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NHL Trivia by Era (Original Six, Expansion, Modern)

NHL history divides naturally into three major eras: the Original Six (1942-1967), the Expansion Era (1967-early 1990s), and the Modern Era (salary cap, analytics, and Sunbelt teams). Each era has distinct characteristics, rule changes, and legendary moments that shaped the game.

January 24, 2026

Original Six Era (1942-1967)

Q: Name the six teams that made up the "Original Six." A: Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks.

Q: Which Original Six team won the first Stanley Cup after the NHL's founding in 1917-18? A: Toronto (the Toronto Arenas).

Q: Which Montreal legend was famously nicknamed "The Rocket"? A: Maurice "Rocket" Richard, who was the first player to score 50 goals in 50 games.

Q: What position did Jacques Plante revolutionize by regularly wearing a goalie mask? A: Goaltender. Plante started wearing a mask regularly in 1959 after taking a puck to the face.

Q: Which Original Six franchise is known for the "Production Line" featuring Gordie Howe? A: Detroit Red Wings. The line included Howe, Ted Lindsay, and Sid Abel.

Q: How many Stanley Cups did the Montreal Canadiens win during the Original Six era? A: The Canadiens won 10 Cups between 1942 and 1967, including five straight from 1956 to 1960.

Q: Which goalie played without a mask for his entire career, the last to do so? A: Andy Brown, who played his last game in 1974.

Q: What was significant about the 1955 "Richard Riot" in Montreal? A: Riots broke out after Maurice Richard was suspended for the remainder of the season and playoffs for hitting a linesman.

Q: Which Original Six team went the longest without winning a Cup during this era? A: The New York Rangers, who didn't win between 1940 and their Cup drought lasting until 1994.

Q: Who was the first player to win the Hart Trophy three consecutive times? A: Gordie Howe from 1957 to 1960.

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Expansion Era (1967-Early 1990s)

Q: In 1967, the NHL doubled in size. How many new teams were added that year? A: Six new teams (Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, and Oakland Seals).

Q: Which expansion team was the first of the new clubs to win the Stanley Cup? A: The Philadelphia Flyers in 1974, followed by another Cup in 1975.

Q: The WHA-NHL merger brought four teams into the league. Name one of them. A: Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes), Quebec Nordiques (now Colorado Avalanche), or Winnipeg Jets (now Arizona Coyotes).

Q: Which player is most associated with the New York Islanders dynasty of four consecutive Cups in the early 1980s? A: Mike Bossy, who scored 50 goals in each of his first nine seasons, or Bryan Trottier, who was the team's playmaking center.

Q: Which superstar's move to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 helped popularize hockey in non-traditional markets? A: Wayne Gretzky. The trade from Edmonton to LA is considered the most significant in NHL history.

Q: What rule change in 1979-80 significantly increased scoring? A: Teams were no longer allowed to ice the puck when shorthanded, leading to more power-play goals.

Q: Which dynasty won five Stanley Cups in seven years during the 1980s? A: The Edmonton Oilers (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990).

Q: Which Soviet team did the NHL All-Stars face in the famous 1979 Challenge Cup? A: The Soviet national team, which the NHL All-Stars beat in a hard-fought series.

Q: What was significant about the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" for the NHL? A: While it was an Olympic event, the upset victory by Team USA over the Soviet Union helped boost American interest in hockey, leading to later NHL expansion in the US.

Q: Which franchise relocated from Colorado to New Jersey in 1982? A: The Colorado Rockies became the New Jersey Devils.

Modern Era (Salary Cap, Sunbelt, Analytics)

Q: Which team became the first salary-cap-era dynasty by winning three Cups in six years (2010s)? A: The Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015).

Q: Which Sunbelt team won its first Stanley Cup in 2004? A: The Tampa Bay Lightning, though the 2004-05 season was lost to a lockout, so they won in June 2004 before the lockout.

Q: Which franchise won its first Stanley Cup in 2018, led by captain Alex Ovechkin? A: The Washington Capitals.

Q: Which team reached the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural 2017-18 season? A: The Vegas Golden Knights.

Q: What is the modern term for shot-quality metrics that combine shot location and type into an "expected goals" value? A: Expected goals (xG), which has become a standard advanced metric in hockey analytics.

Q: When was the NHL salary cap introduced? A: The 2005-06 season, following the lockout that canceled the 2004-05 season.

Q: What rule change was introduced in 2005 to increase scoring? A: The elimination of the two-line pass rule, allowing stretch passes from behind a team's defensive blue line.

Q: Which team won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017? A: The Pittsburgh Penguins.

Q: What format replaced the traditional 4-on-4 overtime in regular-season games? A: 3-on-3 overtime, introduced in 2015-16 to create more scoring chances and reduce shootouts.

Q: Which outdoor game series has become an annual NHL tradition since 2008? A: The NHL Winter Classic, typically played on New Year's Day.

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How the Game Evolved

The evolution from Original Six hockey to the modern game is remarkable. The Original Six era featured defensive hockey with few goals, limited substitutions, and players who often played hurt. The Expansion Era opened the game geographically and stylistically, with European players bringing new skills. The Modern Era emphasizes speed, skill, and analytics, with the salary cap creating parity.

Why Era-Based Trivia Works

Organizing trivia by era helps contextualize achievements. A 50-goal season meant something different in the 1950s than in the 1980s or today. Understanding era context makes you a smarter hockey fan and helps you appreciate how legends from different periods compare.

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