1992-93 The End of an Era Trivia Quiz

Answer: Adams Division

The Boston Bruins were founded in 1924, and were one of the "Original Six" teams" from 1942 until the 1967 expansion era began.

Up to and including the 1992-93 season, the Bruins made it to the Stanley Cup Finals 17 times, winning five of them in 1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, and 1972.

In the 1992-93 season, the Bruins finished atop the Adams Division with a record of 51 wins, 26 losses, and 7 ties for 109 points. Despite this strong finish, they were swept by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the playoffs.

Answer: Adams Division

The Buffalo Sabres were founded in 1970 as an expansion team along with the Vancouver Canucks, together bringing the league up that year from 12 to 14 teams. The Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final just once, in 1975, and had not won a championship by 1993.

In the 1992-93 season, Buffalo finished fourth in the Adams Division with a record of 38 wins, 36 losses, and 10 ties for 86 points. They swept the division-leading Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, but were eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in the Division Finals.

Answer: Adams Division

The Hartford Whalers were founded in 1972 as a franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972 as the New England Whalers. In 1979 the Whalers, along with the Edmonton Oilers, the Quebec Nordiques, and the Winnipeg Jets, all joined the NHL from the WHA, bringing the league up to 21 teams. With the move, the New England Whalers became the Hartford Whalers. In 1992-93, Hartford finished fifth in the Adams Division with a record of 26 wins, 52 losses, and 6 ties for 58 points and did not qualify for the playoffs. The Whalers did not play in a Stanley Cup Final between 1979 and 1993.

Answer: Adams Division

The Montreal Canadiens were founded in 1909 ahead of the NHL's founding in 1917, and were also one of the "Original Six." Up to and including the 1992-93 season, the Montreal Canadians appeared in the Stanley Cup Final 33 times, winning 24 championships!

The 1992-93 season marked the last time the franchise would win Lord Stanley's Cup in the 20th century. The Canadiens finished third in the Adams Division with a record of 48 wins, 30 losses, and 6 ties for 102 points. In the playoffs, they defeated Quebec (1st round), Buffalo (Division Final), and the New York Islanders (Conference Final) en route to winning the Stanley Cup over the Los Angeles Kings.

Answer: Adams Division

The Ottawa Senators were founded in 1992, making this their first season in the NHL. The Senators were joined by Tampa Bay as new franchises, bringing the NHL up to 24 teams, and an even six teams per division. There had been a previous franchise with the same name, Ottawa Senators, which played in the NHL from its inception in 1917 until 1934.

Their inaugural season was difficult, as Ottawa finished last in the NHL with a record of 10 wins, 70 losses, and 4 ties for 24 points. They did not qualify for the playoffs.

Answer: Adams Division

The Quebec Nordiques were founded in the WHA in 1972, and joined the NHL with the other three WHA franchises (Edmonton, Hartford, and Winnipeg) in 1979, bringing the league up to 21 teams. The Nordiques had not managed to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their first 14 years of NHL play.

In the 1992-93 season, Quebec finished second in the Adams Division (and fourth in the league) with a record of 47 wins, 27 losses, and 10 ties for 104 points. They lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs.

Answer: Patrick Division

The New Jersey Devils were founded in 1974 as the Kansas City Scouts, in the same year as the Washington Capitals, bringing the total number of teams in the NHL that year up to 18. The Scouts became the Colorado Rockies in 1976, then moved again to New Jersey in 1982, becoming the Devils.

In their first 19 years in the league, the Devils did not reach the Stanley Cup Final. In the 1992-93 season, New Jersey finished fourth in the Patrick Division with a record of 40 wins, 37 losses, and 7 ties for 87 points.

They lost to the Patrick Division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs.

Answer: Patrick Division

The New York Islanders were founded in 1972, joining as an expansion team alongside the Atlanta Flames, which brought the total number of teams in the NHL to 16 that year. From 1972 to 1993 the Islanders had appeared in five Stanley Cup Finals and won four consecutive championships in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983.

In the 1992-93 season, the Islanders finished third in the Patrick Division with a record of 40 wins, 37 losses, and 7 ties for 87 points. They defeated Washington in the first round and Pittsburgh in the Patrick Division Final before falling to Montreal in the Conference Finals.

