Pacific Division (NHL)
Formed in 1993 as a Western Conference division.
The Pacific Division of the National Hockey League (NHL) was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference during a league realignment. It is one of two successors of the Smythe Division, the other being the Northwest Division. The division has undergone multiple changes in membership due to realignments, expansion, and the temporary suspension of the division for the 2020–21 NHL season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Pacific Division
- Conference
- Western Conference
- League
- National Hockey League
- Sport
- Ice hockey
- Formerly
- Smythe Division
- Founded
- 1993 / Suspended in 2020–21 / 2021 (reactivated)
- Teams
- 8
- Champion
- Vegas Golden Knights (5th title)
- Champ Season
- 2025–26
- Most Titles
- Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks (6 titles each)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Pacific Division was created in 1993 when the NHL realigned its conferences and divisions. It took five teams from the Smythe Division—Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks—and added the expansion Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. In 1995, the Quebec Nordiques relocated to become the Colorado Avalanche and joined the division from the Northeast Division. The division's composition shifted again in 1998 when the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks left for the newly formed Northwest Division, while the Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes arrived from the Central Division. Those three Canadian teams returned in 2013 after the Northwest Division was dissolved. The division expanded to eight teams with the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and the Seattle Kraken in 2021, the latter prompting the Arizona Coyotes to move to the Central Division to maintain eight teams per division.
Reader's Guide
The Pacific Division has been a significant part of NHL history since its formation in 1993, representing a key realignment of the Western Conference. It is notable as the only NHL division without any Original Six teams. The division's membership has been fluid, with teams moving in and out due to realignments, relocations, and expansion. For example, the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks left in 1998 but returned in 2013. The division was temporarily suspended for the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with American-based teams placed in the West Division and Canadian-based teams in the North Division. The addition of the Seattle Kraken in 2021 made the NHL a 32-team league and required the Coyotes to move to the Central Division. The division's history reflects broader trends in NHL expansion and realignment, and its teams have won multiple division titles's table of Pacific Division titles won by team.
Did You Know?
- The Pacific Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment.
- The division is the only one in the NHL without any Original Six teams.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all eight teams were transferred into two different divisions for the 2020–21 NHL season.
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