1.  The National Hockey League (NHL) was formed and began play in 1917 so the league was in its earliest years during the 1920s.  Unlike the other major professional leagues in the United States during that period, the NHL was relatively small and largely Canadian.

2.  Not until 1924 did an American team (the Boston Bruins) enter the league, and they were joined by the New York Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925.  In 1926 the NHL expanded to 10 teams with the addition of the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Detroit Cougars.  The league remained at 10 teams, in two sections of five, until 1931.

3.  American interest in the league was minimal except in the franchise cities of New York, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and Pittsburgh.  Players were almost all Canadian so there was little “hometown” identification for local American fans.