NHL Playoffs - Who Will Write the Next Chapter?

The Stanley Cup. The greatest, most storied trophy in all of sport. As far as I know it is the only trophy that contains the names of every player and coach that battled for it right on the trophy. There are a lot of stories in the 113 years since the Governor General of Canada offered up a silver bowl to the best amateur hockey club in the dominion of Canada. War could not stop it from being presented, nor depression, or even bad weather. In fact in 113 years it only stayed on the shelf twice. Once in 1919 due to a Flu Epidemic, and of course in 2005 due to greed and stupidity.

It started as a ‘challenge trophy which is why in 1896 and again in 1902 it was won twice. It has evolved into a ritual of spring, with 16 teams battling for months for the right to hoist it. In all 113 years only 30 teams have ever sipped champagne from “Hockey’s Holy Grail.”

Below is a list of all winners and the number of times the team has captured the cup;


Montreal Canadiens – 24 times
Toronto Maple Leafs - 11 times
Detroit Red Wings – 10 times
Ottawa Senators – 9 times
Edmonton Oilers - 5 times
Boston Bruins – 5 times
New York Islanders – 4 times
Montreal AAA – 4 times
Montreal Victorias – 4 times
Montreal Wanderers – 4 times
New Jersey Devils – 3 times
New York Rangers - 3 times
Chicago Blackhawks – 3 times
Winnipeg Victorias – 3 times
Colorado Avalanche – 2 times
Pittsburgh Penguins – 2 times
Philadelphia Flyers – 2 times
Montreal Shamrocks – 2 times
Montreal Maroons – 2 times
Quebec Bulldogs – 2 times
Tampa Bay Lightning – 1 time
Dallas Stars – 1 time
Calgary Flames – 1 time
*Vancouver Millionaires - 1 time
Victoria Cougars - 1 time
Toronto Blue Shirts – 1 time
Toronto St Pats – 1 time
Toronto Arenas – 1 time
Seattle Metropolitans – 1 time
Kenora Thistles – 1 time



The Cup obviously enjoys ‘la belle province’ as it has resided there 42 times! Also 14 of the teams that won it no longer exist. Only 16 teams in the NHL today can say that they won Lord Stanley’s Cup, 11 of those having a chance to add more to their totals this year. If Carolina, Buffalo, Anaheim, Nashville or San Jose win, it would be their first ever.

As my Leafs friends like to point out, The Vancouver Canucks are the only Canadian team of the 6 still in the NHL that has not won a Cup (*The city itself did have 1 win in 1915 though!)…of course The Leafs haven’t won since 3 years before the Canucks were born. I do however recall 1 head to head playoff match-up in 1994….how did that turn out I wonder?…

Regardless of who wins one thing is for sure, there are more interesting stories ahead for Lord Stanley’s Cup, and only time will tell who writes them. Until next time remember, no Payne, no gain.