philadelphia Quakers | 1930–1931 | Suspended operations |
Important to note: Not every team on this list represents a defunct legal franchise. Some were relocated or renamed, while others permanently ceased operations. The NHL's official records distinguish between active and inactive franchise histories.
The Arizona Coyotes are among the most recent NHL teams to disappear. Originally known as the Phoenix Coyotes, the organization arrived in Arizona after the original Winnipeg Jets relocated in 1996. Despite several competitive seasons, the Coyotes struggled with ownership problems, financial instability and arena uncertainty throughout much of their existence.
Those difficulties eventually led to the team's departure following the 2023–24 season. The NHL established a new franchise in Utah, which acquired Arizona's players, contracts and hockey operations, while the Coyotes franchise became inactive. Utah played its inaugural season as Utah Hockey Club before adopting the Utah Mammoth name in 2025.
Unlike a conventional relocation, the NHL treated the Utah organization as a new franchise rather than a direct continuation of the Coyotes' franchise history.
The Atlanta Thrashers entered the NHL in 1999 as an expansion franchise, giving Georgia another opportunity to establish itself as a major hockey market. The team featured notable players such as Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa and Kari Lehtonen, but reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs only once, in 2007.
Financial troubles, ownership issues and inconsistent attendance eventually brought the franchise's time in Atlanta to an end. In 2011, the Thrashers relocated to Manitoba and became the modern Winnipeg Jets, returning NHL hockey to the city after a 15-year absence.
Few former NHL teams inspire as much nostalgia as the Quebec Nordiques. Originally a World Hockey Association franchise, the Nordiques joined the NHL in 1979 and developed a fierce provincial rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens. Their roster featured stars such as Peter Stastny, Michel Goulet and Joe Sakic.
Despite a strong hockey culture in Quebec City, financial pressures and the difficulties of operating in a smaller Canadian market contributed to the franchise's relocation in 1995. The Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche, who won the Stanley Cup in their first season in Denver.
The Hartford Whalers remain one of the NHL's most beloved former franchises, remembered for their distinctive green uniforms, whale-tail logo and passionate supporters. After beginning in the WHA as the New England Whalers, the organization joined the NHL in 1979 and spent 18 seasons representing Connecticut.
The Whalers featured players such as Ron Francis, Kevin Dineen and Brendan Shanahan, but struggled to establish sustained playoff success. Ownership concerns and questions over the team's arena eventually contributed to a relocation in 1997, when the franchise became the Carolina Hurricanes.
Minnesota is widely considered one of America's traditional hockey strongholds, making the North Stars' departure particularly painful for local fans. The team entered the NHL during the league's 1967 expansion and spent 26 seasons in Bloomington, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1981 and 1991.
Despite their established following, the North Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993 and dropped North from their name. The Dallas Stars went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1999, while Minnesota eventually returned to the NHL with the expansion Minnesota Wild in 2000.
The original Winnipeg Jets joined the NHL in 1979 after enjoying considerable success in the WHA, where they won three Avco World Trophies. Dale Hawerchuk, Teemu Selanne and Thomas Steen were among the franchise's most memorable players during its NHL years.
However, the Jets faced financial challenges and struggled to compete with larger markets, particularly as player salaries increased. The team relocated to Phoenix in 1996 and became the Coyotes. Winnipeg welcomed NHL hockey back in 2011 following the Atlanta Thrashers' relocation.
In September 2026, the NHL and Winnipeg Jets announced that the club's statistical history would incorporate both periods of Jets hockey, including the intervening Thrashers years, while Arizona's inactive franchise records would cover only the Coyotes' time in Arizona.
Before the Thrashers, Atlanta had another NHL franchise: the Flames. Established as an expansion team in 1972, the Atlanta Flames reached the playoffs regularly and featured talented players including Tom Lysiak and Eric Vail.
However, the franchise struggled financially despite its relatively respectable on-ice results. In 1980, the team was sold to Canadian ownership and relocated to Calgary, where it retained the Flames nickname. The Calgary Flames subsequently won their first Stanley Cup in 1989, giving the former Atlanta organization its greatest achievement.
