The Original Six era is considered one the best periods in ice hockey, and for good reason. We saw some iconic rivalries, legendary players, and unforgettable moments happening during the 25-year period from 1942 to 1967. The six franchises that made up the league – four US teams (New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins) and two Canadian clubs (Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs) – keep rising to the tops in the NHL to this day. However, not all of them have managed to show great results in the 2024-25 season.
All the Original Six teams from the US (Bruins, Red Wings, Rangers, and Blackhawks) did not secure their spots in the 2025 postseason. This has never happened before in the history of the NHL. Boston Bruins and New York Rangers were expected to make the playoffs but did not perform well enough.
Chicago Blackhawks closed the Western Conference’s Central Division ranking for the third consecutive season and earned the second-worst league record, outperforming only San Jose Sharks. Red Wings, in turn, showed even more disappointing performance. They did not get to the playoffs for the ninth year in a row.
However, some Original Six teams still have a chance to win the Stanley Cup both Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs have earned postseason spots and continued their way to the heights. Keep an eye on the HotBet website to learn their current odds of winning.
Closer Look at Original Six Teams
As an NHL fan, you may be interested to know more about the legendary Original Six clubs and their performance:
- Montreal Canadiens: This is the longest-playing team in the NHL. The club was established in 1909 and became a league member eight years later. Canadiens also hold the most Stanley Cup titles (23) and have played in the finals 33 times. With such great achievements and a century-old history, Montreal Canadiens is rightfully considered one of the oldest and most successful sports franchises in the world. Many also predict the team to win the Stanley Cup this year.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The team holds second place in the overall league ranking. They have 13 Stanley Cup titles and 22 appearances in the grand final. However, fans are not betting on Toronto to win the 2024-25 season, as their last title was earned in 1967. The Maple Leafs entered the sports scene in 1917 as Toronto Arenas, were soon renamed to St. Patricks, and finally got their current name in 1927.
- New York Rangers: The New York club was founded in 1926 and started playing in the NHL in the same year. The team does not have many Stanley Cup titles – they reached the final 11 times and won only four. However, the Rangers proudly hold the title of being the first US ice hockey club to win the Stanley Cup.
- Detroit Red Wings: Also established in 1926, Red Wings have achieved more than their New York counterparts and other US-based franchises. Detroit made 24 final appearances and won the Stanley Cup 11 times, securing the club’s third spot in the overall championship ranking.
- Boston Bruins: The team debuted in 1924 and was the first US club to participate in the NHL. They won their first Cup championship in 1929, followed by five more victories over the next decades. In total, the club has played in the final championship matches 20 times.
- Chicago Blackhawks: Despite their poor performance during the current hockey season, the Blackhawks have had a lot of success throughout their history. Like Detroit and Boston, the club was founded in 1926, although it was called Black Hawks for quite a long time – up until 1986. Chicago has participated in the Stanley Cup finals 13 times and won 6 of them, with the most recent victory in 2015.
