The Original Six

Who were the Original Six Hockey teams?

The NHL’s most iconic era, from the demise of the Brooklyn Americans in 1942 to the last Stanley Cup gasp of Leaf Nation in 1967. Six teams, comprised of 120 Canadians and the very odd Yank, and enforcers who weighed 163 pounds (uh, that would be Ted Lindsay). Those teams were the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers.

The Original Six weren't actually the first teams in the NHL—no, those were the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Hockey Club (now the Toronto Maple Leafs). Those four teams were the founding teams when the NHL began in 1917. The league struggled for many years, as many teams came and went. The Original Six era was from 1942 to 1967 when the league had relative stability and began to rise in popularity. The era ended with the expansion in 1967 when six new teams entered the league.

Original Six Merchandise: Unique and Officially Licensed

Celebrate the NHL’s most iconic era with our awesome collection of Original Six hockey tees, hats, sweaters, jerseys, photographs and more! We've got the largest—and nicest—collection of Original 6 clothing. With the Leafs, Habs, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Bruins, and Rangers—it's the perfect gift for any hockey fan.