Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens Make Stanley Cup Playoffs History For Original Six Teams

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 1:03 PM ET

For a century, the NHL's flagship teams have been known as the Original Six, and in 2024/25, we've seen history made involving those teams.

In the history of the NHL, no six teams have been more iconic than Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Detroit and Boston, collectively known in hockey history as the 'Original Six'.

Not only have they been iconic, but they've also been incredibly successful, with five of the six representing the five most wins in Cup history, with the Canadiens (23) and Maple Leafs (13) having the most in league history.

Now, they've made history once again, as Sportsnet are reporting that this is the first time in NHL history that Toronto and Montreal are the only Original Six teams to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In years gone by, it was much easier for more of these six teams to qualify with less and less teams in the NHL, but now that there is 32 teams in the league, that means that 16 qualify and 16 don't, making it much easier for more and more of these iconic teams to fall short of making the post-season.

While New York and Detroit fought hard, Boston and Chicago were two of the worst teams in the entire NHL this season, but it was the Canadiens that were perhaps the biggest surprise, as they qualified to the post-season on the second last day of the year with their win over Carolina.

We will now wait and see if either of these teams can end Canada's Stanley Cup drought, with their last title coming back in 1993 via Montreal, and whether or not that happens, it's safe to say that the season was a success for the Canadiens, with all the pressure on Toronto as they look to win their first Cup since way back in 1967.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: