The Stanley Cup is the oldest and most prestigious trophy in the National Hockey League (NHL) and is awarded annually at the end of the playoff series to the champion team. Moreover, it has been awarded 107 times to date, with 22 active teams winning as of 2025. Notably, it was commissioned in 1892 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup before getting its present name. Remarkably, the Stanley Cup was named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, who donated it as an award to Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club. It later became the de facto championship of the NHL in 1926 and was later recognized as the de jure NHL championship prize in 1947.
Furthermore, the cup has also been referred to as Lord Stanley’s Cup, The Holy Grail or as Lord Stanley’s Mug. There are also many legends and traditions that surround the Stanley Cup, with the most notable one being the tradition of drinking champagne from it. Lastly, there are more than three thousand different names, including the names of over thirteen hundred players.
Also Read: List of NHL Teams with Most Stanley Cups
Stanley Cup Final
The Stanley Cup finals consist of a best-of-seven series. The first team to win the first four games is crowned with the championship and given the Stanley Cup. In the Stanley Cup finals, two teams from each conference battle against each other to win the league’s championship. The defending champions of the Stanley Cup Trophy are the Florida Panthers.
Conference Finals
In the conference finals, two teams from different divisions of the Eastern and Western Conferences battle against each other to win the respective Conference Championship. The Conference finals also follow the same format of a best-of-seven series, meaning the winner of the first four games gets the title.
Notably, the Western Conference Champions are awarded the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl and the Eastern Conference Champions are recognized with the Prince of Wales Trophy. These trophies are presented to the champions of their respective conferences as a recognition of their accomplishment in reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
FAQ's On Stanley Cup Final
A. The Stanley Cup finals is a best-of-seven series.
A. A maximum of seven games are played, with the first team to win four games winning the Stanley Cup Championship.
A. There are four rounds in the Stanley Cup playoffs: the first round, second round, conference finals, and Stanley Cup finals.
A. The Stanley Cup finals are scheduled to take place in the month of June 2024.
A. The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023 after defeating the Florida Panthers in a five game series.
