Who was the first goaltender credited with scoring a goal in an NHL game?
Answer
Billy Smith
80 National Hockey League Trivia Questions with Answers
80 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
National Hockey League trivia covers Stanley Cup history, legendary players, goaltenders, awards, franchises, drafts, and defining moments from across the NHL. Questions may ask about the team that selected Connor McDavid first overall, the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, or the goaltender who won the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy.
The category includes both foundational facts and modern milestones, from the first goalie credited with scoring an NHL goal to the league’s all-time goals record. It is suited to hockey fans, sports-bar quizzes, fantasy-league gatherings, classroom sports units, and game nights where participants enjoy connecting franchise history with current stars and famous championship runs.
Which NHL team won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992?
Answer
Pittsburgh Penguins
Who became the NHL's all-time goals leader in April 2025?
Answer
Alex Ovechkin
Which team defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final?
Answer
Chicago Blackhawks
Which NHL team selected Connor McDavid first overall in the 2015 draft?
Answer
Edmonton Oilers
Which goaltender won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012 with the Los Angeles Kings?
Answer
Jonathan Quick
What trophy is awarded to the NHL general manager of the year?
Answer
Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award
Which NHL team was founded as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1993?
Answer
Anaheim Ducks
What is the name of the NHL team based in Raleigh, North Carolina?
Answer
Carolina Hurricanes
Which player holds the NHL single-season record with 92 goals in 1981-82?
Answer
Wayne Gretzky
Which NHL team won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983?
Answer
New York Islanders
Who scored the first goal in NHL history on Dec. 19, 1917?
Answer
Dave Ritchie
What NHL team won the Stanley Cup in 1918, the league's first season?
Answer
Toronto Arenas
Which NHL team won the first Presidents' Trophy in the 1985-86 season?
Answer
Edmonton Oilers
Who won the first Hart Trophy awarded by the NHL in 1924?
Answer
Frank Nighbor
Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2003 while playing for the losing finalist?
Answer
Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Whose number 99 was retired league-wide by the NHL in 2000?
Answer
Wayne Gretzky
Which team selected Mario Lemieux first overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft?
Answer
Pittsburgh Penguins
Which team won the first NHL Winter Classic in 2008?
Answer
Pittsburgh Penguins
Which NHL award is given to the league's coach of the year?
Answer
Jack Adams Award
Which NHL award honors the league's best defensive forward?
Answer
Frank J. Selke Trophy
What position did NHL legend Bobby Orr play?
Answer
Defenseman
What city is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame?
Answer
Toronto
Which NHL team moved from Hartford to North Carolina in 1997?
Answer
Carolina Hurricanes
Which NHL team moved from Quebec City to Denver in 1995?
Answer
Colorado Avalanche
Which player is nicknamed The Great One?
Answer
Wayne Gretzky
Which NHL trophy is awarded each season to the league's top goal scorer?
Answer
Maurice Richard Trophy
The Cleveland Barons merged with which NHL team in 1978?
Answer
Minnesota North Stars
Which team beat the Montreal Maroons in the NHL's longest game in 1936?
Answer
Detroit Red Wings
Who became the first European captain to lead an NHL team to the Stanley Cup?
Answer
Nicklas Lidstrom
Who was selected first overall in the first NHL Amateur Draft in 1963?
Answer
Garry Monahan
What was the NHL's first regular-season outdoor game, played in Edmonton in 2003?
Answer
2003 Heritage Classic
What NHL trophy honors sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct?
Answer
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
What NHL trophy honors the goalie or goalies on the team allowing the fewest goals?
Answer
William M. Jennings Trophy
What NHL trophy goes to the regular-season points leader?
Answer
Art Ross Trophy
What NHL trophy is awarded to the regular-season most valuable player?
Answer
Hart Memorial Trophy
In which season did the Vegas Golden Knights begin NHL play?
Answer
2017-18
In which season did the Seattle Kraken begin NHL play?
Answer
2021-22
The Calgary Flames moved from which U.S. city in 1980?
Answer
Atlanta
Which Canadian city is home to the Canucks?
Answer
Vancouver
Which U.S. city is home to the NHL's Blues?
Answer
St. Louis
Which arena is home to the New York Rangers?
Answer
Madison Square Garden
Who was the NHL's first president?
Answer
Frank Calder
In which Canadian city was the NHL founded in 1917?
Answer
Montreal
In what year did the NHL introduce the shootout?
Answer
2005
Who was the first NHL player to score 500 career goals?
Answer
Maurice Richard
What is the name of the NHL team that plays in Denver?
Answer
Colorado Avalanche
What is the official name of the NHL team based in Montreal?
Answer
Montreal Canadiens
National Hockey League trivia — quick answers
What are good NHL trivia questions?
Good NHL trivia questions cover Stanley Cup winners, franchise origins, draft selections, scoring records, goaltenders, and league awards. Examples include identifying Connor McDavid’s first NHL team, naming the 2012 Conn Smythe winner, or recalling which club began as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
How hard is NHL trivia?
NHL trivia can be accessible or highly specialized. Questions about the Stanley Cup, famous franchises, and modern superstars are suitable for casual fans, while older scoring milestones, award names, expansion history, and goaltender records challenge dedicated followers. A broad quiz usually mixes both levels.
Which team drafted Connor McDavid first overall in 2015?
The Edmonton Oilers selected Connor McDavid first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. McDavid became the centerpiece of Edmonton’s roster and later one of the league’s most prominent centers. He entered the draft after a celebrated junior career with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012?
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012. The award recognizes the most valuable player during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Quick helped the Kings win their first Stanley Cup, posting outstanding postseason performances as Los Angeles defeated the New Jersey Devils in the Final.
Which NHL team was founded as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim?
The Anaheim Ducks entered the NHL in 1993 as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The franchise was inspired by Disney’s film The Mighty Ducks and initially used that name and branding. In 2006, after a change in ownership, the team shortened its name to the Anaheim Ducks.