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{{Short description|Professional ice hockey league season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox sports season
| title =1925–26 NHL season
Line 9 ⟶ 10:
| no_of_teams = 7
| season_champs = [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]
| MVP = [[Nels Stewart]] <small>([[Montreal Maroons|Maroons]])</small>
| MVP_link = Hart Memorial Trophy
| top_scorer = Nels Stewart <small>(Maroons)</small>
| top_scorer_link =
| playoffs =
Line 35 ⟶ 36:
| seasonslistnames = [[List of NHL seasons|NHL]]
}}
The '''1925–26 NHL season''' was the [[List of NHL seasons|ninth]] [[Season (sport)|season]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL). The NHL dropped the [[Hamilton, OntarioTigers]] team and added two new teams in the [[United States]] (US), the [[New York Americans]] and the [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]], to bring the total number of teams to seven. The [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] were the regular-season champion, but lost in the NHL playoff final to the [[Montreal Maroons]]. The Maroons then defeated the defending [[Stanley Cup]] champion [[Victoria Cougars]] of the newly renamed [[Western Hockey League (professional)|Western Hockey League]] three games to one in a best-of-five series to win their first Stanley Cup.
 
==League business==
{{Location map+ | USA Midwest and Northeast
A special meeting was held on September 22, 1925, to discuss expansion to New York City. The NHL approved the dropping of the [[Hamilton Tigers]] franchise and the adding of the [[New York Americans]] club, which would sign the Hamilton players.{{sfn|Coleman|1966|p=487}} The New York franchise was granted to Colonel J. S. Hammond and T. J. Duggan, although the ownership was held secretly by [[Bill Dwyer (gangster)|"Big Bill" Dwyer]], an infamous bootlegger from New York City, to play in New York's [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]].
| width = 400
| caption = [[Image:Black pog.svg|10px]] 1925-26 NHL teams
| places =
 
{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
At the annual meeting on November 7, 1925, the league added another new expansion franchise, in Pittsburgh, the third [[United States]]-based team in the NHL. The Ottawa Senators objected to the adding of the team, but were outvoted.{{sfn|Coleman|1966|p=487}} The Pittsburgh team, known as the Pirates was formed because former Toronto NHA owner [[Eddie Livingstone]] had been again threatening to form a rival league and mentioned Pittsburgh as one of the possible franchise locations. League president [[Frank Calder]] and the governors quickly agreed to grant the [[Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets]] organization an NHL franchise, known as the [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]], like the baseball club. [[Odie Cleghorn]] left the Canadiens to sign on as playing-coach with Pittsburgh.{{sfn|Coleman|1966|p=487}}
| lat_deg = 42.34
| lon_deg = -71.09
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[Boston Bruins|Bruins]]'''}}
 
{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
[[Tommy Gorman]] and Ted Dey sold their interests in the [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] to [[T. Franklin Ahearn]]. Ahearn then hired a successful junior executive, [[Dave Gill]], to be secretary-treasurer (general manager) of the team and Gill hired [[Alex Curry]], a former Senators player in the old NHA, to coach the team. Gorman joined the Americans' organization.
| lat_deg = 45.52
| lon_deg = -73.59
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[Montreal Canadiens|Canadiens]]'''}}
 
{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 45.49
| lon_deg = -73.59
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = top
| label = '''[[Montreal Maroons|Maroons]]'''}}
 
{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 40.76
| lon_deg = -73.99
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[New York Americans|Americans]]'''}}
 
{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 45.42
| lon_deg = -75.69
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = left
| label = '''[[Ottawa Senators|Senators]]'''}}
 
{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 40.45
| lon_deg = -79.94
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = bottom
| label = '''[[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pirates]]'''}}
 
{{Location map~ | USA Midwest and Northeast
| lat_deg = 43.65
| lon_deg = -79.38
| mark = Black pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = left
| label = '''[[Toronto St. Patricks|St. Patricks]]'''}}
 
}}
A special meeting was held on September 22, 1925, to discuss expansion to New York City. The NHL approved the dropping of the [[Hamilton Tigers]] franchise and the adding of the [[New York Americans]] club, which would sign the Hamilton players after many had paid a reinstatement fee for their players strike the year before.{{sfn|Coleman|1966|p=487}} The New York franchise was granted to Colonel J. S. Hammond and T. J. Duggan, although the ownership was held secretly by [[Bill Dwyer (gangster)|"Big Bill" Dwyer]], an infamous bootlegger from New York City, to play in New York's [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]]. Former Ottawa executive [[Tommy Gorman]], joined the Americans' organization.
 
