The Stanley Cup is one of the most prestigious trophies in the NHL, given to the playoff winner annually. The Stanley Cup has a long history associated with it and is the oldest award in North America. Named after Lord Stanley, Governor General of Canada, and was introduced in the 1926-27 season in the NHL after years of existence. As of the 2023-2024 season, the cup has been awarded 108 times. The Montreal Canadiens have won the championship 24 times, the most in the NHL, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs 13 times and the Detroit Red Wings 11 times.
List of Stanley Cup-winning captains
Canadian player Jean Béliveau is the only player in NHL history with 17 Stanley Cup trophies, 10 as a player, including five as a captain of the Canadiens, and seven as an executive. Other notable captains like Maurice Richard, who has won the Stanley Cup four times in a row as the captain of the Canadiens from the 1956-56 till the 1959-60 season. Yvan Cournoyer shares the same record of winning the trophy our times in a row from 1975-76 till 1978-79. Legendary players like Gretzky, Denis Potvin, and George Armstrong have won the Stanley Cup trophy four times each. The recent winner, Aleksander Barkov for the Panthers, is the first Finnish captain to achieve this prestigious award.
| Year | Captain | Team | Nationality |
| 2024 | Aleksander Barkov | Panthers | Finland |
| 2023 | Mark Stone | Golden Knights | Canada |
| 2022 | Gabriel Landeskog | Avalanche | Sweden |
| 2021 | Steven Stamkos | Lightning | Canada |
| 2020 | Steven Stamkos | Lightning | Canada |
| 2019 | Alex Pietrangelo | Blues | Canada |
| 2018 | Alexander Ovechkin | Capitals | Russia |
| 2017 | Sidney Crosby | Penguins | Canada |
| 2016 | Sidney Crosby | Penguins | Canada |
| 2015 | Jonathan Toews | Blackhawks | Canada |
| 2014 | Dustin Brown | Kings | USA |
| 2013 | Jonathan Toews | Blackhawks | Canada |
| 2012 | Dustin Brown | Kings | USA |
| 2011 | Zdeno Chara | Bruins | Slovakia |
| 2010 | Jonathan Toews | Blackhawks | Canada |
| 2009 | Sidney Crosby | Penguins | Canada |
| 2008 | Nicklas Lidstrom | Red Wings | Sweden |
| 2007 | Scott Niedermayer | Ducks | Canada |
| 2006 | Rod Brind'Amour | Hurricanes | Canada |
| 2005 | NHL Lockout | ||
| 2004 | Dave Andreychuk | Lightning | Canada |
| 2003 | Scott Stevens | Devils | Canada |
| 2002 | Steve Yzerman | Red Wings | Canada |
| 2001 | Joe Sakic | Avalanche | Canada |
| 2000 | Scott Stevens | Devils | Canada |
| 1999 | Derian Hatcher | Stars | USA |
| 1998 | Steve Yzerman | Red Wings | Canada |
| 1997 | Steve Yzerman | Red Wings | Canada |
| 1996 | Joe Sakic | Avalanche | Canada |
| 1995 | Scott Stevens | Devils | Canada |
| 1994 | Mark Messier | Rangers | Canada |
| 1993 | Guy Carboneau | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1992 | Mario Lemieux | Penguins | Canada |
| 1991 | Mario Lemieux | Penguins | Canada |
| 1990 | Mark Messier | Oilers | Canada |
| 1989 | Lanny McDonald, Jim Peplinski | Flames | Canada |
| 1988 | Wayne Gretzky | Oilers | Canada |
| 1987 | Wayne Gretzky | Oilers | Canada |
| 1986 | Bob Gainey | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1985 | Wayne Gretzky | Oilers | Canada |
| 1984 | Wayne Gretzky | Oilers | Canada |
| 1983 | Denis Potvin | Islanders | Canada |
| 1982 | Denis Potvin | Islanders | Canada |
| 1981 | Denis Potvin | Islanders | Canada |
| 1980 | Denis Potvin | Islanders | Canada |
| 1979 | Yvan Cournoyer | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1978 | Yvan Cournoyer | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1977 | Yvan Cournoyer | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1976 | Yvan Cournoyer | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1975 | Bobby Clarke | Flyers | Canada |
| 1974 | Bobby Clarke | Flyers | Canada |
| 1973 | Henri Richard | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1972 | Vacant | Bruins | |
| 1971 | Jean Beliveau | Canadiens | Canada |
| 1970 | Vacant | Bruins |
FAQs on Stanley Cup-winning captains
A. The Montreal Canadiens have the most Stanley Cups, a total of 24.
A. Jean Beliveau have 17 Stanley Cups, the most to an individual till date.
A. Wayne Gretzky have won four Stanley Cups for the Edmonton Oilers.
