Getting to know NHL
Where to learn about NHL before you watch: the rules and the format, the history, how teams play and the numbers. 15 links, 4 of them spoiler-free, and every club's own site and history below.
Every link says what it may show before you click: spoiler-free never shows a result; may show results has tables, scores, highlights or post-match analysis somewhere on it; paywalled needs a subscription. Nobody pays to be listed.
The league's own site
- NHL may show resultsThe league's own site: schedule, scores, standings and news. Suits the neutral grazer and the story follower.
Rules and format
- Ice hockey rules spoiler-freeWikipedia's overview: offside, icing, penalties, and where North American and international rules differ. Suits the rules specialist.
- NHL rulebook 2026–27 spoiler-freeThe official rules, as a PDF. Suits the rules specialist.
- NHL video rulebook spoiler-free videoEach penalty shown on video: boarding, charging, interference and the rest. Suits the rules specialist and those here for the hits.
- 2026–27 NHL season may show resultsThe season's format and the playoff rules; the standings show results. Suits the rules specialist and the story follower.
History
- Hockey Hall of Fame spoiler-freeThe game's history, its honoured members and the trophies. Suits the story follower.
- Hockey-Reference may show resultsEvery season, team and player in NHL history. Suits the numbers person and the story follower.
- NHL history may show resultsWikipedia: the league since 1917, its expansions, the Stanley Cup. Suits the story follower.
- NHL rivalries may show resultsWikipedia's list of rivalries and how each began. Suits the story follower.
Tactics and analysis
- The Athletic: NHL may show results paywalledTeam reporting, systems analysis and features. Suits the tactics reader and the story follower.
Numbers
- Elite Prospects may show resultsEvery player's career, league by league, and every roster. Suits the numbers person and the story follower.
- MoneyPuck may show resultsExpected goals, win probability and playoff odds for every game. Suits the numbers person and the drama chaser.
- Natural Stat Trick may show resultsShot-based team and player stats at every game state. Suits the numbers person.
- Evolving-Hockey may show results paywalledPlayer value models and advanced stats. Suits the numbers person.
Highlights
- NHL on YouTube may show results videoHighlights, hits and features; highlights show results. Suits those here for the hits, the drama chaser and the neutral grazer.
The clubsboth kinds of link may show results
Missing something, or a link that spoils more than it says? [email protected]. The list is kept by hand and every link is checked once a month.