The Patrick Division

From 1974 to 1993, the NHL had a Patrick Division, named in honour of Lester Patrick. It was one of four divisions and two conferences announced on Oct. 1, 1974.

Initially, each division namesake’s first name was included. So the Clarence Campbell Conference had the Lester Patrick Division and Conn Smythe Division while the Prince of Wales Conference had the James Norris Division and the Charles Adams Division. Gradually, the divisions became known by their namesakes’ surnames alone, although it doesn’t appear to have ever been an official decision.

One consequence is that probably many people who grew up on hockey in the 1980s (myself included) were under the erroneous impression that the Adams Division was named after longtime Detroit coach and general manager Jack Adams. (He was long dead, but at least I had heard of him.) Charles Adams was the original owner of the Boston Bruins. He bought seven players from Frank Patrick, including Eddie Shore, when the Western Hockey League folded in 1926.

In 1980, the Patrick Division was moved from the Campbell Conference to the Wales Conference and the Norris Division to the Campbell Conference.

The particular division named after Lester Patrick was presumably chosen because it was the one the New York Rangers played in. He had been their longtime coach and general manager. The Rangers took the division title twice, in 1990 and 1992. In 1991, Pittsburgh won the title en route to capturing the Stanley Cup. Lester’s grandson Craig was the team’s general manager, so a Patrick had captured the Patrick Division.

The divisions were realigned and renamed in 1993. The Patrick Division became the Atlantic Division.