Knowing the stars is one thing. Knowing the league map — which clubs belong to each division, where they play, and how today’s franchises took shape — is a different kind of NHL knowledge.
This team-focused hockey quiz travels across all four divisions, mixing city and division questions with arenas, nicknames, fan traditions, expansion and franchise moves. Every current NHL club appears somewhere in the challenge, while roster-based questions are avoided so the quiz stays useful beyond a single season.
Choose an answer before opening the explanation, or complete the full set first and use the score button at the end.
Test your NHL team knowledge. Select one answer for each question and keep the explanation panels closed while you play. At the end, tap “See Answers & My Score” to reveal the correct answers and your result.
- ✔ Teams across all four divisions
- ✔ Cities and home markets
- ✔ Arenas, names and fan traditions
- ✔ Original Six clubs
- ✔ Expansion teams
- ✔ Relocation and franchise history
Atlantic Division Teams & Traditions (Q1–10)
ATLANTICBegin with Atlantic cities, Original Six identities and team traditions before moving to division pairings.
1. Which NHL team plays its home games in Boston?
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Correct Answer: B — Boston Bruins — The Bruins represent Boston and are one of the NHL’s Original Six franchises.
2. Which Atlantic Division team is based in Buffalo, New York?
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Correct Answer: D — Buffalo Sabres — The Buffalo Sabres joined the NHL for the 1970-71 season.
3. Which Original Six team is associated with the playoff tradition of octopuses being thrown onto the ice?
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Correct Answer: C — Red Wings — Detroit fans are famous for the playoff octopus tradition, which began when eight postseason wins were needed to capture the Stanley Cup.
4. Which team represents South Florida in the NHL?
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Correct Answer: A — Florida Panthers — The Florida Panthers are based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market.
5. Which Original Six team is commonly nicknamed the “Habs”?
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Correct Answer: B — Canadiens — “Habs” is a widely used nickname for the Montreal Canadiens, the NHL’s oldest continuously operating franchise.
6. Which Canadian NHL team is based in Ottawa?
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Correct Answer: D — Senators — The Ottawa Senators compete in the Atlantic Division.
7. Which Florida NHL team is based in the Tampa Bay area?
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Correct Answer: C — Lightning — The Tampa Bay Lightning entered the NHL in 1992.
8. Which Original Six franchise plays in Toronto?
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Correct Answer: A — Maple Leafs — The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the six clubs that made up the NHL from 1942 until the 1967 expansion.
9. Which pair consists entirely of Atlantic Division teams?
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Correct Answer: B — Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs — Boston and Toronto are both members of the Atlantic Division.
10. Which Atlantic Division club has a lightning bolt as the central idea behind its team identity?
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Correct Answer: D — Tampa Bay Lightning — The Tampa Bay franchise has used the Lightning name since joining the NHL.
Metropolitan Division Teams & Arenas (Q11–20)
METROPOLITANMatch the eight Metropolitan clubs with their home markets, arenas and franchise-history clues.
11. Which NHL team is based in Raleigh, North Carolina?
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Correct Answer: C — Carolina Hurricanes — The Hurricanes play in Raleigh and compete in the Metropolitan Division.
12. Which Metropolitan Division team celebrates goals with a cannon at Nationwide Arena?
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Correct Answer: A — Blue Jackets — The Columbus Blue Jackets use a replica Civil War-era cannon as part of their home-game goal celebration.
13. Which NHL franchise is based in Newark, New Jersey?
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Correct Answer: D — New Jersey Devils — The Devils represent New Jersey and play home games in Newark.
14. Which New York-area NHL team won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 through 1983?
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Correct Answer: B — Islanders — The New York Islanders built a four-Cup dynasty from 1980 through 1983 after joining the NHL in 1972.
15. Which Original Six team plays at Madison Square Garden?
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Correct Answer: C — New York Rangers — Madison Square Garden is the home arena of the New York Rangers.
16. Which Metropolitan Division franchise is based in Philadelphia?
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Correct Answer: A — Flyers — The Philadelphia Flyers entered the NHL in the 1967 expansion.
17. Which NHL team is based in Pittsburgh?
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Correct Answer: D — Penguins — The Pittsburgh Penguins joined the NHL in 1967.
18. Which NHL team represents Washington, D.C.?
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Correct Answer: B — Capitals — The Washington Capitals joined the NHL in 1974.
19. Which pair consists entirely of Metropolitan Division teams?
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Correct Answer: C — New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers — The Devils and Rangers are both Metropolitan Division clubs.
20. Which Metropolitan team’s name refers to the U.S. national capital?
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Correct Answer: A — Washington Capitals — The Capitals name directly reflects the club’s Washington, D.C., home.
Central Division Franchise Clues (Q21–30)
CENTRALWork through Original Six history, relocation clues and every current Central Division market.
21. Which Original Six team plays its home games at United Center?
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Correct Answer: D — Blackhawks — The Chicago Blackhawks are an Original Six franchise and share United Center with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
22. Which NHL team is based in Denver, Colorado?
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Correct Answer: B — Avalanche — The Colorado Avalanche moved from Quebec to Denver in 1995.
23. Which NHL franchise is based in Dallas, Texas?
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Correct Answer: C — Stars — The Dallas Stars franchise moved from Minnesota to Texas in 1993.
24. Which Central Division team is based in Minnesota?
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Correct Answer: A — Wild — The Minnesota Wild began NHL play in the 2000-01 season.
25. Fans of which Central Division team are known for throwing catfish onto the ice?
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Correct Answer: D — Predators — Throwing catfish became a Nashville Predators playoff tradition, echoing Detroit’s better-known octopus custom.
