The Great Depression certainly took its toll on the National Hockey League in the 1930's. Beset by financial problems and a dying coal industry, the Pittsburgh Pirates moved to Philadelphia to become the Quakers. That didn't solve their financial problems, as the Quakers would play only one season before disappearing off the NHL map.

The Ottawa Senators were another team that had its difficulties. It was forced to sit out the 1931-32 campaign, and in 1934, it would move to St. Louis to become the Eagles. Like the Quakers, the Eagles were a one-season wonder, leaving the NHL in 1935. Late in the decade, Montreal proved to be too small for two franchises, as the Maroons folded in 1938. Fans in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis would all wait at least 30 years before getting another franchise. The Ottawa Senators would also make their return -- in 1992, 58 years after departing.

The 1930's saw three benefit games for NHL heroes who either died or suffered career-ending injuries before their time. The Ace Bailey Game, which was played February 14, 1934, between the Toronto Maple Leafs and a team of NHL All-Stars, raised money for Irvine "Ace" Bailey, whose career came to an abrupt end on December 12, 1933, thanks to a vicious hit by Boston's Eddie Shore. On November 2, 1937, the Howie Morenz Memorial Game was played. A team made up of stars from the two Montreal Teams -- the Canadiens and the Maroons -- played a team of All-Stars from the test of the league. Finally, a team of All-Stars took on the Canadiens on October 29, 1939, in memory of Babe Siebert. These games would be the forerunners of what would become the annual NHL All-Star Game, the first being in 1947.

The 1930's was the first full decade where the Stanley Cup was competed for exclusively by the NHL. To find out who won the Stanley Cup each season, roll your mouse over the uniforms. And to see which uniforms were worn in a particular season, click on a season to the left.