1926–27 NHL season

Professional ice hockey league season August 2023 1926–27 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey November 16, 1926 – April 13, 1927 Regular season 44 10 Ottawa Senators Herb Gardiner (Canadiens) Hart Memorial Trophy Bill Cook (Rangers) Canadian Division Ottawa Senators American Division New York Rangers Stanley Cup 1927 Stanley Cup Finals Ottawa Senators Boston Bruins 1927–28 NHL season 1925–26 NHL season 1927–28 1925–26 NHL The 1926–27 NHL season was the tenth season of the National Hockey League. The success of the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Pirates led the NHL to expand further within the United States. The league added three new teams: the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Cougars, and New York Rangers, to make a total of ten, split in two divisions. This resulted in teams based in Canada being in the minority for the first time. To stock the teams with players the new teams brought in players from the Western Hockey League, which folded in May 1926. This left the NHL in sole possession of hockey's top players, as well as sole control of hockey's top trophy, the Stanley Cup, which was won by the Ottawa Senators. This was the original Senators' eleventh and final Stanley Cup win. The Senators' first was in 1903. League business NHL expansion was the main topic of discussion between the NHL owners at the April 1926 and May 1, 1926 league meetings. The new New York Rangers franchise was approved in principle after the Madison Square Gardens president Hammond agreed to revenue sharing. President Calder, plus owners Strachan and Dandurand formed a committee to study franchise candidates in Chicago, Detroit, Jersey City and Philadelphia, while further applications from Cleveland, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit were received. The owners were split on which new franchises to accept. Part of the disagreement was over the Chicago franchise. Sports promoter Paddy Harmon had announced a new Chicago Stadium and backed a team in partnership with Thomas Duggan, while Madison Square Garden's Tex Rickard wanted to build a Chicago Madison Square Garden with the participation of Huntington Hardwick.Ross 2015 132-134 At the 1926 Stanley Cup Finals, WHL president Frank Patrick had begun shopping the WHL's players to the NHL, hoping to raise $300,000 to distribute to the WHL owners. Patrick approached Art Ross of the Bruins, who agreed to purchase the contracts of Frank Fredrickson, Eddie Shore, and Duke Keats. After the series, Patrick approached the new New York Rangers owner Charles Hammond and their general manager Conn Smythe, but they were turned down. Patrick and Ross approached the Bruins' owner who agreed to purchase the entire lot of players for $250,000, and gave Patrick a $50,000 check as a deposit. He planned to keep some of the players for the Bruins, sell twelve players each to the new Chicago and Detroit franchises and distribute the rest to the rest of the league.Jenish 2013 46–47 At a May 14 meeting, the NHL awarded the Detroit franchise to the syndicate of Wesson Seybourn and John Townsend, formed by Charles A. Hughes.Ross 2015 134 The split over the new Chicago franchise prevented its immediate acceptance as a new franchise required unanimity. However, the NHL governors could amend their constitution with a two-thirds vote, and they amended the constitution at the May 14 meeting to lower the bar for a new franchise to a simple majority vote. The governors agreed that Huntwick would get the Chicago franchise. Huntwick proceeded to buy the Portland Rosebuds and the Hughes group purchased the Victoria Cougars, each for $100,000. The Bruins took Fredrickson, Shore, Keats and others, while the Rangers took Frank Boucher. In total, the player's contracts purchased that day totalled $267,000 for Patrick to take back to the WHL. On May 15, the NHL awarded the franchises to the Hardwick and Hughes consortiums, with provisos that each team would have an NHL-ready team for September 1, and new arenas by November 10.Jenish 2013 47–48 At the September 25, 1926, NHL meeting, the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Cougars and New York Rangers were added to the league. The Hughes consortium proceeded with the purchase of the Cougars and the franchise, while