The O’Brien Trophy is a retired NHL trophy, previously awarded to the NHA champion team. The trophy came into being in 1910 after being donated by Senator J. O’Brien to the National Hockey Association (NHA) to honor his son, J. Ambrose O’Brien. J.A. O’Brien helped to form the NHA and founded the Montreal Canadiens. After the NHA ended in 1917, the NHL took over the trophy and used it to honor league champions.
When the Prince of Wales Trophy was introduced in the early 1920s, the O’Brien Trophy was briefly retired. In 1928, it was repurposed and given to the Canadian NHL team with the most regular-season points. In 1939, its role changed again, becoming the league’s regular-season runner-up award. It was officially retired after the 1949–50 season.
List of O'Brien Trophy Winners
The O'Brien Trophy was awarded in the NHL from 1910 to 1950. The last winner in 1950 was the New York Rangers. The Detroit Red Wings won it multiple times in the 1940s, including 1949, 1948, 1945, 1942, and 1941. The Montreal Canadiens were frequent winners, including in 1947, 1937, 1932, 1931, 1929, 1928, 1919, 1917, and 1916. The Toronto Maple Leafs won several times in the 1930s and 1940s. Earlier winners included the Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Montreal Wanderers.
Here is the list of O'Brien Trophy Winners:
| Year | Winner |
| 1950 | New York Rangers |
| 1949 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1948 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1947 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1946 | Boston Bruins |
| 1945 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1944 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1943 | Boston Bruins |
| 1942 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1941 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1940 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1939 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1938 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1937 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1936 | Montreal Maroons |
| 1935 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1934 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1933 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1932 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1931 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1930 | Montreal Maroons |
| 1929 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1928 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1923 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1922 | Toronto St. Pats |
| 1921 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1920 | Ottawa Silver Seven |
| 1919 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1918 | Toronto Arenas |
| 1917 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1916 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1915 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1914 | Toronto Blue Shirts |
| 1913 | Quebec Bulldogs |
| 1912 | Quebec Bulldogs |
| 1911 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1910 | Montreal Wanderers |
Read More: List of NHL Vezina Trophy Winners
FAQ's on O'Brien Trophy Winners
A. The Detroit Red Wings are the only team to win the trophy more than four times.
A. The Stanley Cup is the most prestigious trophy awarded annually to the NHL playoff winner.
A. The Montreal Hockey Club won the first Stanley Cup in 1893.
A. The Stanley Cup is the oldest and most prestigious trophy in North American team sports.
A. Wayne Gretzky won the award a record nine times during his career, eight consecutively.
