History of Original Six




Founding Era
This era was the founding of the NHL. This time frame was the existance of the NHL up to the year of 1942. The decision for the NHL to break down into Six teams came in the year 1942. This set the basis for a new era of forced change.

Original Six Era
The Original Six Era was the idea of shrinking the NHL to Six destinct where the teams would be, generaly, in the same side of the United States and Canda. The Six teams that survived the shrink of the NHL were the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Montreal Canadians.

Expansion Era
This era was found to be the final existance of just the Original Six, and the new existance of more teams across the country. Owners of organizations within the NHL began to get the idea of creating teams in the western part of the United States creating this sense of the entire United States being involved in this "national" league. This time began in the 1966 season and introduced several teams.  Los Angeles, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and St. Louis, all these teams were introduced into the NHL and would start a new era.

Modernization
The modernization began with the increase in safety of the players in the League. Many rules for safety hazards were put into place. Along with safety more and more teams were introduced in this era and prior ones also. This era leads all the way up to today.

Original 6 video