On October 9, 1974, the Kansas City Scouts took to the ice for the first time in Kansas City, Missouri, losing 6-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team played its home games in Kemper Arena. The Scouts failed to make the playoffs in either of their two seasons, and managed to win just 27 games total. The team sold only 2,000 season tickets (out of 8,000) for its second season. The Scouts' lack of success on the ice, coupled with financial problems (the team was almost $1 million in debt by the 1975-1976 season) forced them to move to Denver, Colorado after only two years.

Playing in Denver as the Colorado Rockies they still failed to attract fans, and in their six-year stay they only made the playoffs once. Not even the hiring of popular, flamboyant coach Don Cherry could save the Rockies. Cherry was one of seven coaches the team employed over six seasons. The team changed ownership twice, finally being purchased by Dr. John McMullen on May 27, 1982. McMullen made the long-rumored move from Denver to New Jersey a reality, relocating the franchise for a second time to the new Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1982.