26. Which NHL team’s name reflects the blues music heritage of its Missouri city?
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Correct Answer: B — Blues — The St. Louis Blues take their name from the city’s musical heritage and were part of the NHL’s 1967 expansion.
27. Which current NHL team is based in Salt Lake City, Utah?
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Correct Answer: C — Utah Mammoth — The Utah NHL franchise began play in 2024-25 and adopted the Utah Mammoth identity in 2025.
28. Which Canadian Central Division team is based in Winnipeg?
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Correct Answer: A — Jets — The current Winnipeg Jets franchise relocated from Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011.
29. Which pair consists entirely of Central Division teams?
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Correct Answer: D — Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche — Dallas and Colorado are both members of the Central Division.
30. Which Central Division club traces its current franchise lineage to the Quebec Nordiques?
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Correct Answer: B — Colorado Avalanche — The Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver in 1995 and became the Colorado Avalanche.
Pacific Division Teams & Expansion (Q31–40)
PACIFICTest expansion eras, Western Canadian markets and the identities of all eight Pacific Division teams.
31. Which team entered the NHL in 1993 as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim?
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Correct Answer: C — Ducks — The franchise began as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1993 and shortened its name to Anaheim Ducks in 2006.
32. Which NHL team is based in Calgary, Alberta?
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Correct Answer: A — Flames — The Flames franchise relocated from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980.
33. Which Pacific Division team is based in Edmonton?
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Correct Answer: D — Oilers — The Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL in 1979 after playing in the WHA.
34. Which California team was part of the NHL’s major 1967 expansion?
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Correct Answer: B — Kings — The Los Angeles Kings joined the NHL in the 1967 expansion.
35. Which NHL team is based in San Jose, California?
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Correct Answer: C — Sharks — The San Jose Sharks began NHL play in 1991.
36. Which NHL team is named for a giant sea creature from Scandinavian folklore?
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Correct Answer: A — Kraken — Seattle chose the Kraken name for the legendary sea creature and began NHL play in the 2021-22 season.
37. Which Pacific Division team is based in Vancouver, British Columbia?
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Correct Answer: D — Canucks — The Vancouver Canucks joined the NHL in 1970.
38. Which NHL franchise is based in Las Vegas, Nevada?
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Correct Answer: B — Vegas Golden Knights — Vegas began NHL play in 2017-18 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season.
39. Which pair consists entirely of Pacific Division teams?
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Correct Answer: C — Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights — Edmonton and Vegas both compete in the Pacific Division.
40. Which franchise joined the NHL alongside the Buffalo Sabres for the 1970-71 season?
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Correct Answer: A — Vancouver Canucks — Vancouver and Buffalo both entered the NHL for the 1970-71 season.
NHL Franchise History & Team Facts (Q41–50)
FRANCHISE HISTORYFinish with league structure, Original Six history, relocation routes and expansion chronology.
41. How many teams are listed on the NHL’s current team directory?
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Correct Answer: D — 32 — The NHL’s official team directory lists 32 clubs across four divisions.
42. How many NHL teams are in each of the four current divisions?
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Correct Answer: B — Eight — The Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central and Pacific divisions each contain eight teams.
43. Which six clubs make up the NHL’s Original Six?
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Correct Answer: C — Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, New York Rangers and Toronto — Those six teams made up the NHL from 1942 until the league expanded in 1967.
44. Which current franchise relocated from Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011?
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Correct Answer: A — Winnipeg Jets — The Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg in 2011 and became the current Jets.
45. Which current franchise relocated from Hartford to North Carolina in 1997?
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Correct Answer: D — Carolina Hurricanes — The Hartford Whalers moved to North Carolina and became the Hurricanes.
46. Which current franchise relocated from Minnesota to Dallas in 1993?
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Correct Answer: B — Dallas Stars — The Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas and became the Dallas Stars.
47. Which current franchise relocated from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980?
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Correct Answer: C — Calgary Flames — The Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary in 1980 while retaining the Flames name.
48. Which franchise became the Colorado Avalanche after moving from Quebec in 1995?
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Correct Answer: A — Quebec Nordiques — The Nordiques relocated to Denver and became the Avalanche before the 1995-96 season.
49. Which two clubs joined the NHL together for the 2000-01 season?
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Correct Answer: D — Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild — Columbus and Minnesota both began NHL play in 2000-01.
50. Which two current NHL clubs are the newest expansion teams to begin play, in 2017 and 2021 respectively?
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Correct Answer: B — Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken — Vegas entered as an expansion club in 2017-18, followed by Seattle in 2021-22; Utah began through a 2024 franchise transaction rather than a standard expansion draft.
How well do you know the league map? Share your score with another hockey fan, then try a different NHL quiz below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NHL teams are there?▾
The NHL’s official team directory currently lists 32 teams, divided among the Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central and Pacific divisions.
What are the four NHL divisions?▾
The NHL’s four current divisions are the Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central and Pacific. Each division currently has eight teams.
What are the NHL’s Original Six teams?▾
The Original Six are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Which NHL team began play most recently?▾
Utah’s NHL franchise began play in 2024-25 as Utah Hockey Club and adopted the Utah Mammoth identity in 2025. The Seattle Kraken, who debuted in 2021-22, remain the NHL’s newest traditional expansion team.
Does this NHL teams quiz include every current club?▾
Yes. Every current NHL team appears in the quiz through questions about cities, divisions, identities, expansion or franchise history.
This independent trivia resource is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Hockey League or any NHL club. Team alignment and franchise facts were reviewed for this post in August 2026. League alignment, names and other current details can change, so date-sensitive facts should be rechecked during future updates.