At the annual meeting on November 7, 1925, the league added another new expansion franchise, in Pittsburgh, the third [[United States]]-based team in the NHL. The Ottawa Senators objected to the adding of the team, but were outvoted.{{sfn|Coleman|1966|p=487}} The Pittsburgh team, known as the Pirates, was formed because former Toronto NHA owner [[Eddie Livingstone]] had been again threatening to form a rival league and mentioned Pittsburgh as one of the possible franchise locations. League president [[Frank Calder]] and the governors quickly agreed to grant the [[Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets]] organization an NHL franchise, known as the [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]], like the baseball club. [[Odie Cleghorn]] left the Canadiens to sign on as playing-coach with Pittsburgh.{{sfn|Coleman|1966|p=487}}
 
[[Alex Currie]], a former [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] player in the old NHA, was hired to coach the team.
 
The league imposed a salary cap of $35,000 per team in an effort to curb player's salaries. The Pittsburgh Pirates' [[Lionel Conacher]] was paid $7,500 for the season, the Montreal Maroons' [[Dunc Munro]] was also paid $7,500, the [[New York Americans]]' [[Billy Burch]] was paid $6,500, the Americans' [[Joe Simpson (ice hockey)|Joe Simpson]], and the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]' [[Hap Day]] were paid $6,000.{{sfn|Dryden|2000|p=28}}
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* Only team captains would be allowed to talk to referees.
* Timekeepers would signal the end of a period with a gong instead of the referee's whistle.
* Goalkeeper pads were limited to {{convert|12"|in}} wide.
* 14 -player roster limits,. onlyOnly 12 to be dressed for any one game.
* Team salary cap of $35,000.
{{sfn|Coleman|1966|p=488}}
 
==Teams==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:auto"
|-
| bgcolor="#000000" align="center" colspan="6"|'''<span style="color:orange;">1925-26 National Hockey League</span>'''
|-
! Team || City || Arena || Capacity
|-
| [[Boston Bruins]]
| [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]
| [[Boston Arena]]
| 5,000
|-
| [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| [[Montreal, Quebec|Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
| [[Mount Royal Arena]]
| 10,000
|-
| [[Montreal Maroons]]
| [[Montreal, Quebec|Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
| [[Montreal Forum]]
| 12,500
|-
| [[New York Americans]]
| [[New York, New York|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]]
| 15,925
|-
| [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]
| [[Ottawa, Ontario|Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]
| [[Ottawa Auditorium]]
| 7,500
|-
| [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]]
| [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| [[Duquesne Garden]]
| 5,000
|-
| [[Toronto St. Patricks]]
| [[Toronto, Ontario|Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
| [[Mutual Street Arena|Arena Gardens]]
| 7,500
|}
 
==Regular season==
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[[Eddie Gerard]] improved the Montreal Maroons by signing [[Nels Stewart]] and [[Babe Siebert]] and signing former Olympian [[Dunc Munro]] for defence. The Maroons were on their way to glory. Nels Stewart not only set a record for goals by a first-year player, but became the first rookie to win the scoring title. Stewart also won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Stewart's record of 34 goals remains an NHL record for rookies until 1970–71.{{sfn|Dryden|2000|p=28}}
 
From the [[1910–11 NHA season|1910–11 season]] [[Georges Vézina|Georges Vezina]] had been the Montreal Canadiens goaltender, and had led them to the Cup in 1916 and 1924. In the first game of this season, he collapsed on the ice as the second period got underway. It was found he had tuberculosis, and he died in March 1926.{{sfn|Dryden|2000|p=28}} The Canadiens would finishfinished last in the standings and missmissed the playoffs.
 
