You’d think the answer is easy. It’s a number. You count them on your fingers and you're done, right? But honestly, if you ask a hockey fan in Quebec City or someone in the suburbs of Toronto, they’ll tell you the real answer feels a lot smaller than it should be.
Right now, as we move through the 2025–26 season, there are seven Canadian NHL teams.
That’s it. Just seven. Out of 32 total teams in the league, only about 22% are based in the country that practically invented the sport. It feels weird, doesn't it? Especially when you consider that a massive chunk of the league’s revenue—we’re talking the "keep the lights on" kind of money—comes from these seven markets.
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The Current Lineup: Who’s Who?
If you're making a list for a trivia night or just settled a bet at the bar, here is the official roll call:
- Montreal Canadiens: The "Habs." They’ve been around since 1909, making them older than the NHL itself.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The most valuable franchise in the country, despite the... well, you know. The "drought."
- Ottawa Senators: Joined in 1992. They've had some wild swings from Cup contenders to rebuilding, but they're firmly rooted in the capital.
- Winnipeg Jets: The "new" version. They moved from Atlanta in 2011. People still get confused because the original Jets moved to Phoenix in '96.
- Calgary Flames: A staple of the West since 1980.
- Edmonton Oilers: Home of the greatest players to ever lace them up, from Gretzky to McDavid.
- Vancouver Canucks: Representing the West Coast since 1970.
Seven teams. That’s the hard fact.
Why Isn't There an Eighth? (The Quebec Question)
Every single time expansion comes up, Quebec City enters the chat. It’s basically a law of nature at this point. They have the Videotron Centre, which is a state-of-the-art NHL-ready arena. They have a fanbase that would probably sell out a pre-season game against a bunch of pylons.
So, what gives?
It’s mostly about the money and the "footprint." NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has often pointed toward the balance between the Eastern and Western Conferences. But honestly, the bigger hurdle is the Canadian dollar. Since NHL players are paid in U.S. dollars but Canadian teams earn their revenue in "loonies," a weak Canadian dollar makes it incredibly expensive to run a team up north.
Then there’s the "territorial rights" thing. The Montreal Canadiens aren't exactly in a rush to share their regional TV market with a resurrected Quebec Nordiques. It’s business. It’s cold. It’s kind of frustrating for fans who remember the old 1980s brawls between those two.
The Math of the "Original Six"
You’ll often hear people talk about the Original Six and assume half of them were Canadian.
Nope.
Only two of the Original Six are Canadian: Toronto and Montreal. The other four (Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and New York) are American. This is a common misconception that makes people think Canada used to have a much larger "share" of the league. In reality, the NHL has always had a heavy American presence, even back in the 1940s.
The Expansion Reality
Lately, the league has been obsessed with the "Sun Belt." We saw Vegas join in 2017, Seattle in 2021, and the recent move to Utah. The logic is simple: the NHL wants to grow the game in places where people don't already live and breathe hockey.
In Canada, you don't need to "grow" the game. You just harvest it.
A team in Houston or Atlanta (again) represents "new" money. A team in Quebec City or a second team in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is seen by some owners as "cannibalizing" existing money. If you’re a fan in Hamilton, Ontario, you’ve probably been hearing rumors of a team coming your way since the 1980s. It hasn't happened yet, mostly because the Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres guard that territory like a junkyard dog.
The Economic Impact is Massive
Even though there are only seven Canadian NHL teams, they punch way above their weight class. According to recent financial reports and Forbes valuations, the Toronto Maple Leafs often swap the #1 spot for "Most Valuable NHL Team" with the New York Rangers.
During the 2024–25 playoff run, the Edmonton Oilers alone generated an estimated $280 million in economic impact for their region. When a Canadian team goes deep in the playoffs, the whole country’s economy feels a little spark. Bars are full. Jersey sales skyrocket. It’s a whole vibe.
Could things change by 2027?
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is a big deal. It expires in 2026. This is where the players and owners sit down and argue about how to split the billions of dollars the league makes.
Some insiders suggest that once the new CBA is signed and the salary cap continues to jump—it’s projected to hit over $100 million soon—the league might finally look at a 33rd or 34th team. Will that be in Canada?
Maybe. But the competition is stiff. Cities like Houston, Atlanta, and even Cincinnati are making noise. For Canada to get an eighth team, the stars (and the exchange rate) have to align perfectly.
What You Should Do Now
If you're a fan of one of the "Seven," or just someone tracking the league's growth, here is how to keep an eye on things:
- Watch the Canadian Dollar: If the loonie starts creeping back up toward 80 or 85 cents USD, the talk of a Quebec expansion will get much louder.
- Follow the Arena Projects: Keep an eye on the GTA. Any news of a major multi-purpose arena being built in places like Markham or Hamilton is a signal that someone is still trying to get a second team into Southern Ontario.
- Support the AHL: If you want more NHL hockey in Canada, look at the success of teams like the Laval Rocket or the Manitoba Moose. High attendance in the minor leagues is the best proof of market viability.
The number seven isn't just a digit; it’s a symbol of a country that provides the soul of the league while the business office looks elsewhere. Whether we stay at seven or finally hit eight, the passion isn't going anywhere.