Long before the Avalanche arrived in Denver, Colorado was home to the Rockies. The franchise originally began as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974 before relocating to Denver two years later. Its six seasons in Colorado produced just one playoff appearance, and financial difficulties made long-term survival increasingly uncertain.
In 1982, the Rockies relocated to New Jersey and became the Devils. Although the Colorado version of the franchise achieved little on the ice, its successor developed into one of the NHL's most successful organizations, winning three Stanley Cups between 1995 and 2003.
The Kansas City Scouts are among the shortest-lived NHL teams of the modern expansion era. Established in 1974, they played just two seasons in Missouri, struggling with attendance, finances and poor results on the ice.
The Scouts recorded only 27 victories across their two NHL seasons before relocating to Denver in 1976 and becoming the Colorado Rockies. The franchise eventually moved again in 1982, creating the New Jersey Devils. Kansas City has not hosted another NHL franchise since the Scouts departed.
The California Golden Seals were one of the NHL's most unusual franchises, remembered for their unconventional uniforms, ownership changes and frequent rebranding. Founded as the California Seals during the 1967 expansion, the organization later operated as the Oakland Seals before adopting the California Golden Seals name.
The team never managed to establish itself as a serious contender, making the playoffs only twice in nine seasons. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Cleveland and became the Barons, marking the end of a colorful but largely unsuccessful chapter of California hockey history.
The Cleveland Barons were the final stop for the struggling California Golden Seals franchise. After relocating to Ohio in 1976, the Barons hoped to establish a permanent NHL presence in Cleveland, but low attendance and serious financial problems quickly threatened their future.
The team lasted only two seasons before merging with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978. The merger remains a rare example of two NHL franchises combining into one organization, and Cleveland has not had an NHL team since.
Unlike many forgotten NHL franchises, the Montreal Maroons enjoyed considerable success during their relatively short existence. Established in 1924 as a second NHL team in Montreal, the Maroons won two Stanley Cups, in 1926 and 1935, and competed directly with the Canadiens for the city's hockey audience.
The Great Depression placed enormous financial pressure on the organization, while competition with the Canadiens made survival increasingly difficult. The Maroons suspended operations in 1938 and never returned, leaving them as the last team to win the Stanley Cup before permanently disappearing from the NHL.
The original Ottawa Senators were one of hockey's earliest powerhouses and helped establish the NHL after its founding in 1917. With legendary players such as Frank Nighbor, Cy Denneny and King Clancy, the Senators won four Stanley Cups during their NHL years and built a reputation as one of the league's strongest teams.
Unfortunately, Ottawa's smaller market and the financial pressures of the Great Depression made the franchise increasingly difficult to sustain. After sitting out the 1931–32 season, the Senators eventually relocated to St. Louis in 1934 and became the Eagles.
The modern Ottawa Senators, who entered the NHL in 1992, revived the historic name but are a separate expansion franchise.
The St. Louis Eagles lasted just one season in the NHL, making them one of the league's shortest-lived franchises. Created when the original Ottawa Senators relocated to Missouri in 1934, the Eagles hoped to find financial stability in a larger American market.
Instead, they encountered poor attendance, significant travel expenses and continued financial problems. The Eagles finished their only season near the bottom of the standings and folded in 1935. St. Louis would have to wait until the NHL's 1967 expansion to receive another franchise, the Blues.
Before the New York Rangers became one of the NHL's most recognizable franchises, the city was home to the New York Americans. Founded in 1925 after the Hamilton Tigers' playing assets were acquired, the Americans played at Madison Square Garden and helped introduce professional NHL hockey to New York.
The team initially enjoyed popularity but struggled financially and competitively once the Rangers entered the league in 1926. The Americans played their final season under the Brooklyn Americans name in 1941–42 before suspending operations during World War II. They never returned, and their departure marked the beginning of the NHL's Original Six era.
The Montreal Wanderers were among the NHL's founding teams, but their time in the new league was remarkably brief. Having already enjoyed considerable success before the NHL's creation, the Wanderers participated in the inaugural 1917–18 season.
Their NHL history ended almost immediately when a fire destroyed the Montreal Arena in January 1918. Unable to secure suitable facilities and dealing with a depleted roster, the organization withdrew after playing just six NHL games. The Wanderers remain one of the shortest-lived teams in league history.
