Can You Identify the NHL Team If We Give You Three of Its Franchise Legends?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Identify the NHL Team If We Give You Three of Its Franchise Legends?
Image: Wiki Commons by Michael Miller

About This Quiz

Unlike the NBA, the NHL relies more on brand than individual star power, but that doesn't mean that teams in the league aren't appreciative of the stars who pass through. If you're currently a fan, you'll probably recognize some of those stars like Connor McDavid, Victor Hedman and Nathan MacKinnon. One day, these players will be considered legends for their respective franchises, and perhaps, they will even have their jerseys retired. They're not quite there yet, though, at least not like the other legends in this quiz.

What does it take to become a franchise legend for an NHL team? Of course, it's easy to name the stars who rack up the most goals or performed in crucial moments, helping their team earn playoff victories on their way to Stanley Cup championships. But it's also about the players who keep fans interested during the down years, when those fans would otherwise tune out. They give a team and a city hope for the future and the possibilities that come with it. 

Are you prepared to see if you can identify all 31 NHL teams based on the legends who passed through the doors? From teams who started when the league was founded to more recent additions, this quiz covers them all. 

Before you get started, make sure you lace your skates up tight, because this quiz could get a little tough by the end.

Alexander Ovechkin
Wiki Commons by Michael Miller
Can you identify the NHL fanbase that has had the pleasure of watching Alexander Ovechkin, Rod Langway and Nicklas Backstrom play for their team?
Capitals
Jets
Lightning
Wild
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After 44 years of struggling to even reach the Stanley Cup Finals, the Washington Capitals finally won a championship in 2018. The Capitals dominated the Finals over the Vegas Golden Knights, finishing the series in only five games.

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Steve Yzerman
Matthew Phillips via Youtube
How well do you know the team that can call Steve Yzerman, Gordie Howe and Nicklas Lidstrom franchise legends?
Sharks
Avalanche
Red Wings
Devils
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A member of the "Original Six" teams of the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings have been one of the most successful franchises in league history. The team currently has 11 Stanley Cup championships and are a perennial playoff contender, rarely sitting out when the postseason comes around.

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Henrik Sedin
Wiki Commons by Hockey Board
Are you familiar with the franchise that had two brothers in Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin along with the Russian Pavel Bure play for it?
Canucks
Penguins
Wings
Sabres
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's rare for any professional team to have brothers on the same roster and even rarer for them to have identical brothers who are both stars like Daniel and Henrik Sedin on the Vancouver Canucks. These brothers played 18 seasons with the Canucks, each starting and ending their careers the same year.

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Mario Lemieux
Wiki Commons by Michael Miller
What NHL team have Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin spent their entire careers with?
Flyers
Devils
Blackhawks
Penguins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pittsburgh Penguins have relied heavily in recent years on Sidney Crosby, who has established himself as a franchise legend despite still playing for the team. The Penguins have won three championships behind the play of Crosby, who has been rewarded with a slew of awards.

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Joe Pavelski
Brian Truong via Youtube
Do you know what franchise Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have starred for in recent years?
Devils
Flames
Jets
Sharks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The San Jose Sharks have received one Presidents' Trophy since the team was added as an expansion franchise in 1991. The Presidents' Trophy is awarded to the team that scores the most points in the regular season.

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Mike Richter
GottaLoveCTHockey via Youtube
Mike Richter, Mark Messier and Brian Leetch all helped which team win the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals?
Blues
Rangers
Wings
Flames
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1994 Stanley Cup Finals pitted the New York Rangers against the Vancouver Canucks. The series was an even match that went seven games with the Canucks almost making a comeback from being down 3-1 in the series before the Rangers finished the job in Game Seven.

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Georges Vezina
Wiki Commons by S.J. Hayward
Though Georges Vezina is the one with a trophy named after him, do you know what franchise also had Bill Durnan and Jean Beliveau play for it?
Canadiens
Canucks
Rangers
Penguins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 23 Stanley Cups under their belt since joining the NHL in 1917, no team in the league has won more championships than the Montreal Canadiens. However, the club has gone over 25 years without a title, winning their last Stanley Cup in 1993.

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Jarome Iginla
Wiki Commons by Resolute
What NHL team had these three brilliant scorers: Jarome Iginla, Al MacInnis and Theo Fleury?
Flames
Devils
Hurricanes
Stars
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The "Battle of Alberta" pits the Calgary Flames against their Alberta neighbor, the Edmonton Oilers. When it comes to wins, the Flames have the advantage in the regular season, but the Oilers have more playoff victories.