Answer: Patrick Division

The New York Rangers were founded in 1926 and were one of the "Original Six" teams in the NHL between 1942 and the expansion era that began in 1967. In their long history leading up to the 1992-93 season, the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final nine times, winning three championships in 1928, 1933, and 1940.

In the 1992-93 season, the Rangers finished last in the Patrick Division with a record of 34 wins, 39 losses, and 11 for 79 points and did not qualify for the playoffs. This marked the first time in NHL history that the team that won the regular season league title in scoring (the Presidents' Trophy) the previous year did not make the playoffs the subsequent year. And, spoilers, they rebounded to win the Stanley Cup in 1994, ending a 54-year drought.

Answer: Patrick Division

The Philadelphia Flyers were founded in 1967 when the NHL expanded from six teams to twelve, along with the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. In their first 26 years in the NHL, the Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Final six times, winning back-to-back championships in 1974 and 1975.

In the 1992-93 season, Philadelphia finished fifth in the Patrick Division with a record of 36 wins, 37 losses, and 11 ties for 83 points, missing the playoffs.

Answer: Patrick Division

Pittsburgh Penguins were founded in 1967, along with the other five teams that were part of the expansion (the aforementioned Seals, Kings, North Stars, Flyers, and Blues). Coming into the 1992-93 season, the Penguins were heady with the success of two back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in a row (1991 and 1992), dominating their only two Finals appearances since joining in 1967.

And their 1992-93 season was looking good for a potential third consecutive win, as Pittsburgh finished first in the Patrick Division and led the NHL overall with a record of 56 wins, 21 losses, and 7 ties for 119 points. Despite their dominant season, they were upset by the New York Islanders in the second round of the playoffs, after handily defeating the New Jersey Devils in round one.

Answer: Patrick Division

The Washington Capitals were founded in 1974, the same year as the Kansas City Scouts (who later became the New Jersey Devils). With their addition, the NHL stood at 18 teams. Since their inception, the Capitals had not reached the Stanley Cup Final (nor won a championship) by the end of the 1992-93 season.

In their 1992-93 season, Washington finished second in the Patrick Division with a record of 43 wins, 34 losses, and 7 ties for 93 points. They fell to the New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs.

Answer: Norris Division

The Chicago Blackhawks were founded in 1926 and are one of the "Original Six" from the pre-expansion era (1942 to 1967). The Blackhawks had reached the Stanley Cup Final 10 times by 1993, winning three championships in 1934, 1938, and 1961. In the 1992-93 season, Chicago finished atop the Norris Division with a record of 47 wins, 25 losses, and 12 ties for 106 points.

Despite their strong finish, they were eliminated in the first round by the St. Louis Blues.

Answer: Norris Division

The Detroit Red Wings were founded in 1926, and were one of the "Original Six" of the pre-expansion era (1942-1967). Detroit had appeared in the Stanley Cup Final 18 times and won seven championships by 1993: 1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1955.

In their 1992-93 season, the Red Wings finished second in the Norris Division with a record of 47 wins, 28 losses, and 9 ties for 103 points. They lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.

Answer: Norris Division

The Minnesota North Stars were founded in 1967 along with the other five teams that kicked off the expansion era (Seals, Kings, Flyers, Penguins, Blues). In their 26 years in the NHL as the North Stars, the team reached the Stanley Cup Final twice, in 1981 and 1991, but had not won a championship by 1993.

This was their final season in Minnesota before relocating to Dallas. In their final season in Minnesota (1992-93), the North Stars finished fifth in the Norris Division with a record of 36 wins, 38 losses, and 10 ties for 82 points, and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Answer: Norris Division

The St. Louis Blues were founded in 1967, along with the other five expansion teams that year (Seals, Kings, North Stars, Flyers, Penguins). Following their founding, the Blues reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first three seasons (1968, 1969, and 1970) but had not won a championship by 1993.

In the 1992-93 season, St. Louis finished fourth in the Norris Division with a record of 41 wins, 33 losses, and 10 ties for 92 points. They defeated Chicago in the first round but lost to Toronto in the Division Finals.

