The history of the Vancouver Canucks begins when the team joined the National Hockey League (NHL). Founded as an expansion team in 1970 along with the Buffalo Sabres, the Vancouver Canucks were the first NHL team to be based in Vancouver. The Canucks adopted the name of the minor professional hockey team that had existed in Vancouver since 1945. During the 2009-10 season, the Canucks will be faced with the longest road trip in NHL history, with 14 games over 6 weeks, as a result of Vancouver hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.