Montreal Wanderers defenseman Dave Ritchie scored the first goal in National Hockey League history in the league's first game (one minute into the game) between the Wanderers and the Toronto Arenas on December 19, 1917. The Wanderers opened the inaugural season with a 10-9 victory, but had to withdraw from the league a few weeks later when their home rink was destroyed in a fire. Ritchie was selected by the Ottawa Senators, with whom he played the remainder of the season.

On December 11, 1992, the National Hockey League Governors named Gary Bettman the first commissioner of the National Hockey League, replacing Gil Stein, who served as the NHL's final president. The owners hired Bettman with the mandate of selling the game in the U.S. market, ending labour unrest, completing expansion plans, and modernizing the views of the "old guard" within the ownership ranks.

Bobby Hull, "the Golden Jet" of the Chicago Blackhawks, won several goal-scoring titles, three overall scoring championships, and two Most Valuable Player awards in the NHL in the 1960s. Then he signed with the Winnipeg Jets, giving instant credibility to a new league, the World Hockey Association, in the 1970s.

On April 4, 1921, the Ottawa Senators defeated the Vancouver Millionaires 2-1 in the decisive fifth game of the 1921 Stanley Cup Final. Jack Darragh scored both goals for the Senators, who became the first NHL team to win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

At the annual NHL Governors' meeting on September 27, 1930, a new offsides rule was passed, stating that: "The puck must be propelled into the attacking zone before any player of the attacking side can enter that zone."

On February 14, 1934, the NHL held its first All-Star Game as a benefit for injured star Ace Bailey. Toronto defeated a team of All-Stars from the league's other seven teams 7-3 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

On December 19, 1984, while playing in just his 424th career game, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky had two goals and four assists to become the fastest player in NHL history to reach 1000 career points (breaking Guy Lefleur's record of 720 games). The Oilers won 7-3 over the visiting Los Angeles Kings.

On February 7, 1976, Darryl Sittler set an NHL record with 10 points in one game on six goals and four assists in an 11-4 win over Boston at Maple Leaf Gardens. It was the last game Bruins goalie Dave Reece ever played in the NHL.

The biggest prank in NHL history occurred in 1974 when Buffalo Sabres GM Punch Imlach selected star center Taro Tsujimoto of the Japan Ice Hockey League's Tokyo Katanas in the 11th round of the NHL draft. The NHL made the pick official, and it was reported by media outlets including The Hockey News. But Taro Tsujimoto didn't exist. In fact, his team didn't exist either. (The JIHL had no team representing Tokyo at the time.) Imlach did not acknowledge the fake draft pick until just before the start of training camp. The team even set up a stall for him and listed him on their training camp roster. When the prank was finally discovered, the league was not amused as Tsujimoto's name had already appeared in several NHL publications.

In the final game of the 1944-45 season, Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season as Montreal beat the Bruins 4-2. Richard scored his 50 goals in 50 games. It was the only season Richard netted 50 goals in his Hall of Fame career.