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About National Hockey League

National Hockey League is a top-tier professional ice hockey league. based in USA/Canada. RinkStop currently tracks 63 teams for this league, with each team having a full profile page linking to roster, schedule, and recent results.

Professional leagues operate at the highest competitive level in their country or region. Players are paid salaries by team ownership and game outcomes affect team standings, playoff qualification, and in some leagues promotion or relegation. These leagues typically have multiple divisions or conferences, a long regular season, and postseason playoffs leading to a championship. Many professional leagues also operate reserve or farm systems that develop players between junior and senior ranks.

How National Hockey League works

National Hockey League fields 63 active teams tracked by RinkStop across USA/Canada. The 2026-27 season is in the RinkStop fixtures database, with 5 recent results on record. Professional leagues at this level typically play a 60-82 game regular season, depending on conference structure, with best-of-seven playoff rounds leading to a league championship.

Hockey in USA/Canada

Transatlantic or USA-Canada competitions. This entry is for leagues and tournaments whose primary footprint spans both the United States and Canada — for example, the NHL and the now-defunct World Hockey Association.

Recent results (2026-27)

Upcoming games

Teams in National Hockey League

Showing 5 of 63 teams. View all teams →

Frequently asked questions

What is National Hockey League?
National Hockey League is a top-tier professional ice hockey league. based in USA/Canada. The league is listed in the RinkStop directory as an active professional league.
How many teams play in National Hockey League?
We currently track 63 teams in National Hockey League. Browse the full team list on this page and follow individual teams for updates.
What level of hockey is National Hockey League?
National Hockey League is classified as a professional league. Professional leagues operate at the highest competitive level in their country or region. Players are paid salaries by team ownership and game outcomes affect team standings, playoff qualification, and in some leagues promotion or relegation. These leagues typically have multiple divisions or conferences, a long regular season, and postseason playoffs leading to a championship. Many professional leagues also operate reserve or farm systems that develop players between junior and senior ranks.
How can I follow National Hockey League games and results?
The official National Hockey League site is the best source for schedules, scores, and standings: https://nhl.com. RinkStop also publishes highlights and news for National Hockey League when available — see the "Latest Highlights" section on this page.
Where does National Hockey League operate?
National Hockey League is a USA/Canada-based league and is part of the broader hockey structure in USA/Canada. Transatlantic or USA-Canada competitions. This entry is for leagues and tournaments whose primary footprint spans both the United States and Canada — for example, the NHL and the now-defunct World Hockey Association.
How do I get involved with National Hockey League?
The most direct routes into National Hockey League are: (1) try out for one of the 63 teams listed in RinkStop, (2) reach out to the league office if listed, or (3) start in a local amateur or youth league and progress to National Hockey League level through tryouts. Use our hockey cost calculator for typical season costs by level.
How current is the data on this page?
League data on RinkStop is updated as teams, schedules, and rosters change. The "Last updated" line on this page shows when our record for National Hockey League was last refreshed. We also tag data with a source where one is available.
How many games per season do National Hockey League teams play?
Professional National Hockey League teams typically play between 60 and 82 regular-season games, depending on the conference structure. Exact game counts for the current season are visible in the "Recent results" and "Upcoming games" sections on this page.
When does the National Hockey League season start?
The National Hockey League regular season typically begins in early September and runs through late February, with playoffs extending into April. Training camps usually open two to three weeks before the regular season.
What divisions or conferences are in National Hockey League?
National Hockey League structure (across 63 tracked teams) typically includes two or more divisions or conferences, with regular-season play concentrated within division and cross-division games added throughout the year. The full list of teams and their conference assignments is visible on the "Teams" section of this page.
How do National Hockey League standings and playoffs work?
Most National Hockey League regular seasons are followed by a playoff bracket that includes the top teams from each division or conference. Playoff rounds are typically best-of-seven, with the league championship decided in the final series. The current playoff picture (where active) is reflected in the "Recent results" section on this page.
Where can I watch National Hockey League games?
The official National Hockey League site lists broadcast and streaming partners: https://nhl.com. RinkStop also links to each team's page where broadcast information is on file.

Edited by the RinkStop Editorial Team

League record last updated: 2026-08-23

Sources: RinkStop database, league and federation sites. Submit a correction.