GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

How many teams compete in the NHL regular season?

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Currently, 32 teams compete in the NHL regular season. These teams are divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.

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Total Teams32
Eastern Conference Teams16
Western Conference Teams16
Games Per Team82 regular season games
Season DurationOctober through April

Conference Structure

The 32 NHL teams are split evenly between two conferences. The Eastern Conference has 16 teams, and the Western Conference has 16 teams. Each conference is further divided into two divisions, which helps organize scheduling and playoff matchups.

Regular Season Schedule

Each of the 32 teams plays 82 games during the regular season. Teams play against other teams in their division more frequently and travel less for those games. The regular season typically runs from October through April, with playoffs beginning in May.

Playoff Qualification

At the end of the regular season, 16 teams qualify for the NHL playoffs. Eight teams from each conference earn playoff spots based on their wins, losses, and points during the season. These 16 teams compete to win the Stanley Cup, which is the NHL championship trophy.

Recent Expansion

The NHL expanded to 32 teams when the Seattle Kraken joined the league in 2021. Before this expansion, the league had 31 teams. The addition of Seattle brought more cities into the NHL and created new rivalries for existing teams.

Sources

  1. nhl.com (nhl.com)
  2. espn.com (espn.com)
  3. wikipedia.org (wikipedia.org)