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Erik Cole
Wiki Commons by Benjamin Reed
Select the team that Erik Cole, Ron Francis and Rod Brind'Amour turned into a championship contender in the early 2000s?
Golden Knights
Ducks
Hurricanes
Stars
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After failing to reach the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2004, the Carolina Hurricanes made a run to the championship in the 2004-05 season, defeating the Edmonton Oilers to win the only title in franchise history. They would return to missing the playoffs the next season.

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Brett Hull
Mike Matthews via Youtube
Have you kept up enough with hockey to name the team where Brett Hull, Bernie Federko and Brian Sutter suited up?
Wings
Sharks
Blues
Avalanche
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Facing off against the Boston Bruins, the St. Louis Blues won the first Stanley Cup in team history in 2019. Founded in 1967, the Blues had gone 52 years without an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, let alone a title.

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Nikita Kucheron
Wiki Commons by Resolute
Fans of what franchise got to watch Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Nikita Kucherov take the ice?
Wild
Lightning
Blue Jackets
Predators
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Tampa Bay Lightning not only made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2019 but also earned the Presidents' Trophy after scoring a league-best 128 points. However, the team lost in the first round to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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Joe Sakic
Wiki Commons by Hakan Dahlstrom
Pick out the team that had three star left handers in Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy?
Hurricanes
Islanders
Capitals
Avalanche
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg were all on both of the championship teams for the Colorado Avalanche, who won titles in 1996 and 2001. Sakic was named the MVP of the '96 series, and Roy won the series MVP in '01.

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Daniel Alfredsson
Wiki Commons by Michael Miller
Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Marian Hossa all gave which team part of their careers?
Lightning
Senators
Stars
Blue Jackets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The current Ottawa Senators are a replacement for the original team which played in the city from 1883 until 1934. The original Senators won more pre-NHL Stanley Cups than any team during that era.

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Bobby Hull
Wiki Commons by Community Archives
Tony Esposito, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull all had their numbers retired by which franchise?
Sabres
Blackhawks
Flames
Capitals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Having not won a championship since 1961, the Chicago Blackhawks were struggling to find fans when Rocky Wirtz inherited the franchise from his father in 2007. He quickly turned the team around, winning three titles within a decade.

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Ray Bourque
NHLPA via Youtube
Can you identify the NHL team that saw Ray Bourque, Bobby Orr and Johnny Bucyk hit the ice for them?
Sharks
Blues
Bruins
Blackhawks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Boston Bruins play alongside the Boston Celtics of the NBA in TD Garden. Both franchises have been residents of the Garden since the stadium finished construction in 1995. Prior to the move, the Bruins' home was the Boston Garden, a stadium they had occupied since 1928.

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Wayne Gretzky
Wiki Commons by Kris Krüg
This team had "The Great One" in Wayne Gretzky along with Mark Messier and Jari Kurri. Who are they?
Bruins
Oilers
Blues
Rangers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Edmonton Oilers dominated the '80s with Wayne Gretzky on their roster, winning four Stanley Cups behind the skill of "The Great One." However, Gretzky was traded not long after the Oilers won the title in 1988, ending his career in Edmonton.

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Scott Stevens
RustyGUNN80 via Youtube
You'll be hard pressed to find better defensemen than Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko and Scott Niedermayer, who all played for which franchise?
Islanders
Devils
Senators
Lightning
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The franchise that would eventually become the New Jersey Devils was located in two different cities before finally arriving in New Jersey in 1982. Prior to New Jersey, the franchise also resided in Colorado and Missouri.

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George Armstrong
Wiki Commons by Connormah
George Armstrong, Frank Mahovlich and Borje Salming made scoring look easy while playing for which NHL franchise?
Sabres
Flames
Maple Leafs
Sharks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a stint from 1919 until 1927 when they were named the Toronto St. Patricks. The name change came after the Arena Company went bankrupt and was forced to sell the team.

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Billy Harris
Wiki Commons by Ralrton-Purina Company, maker of Chex cereals
The NHL franchise that saw legends Billy Harris, Pat LaFontaine and Mike Bossy pass through its doors started in 1972. Which team is it?
Golden Knights
Senators
Stars
Islanders
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At the beginning of the 1980s, the New York Islanders dominated the NHL, winning four straight Stanley Cups between 1980 and 1983. They made a push for the championship in 1984 but lost a devastating series to the Edmonton Oilers.