Answer: Norris Division

The Tampa Bay Lightning were founded in 1992, making this their first season in the NHL (along with the Ottawa Senators). With these two teams, the total number in the league was 24. In their inaugural season, Tampa Bay finished last in the Norris Division with a record of 23 wins, 54 losses, and 7 ties for 53 points, and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Answer: Norris Division

The Toronto Maple Leafs were founded the same year that the NHL began, in 1917, although they originally carried the name, the Toronto Arenas. In 1919 the name changed to the Toronto St. Patricks, and then again in 1927 to the well-known Toronto Maple Leafs. From 1942 until expansion in 1967, Toronto was one of the "Original Six." In their long history leading up to 1993, Toronto had appeared in 21 Stanley Cup Finals and won 13 championships, with their most recent in 1967.

In the 1992-93 season, the Maple Leafs finished third in the Norris Division with a record of 44 wins, 29 losses, and 11 ties for 99 points. They defeated Detroit in the first round and St. Louis in the Division Final before falling to Los Angeles in the Campbell Conference Final.

Answer: Smythe Division

The Calgary Flames were founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames, moving to Calgary in 1980. They joined the same year as the New York Islanders, which brought the league up to 14 teams. The Flames had reached the Stanley Cup Final three times by 1993 and won once, in 1989.

In the 1992-93 season, Calgary finished second in the Smythe Division with a record of 43 wins, 30 losses, and 11 ties for 97 points. They lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs.

Answer: Smythe Division

The Edmonton Oilers were founded in 1972 in the WHA, and joined the NHL in 1979, alongside Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg, bringing the total up to 21 teams. By the 1992-93 season, the Oilers appeared in the Stanley Cup Final six times and won five championships, in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990.

In 1992-93, Edmonton finished fifth in the Smythe Division with a record of 26 wins, 50 losses, and 8 ties for 60 points, and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Answer: Smythe Division

The Los Angeles Kings were founded in 1967, joining with the five other franchises (Seals, North Stars, Flyers, Penguins, and Blues) to double the league from six to twelve teams. The Kings had not reached the Stanley Cup Final at all during their first 25 seasons, but did so for their first time in 1993, coming up against the storied Montreal Canadiens.

In the 1992-93 season, Los Angeles finished third in the Smythe Division with a record of 39 wins, 35 losses, and 10 ties for 88 points. They defeated Calgary in the first round, knocked off Vancouver in the Division Final, and squeaked past Toronto in the Conference Final before finally losing to Montreal in the Stanley Cup Final.

Answer: Smythe Division

The San Jose Sharks were founded in 1991; the first new franchise added to the NHL in 12 years, bringing the total number of teams to 22. As a new expansion team, the Sharks had a challenging start, and did not make the playoffs in their first (or second) season.

In their 1992-93 (second) season, San Jose finished last in the Smythe Division with a record of 11 wins, 71 losses, and 2 ties for 24 points, which also left them tied with the Ottawa Senators for the least number of points in the league.

Answer: Smythe Division

The Vancouver Canucks were founded in 1970, joining the NHL alongside the Buffalo Sabres and bringing the league to 14 teams. In their first 23 season up to 1993, the Canucks reached the Stanley Cup Final just once, in 1982, and did not won the championship that year.

In the 1992-93 season, Vancouver finished first in the Smythe Division with a record of 46 wins, 29 losses, and 9 ties for 101 points. They defeated Winnipeg in the first round but fell to Los Angeles in the Division Finals.

Answer: Smythe Division

The Winnipeg Jets were founded in 1972 (as a WHA team) and joined NHL in 1979 alongside the Whalers, the Nordiques, and the Oilers, which brought the league up to 21 teams. Coming into the NHL, the Jets had been the strongest team in the WHA, winning the championship in 1976, 1978, and 1979 (and reaching the Final in 1977, too), but this did not translate into the NHL. In their first 14 years in the NHL, they did not reached the Stanley Cup Final in any of their post-season efforts.

In the 1992-93 season, Winnipeg finished fourth in the Smythe Division with a record of 40 wins, 37 losses, and 7 ties for 87 points. They lost to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the playoffs.