although rival leagues were not formally barred from challenging for the cup until 1947, the whl's collapse left the nhl as the only top-level professional league in north america. in the meantime, the cup trustees refused to accept challenges from any rival league. in what was the most significant expansion of its early era, the nhl added three teams for its 1926-27 season, all of which survived the great depression to form half of the so-called original six in later years. separate deals were made in stocking the new teams. the rights to the victoria cougars' players were bought by the detroit franchise (which would eventually become the detroit red wings) causing the team to be named the detroit cougars in their honor, and the portland rosebuds' players' rights were purchased by frederic mclaughlin for his new black hawks team. the new york rangers did not come to any similar agreement, but nevertheless were the most dominant team of the three in its early years, winning a stanley cup in only its second season.