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Atlanta Flames (1972-73-1979-80)
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The first try at hockey in “Hotlanta,” the preliminary model of the Flames truly made the playoffs in six of their eight seasons on the town. Calder Trophy winners Eric Vail and Willi Plett, plus 1980 United States Olympic hero Jim Craig, had been among the most noteworthy gamers to don the Atlanta Flames sweater. Nonetheless, these Flames went simply 2-15 within the postseason, and after common attendance peaked at a little bit greater than 14,000 throughout their second season, the Atlanta Flames struggled to attract 10,000 followers per recreation by the top of the last decade. That stagnant play and attendance in the end led to the franchise being bought to a gaggle out of Calgary, for a then-NHL-record $16 million in Could 1980. The Flames nonetheless name Calgary dwelling.
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Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2000-2010-11)
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The second try at an NHL enterprise in Atlanta lasted barely longer than the primary one. Throughout that run of 11 official seasons, the Thrashers made only one playoff look. That got here when Marian Hossa (100 factors), Ilya Kovalchuk (42 objectives) and Kari Lehtonen (2.79 objectives in opposition to common) led the membership to 43 victories and a Southeast Division title. Nonetheless, the Thrashers had been swept by the New York Rangers of their first-round playoff sequence. Monetary issues and deficits eventually led to the franchise being sold and relocated to Winnipeg prior to the 2011-12 campaign, thus ushering within the second installment of the Winnipeg Jets.
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California Golden Seals (1967-68-1975-76)
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Earlier than the San Jose Sharks made NHL hockey a staple within the Bay Space, there have been the Golden Seals. Also referred to as the California Seals, Oakland Seals or Bay Space Seals, the franchise was a part of the NHL’s enlargement of 1967, however lasted solely 9 seasons. Even with the likes of distinguished stars Al MacAdam and Gilles Meloche, and late possession by the flamboyant Charlie Finley, the Golden Seals had been inconsistent on the ice (no successful seasons, two playoff appearances) and by way of attendance. Following the 1975-76 season, when the Seals managed to win not less than 20 video games for the primary time since ’71-’72, the franchise was bought and moved to Cleveland — the place, as we’ll see, issues had been even worse.
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Cleveland Barons (1976-77-1977-78)
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When the aforementioned Golden Seals moved out of their Oakland dwelling, the franchise landed in Cleveland, and the transfer appeared doomed from the get-go. The transfer wasn’t finalized till August 1976, simply months earlier than the beginning of the season. On the ice, the Barons, guided by Stanley Cup-winning coach Jack Evans, went 47-87-28 and averaged between 5,000-6,000 followers throughout its two seasons earlier than ceasing operations. Reasonably than fold utterly, the Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars, one other struggling franchise on the time.
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Colorado Rockies (1976-77-1981-82)
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After two seasons taking part in in Kansas Metropolis, the franchise generally known as the Scouts headed additional west to Denver, the place the Colorado Rockies had been born. Nonetheless, the Rockies’ lifespan was comparatively quick — six seasons to be actual. And even with the likes of star rookie Bred Beck, the venerable Lanny McDonald, netminder Chico Resch and over-the-top, outspoken head coach Don Cherry, Colorado by no means received greater than 22 video games in a season and generated only one playoff look. A poorly negotiated contract with the membership’s dwelling McNichols Enviornment additionally performed a component within the franchise’s incapacity to remain in Denver, although the NHL claimed to desire a group to stay within the metropolis. After varied failed offers, proprietor Jack Vickers and his group ultimately bought the membership to New Jersey delivery tycoon and then-Houston Astros proprietor John McMullen, who moved it to the Meadowlands — renaming the franchise the New Jersey Devils.
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Hamilton Tigers (1920-21-1924-25)
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To not be confused with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats CFL group, these hockey Tigers resided in the gritty Ontario town during the first half of the 1920s. The roots of the membership return to the Quebec Bulldogs, however on-ice struggles plagued the Tigers in Hamilton. The group by no means received greater than 9 video games in every of its first 5 seasons, then went 19-10-1 in ’24-’25 to complete first in the course of the common season. Nonetheless, disgruntled Tigers pressured the NHL’s first gamers’ strike previous to the playoffs. That proved to be the top of Hamilton’s NHL group, which was suspended from the league, and a bevy of its gamers ultimately turned a part of the enlargement New York Individuals.