the Chicago franchise instead went to Frederic McLaughlin, who took over the deal from Huntwick on June 1.Jenish 2013 52 The NHL's second franchise in New York City went to the Madison Square Garden syndicate of John S. Hammond.McFarlane 1973 37 Both Detroit and Chicago had not begun construction on arenas. Detroit would play in Windsor, Ontario at the Border Cities Arena, while the Black Hawks played at the Chicago Coliseum.Ross 2015 151-152 Toronto bought the players of the Saskatoon franchise separately, and Montreal claimed George Hainsworth. The rest of the WHL players would be distributed by a committee of Frank Calder, Leo Dandurand and James Strachan. The former WHL players made an impact in the NHL. The top scorer was Bill Cook, the top goalie was George Hainsworth, and defenceman Herb Gardiner was the league MVP.Dryden 2000 29 A special meeting was held on October 26 at which the NHL was split into the Canadian and American divisions. It was the first divisional format to be implemented in a major professional North American sports league. To balance the divisions, the New York Americans were placed in the Canadian Division. With the new divisional alignment came an altered playoff format: the top team from each division would meet the winner of a total-goals series between the second and third place teams from their divisions. The winners of those total-goals series would meet in a best-of-five Stanley Cup Finals. The Central Hockey League changed its name to the American Hockey Association. The new AHA signed an agreement of co-operation with the NHL, wanting to place itself on an equal footing with the NHL, but non-competitive. However, the new AHA placed franchises in Chicago and Detroit, competing with NHL teams. The Chicago Cardinals were backed by old nemesis Eddie Livingstone and became a source of friction with the NHL. Calder declared that several of the Cardinals' players were illegally signed and broke off the agreement with the AHA. The AHA could not compete with the NHL and the Detroit franchise folded in December, and the Chicago franchise folded in March. The AHA then signed another cooperation agreement with the NHL and forced Livingstone out.Ross 2015 155-156 Majority ownership of the Toronto St. Patricks was sold on February 14, 1927 to a syndicate headed by Conn Smythe for 160,000 1927.Dryden 2000 29 Nathan Nathanson sold his interest entirely, while J. P. Bickell retained his share of the company.Ross 2015 161-162 The club was officially renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs and Bickell became its president,Ross 2015 162 but the league ruled that the team must remain using the St. Patricks name until season's end. Rules changes The blue lines moved to sixty feet from the goal line from twenty feet from the center red line to increase the size of the neutral zone. Two innovations attributed to Art Ross are adopted by the NHL. The league adopts a modified puck, which has rounded edges. The net is modified to keep the puck in the webbing.Dryden 2000 29 Arena changes The expansion Chicago Black Hawks moved into Chicago Coliseum. The expansion Detroit Cougars played this season at Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario, while Olympia Stadium remained under construction. The Montreal Canadiens moved from Mount Royal Arena to the Montreal Forum, sharing it with the Maroons. The expansion New York Rangers moved into the third building named Madison Square Garden, sharing it with the Americans. Regular season The Montreal Canadiens, last place finishers in 1925–26, solved their goaltending woes by signing George Hainsworth. They further strengthened their team by signing Herb Gardiner of the Western League's Calgary Tigers for defence. The Canadiens finished second in the Canadian Division to powerful Ottawa, who was the league's best team. Dave Gill, secretary-treasurer (general manager), decided to take over as coach of the Ottawa Senators. He would be assisted by Frank Shaughnessy, a former manager of the Senators in the NHA days, to assist him with the strategy used in games. Ottawa finished first atop the Canadian Division. The arena is not ready in Detroit for the start of the regular season. The expansion Cougars play their first 22 home games just across the Canada–United States border in