The National Hockey League comprises thirty-two storied franchises divided equally into two conferences and four regional divisions. The Eastern Conference features the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals. The Western Conference includes the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Utah Hockey Club, Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights.
The National Hockey League currently consists of exactly thirty-two active professional member franchises rather than thirty-three.
Public perception regarding the most disliked team in the National Hockey League typically centers on historic powerhouse franchises that have accumulated massive championship success, dominant dynasties, and intense divisional rivalries.
The thirty-two franchises comprising the National Hockey League are geographically distributed across major metropolitan media markets throughout the United States and Canada, reflecting the deep cultural footprint of the sport.
The National Hockey League has not announced any official plans or formal timelines to expand its operational footprint from thirty-two to thirty-four teams.
Within the National Hockey League, a select group of long-standing franchises has never experienced the ultimate glory of capturing the Stanley Cup championship.