Ottawa's coach Curry was quite successful, as he took a team that had gone from fourth overall to first with an impressive record of 24–8–4, and the expansion [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], with a strong cast of ex-amateurs led by future [[Hockey Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers]] [[Roy Worters]] and [[Lionel Conacher]], finished third. The Pirates introduced "on-the-fly" player substitution to the NHL, a practice already in use in the Western League.{{sfn|Dryden|2000|p=28}}
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;First game at [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]] December 15, 1925
 
The first regular-season game at Madison Square Garden between the [[Montreal Canadiens]] and the expansion [[New York Americans]] was a big event. Opening ceremonies included performances by the [[Governor- General's BodyguardBody Guard|Governor General's Body Guard Band]] of OttawaToronto and the United States Military Band from West Point, displays of 'fancy skating', a miniature game between the team's mascots and the opening faceoff was made by New York Mayor [[John F. Hylan]] and [[Tex Rickard]]. The attendance was 19,000 and the ticket prices ranged from $1.50 to $11.50. Gate receipts were donated to the Neurological Society of New York. Montreal won the game, officiated by [[Cooper Smeaton]] 3–1, and were awarded the new [[Prince of Wales Trophy]].<ref>{{cite news |work=The Globe |page=10 |title=New York Beaten By Canadiens, 3–1}}</ref> (The Trophy would subsequently be given as an award to the NHL playoff champions.)
 
One innovation brought in by the new Rangers was the painting of the ice white. After a half-inch of ice was frozen, it was painted white, and another inch of ice was frozen on top.{{sfn|Ross|2015|p=127}}
 
===Final standings===
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==Playoffs==
This is the last season that saw challengers from outside of the NHL compete for the Stanley Cup. At the beginning of the season, the [[Western Canada Hockey League]] renamed itself the [[Western Hockey League (professional)|Western Hockey League]] because one of its teams, the [[Regina Capitals]], had moved to the [[United States|States]] to play in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]]. They were renamed the [[Portland Rosebuds (hockey)|Portland Rosebuds]].
 
Once again, the [[Victoria Cougars]] finished third in their league but once again won their league championship and the right to play for the Stanley Cup. The previous season, the Cougars beat the [[Montreal Canadiens]] for the Stanley Cup with that being the only time in NHL history in which a non-NHL team won the Cup. After the 1926 playoffs, the Western Hockey League would foldfolded leaving the Stanley Cup entirely to the NHL. The Cup wouldwas never again be contested by a non-NHL team. This was also the only season in NHL history where the number of playoff berths was less than half of the number of teams in the league <!-- Not the only season where less than half of the teams actually played; besides the 2005 lockout, one team earned both playoff berths in 1920, and one team declined to play in 1925 --> and is the most recent season in which none of the [[Original Six]] qualified for the playoffs (as of 20162023).
 
===NHL championship===
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==Awards==
The new [[Prince of Wales Trophy]] was introduced this season. It was first presented to the Montreal Canadiens as winners of the first game in the new [[Madison Square Garden]]. The Trophytrophy was then intended to be used as a new trophy to be awarded to the champions of the National Hockey League. The existing [[O'Brien Trophy (ice hockey)|O'Brien Cup]], given also to the league champions, was not retired. [[Nels Stewart]] won the Hart for the first time in his career. [[Frank Nighbor]] won his second consecutive [[Lady Byng Trophy]].
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|year=2003 |title=The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League |publisher=Publications International Inc. |isbn=0-7853-9624-1 |ref={{harvid|Fischler|2003}}}}
* {{cite book |last=McFarlane |first=Brian |title=The Story of the National Hockey League |publisher=Pagurian Press |location=New York, NY |year=1973 |isbn=0-684-13424-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofnationalh0000mcfa }}
* {{cite book |last=Ross |first=J. Andrew |year=2015 |title=Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |isbn=9780815633839}}
 
;Notes
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[[Category:1925–26 NHL season| ]]
[[Category:1925–26 in Canadian ice hockey by league|NHL]]
[[Category:1925–26 in American ice hockey by league|1]]
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