The Stanley Cup is the oldest and most prestigious trophy in the sport of ice hockey. Named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada who donated this trophy in 1872, the Stanley Cup has become synonymous with achievement, excellence, and determination in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Stanley Cup has a long history and was initially presented to the top amateur hockey club in Canada in 1893. However, with the rise of hockey as a professional sport, the importance of the Stanley Cup evolved and led the NHL to acquire the trophy. When the National Hockey League and the Western Canada Hockey League merged, the league became the strongest to acquire the renowned trophy, the Stanley Cup, in 1926.
In the NHL, this trophy was introduced as its playoff championship trophy in 1926, and it became the official prize in 1947. The first NHL team to win the Stanley Cup was the Ottawa Senators, and the most recent champions were the Florida Panthers (in 2024).
Also Read: Who won five Stanley Cups in a row
Stanley Cup Host Arenas List-
In 1927, the Cup was awarded for the first time in the NHL. The winning team, the original Ottawa Senators, hosted the Stanley Cup Finals at the Ottawa Auditorium. Over the years, the Stanley Cup has been hosted in most of the iconic arenas across North America. There are a total of 32 NHL stadiums, and the venues have witnessed various historic moments, celebrations, victories, and losses. Interestingly, Madison Square Garden in New York is the oldest arena that was inaugurated on February 11, 1968. However, the venue has gone through several renovations and developments, but its legacy remains as one of the most iconic and historic venues. A list of all Stanley Cup Host arenas is given below:
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Arena |
| 1926-27 | Ottawa Senators | Boston Bruins | Ottawa Auditorium |
| 1927-28 | New York Rangers | Montreal Maroons | Madison Square Garden (III) |
| 1928-29 | Boston Bruins | New York Rangers | Boston Garden |
| 1929-30 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Montreal Forum |
| 1930-31 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | Montreal Forum |
| 1931-32 | Toronto Maple Leafs | New York Rangers | Madison Square Garden (III) |
| 1932-33 | New York Rangers | Toronto Maple Leafs | Madison Square Garden (III) |
| 1933-34 | Chicago Black Hawks | Detroit Red Wings | Chicago Stadium |
| 1934-35 | Montreal Maroons | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Forum |
| 1935-36 | Detroit Red Wings | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Olympia |
| 1936-37 | Detroit Red Wings | New York Rangers | Detroit Olympia |
| 1937-38 | Chicago Black Hawks | Toronto Maple Leafs | Chicago Stadium |
| 1938-39 | Boston Bruins | Toronto Maple Leafs | Boston Garden |
| 1939-40 | New York Rangers | Toronto Maple Leafs | Madison Square Garden (III) |
| 1940-41 | Boston Bruins | Detroit Red Wings | Boston Garden |
| 1941-42 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1942-43 | Detroit Red Wings | Boston Bruins | Detroit Olympia |
| 1943-44 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | Montreal Forum |
| 1944-45 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1945-46 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Montreal Forum |
| 1946-47 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Canadiens | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1947-48 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1948-49 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1949-50 | Detroit Red Wings | New York Rangers | Detroit Olympia |
| 1950-51 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Canadiens | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1951-52 | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Canadiens | Detroit Olympia |
| 1952-53 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Montreal Forum |
| 1953-54 | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Canadiens | Detroit Olympia |
| 1954-55 | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Canadiens | Detroit Olympia |
| 1955-56 | Montreal Canadiens | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Forum |
| 1956-57 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Montreal Forum |
| 1957-58 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Montreal Forum |
| 1958-59 | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Forum |
| 1959-60 | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Forum |
| 1960-61 | Chicago Black Hawks | Detroit Red Wings | Chicago Stadium |
| 1961-62 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Chicago Black Hawks | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1962-1963 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1963-64 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1964-65 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | Montreal Forum |
| 1965-66 | Montreal Canadiens | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Forum |
| 1966-67 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Canadiens | Maple Leaf Gardens |