Windsor, Ontario, at the Border Cities Arena.Dryden 2000 29 On December 4, 1926, Cy Denneny and Frank Finnigan were seriously injured in a car accident. Finnigan suffered a slightly fractured skull and Denneny was badly gashed. New York Americans right winger Shorty Green's career was ended after an injury in a game on February 27, 1927. New York Rangers defenceman Taffy Abel bodychecked Green, caused a kidney injury that requires an emergency operation to remove the kidney; Abel retired for health reasons.Dryden 2000 29 Final standings Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against start break end Playoffs Playoff bracket With the collapse of the Western Hockey League, the Stanley Cup became the championship trophy of the NHL, and the Stanley Cup playoffs became synonymous with the NHL's postseason. The new division alignment and playoff format also guaranteed that the first American NHL team would make the Cup Finals. The top three teams in each division qualified for the playoffs. In the first round, the second-place team in each division played against the third-place team from their division. Each division winner received a first round bye, then met the first round winner from their division in the second round. The two divisional playoff winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the first two rounds, teams competed in a two-game total-goals series. The Stanley Cup Finals was instead competed in a best-of-three format, with ties allowed for a maximum of five games. C2 Mtl Canadiens 2G C3 Mtl Maroons 1G A2 Boston 10G A3 Chicago 5G C1 Ottawa 5G C2 Mtl Canadiens 1G A1 NY Rangers 1G A2 Boston 3G C1 Ottawa 2 A2 Boston 0 Quarterfinals (C2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (C3) Montreal Maroons Montreal Maroons Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum Montreal Forum March 29 2 1–1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-mmr/1927/03/29/1926030111#game=1926030111,game_state=final No scoring Aurele Joliat (1) – 19:57 12:15 – Babe Siebert (1) No scoring No scoring No scoring Clint Benedict George Hainsworth March 31 0–1 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mmr-vs-mtl/1927/03/31/1926030112#game=1926030112,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring 12:05 – Howie Morenz (1) Clint Benedict George Hainsworth Montreal Canadiens won series on total goals 2–1 (A2) Boston Bruins vs. (A3) Chicago Black Hawks Game one of this series was played in New York. Chicago Black Hawks Boston Bruins Madison Square Garden III Boston Arena March 29 2 6–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-chi/1927/03/29/1926030121#game=1926030121,game_state=final No scoring Frank Fredrickson (1) – 03:24Sprague Cleghorn (1) – 14:36Jimmy Herberts (1) – 16:57 09:43 – Gord Fraser (1) No scoring No scoring Frank Fredrickson (2) – 08:26Harry Oliver (1) – 14:55Eddie Shore (1) – 16:55 Hugh Lehman Hal Winkler March 31 4–4 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-bos/1927/03/31/1926030122#game=1926030122,game_state=final No scoring No scoring George Hay (1) – 16:00Dick Irvin (1) – 18:00 05:00 – Percy Galbraith (1)10:00 – Billy Coutu (1)15:00 – Percy Galbraith (2) Cully Wilson (1) – 07:00Dick Irvin (2) – 10:00 04:00 – Percy Galbraith (3) Hugh Lehman Hal Winkler Boston won series on total goals 10–5 Semifinals (C1) Ottawa Senators vs. (C2) Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Montreal Forum Ottawa Auditorium April 2 2 4–0 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sen-vs-mtl/1927/04/02/1926030211#game=1926030211,game_state=final No scoring Cy Denneny (1) – 09:45Hec Kilrea (1) – 10:10Hooley Smith (1) – 17:40 No scoring Frank Nighbor (1) – 11:40 No scoring No scoring George Hainsworth Alec Connell April 4 1–1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-sen/1927/04/04/1926030212#game=1926030212,game_state=final Sylvio Mantha (1) – 11:40 No scoring No scoring 12:58 – Frank Finnigan (1) No scoring No scoring George Hainsworth Alec Connell Ottawa won series on total goals 5–1 (A1) New York Rangers vs. (A2) Boston Bruins Boston Bruins New York Rangers Boston Arena Madison Square Garden III April 2 2 0–0 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-bos/1927/04/02/1926030221/recap/box-score#game=1926030221,game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=boxscore