1942 - 43 NHL season The 1942 - 43 NHL season was the 26th season of the National Hockey League . Six teams played 50 games each . League Business . The Brooklyn Americans franchise was dropped , as Madison Square Garden turned down a lease agreement with team owner Red Dutton . Dutton argued that the other teams would be weakened by the war , but the other owners pointed out the number of Americans players that were in the armed forces was such that the Americans could not operate . Despondent , Dutton left the league meeting . But he was to be back in the NHL sooner than he thought . This was the beginning of the " Original Six " era , which would last until the 1967 - 68 season . Training Camps . The teams held their pre - season training camps in the following locations : Death of Frank Calder . The league ' s meeting of January 25th , 1943 was supposed to have been a non - event . The only news that was supposed to come out of the meeting was that the playoffs would begin on March 20th , and that all series would be best of seven affairs . This was resolved in the morning meeting . The afternoon session had just begun and NHL president Frank Calder had informed Red Dutton the reserve status of his suspended franchise , when Toronto coach Hap Day noticed that Calder appeared to be in pain . Two league governors came up to his aid , but he assured them he was all right . Then Calder ' s face contracted as if he were in pain . He took a few steps and exclaimed " " My God , there IS something wrong " ! " He was taken to his hotel room and a doctor diagnosed a heart attack . A specialist convinced him , despite his protests , to check into St . Michael ' s Hospital in Toronto , where he suffered a second heart attack . In a week , Calder felt well enough to return to Montreal and checked into Montreal General Hospital . After eating a light breakfast surrounded by his family and friends , he was looking over the league books when he slipped back on the pillows of his bed and died . He was 65 years old . Red Dutton had been chosen to fill in for him , and now it was a permanent arrangement . Regular season . Highlights . The Montreal Canadiens were still making progress , and Dick Irvin put together the first " Punch Line " of Elmer Lach , Toe Blake , and Joe Benoit . Maurice Richard showed promise , but broke his leg , and Tommy Gorman began to look at him as brittle . Benoit became the first Canadien to hit the 30 goal plateau since Howie Morenz did it in 1929 - 30 ( 40 goals ) as he had an even 30 . Gordie Drillon also added some scoring power . But the Canadiens only made the playoffs by one slim point . Boston then beat them in the playoffs . Detroit was the team this year . They finished first and Johnny Mowers won the Vezina Trophy . During the season , Jimmy Orlando got into a stick - swinging incident with Toronto rookie Gaye Stewart and came out of it on the short end , badly cut in the face and bleeding profusely . Both players were suspended for the incident . In contrast to 1941 - 42 season , the Rangers felt the full impact of World War II and lost Art Coulter , Alex Shibicky , the Colville brothers , and Bill Juzda to the Armed Forces . Only Ott Heller was left of their defence . Babe Pratt was traded to Toronto for Hank Goldup and Dudley " Red " Garrett . Garrett proved to be an excellent replacement for Pratt . However , he only played 21 games , then gave his life in the Armed Forces . Goaltending was the Rangers problem as Steve Buzinski , Jimmy Franks , and the old veteran Bill Beveridge all had to face lots of rubber as the Rangers went from first to worst . Gaye Stewart won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie . Final standings . " Note : GP = Games played , W = Wins , L = Losses , T = Ties , Pts = Points , GF = Goals for , GA = Goals against , PIM = Penalties in minutes " < br > " Note : Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold " Scoring leaders . " Note : GP = Games played , G = Goals , A = Assists , PTS = Points , PIM = Penalties in minutes " Stanley Cup playoffs . Playoff bracket . The Stanley Cup finals featured the Detroit Red Wings beating the Boston Bruins Debuts . The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1942 - 43 ( listed with their first team , asterisk ( * ) marks debut in playoffs ) : Last games . The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1942 - 43 ( listed with their last team ) : Attendance . Toronto : 295 , 064