Bad moves - 07-08-10
Many positive things will occur when the Penguins finally officially move out across the street to sparkly, new Consol Energy Center. Presumably, the team will have a much better revenue stream. And mice won't be gnawing holes into Marc-Andre Fleury's glove either.
Hopefully.
But history will not be in the Penguins' corner when they open the new venue next season.
Only three teams in NHL history have won the Stanley Cup the season they moved into a new barn. And two occurred right before or during the Great Depression:
1928-29 - Bruins (Boston Garden)
1930-31 - Maple Leafs (Maple Leafs Gardens)
1995-96 - Avalanche (McNichols Arena)
Three.
The NHL has had a total of 36 different franchises (including the defunct ones) since it was formed in 1917. And 35 of those franchises have opened new venues for a variety of reasons such as relocation, expansion, fire or the overwhelming appeal of Newark, N.J.
Yet only three teams have been able to win the Cup while breaking in a new sheet of ice.
Yikes.
Here's a list of all 30 active NHL franchises as well as a few defunct ones and how they did their first NHL seasons in the various buildings they have called home.
(Note: Based on the criteria we used in making this list, teams like the Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Bulldogs, California Golden Seals, Montreal Wanderers, Toronto Arenas and the original Ottawa Senators are left off the list in some instances since they had actually played in a certain venue well before joining the NHL. For example, the Oilers joined the NHL in 1979-80 as a result of the merger with the WHA. But they have played in Rexall Place - or Northlands Coliseum as it was formerly called - since the 1974-75 WHA season.)
Active Franchises
| Franchise | Arena (First Season) |
Record | Postseason |
| Anaheim Ducks/ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim |
Honda Center (1993-94) | 33-46-5 | Missed Playoffs |
| Atlanta Thrashers | Philips Arena (1999-2000) | 14-57-7-4 | Missed Playoffs |
| Boston Bruins | TD Garden (1995-96) Boston Garden (1928-29) Boston Arena (1924-25) |
40-31-11 26-13-5 6-24-0 |
Lost in First Round Won Stanley Cup Missed Playoffs |
| Buffalo Sabres | HSBC Arena (1996-97) Memorial Auditorium (1970-71) |
40-30-12 24-39-15 |
Lost in Second Round Missed Playoffs |
| Calgary Flames/ Atlanta Flames |
Pengrowth Saddledome (1983-84) Calgary Corral (1980-81) The Omni (1972-73) |
34-32-14 39-27-14 25-38-15 |
Lost in Second Round Lost in Third Round Missed Playoffs |
| Carolina Hurricanes/ Hartford Whalers |
RBC Center (1999-2000) Greensboro Coliseum (1997-98) Hartford Civic Center (1979-80) |
37-35-10 33-41-8 27-34-19 |
Missed playoffs Missed lplayoffs Lost in First Round |
| Chicago Blackhawks/ Chicago Black Hawks |
United Center (1994-95) Chicago Stadium (19-29-30) Chicago Coliseum (1926-27) |
24-19-5 21-18-5 19-22-3 |
Lost in Third Round Lost in First Round Lost in First Round |
| Colorado Avalanche/ Quebec Nordiques |
Pepsi Center (1999-2000) McNichols Arena (1995-96) NA |
42-28-11-1 47-25-10 NA |
Lost in Third Round Won Stanley Cup NA |
| Columbus Blue Jackets |
Nationwide Arena (2000-01) | 28-39-9-6 | Missed Playoffs |
| Dallas Stars/ Minnesota North Stars |
American Airlines Arena (2001-02) Reunion Arena (1993-94) Met Center (1967-68) |
36-38-13-5 42-29-13 27-32-15 |
Missed playoffs Lost in Second Round Lost in Second Round |
| Detroit Red Wings/ Detroit Falcons/ Detroit Cougars |
Joe Louis Arena (1979-80) Olympia Stadium (1927-28) Border Cities Arena (1926-27) |
26-43-11 19-19-6 12-28-4 |
Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs |
| Edmonton Oilers | NA | NA | NA |
| Florida Panthers | BankAtlantic Center (1998-99) Miami Arena (1993-94) |
30-34-18 33-34-17 |
Missed playoffs Missed playoffs |
| Los Angeles Kings | Stapels Center (1999-2000) Great Western Forum (1967-68) |
20-24-18 33-34-17 |
Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs |
| Minnesota Wild | Xcel Energy Center (2000-01) | 25-39-13 | Missed Playoffs |
| Montreal Canadiens | Bell Centre (1995-96) Montreal Forum (1926-27) Mount Royal Arena (1919-20) |
40-32-10 28-14-2 13-11-0 |
Lost First Round Lost Second Round Missed Playoffs |
| Nashville Predators | Bridgestone Arena (1998-99) | 28-47-7 | Missed Playoffs |
| New Jersey Devils/ Colorado Rockies/ Kansas City Scouts |
Prudential Center (2007-08) Continental Airlines Arena (1982-83) McNichols Arena (1976-77 Kemper Arena (1974-75) |
46-29-7 17-49-14 20-46-14 15-54-11 |
Lost in First Round Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs |
| New York Islanders | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (1972-73) |
12-60-6 | Missed Playoffs |
| New York Rangers | Madison Square Garden IV (1967-68) Madison Square Garden III (1926-27) |
39-23-12 25-13-6 |
Lost in First Round Lost in Second Round |
| Ottawa Senators (current) |
ScotiaBank Place (1995-96) Ottawa Civic Centre (1992-93 |
18-59-5 10-70-4 |
Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Wells Fargo Center (1996-97) The Spectrum (1967-68) |
45-24-13 31-32-11 |
Lost in Cup Final Lost in First Round |
| Phoenix Coyotes/ Winnipeg Jets |
Jobing.com Arena (2003-04) America West Arena (1996-97) NA |
22-36-18-6 38-37-7 NA |
Missed Playoffs Lost First Round NA |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Mellon Arena (1967-68) | 27-34-13 | Missed Playoffs |
| St. Louis Blues | Scottrade Center (1994-94) St. Louis Arena (1967-68) |
28-15-5 27-31-16 |
Lost in First Round Lost in Cup Final |
| San Jose Sharks | HP Pavilion (1994-95) Cow Palace (1991-92) |
19-25-4 17-58-5 |
Lost in First Round Missed Playoffs |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | St. Pete Times Forum (1996-97) Expo Hall (1992-93) |
32-40-10 23-54-7 |
Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs |
| Toronto Maple Leafs/ Toronto St. Patricks/ Toronto Arenas |
Air Canada Centre (1998-99) Maple Leafs Gardens (1931-32) |
45-30-7 23-18-7 |
Lost in Third Round Won Stanley Cup |
| Vancouver Canucks | Rogers Arena (1995-96) Pacific Coliseum (1970-71) |
32-35-15 24-46-8 |
Lost in First Round Missed Playoffs |
| Washington Capitals | Verizon Center (1997-98) Capital Centre (1974-75) |
40-30-12 8-67-5 |
Lost in Cup Final Missed Playoffs |
Defunct Franchises
| Franchise | Arena (First Season) |
Record | Postseason |
| Brooklyn Americans/ Hamilton Tigers Quebec Bulldogs |
Madison Square Garden III (1925-26) Barton Street Arena (1920-21) NA |
12-20-4 6-18-0 NA |
Missed Playoffs Missed Playoffs NA |
| Cleveland Barons/ California Seals/ Oakland Seals/ California Goalden Seals |
Richfield Coliseum (1976-77) NA |
25-42-13 NA |
Missed Playoffs NA |
| Montreal Maroons | Montreal Forum (1924-25) | 9-19-2 | Missed Playoffs |
| Montreal Wanderers | NA | NA | NA |
| Philadelphia Quakers/ Pittsburgh Pirates |
Philadelphia Arena (1930-31) Duquesne Gardens (1925-26) |
4-36-4 19-16-1 |
No Playoffs First Round |
| St. Louis Eagles/ Ottawa Senators (Original) |
St. Louis Arena (1934-35) Ottawa Arena (1923-24) |
11-31-6 16-8-0 |
Missed Playoffs Lost in Cup Final |
(Photo: Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette)