The Definitive Online Sports Stylebook

The Ben Watanabe Sports Stylebook

NHL team nicknames

In general news and sports coverage, the full city and team name should be used on first reference in copy.

However, in all headlines and on first reference in copy where the NHL context is obvious, only the full team name needs to be used: Flyers drop Game 3 as power play falters again; The Ducks begin a five-game road trip Thursday.

Below are common nicknames for each team, all of which are acceptable on subsequent reference in copy. Nicknames with a caret (^) are the preferred name, whereas nicknames with an asterisk (*) should be used sparingly, if at all.

Anaheim Ducks
Boston BruinsB’s
Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames
Carolina HurricanesCanes
Chicago BlackhawksHawks
Colorado AvalancheAvs
Columbus Blue JacketsJackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red WingsWings
Edmonton Oilersthe Oil
Florida Panthers
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Wild
Montreal CanadiensHabs
Nashville PredatorsPreds
New Jersey Devils
New York IslandersIsles
New York RangersBroadway Blueshirts, Blueshirts
Ottawa SenatorsSens
Philadelphia FlyersBroad Street Bullies, Bullies
Pittsburgh PenguinsPens
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Kraken
St. Louis Blues
Tampa Bay LightningBolts
Toronto Maple LeafsLeafs
Utah Mammoth
Vancouver Canucks‘Nucks*
Vegas Golden KnightsKnights
Washington CapitalsCaps
Winnipeg Jets