The oldest professional sports trophy in North America, the Stanley Cup is awarded to the NHL playoff winners since 1926 but its history began before the National Hockey League's inception. Donated by Lord Stanley of Preston in 1892, this trophy has persisted over the ages.
In its early years, the winners of the Stanley Cup were decided by challenge games and league championships between Canadian amateur ice hockey clubs. Later, professional teams started to compete before it became the NHL's exclusive trophy.
The Stanley Cup was not awarded only twice, first in 1919 due to the influenza pandemic, and then in 2005 because of the 2004/05 NHL lockout that canceled the ice hockey season. Here, check out the all-time Stanley Cup winners from the Challenge Cup era to the NHL times.
Stanley Cup winners by year
The trophy donated by Lord Stanley was first disputed by Canada's amateur ice hockey teams, who could get hold of it through challenge games or league play. Later, interleague competition began to determine the Stanley Cup winners.
The NHL, which took over from the defunct NHA, got control of the trophy in 1926. From then on, the Stanley Cup has been awarded to the league's playoff winners. These are all the teams that lifted the trophy through the years.
| Year | Winner |
| 1893 | Montreal Amateur Athletic Association |
| 1894 | Montreal Amateur Athletic Association |
| 1895 | Montreal Victorias |
| 1896 | Montreal Victorias / Winnipeg Victorias |
| 1897 | Montreal Victorias |
| 1898 | Montreal Victorias |
| 1899 | Montreal Shamrocks / Montreal Victorias |
| 1900 | Montreal Shamrocks |
| 1901 | Winnipeg Vitorias |
| 1902 | Montreal Amateur Athletic Association / Winnipeg Vitorias |
| 1903 | Ottawa Silver Seven / Montreal Amateur Athletic Association |
| 1904 | Ottawa Silver Seven |
| 1905 | Ottawa Silver Seven |
| 1906 | Montreal Wanderers / Ottawa Silver Seven |
| 1907 | Montreal Wanderers / Kenora Thistles |
| 1908 | Montreal Wanderers |
| 1909 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1910 | Montreal Wanderers / Ottawa Senators |
| 1911 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1912 | Quebec Bulldogs |
| 1913 | Quebec Bulldogs |
| 1914 | Toronto Blueshirts |
| 1915 | Vancouver Millionaires |
| 1916 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1917 | Seattle Metropolitans |
| 1918 | Toronto Arenas |
| 1919 | Not awarded - Canceled due to influenza pandemic |
| 1920 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1921 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1922 | Toronto St. Pats |
| 1923 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1924 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1925 | Victoria Cougars |
| 1926 | Montreal Maroons |
| From 1926-1927 onwards, NHL takes control of the Stanley Cup trophy | |
| 1927 | Ottawa Senators |
| 1928 | New York Rangers |
| 1929 | Boston Bruins |
| 1930 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1931 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1932 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1933 | New York Rangers |
| 1934 | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1935 | Montreal Maroons |
| 1936 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1937 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1938 | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1939 | Boston Bruins |
| 1940 | New York Rangers |
| 1941 | Boston Bruins |
| 1942 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1943 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1944 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1945 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1946 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1947 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1948 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1949 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1950 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1951 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1952 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1953 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1954 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1955 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1956 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1957 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1958 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1959 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1960 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1961 | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 1962 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1963 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1964 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1965 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1966 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1967 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1968 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1969 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1970 | Boston Bruins |
| 1971 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1972 | Boston Bruins |
| 1973 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1974 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1975 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1976 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1977 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1978 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1979 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1980 | New York Islanders |
| 1981 | New York Islanders |
| 1982 | New York Islanders |
| 1983 | New York Islanders |
| 1984 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1985 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1986 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1987 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1988 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1989 | Calgary Flames |
| 1990 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1991 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 1992 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 1993 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1994 | New York Rangers |
| 1995 | New Jersey Devils |
| 1996 | Colorado Avalanche |
| 1997 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1998 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1999 | Dallas Stars |
| 2000 | New Jersey Devils |
| 2001 | Colorado Avalanche |
| 2002 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 2003 | New Jersey Devils |
| 2004 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2005 | Season canceled due to the 2004/05 NHL Lockout |
| 2006 | Carolina Hurricanes |
| 2007 | Anaheim Ducks |
| 2008 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 2009 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2011 | Boston Bruins |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Kings |
| 2013 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Kings |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2018 | Washington Capitals |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
The Montreal Canadiens are the winningest team of the Stanley Cup with 24 trophies. Their last victory came in 1993, being the last time a Canadian team lifted the trophy as well. 28 years later, they will seek their 25th title against the reigning champions Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Final.