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Hartford Whalers (1979-80-1996-97)
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Hartford, the Whale. With regards to NHL nostalgia, the Whalers are inclined to nonetheless maintain a particular place within the hearts of hockey followers. The franchise started in Boston whereas within the World Hockey Affiliation (WHA) earlier than transferring to Hartford. Following the WHA-NHL merger, the Whalers lasted 18 years within the latter. Gordie Howe, Ron Francis, Rick Ley and Brendan Shanahan had been just some of the marquee names to star for the Whalers, who made seven playoff appearances. Nonetheless, they received only one postseason sequence, and by the mid-Nineties the group was bought to a gaggle led by Compuware CEO Peter Karmanos, The intent was to maintain the Whalers in Hartford, however attendance continued to lag, there was no actual company presence invested within the franchise and points when it got here to monetary phrases on a brand new area. Thus, these points led to the franchise’s transfer to Raleigh.
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Kansas Metropolis Scouts (1974-75-1975-76)
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We touched on the Scouts because the origin of the franchise that additionally performed in Colorado and at present in New Jersey. The NHL historical past of the Scouts is dismal and temporary. Spanning its two NHL seasons, the Scouts went 27-110-23 for a complete of 77 factors. They allowed virtually 700 objectives throughout their Kansas Metropolis keep, and averaged barely greater than 8,000 followers amid the tenure. That poor play, weak attendance exhibiting and almost-unaffordable, high-priced expertise all performed a component within the group’s sale and subsequent transfer to Denver.
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Minnesota North Stars (1967-68-1992-93)
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For hockey followers of a sure age, the North Stars had been a grind-it-out, blue-collar franchise that constructed a heated rivalry with the Chicago Blackhawks, and produced among the recreation’s most noteworthy stars in Bobby Smith, Dino Ciccarelli and Mike Modano. The group obtained new life upon its merger with the aforementioned Cleveland Barons, and made 17 playoff appearances whereas in Minnesota, together with two journeys to the Stanley Cup Last. Nonetheless, wavering attendance, poor monetary choices and the constant drama involving proprietor Norm Inexperienced had been just some causes for the group’s transfer from Minnesota to Dallas. It was a stunning circumstance contemplating the state’s ardour for hockey. Nonetheless, the NHL would ultimately return to the “State of Hockey” in 2000, by way of the Minnesota Wild.
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Montreal Maroons (1924-25-1937-38)
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Sure, for these not within the know, the Canadiens weren’t the one recreation on the town when it got here to NHL motion in Montreal. When it got here to the Maroons, the franchise was meant to cater to the English-speaking inhabitants of Montreal (as an alternative choice to the French-speaking allegiance of the Canadiens). Nonetheless, each groups could be beneath the identical possession, and shared the famed Montreal Discussion board, though the Maroons were the initial tenants. The Maroons had been a profitable franchise for probably the most half, successful the Stanley Cup in 1926 and ’35, and making 11 playoff appearances. NHL greats like Clint Benedict, Toe Blake and King Clancy performed for the Maroons, who lasted till it was unable to get well financially from the Nice Despair.
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Montreal Wanderers (1917-18)
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Within the shadows of the Canadiens and Maroons in Montreal are the Wanderers. Seemingly forgotten, the Wanderers’ keep within the NHL lasted all of six official video games — 4 truly selected the ice — and two forfeits. When the Nationwide Hockey Affiliation (NHA) was suspended, the Wanderers had been a part of the brand new NHL. Nonetheless, regardless of successful a number of Stanley Cup Finals previous to the creation of the NHL, the Wanderers had been struggling to be aggressive by 1917-18. Then, when their dwelling at Montreal Enviornment burned down, possession opted to droop the franchise.
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New York/Brooklyn Individuals (1925-26-1941-42)
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After absorbing gamers from the aforementioned Hamilton Tigers, New York Metropolis’s first NHL group was born. For 17 seasons, the Individuals represented the Massive Apple. However even with the likes of Corridor of Famers Harry Oliver and Pink Dutton in tow, the Individuals made simply 5 playoff appearances and received solely two postseason sequence whereas taking part in at Madison Sq. Backyard. Constant monetary struggles and World Battle II in the end led to the top of the franchise, which performed its ultimate ’41-’42 season generally known as the Brooklyn Individuals. This occurred throughout a time when possession threatened to maneuver the membership to Brooklyn, although there was no area to host.
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Ottawa Senators (1917-18-1933-34)
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To not be confused with the present incarnation of the Ottawa Senators hockey membership, these Senators had been a founding member of the NHL. Even earlier than its NHL run, Ottawa was a profitable Canadian hockey franchise. Throughout its time as a part of the NHL, the Senators received 4 Stanley Cups and had been related to such legendary hockey names as King Clancy and Syd Howe. Nonetheless, the standard monetary points that doomed most of the skilled sports activities groups positioned in smaller cities across the time of the Nice Despair led to the Senators’ relocation to St. Louis.
