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