The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). In 1924, the National Hockey League decided to expand to the United States. As a long-time hockey hotbed, Boston was a natural choice for the NHL's first American team. Adams' first act was to hire Art Ross as general manager. Ross stayed with the team for thirty years, including four separate stints as coach.