Eastern Conference (NHL)
|
Eastern Conference logo, circa 2006 |
|
French version of the Eastern Conference logo |
The
Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the
National Hockey League (NHL) used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the
Western Conference.
Previously known as the
Prince of Wales Conference (or
Wales Conference for short), it was created in
1974 when the NHL realigned its teams into two conferences and four divisions. Because the new conferences and divisions had little to do with North American geography, geographical references were removed. The name was changed in
1993 to realign the teams to better fit their geographic locations. Then-new NHL commissioner
Gary Bettman made the change to help non-hockey fans better understand the game, as the
National Basketball Association,
National Football League, and
Major League Baseball all use geographic-based names for their conferences and divisions. However, the move angered purists and older hockey fans, who felt the change removed any touch of the history of the league. The trophy awarded to the conference champion, the
Prince of Wales Trophy, retains some connection to the heritage of the league.
Prior to the 1993 realignment, the Wales Conference consisted of the
Adams Division and the
Patrick Division. Currently, the Eastern Conference is comprised of 15 teams in three divisions:
Atlantic,
Northeast, and
Southeast.
Atlantic
*
New Jersey Devils*
New York Islanders*
New York Rangers*
Philadelphia Flyers*
Pittsburgh PenguinsNortheast
*
Boston Bruins*
Buffalo Sabres*
Montreal Canadiens*
Ottawa Senators*
Toronto Maple LeafsSoutheast
*
Atlanta Thrashers*
Carolina Hurricanes*
Florida Panthers*
Tampa Bay Lightning*
Washington CapitalsThe Eastern Conference champion faces the Western Conference champion every year in the final round of the playoffs to determine the winner of the
Stanley Cup.
*
1993-94 -
New York Rangers*
1994-95 -
New Jersey Devils*
1995-96 -
Florida Panthers*
1996-97 -
Philadelphia Flyers*
1997-98 -
Washington Capitals*
1998-99 -
Buffalo Sabres*
1999-00 -
New Jersey Devils*
2000-01 -
New Jersey Devils*
2001-02 -
Carolina Hurricanes*
2002-03 -
New Jersey Devils*
2003-04 -
Tampa Bay Lightning*
2004-05 -
None*
2005-06 -
Carolina HurricanesStanley Cup champions
*
1993-94 -
New York Rangers*
1994-95 -
New Jersey Devils*
1999-00 -
New Jersey Devils*
2002-03 -
New Jersey Devils*
2003-04 -
Tampa Bay Lightning*
2004-05 -
None*
2005-06 -
Carolina Hurricanes
