For decades, being an Original Six franchise carried a level of prestige unlike anything else in professional sports. The Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers helped shape the NHL into what it is today. Their histories are filled with legendary players, iconic moments, and generations of passionate fans.
But in today’s NHL, that history only gets you so far. The reality is simple: being an Original Six team means far less to the current generation of NHL players than it does to the fanbases that support them.
History doesn't win hockey games
The Detroit Red Wings are one of the greatest examples of this reality. Detroit’s history speaks for itself, with 11 Stanley Cups, legendary names like Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom and decades of dominance. The “Hockeytown” reputation was built through sustained success that few franchises can match.
However, that history does not automatically make Detroit an attractive destination today. A player entering the league today was likely not watching the Red Wings’ championships from the 1990s and early 2000s. They are focused on what the team can provide right now.
The same applies to the other Original Six franchises. The Toronto Maple Leafs remain one of the biggest brands in hockey, but their long Stanley Cup drought continues to overshadow their history.
The New York Rangers have the advantage of playing in a massive market but have struggled to consistently turn that into championships. The Chicago Blackhawks enjoyed a dominant stretch in the 2010s but are now rebuilding after years of organizational struggles.
The Original Six struggles are real
The Boston Bruins have arguably done the best job of maintaining competitiveness among the Original Six teams. They have built a strong culture, consistently developed talent and remained one of the league’s top organizations.
Montreal may be the one Original Six team with the most excitement heading into the future. Their recent drafting has been excellent, giving them a foundation built around young talent. Players like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and their growing prospect pool have created optimism that the Canadiens could eventually return to cup contention.
Players care about the present, not the past
The NHL is a business, and players understand that. When free agents make decisions, they are looking at winning potential, salary, lifestyle, coaching, teammates and organizational stability. A team’s history can be a nice bonus, but it is rarely the deciding factor.
Detroit, Toronto, New York, Boston, Chicago and Montreal will always have passionate fanbases because of what they have accomplished. Their banners and legends will never disappear. But the current NHL is not played in the past.
Being an Original Six team is something fans should be proud of, but it is not a competitive advantage anymore. The next generation of NHL stars cares about who can help them win today -- not who won championships 50 years ago. In the modern NHL, the logo on the front of the jersey matters less than the direction of the organization wearing it.
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