National Hockey League

On November 22, 1917, the National Hockey Association (NHA) decided to begin a new hockey league to avoid having any problems with the Canadian owner Eddie Livingston. They created the National Hockey League (NHL) and assigned Frank Calder, secretary of the NHA, as the new league's president. To begin the new league, the NHL drew up a 22 game schedule that ran from December 19 to March 10. The schedule had two halves, and the winner of each half would play one another to win the NHL title. The winner of the NHL title would then play the winner of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) for the Stanley Cup. The Toronto Arenas were the first winners of the Stanley Cup. The only year in the history of the NHL that there was no Stanley Cup was in the 1918-1919 season. There was no playoff because an influenza had spread throughout Canada and the city of Seattle refused to accept the award. Until this day the Stanley Cup has been held all over the country and has been awarded to almost every NHL team.
There are 30 NHL teams that are divided into 6 divisions Atlantic Division New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Northeast Division Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs South Division Atlanta Thrashers Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals Central Division Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Northwest Division Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks Pacific Division Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes San Jose Sharks
At the beginning of the 2002-2003 NHL hockey season, it was taken into consideration who the best players ever to play in the league were. Decisions were made based on many things, and six men were chosen.
The center that the league chose was Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky. Gretzky, a four time Stanley Cup winner, holds almost every scoring record in the history of the NHL. He was voted a First Team All-Star eight times in his career, and he was the only NHL player ever to be named the game's MVP on three different teams. After having four 200-point hockey seasons, Gretzky retired after the 1998-1999 season. He was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 22, 1999.
	The defenseman that was chosen by the league was Doug Harvey. Harvey was said to be the best all-around defenseman of all time. The Montreal Canadien player played in the league from 1947-1969. He was selected by the NHL All-Star team 11 consecutive times, and won seven Norris Trophies in eight years from 1955-1962. Harvey won six Stanley Cup Championships, and he was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.
The second player that the league chose in the defensive category Bobby Orr. Orr was said to have revolutionized the way that his position could be played. The Boston Bruin player brought an element to his game that was mostly played by a offensive player. After beginning in the league in 1966, he proved that the offenders weren't the only players who could dominate in a game. Orr won the Art Ross trophy for the League scoring championship two times. He was the only defensive player to ever do so. He also won the Norris Trophy eight consecutive times, the Hart Trophy, and won two Stanley Cups (playoff MVP both times). With 270 goals and 645 assists, Orr retired and was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.
	Bobby "The Golden Jet" Hull was the left wing that the league chose. He was one of the only wingers in his era to strike fear in a goalie when he had the puck. He had a shot that was 120 mph, and scored 610 goals and 560 assists in his career for the Blackhawks. Hull won the Art Ross trophy three times, won the trophy for the regular season's MVP twice, and led his team to Stanley Cup in 1938. In January of 1970, Hull was voted by the Associated Press as the top NHL player of the 1960's. "The Golden Jet" was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1973.
The right wing that was chosen was Gordie "Mr. Hockey" Howe. He began playing in the NHL at 18 with the Red Wings in the 1946-1947 season. Howe created a lot of talk about his feisty, physical style of play. In his next 24 years in the league, he won the Hart Trophy six times, six scoring titles, and was voted a First Team All-Star 12 times. Playing in the most All-Star Games out of any other player in history (23), also played on the Hartford Whalers in his career. With his aggressive style of play, Howe finished his career with 1,685 penalty minutes. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.
	The goaltender that the league chose was Patrick Roy. No goaltender in NHL history has had more success than Roy. The Colorado Avalanche player holds the record for regular-season wins and playoff wins. He has won four of the Stanley Cup playoffs he has played in. Roy has won the Conn Smyth trophy (the youngest player to ever win the award), the Vezina trophy three times, and the William Jennings trophy four times. This phenomenal goalie holds the record for goaltender in games, minutes, and shutouts in the postseason and is the all-time leader in 10-plus win playoff seasons (8). Patrick Roy has not yet retired.