1921–22 NHL season

This was the first season away from the split season used in the NHA and the first four NHL seasons. Under the old split system, the winner of each half of the season would face each other in the playoffs. If the same team won both halves, then there would be no league playoffs and that team would simply move on to the Stanley Cup series. For the new system, the top two teams at the end of the season squared off against each other in a two-game total goals series for the chance to move on to the Stanley Cup series.^[1]

The NHL adopted the penalty rules of the amateur Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) for this season. Starting this season, there was no substitution for penalized players and no deferred penalties This was therefore the first season of the power play in the NHL. Penalized players immediately had to serve their penalties in the penalty box. Also, the minor penalty was reduced to two minutes, and major fouls were assessed at five minutes. A match penalty was now awarded for deliberate attempts to injure.^[2]

Frank Calder, NHL president, again declared Sprague Cleghorn property of the Hamilton Tigers and Cleghorn balked at the move. The Tigers asked Cleghorn where he wanted to play other than Ottawa, and he expressed interest in joining his brother on the Montreal Canadiens and so prior to the start of this season, the NHL's first multiple-player trade in its history was made when Billy Coutu and Sprague Cleghorn of the Hamilton Tigers were traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Harry Mummery, Amos Arbour, and Cully Wilson.

Canadiens owner George Kennedy never recovered from the influenza he contracted in 1919, and died on October 19, 1921, at age 39. His widow sold the Canadiens to a unit that would be known affectionately as the Three Musketeers of owners, Leo Dandurand, Louis Letourneau, and Joseph Cattarinich. Dandurand became manager and coach, and immediately there were problems between him and Newsy Lalonde. At one point, Dandurand accused Lalonde of not trying, and also the fans started to boo their old hero. Finally, Lalonde walked out on the team. NHL president Frank Calder mediated the dispute and Lalonde returned to the team. But his days in Montreal were numbered.

After a fairly impressive season for the Toronto St. Patricks, the St. Pats goaltender Jake Forbes refused to play after being denied a raise, and was suspended for the season.^[3] John Ross Roach took over in goal.

Punch Broadbent was the star this year, as he scored 27 goals in 16 consecutive games en route ^[3] to a 32-goal campaign. Broadbent led the league in goals, assists and points.^[3] His Ottawa team finished first, too.

On February 1, Sprague Cleghorn almost wiped out the Ottawa team singlehandedly. He cut Eddie Gerard and Cy Denneny and charged Frank Nighbor. All three players missed two games because of injuries and Cleghorn drew a match penalty and a $30 fine. Ottawa police tried to arrest him in wake of his one-man war.^[3]

Starting in the Western Canada Hockey League, the Calgary Tigers lost to the Regina Capitals in a match-up to determine second place. The Capitals then went on to beat the first place Edmonton Eskimos in that league's first championship series. Over in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, once again, the Vancouver Millionaires faced the Seattle Metropolitans for their league championship. The Mets had the better regular season record, but the Millionaires won both games of the playoffs by 1–0 scores. The Millionaires were then matched up against the Capitals to see who would go on to play against the winner of the NHL's playoffs. Vancouver beat Regina in the two-game total-goals series.

O'Brien Cup — Toronto St. Patricks

• Hamilton Tigers: Joe Malone
• Montreal Canadiens: Newsy Lalonde
• Ottawa Senators: Pete Green
• Toronto St. Patricks: George O'Donoghue

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1921–22 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):

• Billy Boucher, Montreal Canadiens
• Frank Boucher, Ottawa Senators
• King Clancy, Ottawa Senators
• John Ross Roach, Toronto St. Patricks

The last remaining active player to kick off their NHL career this season was Frank Boucher, who played his final NHL game in the 1943–44 season, although he missed the 1922–23, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, and 1942–43 seasons.

The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1921–22 (listed with their last team):

• 1921 in sports
• 1922 in sports
• List of Stanley Cup champions
• Pacific Coast Hockey Association
• Western Canada Hockey League