NHL facts and records

NHL teams, the Stanley Cup and league records, with every number tied to an official source.

NHL teams and the Stanley Cup

The NHL has 32 teams in the 2026 to 2027 season. Seven play in Canada and 25 play in the United States.

The Montreal Canadiens have the most Stanley Cups, 24. The Toronto Maple Leafs are next with 13, and the Detroit Red Wings have 11. Ten teams have never won the Cup.

The Stanley Cup weighs 34.5 pounds and stands 35.25 inches tall.

Season dates

Each NHL team plays 84 regular season games in 2026 to 27, up from 82. The regular season ends Saturday, April 10, 2027, and the playoffs begin Tuesday, April 13.

The trade deadline falls on Monday, March 1, at 3 p.m. ET. Free agency opens on July 1 at noon ET.

The playoffs have four rounds of best of seven series.

NHL players

Brent Burns is the oldest active NHL player, and Gordie Howe is the oldest ever, at 52 years 11 days.

Canada sends the most players to the NHL. The NHL counted 306 Canadians among 723 players on opening day, which is 42.3%.

Start here

These guides hold the NHL’s numbers:

• How many NHL teams are there?
• Most Stanley Cups by team
• How many games in an NHL season?
• How do the NHL playoffs work?
• What percentage of NHL players are Canadian?
• Oldest NHL player
• How much do NHL players make?