1989 NFHL Season Preview
1989 NFHL Season Preview With the 1970s a distant memory and the 1980s soon to follow, the NFHL is getting ready to kick of its 19th season. Back in 1970, it was announced that a new professional hockey league would be opening its doors, and in 1971 the first league champion was crowned, with the St. Louis Blues bringing home the inaugural SMJ Cup. Back then, there were only 16 franchises, and the regular season was a mere 60 games long. Now, nearly two decades later, and with a vastly different landscape, the NFHL is finish off the 80s and move into their 3rd decade of play. The league has now expanded four different times, up to 24 teams, and the regular season has lengthened by 25%, while the playoffs now require 16 victories, rather than 12. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves thinking about the 1990s, it’s time to break down the upcoming 1989 season, where the Montreal Canadiens seek to become the first ever three-peat champion in NFHL history. 1 New York Islanders 2 Philadelphia Flyers 3 New York Rangers 4 New Jersey Devils 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 6 Washington Capitals The cream of the crop. The Gold Standard. The most dominant team in NFHL history. For nearly two full decades, the New York Islanders, previously the California Golden Seals, have been atop the standings, while bringing home four SMJ Cups. In many ways, 1988 was a pivotal season for the Islanders. It’s no secret that the team has been getting older, and the core has stayed the same for years.
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