The Stanley Cup was first commissioned in 1891 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. It is named after former Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley of Preston, who donated it as an award to Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club. Since then, the cup has gone through various changes and has been awarded 108 times, as of April 2025.
Unlike any other trophies awarded by the other major professional sports of North America, a new Stanley Cup is not awarded every year. Instead, the winning teams get to keep it for a limited number of days before the National Hockey League (NHL) takes it back and repeats the process. The Stanley Cup was not awarded in just two years, in 1919 and in 2005.
Also Read: Who has been in 10 consecutive Stanley Cup finals?
Teams with most losses in the Stanley Cup Finals
Throughout its history, the Stanley Cup has been awarded 108 times till the 2024-2025 season to 27 different teams. However, only 22 of 27 teams are still in existence. The Boston Bruins holds the record of most losses in the Stanley Cup finals, with 14 losses till now. They are followed by the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens on the list with most losses. On the other hand, the Colorado Avalanche have never lost in the finals, winning in all their three appearances, as of April 2025.
| Team | Losses | Appearances |
| Boston Bruins | 14 | 20 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 13 | 24 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 9 | 35 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 8 | 21 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 7 | 13 |
| New York Rangers | 7 | 11 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 6 | 8 |
| Dallas Stars | 4 | 5 |
| St. Louis Blues | 3 | 4 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 3 | 3 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 3 | 8 |
| New Jersey Devils | 2 | 5 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2 | 5 |
| Calgary Flames | 2 | 3 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 2 | 2 |
| Florida Panthers | 2 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 | 6 |
| New York Islanders | 1 | 5 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 1 | 3 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 1 | 2 |
| Anaheim Ducks | 1 | 2 |
| Washington Capitals | 1 | 2 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 1 | 2 |
| Ottawa Senators | 1 | 1 |
| San Jose Sharks | 1 | 1 |
| Nashville Predators | 1 | 1 |
Note: The Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets and the Arizona Coyotes have yet to reach the Stanley Cup finals, as of April 2025.
FAQs on Stanley Cup
A. Teams like the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, and Seattle Kraken have never won the Stanley Cup, as of April 2025.
A. The Montreal Canadiens have been to the most Stanley Cup finals with 33 appearances, as of April 2025.
A. The Boston Bruins have the most losses in the NHL playoffs with 22 losses, as of April 2025.
A. The Boston Bruins have lost the most Stanley Cup finals since 1915, with 14 losses till date. They are followed by the Detroit Red Wings with 13 losses and Montreal Canadiens with nine losses, as of April 2025.
A. Yes, the Montreal Canadiens have won five Stanley Cup five in a row (1956-1960).
