NHL Teams: All 32 Clubs and Arenas by Division

There are 32 NHL teams, split into four divisions and two conferences. This page lists every club with its home arena and city, then explains how to pick a team and a city for your trip, whether you want a classic rivalry, a short flight between games or a first taste of North American hockey.

NHL teams: how the 32 clubs are organised

The NHL has 32 teams across the United States and Canada. They are grouped into the Eastern and Western conferences, and each conference has two divisions of eight teams. In 2026-27 every club plays 84 regular-season games, 42 of them at home, between 29 September 2026 and 10 April 2027.

Knowing the divisions is useful for travel as well as hockey. Teams in the same division meet more often, so their games tend to carry extra intensity, and clubs in the same region are often a short flight or train ride apart. The lists below show each club with its home arena and city.

Conferences and divisions for NHL teams

  • Eastern Conference: Atlantic Division and Metropolitan Division.
  • Western Conference: Central Division and Pacific Division.
  • Total: four divisions of eight teams each.

Atlantic Division NHL teams and arenas

The Atlantic is a great region for travellers who like historic arenas and hockey cities. Three clubs are in Canada and five in the United States, and several of the cities are easy to combine on one trip.

Atlantic NHL teams list

  • Boston Bruins: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Buffalo Sabres: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York.
  • Detroit Red Wings: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan.
  • Florida Panthers: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida.
  • Montréal Canadiens: Centre Bell, Montréal, Quebec.
  • Ottawa Senators: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa (Kanata), Ontario.
  • Tampa Bay Lightning: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida.
  • Toronto Maple Leafs: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario.

Which NHL teams to see in the Atlantic Division

For history and atmosphere, Montréal, Toronto and Boston are the headline choices, and the Montréal and Toronto rivalry is one of the most famous in the sport. Ottawa is a smaller, relaxed trip with a game in the Canadian capital region, while Florida and Tampa Bay offer hockey in a warm-weather escape.

Metropolitan Division NHL teams and arenas

The Metropolitan Division sits in the north-east corridor of the United States, where cities are close together and travel is easy. It is the best division for a multi-game trip.

Metropolitan NHL teams list

  • Carolina Hurricanes: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina.
  • Columbus Blue Jackets: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio.
  • New Jersey Devils: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey.
  • New York Islanders: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York.
  • New York Rangers: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York.
  • Philadelphia Flyers: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Pittsburgh Penguins: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • Washington Capitals: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC.

Which NHL teams to see in the Metropolitan Division

New York offers two NHL teams in the region, the Rangers at Madison Square Garden and the Islanders at UBS Arena, plus New Jersey at Prudential Center. Philadelphia, Washington and Pittsburgh are all reachable by train or a short trip, so a three-game week is realistic. Carolina are the reigning Stanley Cup champions and raise their banner on opening night.

Central Division NHL teams and arenas

The Central Division spans the American heartland, the Mountain region and the Canadian prairies. Distances are longer, but the arenas are known for noisy crowds.

Central NHL teams list

  • Chicago Blackhawks: United Center, Chicago, Illinois.
  • Colorado Avalanche: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado.
  • Dallas Stars: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas.
  • Minnesota Wild: Grand Casino Arena, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
  • Nashville Predators: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee.
  • St. Louis Blues: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Utah Mammoth: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • Winnipeg Jets: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Which NHL teams to see in the Central Division

Chicago pairs hockey with a major city weekend, Nashville combines it with live music, and Winnipeg is famous for its loud, devoted crowd. Utah and Colorado are linked by the Winter Classic on 31 December 2026, and Dallas hosts the Stadium Series on 20 February 2027.

Pacific Division NHL teams and arenas

The Pacific Division covers the west coast and western Canada. It is the most scenic region and works well for travellers who want to combine hockey with a longer holiday.