| 1967-68 | Montreal Canadiens | St. Louis Blues | Montreal Forum |
| 1968-69 | Montreal Canadiens | St. Louis Blues | Montreal Forum |
| 1969-70 | Boston Bruins | St. Louis Blues | Boston Garden |
| 1970-71 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | Montreal Forum |
| 1971-72 | Boston Bruins | New York Rangers | Boston Garden |
| 1972-73 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | Montreal Forum |
| 1973-74 | Philadelphia Flyers | Boston Bruins | Spectrum |
| 1974-75 | Philadelphia Flyers | Buffalo Sabres | Spectrum |
| 1975-76 | Montreal Canadiens | Philadelphia Flyers | Montreal Forum |
| 1976-77 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Montreal Forum |
| 1977-78 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | Montreal Forum |
| 1978-79 | Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers | Montreal Forum |
| 1979-80 | New York Islanders | Philadelphia Flyers | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| 1980-81 | New York Islanders | Minnesota North Stars | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| 1981-82 | New York Islanders | Vancouver Canucks | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| 1982-83 | New York Islanders | Edmonton Oilers | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| 1983-84 | Edmonton Oilers | New York Islanders | Northlands Coliseum |
| 1984-85 | Edmonton Oilers | Philadelphia Flyers | Northlands Coliseum |
| 1985-1986 | Montreal Canadiens | Calgary Flames | Montreal Forum |
| 1986-87 | Edmonton Oilers | Philadelphia Flyers | Northlands Coliseum |
| 1987-88 | Edmonton Oilers | Boston Bruins | Northlands Coliseum |
| 1988-89 | Calgary Flames | Montreal Canadiens | Olympic Saddledome |
| 1989-90 | Edmonton Oilers | Boston Bruins | Northlands Coliseum |
| 1990-1991 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Minnesota North Stars | Civic Arena |
| 1991-92 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Chicago Blackhawks | Civic Arena |
| 1992-93 | Montreal Canadiens | Los Angeles Kings | Montreal Forum |
| 1993-94 | New York Rangers | Vancouver Canucks | Madison Square Garden (IV) |
| 1994-95 | New Jersey Devils | Detroit Red Wings | Brendan Byrne Arena (Meadowlands Arena) |
| 1995-96 | Colorado Avalanche | Florida Panthers | McNichols Sports Arena |
| 1996-97 | Detroit Red Wings | Philadelphia Flyers | Joe Louis Arena |
| 1997-98 | Detroit Red Wings | Washington Capitals | Joe Louis Arena |
| 1998-99 | Dallas Stars | Buffalo Sabres | Reunion Arena |
| 1999-2000 | New Jersey Devils | Dallas Stars | Continental Airlines Arena (Meadowlands) |
| 2000-01 | Colorado Avalanche | New Jersey Devils | Pepsi Center |
| 2001-02 | Detroit Red Wings | Carolina Hurricanes | Joe Louis Arena |
| 2002-03 | New Jersey Devils | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | Continental Airlines Arena (Meadowlands) |
| 2003-04 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Calgary Flames | St. Pete Times Forum |
| 2004-05 | Not awarded due to NHL lockout | ||
| 2005-06 | Carolina Hurricanes | Edmonton Oilers | RBC Center |
| 2006-07 | Anaheim Ducks | Ottawa Senators | Honda Center |
| 2007-08 | Detroit Red Wings | Pittsburgh Penguins | Joe Louis Arena |
| 2008-09 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Detroit Red Wings | Mellon Arena |
| 2009-10 | Chicago Blackhawks | Philadelphia Flyers | United Center |
| 2010-11 | Boston Bruins | Vancouver Canucks | TD Garden |
| 2011-12 | Los Angeles Kings | New Jersey Devils | Staples Center |
| 2012-13 | Chicago Blackhawks | Boston Bruins | United Center |
| 2013-14 | Los Angeles Kings | New York Rangers | Staples Center |
| 2014-15 | Chicago Blackhawks | Tampa Bay Lightning | United Center |
| 2015-16 | Pittsburgh Penguins | San Jose Sharks | Consol Energy Center |
| 2016-17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Nashville Predators | PPG Paints Arena |
| 2017-18 | Washington Capitals | Vegas Golden Knights | Capital One Arena |
| 2018-19 | St. Louis Blues | Boston Bruins | Enterprise Center |
| 2019-20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Dallas Stars | Rogers Place |
| 2020-21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Montreal Canadiens | Amalie Arena |
| 2021-22 | Colorado Avalanche | Tampa Bay Lightning | Amalie Arena |
| 2022-23 | Vegas Golden Knights | Florida Panthers | T-Mobile Arena |
| 2023-2024 | Florida Panthers | Edmonton Oilers | Amerant Bank Arena |
FAQ
A. Madison Square Garden in New York is the oldest arena that was inaugurated on February 11, 1968.
A. The Montreal Canadiens hold the most Stanley Cups 24 in the NHl history.
A. There are a total 32 NHL stadiums and the venues have have witnessed various historic moments, celebrations, victories, and losses.
A. When the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Western Canada Hockey League merged, the league became the strongest to acquire the renowned trophy Stanley Cup in 1926.
A. The Stanley Cup has a long history and the award was initially presented to the top amateur hockey club in Canada in 1893.
