History Of NHL Team Renaming

Typically reserved for NHL expansion and NHL relocation, seven cities (Toronto, Detroit, New York, Oakland, Chicago, Anaheim, Phoenix) have assigned eleven new names for their NHL team absent a move, since the league's inaugural season in 1917.

The chart below shows each instance of a renaming absent expansion or relocation, sorted by year, old team name and new team name.

Year	Old Team Name	New Team Name
1918	Toronto Blueshirts	Toronto Arenas
1919	Toronto Arenas	Toronto St. Patricks
1927	Toronto St. Patricks	Toronto Maple Leafs
1930	Detroit Cougars	Detroit Falcons
1932	Detroit Falcons	Detroit Red Wings
1941	New York Americans	Brooklyn Americans
1967	California Seals	Oakland Seals
1970	Oakland Seals	California Golden Seals
1986	Chicago Black Hawks	Chicago Blackhawks
2006	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	Anaheim Ducks
2014	Phoenix Coyotes	Arizona Coyotes

The most recent team renaming came in June 2014 as part of a last ditch effort to avoid relocation and keep the Coyotes in Phoenix under new ownership after years of financial distress and league ownership.  

Of the eleven newly named teams, five have won the Stanley Cup under their new namesake (Toronto St. Patricks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks) including one in the inaugural year of their name change (Anaheim Ducks 2007), one relocated (California Golden Seals to Cleveland Barons), and two fell prey to NHL contraction (Brooklyn Americans, Cleveland Barons).

Here's hoping the desert dogs enjoy more success on and off the ice with their new name. They're due some good fortune in the Sonoran.

* See also History of NHL Expansion.

* See also History of NHL Contraction.

* See also History of NHL Relocation.