The NHL

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

's Norris Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference in 1981, with the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

 being the only member to remain from the previous season. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. The division was named in honor of James E. Norris. It is the fore-runner of the NHL's Central Division

Central Division (NHL)

The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division.The Central Division consists of the Western Conference's easternmost teams.-Current lineup:...

. Intense rivalries developed between its constituent teams.

As part of his shtick, ESPN

ESPN

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....

's Chris Berman often refers to the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

's NFC North

NFC North

The NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States...

 division (previously the NFC Central division) as the Norris Division or "NFC Norris" since the two divisions included teams from three of the same cities: Chicago, Detroit

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Tampa Bay Area

Tampa Bay Area

The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...

 was also briefly represented in both divisions simultaneously, during the 1992-93 NHL Season

1992-93 NHL season

-Montreal vs. Los Angeles:Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4–1. Patrick Roy wins Conn Smythe Trophy-NHL Awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:-Leading goaltenders:-Complete list of neutral-site games:The Hartford-St...

.

1974–1979

• Detroit Red Wings
  Detroit Red Wings
  The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
  
  
• Los Angeles Kings
  Los Angeles Kings
  The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
  
  
• Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
  
• Pittsburgh Penguins
  Pittsburgh Penguins
  The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
  
  
• Washington Capitals
  Washington Capitals
  The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
  
  

Changes from the 1973–1974 season

• The Norris Division is formed as a result of NHL realignment
• The Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens come from the Eastern Division
• The Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins come from the Western Division
• The Washington Capitals were added as an expansion team

1979–1981

• Detroit Red Wings
• Hartford Whalers
  Hartford Whalers
  The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
  
  
• Los Angeles Kings
• Montreal Canadiens
• Pittsburgh Penguins

Changes from the 1978–1979 season

• The Hartford Whalers were granted entry into the NHL from the World Hockey Association
  World Hockey Association
  The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
  
   (WHA)
• The Washington Capitals move to the Patrick Division

1981–1982

• Chicago Black Hawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
  
• Detroit Red Wings
• Minnesota North Stars
  Minnesota North Stars
  The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
  
  
• St. Louis Blues
• Toronto Maple Leafs
  Toronto Maple Leafs
  The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
  
  
• Winnipeg Jets

Changes from the 1980–1981 season

• The Norris Division switches from the Prince of Wales Conference to the Clarence Campbell Conference
• The Hartford Whalers and Montreal Canadiens move to the Adams Division
  Adams Division
  The NHL's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins...
  
  
• The Pittsburgh Penguins move to the Patrick Division
  Patrick Division
  The Patrick Division of the National Hockey League was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Lester Patrick...
  
  
• The Los Angeles Kings move to the Smythe Division
  Smythe Division
  The NHL's Smythe Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Conn Smythe. It is the fore-runner of the NHL's Northwest Division and NHL's Pacific Division....
  
  
• The Minnesota North Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs move in from the Adams Division
• The Chicago Black Hawks, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets move in from the Smythe Division

1982–1986

• Chicago Black Hawks
• Detroit Red Wings
• Minnesota North Stars
• St. Louis Blues
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1981–1982 season

• The Winnipeg Jets return to the Smythe Division when the Colorado Rockies move to East Rutherford, New Jersey
  East Rutherford, New Jersey
  East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
  
   to become the New Jersey Devils
  New Jersey Devils
  The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
  
  ; the Devils are moved from the Smythe Division to the Patrick Division
  Patrick Division
  The Patrick Division of the National Hockey League was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Lester Patrick...
  
  .

1986–1992

• Chicago Blackhawks
• Detroit Red Wings
• Minnesota North Stars
• St. Louis Blues
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1985–1986 season

• Chicago changes their nickname from the Black Hawks to the Blackhawks

1992–1993

• Chicago Blackhawks
• Detroit Red Wings
• Minnesota North Stars
• St. Louis Blues
• Tampa Bay Lightning
  Tampa Bay Lightning
  The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
  
  
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1991–1992 season

• The Tampa Bay Lightning were added as an expansion team, making the division similar to the NFC Central
  NFC North
  The NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States...
  
   in the National Football League
  National Football League
  The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
  
   in that it also had teams in Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, and Tampa Bay at the time.

After the 1992–1993 season

The league was reformatted into two conferences with two divisions each:

• Eastern Conference
  Eastern Conference (NHL)
  The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
  
  
  • Atlantic Division
    Atlantic Division (NHL)
    The NHL's Atlantic Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Patrick Division. It is the only division in the NHL where all of its current members have won the Stanley Cup at least twice, though only three teams have won...
    
    
  • Northeast Division
    Northeast Division (NHL)
    The NHL's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Adams Division...
    
