The 1990's was a decade of significant change for the NHL. At the start of the decade, the league still did not have a lucrative television contract; thus, interest outside the league's 21 markets was minimal at best. Then, as the decade progressed, new teams were added in parts of the country the league had never been. Who would have guessed professional hockey would flourish in places like Dallas, Miami and Phoenix? Certainly not any of the league's forefathers. Nonetheless, with franchises covering virtually every part of the country, and a national television package, the NHL is now enjoying unprecedented success.

The 1990's also provided some interesting uniforms...

The biggest trend that started in the 1990's was the third jersey. On January 27, 1996, Just after the All-Star break, five teams introduced special jerseys to be worn either on Saturdays or on special occasions. Some designs, like the Bruins and the Penguins, stuck around for quite a few years, while others, like the Kings and the Mighty Ducks, were simply laughed at. Many believe -- rightfully so -- that the Kings and Mighty Ducks' third jerseys from 1996 rival the Canucks "V" jerseys from the late 1970's/early 1980's as the ugliest of all-time.

In the 1980's, jerseys began carrying the manufacturer's logo on the backs of the jerseys at the very bottom right. In 1990, that concept went one step further in adding the NHL shield to the right of the manufacturer's label. This would continue throughout the decade, with the shield's trim changing from orange to silver for the 1999-2000 season. For the 2000-01 season, the shield stayed put while the manufacturer's label moved to just below the rear neckline directly above the player's nameplate.

Specialty patches became more common in the 1990's, with teams wearing patches commemorating anniversary seasons. And, in various seasons, the league had a common patch for all teams. In the 1991-92 season, all jerseys sported a patch commemorating the NHL's 75th anniversary. The following season, the league celebrated the Stanley Cup's centennial, and in the 1999-2000 season, teams wore a special "NHL 2000" patch.

On a somewhat sad note, the 1990's saw almost all of its former WHA franchises relocate. Unable to make ends meet in Quebec City, the Nordiques moved to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche after the 1995 season. This proved to be a double-edged sword for the nice people of Quebec's provincial capital, as the Avs would go on to win the Stanley Cup in their first season. The 1995-96 season saw the end of the Winnipeg Jets, who would move to Phoenix the following season to become the Coyotes. And in 1997, the Hartford Whalers skipped town for Raleigh, North Carolina, to become the Carolina Hurricanes. With those three franchise moves, that leaves the Edmonoton Oilers as the only surviving WHA franchise.

To see the good, the bad and the ugly of the 1990's, click on a year to the left.