Pacific NHL teams list

  • Anaheim Ducks: Honda Center, Anaheim, California.
  • Calgary Flames: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta.
  • Edmonton Oilers: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta.
  • Los Angeles Kings: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California.
  • San Jose Sharks: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California.
  • Seattle Kraken: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington.
  • Vancouver Canucks: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • Vegas Golden Knights: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Which NHL teams to see in the Pacific Division

Calgary and Edmonton are the classic Alberta rivals. Vancouver and Seattle make a neat pairing in the Pacific Northwest, and the California clubs are within a few hours of each other. Vegas is a spectacle on its own, with the arena close to the famous Strip. Calgary is also expected to move to a new arena, Scotia Place, for 2027-28.

How to pick among NHL teams for your trip

With 32 options, the best way to choose is to narrow down by what matters most to you. Start with one of these four questions.

Pick NHL teams by travel plan

Do you want a city break with hockey as a highlight, or a hockey trip with some sightseeing? New York, Toronto, Chicago and Boston are the safest picks for city breaks, while Buffalo, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Nashville suit a more focused hockey trip.

Pick NHL teams by rival and event

Check which rivals visit and whether a special event is on. Our team pages list the rivals and the home-game window of each club. Outdoor games and Global Series games are limited, so those clubs offer the rarest chances.

Pick NHL teams by arena

Older arenas have character and history, while newer ones bring modern comfort. Capacity, location and transport differ widely, so check the team page before you choose your seat.

Pick NHL teams by flexibility

If your dates are fixed, choose the city first and the opponent second. If your dates are flexible, choose the opponent first.

Next steps for NHL teams tickets

Open the page of the club you want, look at the home-game window and rivals, then check the official box office for availability. Sign up for the alert to hear about schedule updates and special games for your team, and keep in mind that exact opponents and dates always come from the official calendar.

NHL teams: planning tips before you choose

Before you settle on one of the NHL teams, spend five minutes on logistics. Look at the airport nearest to the arena, the distance between the arena and your hotel, and the likely finish time of the game. Most arenas sit in or next to the city centre, which makes late-night travel simple, but a few, such as the Ottawa arena in Kanata or the Florida arena in Sunrise, are outside the downtown area and need a car or a taxi.

Check NHL teams' home dates first

Every club has 42 home games, but not all dates suit a trip. Use the team page for the first and last home dates and the rivals worth planning around.

Atlantic · Division

Metropolitan · Division

Central · Division

Pacific · Division

FAQ · NHL Teams: All 32 Clubs and Arenas by Division

How many NHL teams are there in 2026-27?

There are 32 NHL teams, split into the Eastern and Western conferences. Each conference has two divisions of eight clubs: Atlantic and Metropolitan in the East, Central and Pacific in the West. Every team plays 84 regular-season games, with 42 at home, between 29 September 2026 and 10 April 2027.

Which NHL teams are in the Atlantic Division?

The Atlantic Division has Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montréal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Toronto. Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto are the three Canadian clubs in the division, and the rest are in the United States. It is a popular region for visitors because of its historic arenas.

Which NHL teams are in the Pacific Division?

The Pacific Division has Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Vancouver and Vegas. It covers the west coast and western Canada. Calgary is expected to open a new arena, Scotia Place, for the 2027-28 season, but that date is not confirmed.

Which NHL teams are best for a first trip from Europe?

New York, Toronto, Boston and Chicago are easy choices thanks to strong airline links and many things to do outside the arena. Montréal is another favourite for its atmosphere. If you want the shortest trip, remember the Helsinki and Düsseldorf Global Series games in 2026.

Which NHL teams play outdoor games in 2026-27?

Winnipeg host Montréal in the Heritage Classic on 25 October 2026. Utah host Colorado in the Winter Classic on 31 December 2026. Dallas host Vegas in the Stadium Series on 20 February 2027. Seattle, Carolina, Ottawa and Chicago take part in the Global Series games in Helsinki and Düsseldorf.

Can I visit several NHL teams in one trip?

Yes, especially in the north-east, where New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington and Boston are close together. Another good combination is Toronto, Buffalo and Montréal. Check each home schedule carefully, because clubs rarely play at home on every consecutive night.

Do NHL teams share arenas?

No. In the 2026-27 season each of the 32 clubs has its own home arena, and all of them are listed on this page. Some cities have two teams, like New York with the Rangers and the Islanders, but they play in different arenas.