No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Hal Winkler Lorne Chabot April 4 3–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-nyr/1927/04/04/1926030222#game=1926030222,game_state=final No scoring 04:51 – Bill Cook (1) Jimmy Herberts (2) – 07:42Lionel Hitchman (1) – 17:33Harry Oliver (2) – 18:37 No scoring No scoring No scoring Hal Winkler Lorne Chabot Boston won series on total goals 3–1 Stanley Cup Finals 1927 Stanley Cup Finals The Stanley Cup Finals was originally intended to be a best-of-three series, but a game could end as a tie after one overtime period. After the first game was declared a tie, NHL president Frank Calder ruled that the series would go no more than five games. If the teams were still tied after five games, the teams would share the championship.Only Five Games In Any Event If Teams Are Tied Associated Press April 8, 1927 Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-gill-1927/141184158/ newspapers.com; Only Five Games In Any Event If Teams Are Tied (Continued From Page One) Associated Press April 8, 1927 Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario 4 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-gill-1927/141184229/ newspapers.com In the end, the series went four games, with two ties and two Ottawa wins to win the Cup. Boston Bruins Ottawa Senators Boston Arena Ottawa Auditorium April 7 0–0 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sen-vs-bos/1927/04/07/1926030311#game=1926030311,game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Alec Connell Hal Winkler April 9 3–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sen-vs-bos/1927/04/09/1926030312#game=1926030312,game_state=final King Clancy (1) – 06:37Frank Finnigan (2) – 11:23 No scoring No scoring No scoring Cy Denneny (2) – 19:55 16:45 – Harry Oliver (3) Alec Connell Hal Winkler April 11 1–1 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-sen/1927/04/11/1926030313#game=1926030313,game_state=final No scoring Jimmy Herberts (3) – 07:00 15:00 – Cy Denneny (3) No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Alec Connell Hal Winkler April 13 1–3 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-sen/1927/04/13/1926030314#game=1926030314,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 05:00 – Frank Finnigan (3)07:30 – Cy Denneny (4) No scoring 11:00 – Cy Denneny (5) Harry Oliver (4) – 17:50 Alec Connell Hal Winkler Ottawa won series 2–0–2 Awards A new trophy in memory of Georges Vezina, the Vezina Trophy, was donated this year by Montreal Canadiens owners Leo Dandurand, Louis Letourneau and Joseph Cattarinich. It is to be presented to the league's "most valuable goaltender." It is won by his successor with the Canadiens, George Hainsworth. 1926–27 NHL awardsHart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Herb Gardiner, Montreal CanadiensLady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Billy Burch, New York AmericansO'Brien Cup:(League champions) Ottawa SenatorsPrince of Wales Trophy:(League champions) Ottawa SenatorsVezina Trophy:(Fewest goals allowed) George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens Player statistics Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Bill Cook New York Rangers 44 33 4 37 Dick Irvin Chicago Black Hawks 43 18 18 36 Howie Morenz Montreal Canadiens 44 25 7 32 Frank Fredrickson Detroit Cougars / Boston Bruins 44 18 13 31 Babe Dye Chicago Black Hawks 41 25 5 30 Ace Bailey Toronto St. Patricks 42 15 13 28 Frank Boucher New York Rangers 44 13 15 28 Billy Burch New York Americans 43 19 8 27 Harry Oliver Boston Bruins 42 18 6 24 Duke Keats Boston / Detroit Cougars 42 16 8 24 Source: NHL.Dinger 2011 146 Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; SO = Shut outs; GAA = Goals against average Player Team GP Mins GA SO GAA Clint Benedict Montreal Maroons 43 2748 65 13 1.42 Lorne Chabot New York Rangers 36 2307 56 10 1.46 George Hainsworth Montreal Canadiens 44 2732 67 14 1.47 Alex Connell Ottawa Senators 44 2782 69 13 1.49 Hal Winkler New York Rangers / Boston Bruins 31 1959 56 6 1.72 Jake Forbes New York Americans 44 2715 91 8 2.01 John Ross Roach Toronto St. Patricks 44 2764 94 4 2.04 Hap Holmes Detroit Cougars 41 2685 100 6 2.23 Roy Worters Pittsburgh Pirates 44 2711 108 4 2.39 Hugh Lehman Chicago Black Hawks 44 2797 116 5 2.49 Playoff scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points Player Team GP G A PtsHarry Oliver Boston Bruins 8 4 2 6Percy Galbraith Boston Bruins 8 3 3 6 Coaches American Division Boston Bruins: Art Ross Chicago Black Hawks: Pete Muldoon Detroit Cougars: Art Duncan and Duke Keats New York Rangers: Lester Patrick Pittsburgh Pirates: Odie Cleghorn Canadian Division Montreal Canadiens: Cecil Hart Montreal Maroons: Eddie Gerard New York Americans: Newsy Lalonde Ottawa Senators: Dave Gill Toronto St. Patricks: Charlie Querrie, Mike Rodden and Alex Romeril Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1926–27 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Percy Galbraith, Boston Bruins Eddie Shore, Boston Bruins Harry Oliver, Boston Bruins Duke Keats, Boston Bruins George Hay, Chicago Black Hawks Mickey MacKay, Chicago Black Hawks Dick Irvin, Chicago Black Hawks Frank Foyston, Detroit Cougars Jack Walker, Detroit Cougars Frank Fredrickson, Detroit Cougars George Hainsworth, Montreal Canadiens Art Gagne, Montreal Canadiens Herb Gardiner, Montreal Canadiens Hap Emms, Montreal Maroons Red Dutton, Montreal Maroons Norman Himes, New York Americans Paul Thompson, New York Rangers Bill Cook, New York Rangers Bun Cook, New York Rangers Murray Murdoch, New York Rangers Lorne Chabot, New York Rangers Clarence Abel, New York Rangers Ching Johnson, New York Rangers Danny Cox, Toronto St. Patricks Ace Bailey, Toronto St. Patricks Butch Keeling, Toronto St. Patricks Carl Voss, Toronto St. Patricks Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1926–27 (listed with their last team): Shorty Green, New York Americans Newsy Lalonde, New York Americans Jack Adams, Ottawa Senators Bert Corbeau, Toronto St. Patricks Transactions August 1, 1926 To Ottawa SenatorsJack Adams To Toronto St. Patricks cash October 18, 1926 To Chicago Black HawksBabe Dye To Toronto St. Patricks $15,000 cash October 18, 1926 To Detroit Cougarsrights to Art Duncan To Chicago Black Hawks Gord FraserArt Gagne October 18, 1926 To Montreal CanadiensArt Gagne To Chicago Black Hawkscash October 22, 1926 To Boston BruinsBilly Coutu To Montreal Canadiens Amby Moran October 28, 1926 To Pittsburgh PiratesJohn McKinnon To Montreal Canadiens cash November 15, 1926 To New York AmericansLaurie Scott To Toronto St. Patricks Jesse Spring December 12, 1926 To Montreal CanadiensGizzy Hart To Detroit Cougars cash December 16, 1926 To Pittsburgh PiratesCharlie Langlois$2,000 cash To New York Americans Lionel Conacher January 1, 1927 To New York Rangersrights to Leo Bourgeault To Toronto St. Patricks cash January 6, 1927 To Montreal MaroonsRussell Oatman To Detroit Cougars cash January 7, 1927 To Detroit CougarsPete Bellefeuille To Toronto St. Patricks Harold Halderson January 7, 1927 To Detroit CougarsArchie BridenDuke Keats To Boston Bruins Frank FredricksonHarry Meeking January 17, 1927 To Boston Bruinsrights to Hal Winkler To New York Rangers cash January 17, 1927 To Boston BruinsBilly Boucher To Montreal Canadiens Carson Cooper January 18, 1927 To Ottawa SenatorsStan Jackson To Boston Bruins cash January 31, 1927 To Detroit CougarsJim Riley To Chicago Black Hawks cash April 11, 1927 To Detroit CougarsGeorge HayPercy Traub To Chicago Blackhawks $15,000 cash See also List of Stanley Cup champions Prairie Hockey League List of pre-NHL seasons 1926 in sports 1927 in sports References Total Hockey Diamond, Dan Total Sports 2000 1-892129-85-X Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 registration https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 Dryden Steve Century of hockey McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Toronto, ON 2000 0-7710-4179-9 Fischler Stan Fischler Shirley Hughes Morgan Romain Joseph Duplacey James 2003 The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League Publications International Inc. 0-7853-9624-1 Fischler 2003 Jenish D'Arcy 2013 The NHL: 100 Years of On-Ice Action and Boardroom Battles Random House LLC 9780385671477 McFarlane Brian The Story of the National Hockey League Pagurian Press New York, NY 1973 0-684-13424-1 registration https://archive.org/details/storyofnationalh0000mcfa Ross J. Andrew 2015 Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945 Syracuse University Press 9780815633839 Notes External links Hockey Database NHL.com 1926 NHL NHL