Atlantic Division (NHL)

Lore & Background

The Atlantic Division was first formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference, taking five teams from the Patrick Division (New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals) and the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Norris Division, while adding the Florida Panthers as an expansion team. This original lineup lasted until 1998, when the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals moved to the newly created Southeast Division, and the Pittsburgh Penguins joined from the Northeast Division. From 1998 to 2013, the division consisted of the Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Flyers, and Penguins.

Reader's Guide

The Atlantic Division has undergone two major transformations. The original division (1993–2013) was a five-team group centered in the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas, featuring the Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Flyers, and Penguins. In 2013, the NHL realigned, moving those five teams into the new Metropolitan Division and reassigning the Atlantic Division name to a new eight-team group. This new Atlantic Division combined the former Northeast Division (Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs) with the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning from the Southeast Division and the Detroit Red Wings from the Western Conference's Central Division. The division features a number of classic and modern NHL rivalries, including Bruins–Canadiens, Bruins–Maple Leafs, Canadiens–Maple Leafs, Maple Leafs–Red Wings, Maple Leafs–Senators, and Lightning–Panthers. Games between the division's three Canadian teams, plus the Bruins and Red Wings, were traditionally featured on Hockey Night in Canada as its main attraction. The division was not used for the 2020–21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions, with teams temporarily placed in other divisions, but was restored in 2021.

Did You Know?

• The original Atlantic Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference, with the Florida Panthers added as an expansion team.
• As part of a 2013 realignment, the entirety of the former Atlantic Division was realigned into the Metropolitan Division.
• The 1994–95 and 2012–13 NHL seasons were each shortened to 48 games due to lockouts.
• The division was not used for the 2020–21 NHL season due to COVID-19 restrictions, with teams placed in temporary divisions.