The Hamilton Tigers were one of the NHL's earliest Canadian franchises, beginning play in 1920 after the Quebec Bulldogs relocated to Ontario. The team initially struggled but developed into a serious contender during the 1924–25 season, finishing atop the NHL standings.
However, a dispute over additional compensation led to a players' strike before the playoffs. The NHL suspended the team, and its playing assets were subsequently acquired by the ownership group behind the New York Americans. The Tigers never played another season, leaving Hamilton without an NHL franchise despite its long hockey tradition.
The Quebec Bulldogs were associated with the NHL's founding in 1917, although they did not begin playing in the league until the 1919–20 season. The organization had previously enjoyed success in the National Hockey Association, winning Stanley Cups in 1912 and 1913.
Financial difficulties and limited resources made it impossible to sustain the NHL operation in Quebec City. After only one NHL season, the franchise relocated to Hamilton and became the Tigers. Quebec would eventually return to the NHL nearly six decades later when the Nordiques joined from the WHA in 1979.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were the city's first NHL franchise, arriving more than four decades before the modern Pittsburgh Penguins. Established in 1925, the team was built around players from the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets and competed in the league during its early expansion into American markets.
Although the Pirates reached the playoffs in their first two seasons, financial struggles and the onset of the Great Depression eventually forced the franchise out of Pittsburgh. The team relocated to Philadelphia in 1930 and became the Quakers, while Pittsburgh waited until 1967 for the NHL to return with the Penguins.
The Philadelphia Quakers hold the distinction of being one of the least successful teams in NHL history. After relocating from Pittsburgh in 1930, the franchise played just one season in Philadelphia, recording a dismal 4–36–4 record.
The Quakers struggled with attendance and financial problems from the beginning, and ownership suspended operations following the 1930–31 season. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to revive the franchise, but it never returned to NHL competition. Philadelphia eventually received another NHL team when the Flyers joined the league in 1967.
Several former NHL teams enjoyed championship success before disappearing or relocating. However, only a handful of teams that permanently ceased operations won the Stanley Cup during their NHL existence.
Former team | NHL-era Stanley Cups | Championship years |
|---|---|---|
Original Ottawa Senators | 4 | 1920, 1921, 1923, 1927 |
Montreal Maroons | 2 | 1926, 1935 |
Quebec Nordiques | 0 | Won after relocating to Colorado |
Hartford Whalers | 0 | Won after becoming Carolina Hurricanes |
Minnesota North Stars | 0 | Won after becoming Dallas Stars |
The original Ottawa Senators were particularly dominant during the NHL's early years, while the Montreal Maroons remain the most recent permanently defunct franchise to have won the Stanley Cup. The Nordiques, Whalers and North Stars all saw their successor organizations capture championships after relocation.
While every defunct NHL franchise has its own story, several recurring factors explain why teams have disappeared throughout league history.
Relocation does not always mean that hockey has failed in a particular city. Winnipeg and Minnesota both received new NHL teams after losing their original franchises, while Quebec City and Hartford continue to have supporters who would welcome the league's return.
The NHL's official historical records currently identify eight inactive franchises: the Arizona Coyotes, Brooklyn Americans, Cleveland Barons, Hamilton Tigers, Montreal Maroons, Montreal Wanderers, Philadelphia Quakers and St. Louis Eagles. That number does not include every former team name that disappeared through relocation or rebranding.
The Arizona Coyotes are the most recent NHL team to cease operations, playing their final season in 2023–24. Their hockey assets were transferred to a newly established Utah franchise, which subsequently adopted the Utah Mammoth identity.
No. The original Ottawa Senators played in the NHL between 1917 and 1934 before relocating to St. Louis. The current Ottawa Senators joined the NHL as an expansion franchise in 1992 and are a separate organization.
Several franchises have relocated multiple times. The Kansas City Scouts became the Colorado Rockies and eventually the New Jersey Devils, while the California Golden Seals became the Cleveland Barons before merging with the Minnesota North Stars. The original Winnipeg Jets also relocated to Arizona, where the team operated under the Coyotes name.
Both cities have substantial hockey histories and supporters interested in an NHL return. However, any future franchise would depend on league expansion or relocation approval, alongside financial, ownership and arena considerations. Neither city currently has an NHL franchise.
