THE TEAMS OF THE NHL

Their original owner’s wife, Carol McGregor, named the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were founded in 1967. The Pittsburgh Penguins have won two Stanley Cups, one in 1991 and one in 1992. The Hall of Famers from the Pittsburgh Penguins are Andy Bathgate, Leo Boivin, Coach Scotty Bowman, Paul Coffey, Tim Horton, Coach Bob Johnson, Mario Lemieux, Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen, Craig Patrick, and Bryan Trottier.

The Philadelphia Flyers were named during a naming contest. However, the winning name was originally spelt Fliers. The Flyers began in 1967. They won a Stanley Cup in 1974 and another in 1975. There are eleven Hall of Fame Players from the Flyers. They are Coach Keith Allen, Bill Barber, Bobby Clarke, Paul Coffey, Dale Hawerchuk, Coach Roger Neilson, Bernie Parent, Bud Piloe, Ed Snider (the current owner), Darryl Sittler, and Allan Stanley.

The name for the New York Rangers was originally a play on word with Tex Ranger (a famous promoter of Madison Square Garden). The team was advertised as Tex’s Rangers and the name stuck. The Rangers, an older team from 1926, have won four Stanley Cups in 1928, 1933, 1940, and 1994. The New York Rangers have produced fifty Hall of Famers including Max Bentley, Frank Boucher, Phil Esposito, Eddie Giacomin, Rod Gilbert, Wayne Gretzky, Pat LoFontaine, and Coach Lester Patrick.

Like many other teams, a fan in a naming contest named The Boston Bruins. The Bruins began in 1924 with Coach Art Ross. They have won Stanley Cups in 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, and 1972. Ray Bourque, John Bucyk, Dit Clapper, Bobby Orr, Mitt Schmidt, and Eddie Shore are some of the Boston Bruins that have made it into the Hall of Fame.

The St. Louis Blues began in 1967. Sid Salamon Junior, the founder of the Blues, named them. Salamon drew inspiration from the famous song by W.C. Handy. The St. Louis Blues have yet to win a Stanley Cup. However, fourteen Hall of Famers have been with the Blues. They are Coach Al Arbour, Coach Scotty Bowman, Bernie Federko, Coach Emile Francis, Grant Fuhr, Wayne Gretzky, Glenn Hall, Doug Harvey, Dale Hawerchuk, Guy Lapointe, Dickie Moore, Joe Mullen, Jacques Plante, and Peter Stastny.

Although the Maple Leafs were founded in 1917, it wasn’t until 1927 that Conn Smythe named the team. He liked the name because of its link to Canada’s flag. The Maple Leafs have won a total of thirteen Stanley Cups from 1918-1967. Some of the Hall of Famers from the Maple Leafs are Jack Adams, Spague Cleghorn, Grant Fuhr, Harry Lemley, Pierre Pilote, and Terry Sawchuck.