The formation of the National Hockey League

Eddie Livingstone was a colourful personality in the formation of the NHL. Livingstone’s parents were immigrants from Scotland. Eddie elevated himself to become a journalist at the Globe and Mail. Most of his connections and investments were to purchase the Toronto Blue Shirts in 1914. He then purchased the Toronto Shamrocks that strained finances and alienated other team’s owners who were there to create a broader stability in NHA. Some of the wealthy owners tolerated Eddie because of his marketing exposure by promoting the league and attracting fans. However, that all changed with World War I, where the NHA was struggling with limited resources and competition for players due to the war. Back in those days, journalism was used to generate investors, create connections and bring in paychecks, which remains true today in Canada.

Many players often faced disputes over contracts and team rights. Many of which stemmed from Livingstone’s conflicts with other owners. Livingstone’s constant legal battles and personal feuds created a chaotic environment, leaving players unsure of their future. Livingstone contentious management style contributed to an environment where both players and team owners struggled to thrived financial and professionally. All of the players had to have a second job to feed their families. That is why Livingstone’s reputation for conflict extended to his relationship with players. Many players grew frustrated with his erratic leadership and lack of financial security. Because Eddie Livingstone was a journalist, he lacked business acumen, which hindered his ability to succeed as a team owner. Livingstone’s flaws, even as a common man, served as a cautionary tale and reenforcing the importance of strong leadership in the success of professional sports. Instead of resolving conflict through negotiations, he escalated tension creating an environment where other owners sought to remove him entirely to make profit.

As a journalist, Livingstone gathered enough money to purchase the Toronto Shamrocks, another NHA team, with the goal of consolidating hockey talent and exerting greater influence in the league. When the conflict reached its peak, the other NHA team owners decided to suspend the league entirely in 1917 and form a new league, the NHL, to specifically exclude Livingstone, not only as a journalist, but as a businessman. Livingstone technically retained his NHA franchise rights. However, the NHA ceased operations leaving him without a team in a non-functioning league. The instability caused by Livingstone’s actions contributed to the financial strain. It also limited the owners, who invested significantly in their teams to come up with a better business plan. Livingstone fought the other team owners in court for years, trying reclaim his team or gain compensation. By that time, the NHL was firmly established and his claims were dissolved and Livingstone never regained a foothold in professional hockey. Livingstone is a prime example, whereby, the owners wanted growth however, Livingstone wanted to maintain his own distribution level with journalism.

In an era where personal relationships were critical to the survival and growth of hockey, Livingstone's adversarial approach left him on the outside looking in. The other NHA owners saw Livingstone as a liability and ultimately went to great lengths to exclude him from the sport. Their decision to form the NHL without him wasn’t just about business, it was about profit and sustainable development