The National Hockey League and the original six have been around since 1942. Obviously, the NHL has been around quite sometime before then, but the original six-era began in 1942. Since then, these six original franchises still stand tall today as some of the most popular teams in the league. They have won more Stanley Cups than the rest of the NHL combined.
But, what exactly is the original six, and where do the New York Rangers fit into all of this.
Who are the Original Six?
The Original Six are a few teams, still pillars of the modern-day hockey world, that played each other tirelessly for 25 years in the '40s, '50s, and into the mid-60s. These teams are the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and the New York Rangers.
Until the 1967 expansion draft, these six teams would compete against one another all regular season long. Talk about rivalries being born here. Then, the top four teams of the six would go onto the playoffs for a chance to lift the Stanley Cup. This small league size is a small part of the reason why these teams make up a good majority of the Stanley Cups won since the expansion draft.
The league found some hardship during its beginning years before 1942. With the Great Depression of the 1930s and then the start of World War II, it was cut down to these few remaining teams.
Where Do the New York Rangers Fit in?
Well, the New York Rangers were introduced to the NHL in 1926, as an expansion team. Their sole reason for being was to compete with the already-established New York Americans. Madison Square Garden owner Tex Rickard created the New York Rangers, and that was that. Fast forward nearly 100 seasons, the Broadway Blueshirts are playing in the same building, with the same diagonal "RANGERS" crest on their chest.
The Rangers have won four Stanley Cups in their franchise history, with three of them coming before the original six era. They did not win a single Stanley Cup until the infamous championship run in 1994.
But, even without all of the other success that the other franchises have had in their history, there is an argument to be made that the Rangers are the most popular franchise in the NHL. The Rangers fit in the original six as one of the founder members of the NHL. Over the past near-century, this team has been the heart of New York City, and their fanbase is as die-hard as you can be.