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Philadelphia Quakers (1930-31)
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The 1930-31 season proved to be all the existence of the Philadelphia Quakers. The franchise truly bought its begin in Pittsburgh (extra on that in a bit), however was briefly moved to Philly whereas the Metal Metropolis might construct a brand new area that was higher fitted to hockey. Nonetheless, issues truly bought worse for the franchise in Philadelphia, going 4-36-4 throughout that lone season on the town, whereas persevering with to bleed cash and in the end resulting in the top of the group. There wouldn’t be hockey in Philadelphia till the Flyers took the ice in 1967.
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Pittsburgh Pirates (1925-26-1929-30)
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No, we’re not speaking baseball. There was a NHL hockey group in Pittsburgh that occurred to have the identical identify because the baseball membership. Nonetheless, the Pirates, on the ice, received simply 67 video games in 5 seasons as a member of the NHL and basically bought worse every year going ahead. Monetary struggles and maybe the more-pressing want for a correct area had been key causes the possession moved to Philadelphia whereas attempting to get issues collectively to construct stated stadium. Nonetheless, as famous, the group performed worse in Philly, and the hockey Pirates by no means returned to Pittsburgh. Fortunately for hockey followers on the town, the Penguins have given them a lot to have fun.
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Quebec Bulldogs (1919-20)
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The historical past of this Quebec franchise (formally acknowledged because the Quebec Hockey Membership after which Quebec Athletic Membership) dates again to the Eighties. After being part of varied Canadian leagues, the Bulldogs received a pair of Stanley Cups within the Nationwide Hockey Affiliation, a precursor to the NHL. Although Quebec was one of many NHL’s 4 founding members in 1917, monetary points and different circumstances prevented the franchise from taking part in within the lead, and even led to its suspension, earlier than reforming as an enlargement membership and successful simply 4 video games, regardless of 39 objectives from Joe Malone, throughout its lone 1919-20 marketing campaign. The NHL then bought the franchise, which was moved to Hamilton.
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Quebec Nordiques (1979-80-1994-95)
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Michel Goulet, Dale Hunter, the Stastny brothers. Simply among the legends to sport the famed Nordiques sweater. With these stars serving to the trigger, the Nordiques received practically 500 video games and made 9 playoff appearances throughout its 16 seasons. Nonetheless, stunning Quebec Metropolis was all the time the membership’s downfall. Predominantly French-speaking, the town was not all that endearing to non-French talking gamers and it was the smallest market of any NHL metropolis. Thus monetary considerations, even amid the group’s success, led to its transfer to Colorado, the place the current-day Avalanche has received three Stanley Cups.
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St. Louis Eagles (1934-35)
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When the aforementioned Ottawa Senators determined to relocate to St. Louis, the assumption was to show extra financially viable in a bigger United States metropolis. Nonetheless, that plan by no means got here to fruition because the existence of the St. Louis Eagles lasted only one season. In that 1934-35 season they went 11-31-6 to complete final within the Canadian Division, and proceed to lose cash — notably due to elevated journey bills. Finally, the NHL purchased out the franchise and the membership’s gamers had been distributed to different NHL groups.
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Toronto St. Patricks (1919-20-1926-27)
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In NHL phrases, this was the beginning of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The St. Patricks, also referred to as the Toronto Blueshirts and Toronto Arenas, spent eight seasons within the NHL, and are arguably probably the most profitable model of the franchise main as much as the debut of the legendary Maple Leafs. They received the Stanley Cup in 1921-22. However, like practically each different group on this record, monetary points plagued the franchise within the mid-to-late Twenties, when it was bought to Conn Smythe. He promptly modified the identify to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Winnipeg Jets (1979-80-1995-96)
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Earlier than the present model of the unique Winnipeg Jets franchise moved to the desert in Arizona, it was an NHL staple. A part of the WHA-NHL merger, the Jets — who employed Bobby Hull throughout their WHA days — made the playoffs 11 instances whereas a member of the NHL. Paced by marquee names like Dale Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen and Paul MacLean, the Jets loved varied ranges of NHL success however by no means reached the convention finals. In the meantime the standard monetary points, rising participant salaries and financial standing that plagued small-market, Canadian NHL golf equipment in the course of the early Nineties all led to the Jets’ relocation. Nonetheless, NHL hockey did return to Winnipeg, within the second coming of the Jets as an enlargement membership in 1999.