The Expansion Era

1967 marked the end of an era in the NHL--the Original Six era. The league went from six teams to 12 in one season, and that marked the beginning of the league's expansion era as hockey looked to spread across North America. From the Minnesota North Stars and the California Golden Seals in '67, to the Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques in the '79 NHL-WHA merger, teams came and went as the NHL looked for more successful cities for franchises to thrive.