Atlantic Division (NHL)

The Atlantic Division is a name used by the National Hockey League to describe a division of teams in the Eastern Conference.

The original Atlantic Division, the predecessor of which was the Patrick Division, was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment.

As part of a 2013 realignment, the entirety of the former Atlantic Division was realigned into the Metropolitan Division. The Atlantic Division name was assigned to a new division comprising the former Northeast Division plus the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning (coincidentally, both were members of the original Atlantic Division until 1998) from the now-defunct Southeast Division, and the Detroit Red Wings, who moved from the Central Division of the Western Conference.

This division features a number of classic and modern NHL rivalries, including Bruins–Canadiens, Bruins–Maple Leafs, Canadiens–Maple Leafs, Maple Leafs–Red Wings, Maple Leafs–Senators, and Lightning–Panthers. Games between the division's three Canadian teams, plus the Bruins and Red Wings, are frequently featured on Hockey Night in Canada as its main attraction.

Division lineups

1993–1998

• Florida Panthers
• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Washington Capitals

Changes from the 1992–93 season

• The Atlantic Division is formed as a result of NHL realignment
• The New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals come from the Patrick Division
• The Tampa Bay Lightning come from the Norris Division
• The Florida Panthers are added as an expansion team

1998–2013

• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Pittsburgh Penguins

Changes from the 1997–98 season

• The Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals move to the Southeast Division
• The Pittsburgh Penguins come from the Northeast Division

2013–2020

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Detroit Red Wings
• Florida Panthers
• Montreal Canadiens
• Ottawa Senators
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 2012–13 season

• The Northeast and Southeast Divisions are dissolved due to NHL realignment
• The New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins move to the Metropolitan Division
• The Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Maple Leafs come from the Northeast Division
• The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning come from the Southeast Division
• The Detroit Red Wings come from the Central Division

2020–2021

• Division not used for the 2020–21 NHL season

Changes from the 2019–20 season

• Due to COVID-19 restrictions the NHL realigned into four divisions with no conferences for the 2020–21 season
• The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres move to the East Division
• The Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning move to the Central Division
• The Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs move to the North Division

2021–present

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Detroit Red Wings
• Florida Panthers
• Montreal Canadiens
• Ottawa Senators
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 2020–21 season

• The league returned to using a four division and two conference alignment
• The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres come from the East Division
• The Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning come from the Central Division
• The Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs come from the North Division

Division champions

• 1994 – New York Rangers (52–24–8, 112 pts)
• 1995 – Philadelphia Flyers (28–16–4, 60 pts)
• 1996 – Philadelphia Flyers (45–24–13, 103 pts)
• 1997 – New Jersey Devils (45–23–14, 104 pts)
• 1998 – New Jersey Devils (48–23–11, 107 pts)
• 1999 – New Jersey Devils (47–24–11, 105 pts)
• 2000 – Philadelphia Flyers (45–22–12–3, 105 pts)
• 2001 – New Jersey Devils (48–19–12–3, 111 pts)
• 2002 – Philadelphia Flyers (42–27–10–3, 97 pts)
• 2003 – New Jersey Devils (46–20–10–6, 108 pts)
• 2004 – Philadelphia Flyers (40–21–15–6, 101 pts)
• 2005 – no season (NHL Lockout)
• 2006 – New Jersey Devils (46–27–9, 101 pts)
• 2007 – New Jersey Devils (49–24–9, 107 pts)
• 2008 – Pittsburgh Penguins (47–27–8, 102 pts)
• 2009 – New Jersey Devils (51–27–4, 106 pts)
• 2010 – New Jersey Devils (48–27–7, 103 pts)
• 2011 – Philadelphia Flyers (47–23–12, 106 pts)
• 2012 – New York Rangers (51–24–7, 109 pts)
• 2013 – Pittsburgh Penguins (36–12–0, 72 pts)
• 2014 – Boston Bruins (54–19–9, 117 pts)
• 2015 – Montreal Canadiens (50–22–10, 110 pts)
• 2016 – Florida Panthers (47–26–9, 103 pts)
• 2017 – Montreal Canadiens (47–26–9, 103 pts)
• 2018 – Tampa Bay Lightning (54–23–5, 113 pts)
• 2019 – Tampa Bay Lightning (62–16–4, 128 pts)
• 2020 – Boston Bruins (44–14–12, 100 pts)
• 2021 – Division suspended for season
• 2022 – Florida Panthers (58–18–6, 122 pts)
• 2023 – Boston Bruins (65–12–5, 135 pts)
• 2024 – Florida Panthers (52–24–6, 110 pts)
• 2025 – Toronto Maple Leafs (52–26–4, 108 pts)

Season results

Notes

• The 1994–95 NHL season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout.
• The 2012–13 NHL season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout.
• The 2019–20 NHL season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the imbalance in the number of games played among teams, the regular season standings were determined by points percentage.

Stanley Cup winners produced

• 1994 – New York Rangers
• 1995 – New Jersey Devils
• 2000 – New Jersey Devils
• 2003 – New Jersey Devils
• 2009 – Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2020 – Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2021 – Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2024 – Florida Panthers
• 2025 – Florida Panthers

Presidents' Trophy winners produced

• 1994 – New York Rangers
• 2014 – Boston Bruins
• 2019 – Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2020 – Boston Bruins
• 2022 – Florida Panthers
• 2023 – Boston Bruins

Atlantic Division titles won by team

Teams in bold are currently in the division.

References

• NHL History