Overview
The 1967–68 National Hockey League campaign was the 51st season of top‑level professional hockey in North America. This year is often seen as a turning point because the league doubled in size from six clubs to twelve. Each team completed a 74‑game regular‑season schedule under a reorganized divisional format that separated the established clubs from the newcomers.
Structure and teams
To accommodate the new franchises the NHL created two divisions: one composed of the Original Six and another of the six expansion clubs. The established teams remained the core competitive power, while the six new teams began building their rosters and identities. Notable changes in scheduling and playoffs followed the expansion.
- Original Six: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, New York Rangers, Toronto.
- Expansion clubs: St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota North Stars, California Seals.
Regular season and playoffs
Teams competed within their divisions during the regular season, and the playoff system paired top clubs in a bracket that produced a divisional champion from each group. The season concluded with the winner of the established‑club division meeting the winner of the expansion division for the league championship.
Championship and significance
The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup after the playoffs, defeating the St. Louis Blues, one of the new franchises. The result underscored the gap that remained between the long‑standing teams and the expansion clubs but also established the Blues as the most immediate postseason success among the newcomers.
Legacy and notable facts
This season is remembered as the end of the Original Six era and the start of the NHL’s modern, multi‑market phase. It reshaped the league’s geography, broadened its fan base, and set patterns for future expansion. For more detailed season records and team histories see the official season overview and league archives: season summary, National Hockey League, team histories such as the Montreal Canadiens, and championship records like the Stanley Cup.