The Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) comprises 16 teams, split into the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions. The conference has a rich history, with its roots stretching back to the early days of the NHL.

Originally known as the Prince of Wales Conference, it was established in 1974 when the NHL realigned its teams into two conferences and four divisions. The realignment wasn't based on geography, so the conference was named after the Prince of Wales Trophy. This trophy was donated to the league in 1925 by the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII. Initially, the trophy was awarded to the NHL's playoff champion. However, the rules for awarding the trophy have changed several times since 1925 as the structure of hockey's governance and league structures have changed.

The conferences and divisions were realigned in 1981 to better reflect the geographical locations of the teams. Despite the realignment, the existing names were retained, with the Wales Conference becoming the conference primarily for the NHL's eastern teams. In 1993, the conference and division names were changed to reflect their geographic locations. The then-new NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, implemented the change to help non-hockey fans better understand the game, as other major sports leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB all used geographic-based names for their conferences and divisions.

The Eastern Conference has undergone several divisional realignments throughout its history. Originally, the Wales Conference consisted of the Adams and Norris Divisions. In 1981, the Norris Division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference, and the Patrick Division was added. In 1993, when the conference names changed, the divisions became the Atlantic and Northeast. A realignment in 1998 created a third division, the Southeast. In 2013, the conference was again reorganized into two divisions: the Atlantic and the Metropolitan.

Here’s a look at the origins of some of the teams in the Eastern Conference:

• Montreal Canadiens: Founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the oldest professional hockey franchise in the world. They predate the NHL and were founded as a French-speaking rival to the English-speaking Montreal Wanderers. The Canadiens were a founding member of the NHL in 1917. They have won 24 Stanley Cups, with their first in 1916 and their most recent in 1993.
• Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres joined the league in the 1970-71 season. They were founded by brothers Seymour and Northrup Knox. The team was named after the Buffalo Bisons, a successful AHL franchise. The Sabres have never won a Stanley Cup but reached the Finals in 1999.
• Carolina Hurricanes: The franchise began in 1971 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA). They joined the NHL in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers. In 1997, the team relocated to Carolina and became the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes won their only Stanley Cup in 2006.
• Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins began play in 1967. NHL hockey in Pittsburgh dates back to the 1920s with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After the Pirates moved, Pittsburgh was without an NHL team until the Penguins. The Penguins have won five Stanley Cups.

The Eastern Conference has a storied past, filled with legendary teams and players. From its origins as the Prince of Wales Conference to its current structure, it remains a vital part of the NHL.