| History has sufficient evidence of good | | | | |
| evolving out of evil. In more moderate terms, | | | | Due to its Canadian origin, Canadians have |
| great things are achieved out of strife and | | | | historically formed the majority of players |
| struggle. The resultant is usually way beyond | | | | in the NHL. However, with the steady |
| expectations. NHL or the National Hockey | | | | expansion of the NHL hockey games, the number |
| League is one such example. It is defined as | | | | of American and other European players in the |
| a sports organization made up of professional | | | | NHL has steadily risen. This led to the |
| ice hockey teams in North America. | | | | improvement in quality of the NHL Hockey |
| | | | League. |
| With roots in the strife that enveloped NHA | | | | |
| or the Canadian National Hockey Association | | | | Today, with expertise from America, Canada |
| and the other team owners, the National | | | | and Europe, the NHL is the world's premier |
| Hockey League was born in 1917. The founding | | | | ice hockey league in the professional arena. |
| teams were the Wanderers, Senators, | | | | It has also been recognized as one of the |
| Canadians, and the Toronto Arenas, now known | | | | major professional sports leagues in North |
| as the Maple Leafs. In spite of the struggle | | | | America. When NHL began, it had only five |
| that the league faced in the first decade of | | | | teams. With time, NHL witnessed expansions, |
| its existence to stay in business, the teams | | | | fall-outs and relocations and is finally |
| ripped apart other teams on the ice, | | | | composed of 30 teams, 24 of them are American |
| mercilessly. Only once in 1925, another | | | | and 6 Canadian. Nevertheless, many of the |
| league got the chance to win the Stanley Cup. | | | | league's players on the 2005-06 rosters are |
| At other times, it was the NHL all the way. | | | | Canada born. |