The Stanley Cup, also referred as the The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup or the Holy Grail, is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs champion after the conclusion of a four-round, 16-team elimination tournament. The Stanley Cup is considered as one of the "most important championships available to the sport" by the International Ice Hockey Federation and is named after Lord Stanley of Preston.
The Stanley Cup trophy has over 3000 different names engraved on it and is considered as one of the oldest existing trophies to be awarded in North America. It has been won a combined 108 times till date by 27 different teams, five of which are no longer in existence.
Team with 10 consecutive Stanley Cup Final Appearances
Throughout history, only the Montreal Canadiens have reached the Stanley Cup final in 10 consecutive seasons. The Canadiens' run started in 1950-51 and lasted until the 1959-60 season. Between 1951 and 1960, they ended up winning six championships, including five of them in successive seasons between 1956 and 1960. Notable stars on the team during those years included Jean Beliveau, Bernie Geoffrion, Doug Harvey, Tom Johnson, Don Marshall, Dickie Moore, Jacques Plante, Claude Provost and Maurice Richard. The Canadiens have a total number of 24 Stanley Cup championship titles, as of April 2025.
Other Notable Streaks
Other than the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, have also made the Stanley Cup finals in consecutive seasons.
| Team | Consecutive Appearances | Appearance Streak |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1950-51 through to 1959-60 | 10 seasons |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1964–65 through to 1968–69 | 5 seasons |
| New York Islanders | 1979–80 through to 1983–84 | 5 seasons |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1975–76 through to 1978–79 | 4 seasons |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1937–38 through to 1939–40 | 3 seasons |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1940–41 through to 1942–43 | 3 seasons |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1946–47 through to 1948–49 | 3 seasons |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1947–48 through to 1949–50 | 3 seasons |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1953–54 through to 1955–56 | 3 seasons |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1961–62 through to 1963–64 | 3 seasons |
| St. Louis Blues | 1967–68 through to 1969–70 | 3 seasons |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 1973–74 through to 1975–76 | 3 seasons |
| Edmonton Oilers | 1982–83 through to 1984–85 | 3 seasons |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2019–20 through to 2021–22 | 3 seasons |
FAQs on Stanley Cup
A. The Montreal Canadiens holds the distinction of being the only team to win five consecutive Stanley Cup championships (1956-1960), as of April 2025.
A. The Montreal Canadiens have been to the most Stanley Cup finals with 35 appearances, as of April 2025.
A. The New York Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens hold the distinction of being the only teams to have won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships, as of April 2025.
A. The Boston Bruins have the longest playoff streak to their name with a 29-season streak from 1967-68 to 1995-96.
A. The Florida Panthers are the present holders of the Stanley Cup, having won it in 2024.
