This is a list of teams that once played in the National Hockey League but no longer exist. This includes franchises which have changed their names or relocated to different cities. The years of operation only reflect the time in which that team was in the NHL; it does not take into account any time in which the franchise operated in another league (such as the World Hockey Association).

• Atlanta Flames (1972-1980; became Calgary Flames)
• Brooklyn Americans (1941-1942)
• California Golden Seals (1970-1976; became Cleveland Barons)
• California Seals (1967; became Oakland Seals)
• Cleveland Barons (1976-1978; merged with Minnesota North Stars)
• Colorado Rockies (1976-1982; became New Jersey Devils)
• Detroit Cougars (1926-1930; became Detroit Falcons)
• Detroit Falcons (1930-1932; became Detroit Red Wings)
• Hamilton Tigers (1920-1925; became New York Americans)
• Hartford Whalers (1979-1997; became Carolina Hurricanes)
• Kansas City Scouts (1974-1976; became Colorado Rockies)
• Minnesota North Stars (1967-1993; became Dallas Stars)
• Montreal Maroons (1924-1938)
• Montreal Wanderers (1917-1918)
• New York Americans (1925-1941; became Brooklyn Americans)
• Oakland Seals (1967-1970; became California Golden Seals )
• Ottawa Senators (1917-1934; became St. Louis Eagles; a new team of the same name was formed in 1992)
• Philadelphia Quakers (1930-1931)
• Pittsburgh Pirates (1925-1930; became Philadelphia Quakers)
• Quebec Bulldogs (1919-1920; became Hamilton Tigers)
• Quebec Nordiques (1979-1995; became Colorado Avalanche)
• St. Louis Eagles (1934-1935)
• Toronto Arenas (1917-1919; became Toronto St. Patricks)
• Toronto St. Patricks (1919-1926; became Toronto Maple Leafs)
• Winnipeg Jets (1979-1996; became Phoenix Coyotes)