a.k.a. Brooklyn Americans (1941-42)
First season: 1924-25
Last season: 1941-42
Folded at season's end

Stanley Cups won: 0
Stanley Cup Final appearances: 0

Believe it or not, the Rangers are not New York's original NHL franchise. That distinction belongs to the Americans, named during a booming patriotic time in New York's history in order to capitalize on the optimism. Although the team became known as the Brooklyn Americans in its final season of 1941-42, it still played its home games where it always had -- Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. The team only practiced in Brooklyn, where residents refused to make the trek to Manhattan to watch the mediocre Americans play. The team folded after that season, setting the stage for what would be known as "The Original Six," which would comprise the NHL for the next 25 years.