• On the heels of successful Summit Series in 1972 and 1974 (the latter of which used Canadian players from the WHA and not the NHL), the NHL, Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation launched the Canada Cup, featuring teams from the hockey hotbeds of the world: Canada, the United States, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Sweden and Finland. Canada swept the best-of-three final series against Czechoslovakia to claim the first Canada Cup.

• Two teams begin the season in new homes. The Kansas City Scouts moved to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies, and the California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland, becoming the Cleveland Barons.

• The Montreal Canadiens dominate the league, earning points in 72 out of 80 games played (60-8-12). Their 60 wins was an NHL record (since broken by the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings). Their record of 132 points still stands.

• The Canadiens continued their dominance all the way through the Stanley Cup Final, where the swept the Boston Bruins.