Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is a trophy given to the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL) every year.

It was bought by Lord Stanley, the Governor General of Canada, in 1892, for $50.  The first team to win it was the Montreal A.A.A. in 1893.  Other teams could challenge for it. By 1915, it was awarded on a yearly basis.

The names of players and others such as coaches are put on the cup every year.  As a result, the NHL had to make the cup bigger, by adding layers to the bottom.  When the first cup was full of names, they made a copy of it, which is now what is awarded.

Today, there are 32 teams in the NHL who each play 82 regular season ice hockey games per year. 16 teams make the playoffs every year; these teams are made up of the top 3 teams from each division by regular season points as well as 2 wildcard teams from each conference . There are 4 best of 7 ice hockey playoff rounds that a team must win to win the Stanley Cup.

The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, the most of any team.  They also won the most in a row:  five between 1955-56 and 1959-60.

Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens appears the most on the Stanley Cup, 11 times.

The Stanley Cup was not awarded in 2005:  there was no NHL season because of a labour disagreement.  It was not awarded in 1919, either, because of the influenza epidemic.

 Recent Stanley Cup winners 
 2025 Florida Panthers
 2024 Florida Panthers
 2023 Vegas Golden Knights
 2022 Colorado Avalanche
 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning
 2020 Tampa Bay Lightning
 2019 St. Louis Blues
 2018 Washington Capitals
 2017 Pittsburgh Penguins
 2016 Pittsburgh Penguins
 2015 Chicago Blackhawks
 2014  Los Angeles Kings
 2013  Chicago Blackhawks
 2012  Los Angeles Kings
 2011  Boston Bruins
 2010  Chicago Blackhawks
 2009  Pittsburgh Penguins
 2008  Detroit Red Wings
 2007  Anaheim Ducks
 2006  Carolina Hurricanes
 2005  Season cancelled
 2004  Tampa Bay Lightning
 2003  New Jersey Devils
 2002  Detroit Red Wings
 2001  Colorado Avalanche
 2000  New Jersey Devils
 1999  Dallas Stars
 1998  Detroit Red Wings
 1997  Detroit Red Wings
 1996  Colorado Avalanche
 1995  New Jersey Devils
 1994  New York Rangers
 1993  Montreal Canadiens
 1992  Pittsburgh Penguins
 1991  Pittsburgh Penguins
 1990  Edmonton Oilers
 1989  Calgary Flames
 1988  Edmonton Oilers
 1987  Edmonton Oilers
 1986  Montreal Canadiens
 1985  Edmonton Oilers
 1984  Edmonton Oilers
 1983  New York Islanders
 1982  New York Islanders
 1981  New York Islanders
 1980  New York Islanders
 1979  Montreal Canadiens
 1978  Montreal Canadiens
 1977  Montreal Canadiens
 1976  Montreal Canadiens
 1975  Philadelphia Flyers
 1974  Philadelphia Flyers
 1973  Montreal Canadiens
 1972  Boston Bruins
 1971  Montreal Canadiens
 1970  Boston Bruins
 1969  Montreal Canadiens
 1968  Montreal Canadiens
 1967  Toronto Maple Leafs


Category:Ice hockey trophies and awards
Category:National Hockey League trophies and awards