A Short History on The NHL

The NHL was formed in 1917 in Montreal, Quebec. Previously, the National Hockey Association was the premier league. However, the NHA was suspended due to disputes with the owner of one of the teams.  The NHL was then created as a solution and barred his team from playing. The Toronto Arenas, Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers and the Ottawa Senators were the initial teams in the NHL. The early days of the NHL was also filled with a number of issues, such as a Stanley Cup being called off due to a flu epidemic.

In the 1920s, the league expanded into America with the Boston Bruins. Shortly thereafter, the New York Americans, Pittsburg Pirates and the New York Rangers. Unfortunately, the Great Depression brought a swift end to a number of these teams.

The NHL still exists today and is perhaps more popular than ever. It is considered one of the four major professional sports, along with the MLB, NFL and NBA. The NHL has a history of disputes, lockouts and protests, but it still remains the premiere league for professional hockey.

Who are the Current Top Teams in the NHL?

There are several league favorites at the moment. The Pittsburgh Penguins are believed by some analysts to be next in line for the Stanley Cup. Of course, this can always change throughout the season.

The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers are always teams to watch as well. The Toronto Maple Leaves and Philadelphia Flyers have performed well in recent years and just might take the top spot.

When it comes down to it, any team is capable of surprising NHL fans throughout the course of any given season. You never know who is going to reign supreme. It all depends on off-season training and trades.

How Do People Bet on the NHL?

The NHL typically has lower betting limits than other major leagues. This is because most bookies are less comfortable with taking high bets on the sport. There are many different ways to bet on the NHL, you can see some here at all pro.

The Grand Salami is perhaps one of the most well-known. It will allow the gambler to have a vested interest in every game being played on a particular day. The exact rules will vary from bookie to bookie, however, it allows you to wage over or under on the number of goals scored on a particular day.

You can also bet on various statistical totals with the same over/under system. This is how most gamblers prefer to bet. Of course, you can also bet directly on who will win a certain game.

The rules will vary for every type of bet and it’s a good idea to understand them before putting any money on the line.

The NHL has a long and tumultuous history. However, it has been able to become one of the four major leagues in North America and continues to attract new fans. With 30 teams across two countries and an active betting community, it’s easy to see why this sport is growing so much.

Leslie loves watching sports and writing about business and sports on various blogs.