 The expansion era of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) began when six new teams were added for the 1967 – 68 season , ending the Original Six era . The six existing teams were grouped into the newly created East Division , and the expansion teams — the Los Angeles Kings , Minnesota North Stars , Oakland Seals , Philadelphia Flyers , Pittsburgh Penguins , and St. Louis Blues — were placed in the newly created West Division .
The 1967 NHL expansion was the second major expansion of the league, the first being the 1967 – 68 season. The expansion was approved at the 19