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William Karlsson
Wiki Commons by Michael Miller
Though they have an extremely short history, do you know the team that has William Karlsson, Jon Marchessault and Marc-Andre Fleury entertaining fans?
Coyotes
Wild
Kings
Golden Knights
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Founded in 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights quickly established a championship contender, making the playoffs in their first year as an expansion team. Only a season later, the Knights were in the Stanley Cup Finals.

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Dominik Hasek
HockeyHallFame via Youtube
Dominik Hasek was an all around offensive threat, Rick Martin could keep anyone from scoring and Phil Housley was a sniper when it came to making goals for what NHL franchise?
Avalanche
Capitals
Sabres
Senators
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Buffalo Sabres began their history in 1970 playing inside of Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, which they left in 1996 to take residence in KeyBank Center. The team hasn't had much success in either arena and are still looking for their first title.

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Cam Neely
Wiki Commons by Meowwcat
Cam Neely, Phil Esposito and Milt Schmidt were three of the best forward line players for which franchise?
Bruins
Red Wings
Flames
Ducks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the "Original Six" teams in the NHL, the Boston Bruins have a celebrated history with six Stanley Cups under their belt. The team won its latest title in 2011 by defeating the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.

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Red Kelly
WikiCommons by Topps Gum Cards
This NHL team found success with stars like Dominik Hasek, Red Kelly and Terry Sawchuk. Who are they?
Lightning
Red Wings
Hurricanes
Predators
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Named the Detroit Cougars when they were founded in 1926, the franchise changed its name to the Detroit Falcons in 1930. The name was changed once more in 1932 after it was purchased by James Norris, who wanted to give it a closer association to "Motor City" in Detroit.

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Bobby Clarke
Flyersice Russia via Youtube
You would probably include Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber and Mark Howe if you were putting together an all-time roster for which team?
Flyers
Sabres
Capitals
Islanders
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Philadelphia Flyers have a fierce rivalry with the New York Rangers, which really began when the Flyers defeated the Rangers in the 1974 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The teams have met a total of 11 times in the playoffs with the Flyers holding six victories in those meetings.

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Dustin Brown
Wiki Commons by Nichole
Dustin Brown played the most games, but Marcel Dionne and Luc Robitaille are all over the career leaderboards for which NHL franchise?
Wild
Kings
Ducks
Panthers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993, the Los Angeles Kings struggled with financial problems and were purchased by new ownership. It took the team nearly two decades to recover, but they finally won a championship in 2012.

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Teemu Selanne
Wiki Commons by S.Yume
How well do you know the NHL franchise that had major stars in Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger?
Ducks
Coyotes
Predators
Panthers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Founded by The Walt Disney Company, the Anaheim Ducks are named after the 1992 film "The Mighty Ducks." The film was about a youth league hockey team that overcomes many obstacles to win the state hockey championship.

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Pekka Rinne
Wiki Commons by Dan4th Nicholas
Opposing teams found it hard to score on which NHL squad with Pekka Rinne, Shea Weber or Kimmo Timonen on the ice?
Panthers
Predators
Penguins
Rangers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Nashville Predators have played in the same arena, Bridgestone Arena, since their inaugural season in 1998. The only other professional team to take up residence in Bridgestone Arena was the Nashville Kats of the AFL, though the team is no longer in operation.

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Rick Nash
Wiki Commons by Hs86183
Rick Nash is the all-time leader in goals, Rostislav Klesla was the first-ever draft pick and Sergei Bobrovsky was an award-winning goalie for which NHL team?
Coyotes
Predators
Blue Jackets
Panthers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Columbus Blue Jackets have yet to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, though they can blame it on being a relatively new franchise. In 2019, the team finally won its first playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning only to lose in the next round against the Boston Bruins.

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Maurice Richard
Conrad Poirier / BAnQ Vieux-Montréal / Wiki Commons
Do you remember what NHL club had the famous "Punch Line" with legends Elmer Lach, Maurice Richards and Toe Blake?
Kings
Wild
Canadiens
Senators
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beginning play in 1909, the Montreal Canadiens have operated longer than any continuously running ice hockey team in the world. They are also the only team currently in the NHL to have started before the league was founded.

