List of Stanley Cup champions
1974–75 to 1980–81: The league expanded to 18 teams and realigned into two conferences: the Prince of Wales Conference and the Clarence Campbell Conference. Twelve teams qualified for the postseason, but were seeded 1–12 regardless of conference (the four division winners received first round byes). This type of seeding system would continue  after the league expanded the playoffs to 16 teams before the 1979–80 season.