    
• Western Conference
  Western Conference (NHL)
  The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
  
  
  • Central Division
    Central Division (NHL)
    The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division.The Central Division consists of the Western Conference's easternmost teams.-Current lineup:...
    
    
  • Pacific Division
    Pacific Division (NHL)
    The National Hockey League's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. It was formed in 1993 as part of a league realignment...
    
    

Regular Season Division Champions

• 1975 - Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
   (47–14–19, 113 pts)
• 1976 - Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
   (58–11–11, 127 pts)
• 1977 - Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
   (60–8–12, 132 pts)
• 1978 - Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
   (59–10–11, 129 pts)
• 1979 - Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
   (52–17–11, 115 pts)
• 1980 - Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
   (47–20–13, 107 pts)
• 1981 - Montreal Canadiens
  Montreal Canadiens
  The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
  
   (45–22–13, 103 pts)
• 1982 - Minnesota North Stars
  Minnesota North Stars
  The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
  
   (37–23–20, 94 pts)
• 1983 - Chicago Black Hawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
   (47–23–10, 104 pts)
• 1984 - Minnesota North Stars
  Minnesota North Stars
  The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
  
   (39–31–10, 88 pts)
• 1985 - St. Louis Blues (37–31–12, 86 pts)
• 1986 - Chicago Black Hawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
   (39–33–8, 86 pts)
• 1987 - St. Louis Blues (32–33–15, 79 pts)
• 1988 - Detroit Red Wings
  Detroit Red Wings
  The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
  
   (41–28–11, 93 pts)
• 1989 - Detroit Red Wings
  Detroit Red Wings
  The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
  
   (34–34–12, 80 pts)
• 1990 - Chicago Blackhawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
   (41–33–6, 88 pts)
• 1991 - Chicago Blackhawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
   (49–23–8, 106 pts)
• 1992 - Detroit Red Wings
  Detroit Red Wings
  The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
  
   (43–25–12, 98 pts)
• 1993 - Chicago Blackhawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
   (47–25–12, 106 pts)

Playoff Division Champions

From the 1981–82 season until 1992–93, the playoff champion of the Norris Division met the playoff champion of the Smythe Division in the Campbell Conference Finals. The Norris champions lost the first ten of these conference finals as well as the last one, winning only in 1991 and 1992 (where in both cases they lost the Stanley Cup Final).

• 1982 - Chicago Black Hawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
  
• 1983 - Chicago Black Hawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
  
• 1984 - Minnesota North Stars
  Minnesota North Stars
  The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
  
  
• 1985 - Chicago Black Hawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
  
• 1986 - St. Louis Blues
• 1987 - Detroit Red Wings
  Detroit Red Wings
  The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
  
  
• 1988 - Detroit Red Wings
  Detroit Red Wings
  The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
  
  
• 1989 - Chicago Blackhawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
  
• 1990 - Chicago Blackhawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
  
• 1991 - Minnesota North Stars
  Minnesota North Stars
  The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
  
  
• 1992 - Chicago Blackhawks
  Chicago Blackhawks
  The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
  
  
• 1993 - Toronto Maple Leafs
  Toronto Maple Leafs
  The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
  
  

Stanley Cup winners produced

1. 1976 - Montreal Canadiens
   Montreal Canadiens
   The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
   
   
2. 1977 - Montreal Canadiens
   Montreal Canadiens
   The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
   
   
3. 1978 - Montreal Canadiens
   Montreal Canadiens
   The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
   
   
4. 1979 - Montreal Canadiens
   Montreal Canadiens
   The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
   
   

Norris Division Titles Won By Team

Team	Number of Championships Won	Last Year Won
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...	7	1981
Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...	5	1993
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...	3	1992
Minnesota North Stars Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...	2	1984
St. Louis Blues	2	1987

See also

• NHL Eastern Division
• NHL Western Division
• Adams Division
  Adams Division
  The NHL's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins...
  
  
• Patrick Division
  Patrick Division
  The Patrick Division of the National Hockey League was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Lester Patrick...
  
  
• Smythe Division
  Smythe Division
  The NHL's Smythe Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Conn Smythe. It is the fore-runner of the NHL's Northwest Division and NHL's Pacific Division....
  
  
• Atlantic Division (NHL)
  Atlantic Division (NHL)
  The NHL's Atlantic Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Patrick Division. It is the only division in the NHL where all of its current members have won the Stanley Cup at least twice, though only three teams have won...
  
  
• Central Division (NHL)
  Central Division (NHL)
  The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division.The Central Division consists of the Western Conference's easternmost teams.-Current lineup:...
  
  
• Northeast Division (NHL)
  Northeast Division (NHL)
  The NHL's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Adams Division...
  
  
• Pacific Division (NHL)
  Pacific Division (NHL)
  The National Hockey League's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. It was formed in 1993 as part of a league realignment...