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Bryan Trottier
Wiki Commons by Horge
Denis Potvin, Billy Smith and Bryan Trottier were all part of which club's dynasty in the '80s?
Blues
Coyotes
Canucks
Islanders
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After the New York Islanders decline in the mid-1980s, the team wouldn't recover until the 1992-93 season, where they reached the Conference Finals. To get there, they had to defeat a heavily favored Pittsburgh Penguins team in the second round, which ended after an overtime goal in Game Seven.

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Dave Keon
Wiki Commons by Connormah
Dave Keon, Syl Apps and Ted Kennedy made names for themselves on the ice while playing for which NHL team?
Bruins
Oilers
Canadiens
Maple Leafs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Started in 1917 as the Toronto Arenas, the team received its current name ten years later under the ownership of Conn Smythe. The Toronto-based franchise was dominant from the start, winning the inaugural Stanley Cup in 1918.

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Dale Hawerchuk
OrThatsIt via Youtube
Are you familiar with the team that can call Dale Hawerchuk, Ulf Nilsson and Phil Housley franchise legends?
Hurricanes
Wild
Jets
Kings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beginning in Atlanta as the Thrashers in 1999, the franchise that would become the Jets made the move to Winnipeg in 2011 after finding no success and little fan support in Atlanta. The Jets did finally make the Western Conference Finals in 2018 before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights.

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Ed Belfour
Wiki Commons by Egon Eagle
Identify the NHL team that's had three top level goalies in Ed Belfour, Marty Turco and Kari Lehtonen defending the net?
Stars
Wild
Blue Jackets
Coyotes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dallas Stars went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 1999 and 2000, winning the first of those appearances but losing the second. The 1999 Stanley Cup Finals gave the Stars the only title in franchise history.

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Chris Chelios
Wiki Commons by Dan4th
Can you identify the team where Max Bentley, Denis Savard and Chris Chelios made names for themselves?
Flyers
Sabres
Blackhawks
Devils
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Chicago Blackhawks received their name from an infantry division that served in WWI who were nicknamed the "Blackhawk Division." The division, of course, got their name from the well known Native American leader Black Hawk, who was a member of the Sauk tribe.

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Keith Tkachuk
Wiki Commons by Jaime4Jesus
When putting together an all-time roster, what team would choose Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick and Shane Doan as their forwards?
Oilers
Predators
Panthers
Coyotes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Arizona Coyotes have been playing in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. However, the team is waiting to move to the Central Division in 2021 when a new expansion joins the league.

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Jean Ratelle
Wiki Commons by New York Rangers / NHL
The '60s saw legends like Jean Ratelle, Andy Bathgate and Rod Gilbert play for what NHL franchise?
Rangers
Blackhawks
Devils
Islanders
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The New York Rangers play home games in the historic Madison Square Garden, located in Manhattan. The Garden has hosted numerous sporting events, most notably the "Fight of the Century" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and three different WrestleManias.

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Glenn Anderson
Wiki Commons by Horge
Select the team that had a clutch scorer in Glenn Anderson, a determined goalie in Grant Fuhr and a gifted skater in Paul Coffey?
Avalanche
Oilers
Bruins
Capitals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though the Edmonton Oilers were founded in 1972, the team didn't actually join the NHL until 1979. Prior to that, they were a member of the World Hockey Association, which was in operation from the start of the franchise until they left.

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Marian Gaborik
Wiki Commons by Sarah Connors
Name the NHL team that had these three franchise legends: Marian Gaborik, Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu.
Blue Jackets
Predators
Coyotes
Wild
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Since appearing in the Western Conference Finals in 2003, the Minnesota Wild have struggled in the playoffs. Franchise players have had some individual success, but the Wild have rarely made it past the first round.

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Ron Francis
RustyGUNN80 via Youtube
Have you been a big enough hockey fan to pick out the team that Tom Barrasso, Rick Kehoe and Ron Francis starred on?
Jets
Blues
Canucks
Penguins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One Pittsburgh Penguin player who had a ton of potential but never got to become a franchise legend was Michel Briere. During his rookie season, Briere was in a car accident that put him into a coma and ended his life a year later. His number was later retired by the team.

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Olli Jokinen
Wiki Commons by Lisa Gansky
Are you familiar with the NHL team that can call Olli Jokinen, Nathan Horton and Robert Svehla franchise legends?
Panthers
Blues
Bruins
Canucks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Florida Panthers haven't had much playoff success, but the club did reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, only a few seasons after they were founded. However, since 1996, the team has yet to advance past the first round.

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Wiki Commons by Michael Miller