1933–34 NHL season

The 1933–34 campaign marked the NHL's 17th year of operation. Nine clubs skated a 48-game schedule. Chicago claimed the Stanley Cup by beating Detroit three games to one.

Off the ice, the New York Americans debuted new uniforms. Their home set featured "Americans" across the chest, white stars on blue shoulders, and red-and-white stripes below. The road jersey was white with a shield logo, blue sleeves and shoulders, and a horizontal red stripe near the hem. The Americans became the second NHL team, after Toronto, to have two distinct uniforms.

During the regular season, Ottawa faced turmoil. Holdout Cooney Weiland was sold to Detroit, strengthening the Red Wings. The Senators kept losing but won a few games after signing amateur Max Kaminsky to center the Roche brothers, Desse and Earl. Defenseman Ralph "Scotty" Bowman gave fans a bright spot. Still, the end was near. In Ottawa's last NHL game before the league returned in 1992, the Senators lent goaltender Alex Connell to the New York Americans when Roy Worters was injured. Connell helped the Americans beat his own club.

A major goalie swap saw Lorne Chabot go to Montreal for George Hainsworth. Montreal also loaned Wilf Cude to Detroit, and he led the Red Wings to first place. Chabot topped the Canadian Division in goaltending, pushing the Canadiens to second. Aurel Joliat won the Hart Trophy.

On February 14, 1934, the first NHL All-Star Game—though unofficial—was held to benefit Toronto's Ace Bailey. On December 12, 1933, late in the second period of a Leafs-Bruins game in Boston, Bailey was hit from behind by Eddie Shore. Shore had meant to hit Toronto's King Clancy in retaliation for a check, but missed. Bailey was knocked unconscious and bleeding. Toronto's Red Horner then knocked out Shore with a punch. Both players regained consciousness after the game, and Bailey said it was "all part of the game." But Bailey soon lapsed into convulsions and suffered severe hemorrhaging. He was not expected to live, and it was made known that Shore would have faced manslaughter charges if Bailey died. Bailey recovered but never played again. Shore received a 16-game suspension; Horner was suspended for the remainder of the 1932–33 season.

The benefit game was proposed by Montreal Journal sports editor Walter Gilhooley and approved at a January 24, 1934, Board of Governors meeting. Held at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Leafs faced an All-Star team from the other eight clubs and won 7–3. Before the game, Bailey presented Shore with his All-Star jersey, signaling forgiveness. Bailey also gave a trophy to NHL President Frank Calder, hoping it would go to the winner of an annual All-Star Game for injured players' benefit. Toronto retired Bailey's #6 jersey, the first number retired in NHL history.

In the playoffs, the top three teams from each division qualified. Division winners met in a best-of-five semifinal. Second- and third-place teams played two-game total-goal series to determine the other semifinalists. Semifinal winners then met in a best-of-five Stanley Cup Final.

Quarterfinals: Chicago vs. Montreal Canadiens; New York Rangers vs. Montreal Maroons. Semifinals: Toronto vs. Detroit; Chicago vs. Montreal Maroons. The Finals saw Chicago beat Detroit three games to one. The fourth game went to double overtime. After regulation, Black Hawks goaltender Charlie Gardiner, a two-time Vezina winner, left the game feeling unwell. He died of a brain hemorrhage two months later.

Award winners and All-Star teams were named. Scoring leaders: GP, G, A, PTS, PIM. Leading goaltenders: GP, Mins, GA, SO, GAA. Coaches: Boston—Art Ross; Chicago—Tommy Gorman; Detroit—Jack Adams; New York Rangers—Lester Patrick; Montreal Canadiens—Newsy Lalonde; Montreal Maroons—Eddie Gerard; New York Americans—Bullet Joe Simpson; Ottawa—George Boucher; Toronto—Dick Irvin.

Notable debuts included Russ Blinco, Herb Cain, Lorne Carr, and Flash Hollett. Notable last games were also recorded.