Why is the Stanley Cup one of the Greatest Trophies? Stanley Cup History and Facts
The Stanley Cup is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and recognizable trophies in professional sports. Awarded annually to the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Cup has a rich history and unique traditions that set it apart from other championship trophies.
One of the most iconic features of the Stanley Cup is that the names of the players, coaches, and staff from each Stanley Cup-winning team are engraved directly onto the trophy. This makes the Cup not just a symbol of victory, but a permanent piece of hockey history.
Because of the grueling physical demands of the NHL playoffs—including hard-hitting, high-speed action, and endurance-testing series—the Stanley Cup is often described as the hardest trophy to win in professional sports. Players often push through injuries, fatigue, and fierce competition just to get their names etched into its silver bands.
This article explores the history, traditions, and behind-the-scenes management of the Stanley Cup—one of the greatest trophies in sports history.
Table of Contents
What Is the Stanley Cup?
The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the team that wins the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final. The winning team is crowned NHL champion for that season and holds the title until a new team wins the following year.
The History of the Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup actually predates the National Hockey League (NHL). It originated as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup in 1892, created for Canada’s top amateur hockey team.
The trophy was donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, who was then the Governor General of Canada. As its namesake, Lord Stanley intended the Cup to be a challenge trophy awarded to the best amateur hockey team in Canada. The Montreal Amateur Athletic Association was the first team to be awarded the Stanley Cup in 1893.
At the time of its creation, the Cup was much simpler in design—it consisted only of the silver bowl (which still tops the trophy today) and a single ring. A second ring wasn’t added until 1909.
Evolution of the Stanley Cup’s Design
Over the decades, as the tradition of engraving players’ names onto the trophy developed, additional bands were added to accommodate the growing list of championship teams.
The modern version of the Stanley Cup was introduced in 1958. This redesigned version features a barrel-shaped body composed of five removable bands, topped with the original bowl and smaller collar rings. These bands are periodically replaced and archived to preserve space while maintaining the Cup’s iconic look.
How many Stanley Cups are in existence?
There are three official Stanley Cups in existence:
The Original Stanley Cup (Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup)
This is the original trophy donated in 1892 by Lord Stanley of Preston, intended for Canada’s top amateur hockey team. Over time, the original Dominion Cup became too fragile for regular handling and was retired from public appearances.The Presentation Cup
This is the version of the Stanley Cup used in official NHL presentations, including the on-ice celebration when a team wins the Stanley Cup Final. It is also the Cup that players take home during their “Stanley Cup Day” in the offseason. This is the most widely recognized and photographed version.The Replica Cup (Hockey Hall of Fame Display)
A replica Stanley Cup is displayed permanently at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. It is used when the Presentation Cup is on tour or temporarily unavailable, ensuring the exhibit never sits empty.
Does the Stanley Cup keep getting bigger?
In a way, yes—but only temporarily. While new names are added every year, the Stanley Cup is designed to maintain a consistent size. The trophy as we know it today features a barrel-like body with five bands, each capable of holding the names of 13 championship teams.
What happens to the Stanley Cup when it’s full?
In its current form, the Stanley Cup is mounted on a barrel-shaped base composed of five large bands. Each band holds the engraved names of players and staff from 13 Stanley Cup–winning teams. This design allows the trophy to display up to 65 years of championship history at any given time.
How Are Names Added to the Stanley Cup?
Each year, when a team wins the Stanley Cup Final, the names of the players, coaches, management, and support staff are engraved on the lowest available band.
What Happens When the Stanley Cup Bands Are Full?
Once the bottom band is completely engraved, the following process occurs:
- The top band (oldest entries) is removed.
- The remaining four bands are shifted upward.
- A new blank band is added to the bottom, ready for the next 13 champions.
This process ensures that the Stanley Cup remains the same height, while continuously honoring past winners in a rotating fashion. The removed band is then preserved and displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame, keeping the legacy of earlier winners alive for fans and future generations.
When Was This Process Introduced?
The first time the Stanley Cup became completely full was in 1991. Rather than continuing to add height, the NHL introduced the rotating band system to manage space and maintain the Cup’s iconic size and shape.
Most Recent Band Replacement
The most recent band was removed in 2018, following Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals’ first-ever Stanley Cup win. That update retired the band containing champions from the 1953–54 to 1964–65 seasons.
When Will the Next Band Be Replaced?
The next scheduled band replacement will occur after the 2029–30 NHL season, once the current bottom band is full. The outgoing top band will then be archived and displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, preserving its historical value.
Who Gets Their Name Engraved on the Stanley Cup?
The NHL has specific eligibility rules for who gets their name engraved on the Stanley Cup, one of the most iconic traditions in professional sports.
A Brief History of Stanley Cup Engraving
The tradition of engraving names on the Cup dates back to the Montreal Wanderers in the 1907 season. While earlier champions engraved only their team name and championship year, the Wanderers were the first team to engrave all their players’ names—etched on the interior bowl of the original trophy.
Although this practice wasn’t immediately consistent, it became a regular tradition beginning in 1924, starting with the Montreal Canadiens. Since then, engraving has evolved into one of the NHL’s most revered post-season honors.
NHL Rules for Stanley Cup Engraving
To have their name etched into hockey history, players must meet one of the following criteria:
- They must be on the team’s roster when the Stanley Cup is won, and
- They must have either:
- Played at least one game in the Stanley Cup Final, or
- Appeared in at least 41 regular-season games (half of an 82-game season).
For instance, if a player participated in over half the regular season but was traded before the playoffs, they would not qualify for engraving, as they weren’t on the championship roster at the time of the win.
Special Exceptions
- Backup goaltenders can be engraved even if they don’t log ice time, as long as they dress for games.
- Injured players or team veterans may be included through a special petition to the NHL, which is sometimes granted for extraordinary circumstances.
Who Else Gets Engraved?
Beyond players, the NHL also allows engraving for:
- Team owners
- General managers and upper executives
- Head coaches and assistant coaches
- Other key support staff
These roles are typically capped within the 52-name limit per championship team.
Engraving Errors: A Historic Quirk
Since names are permanently engraved, there have been notable spelling mistakes over the years. Some have become part of Stanley Cup lore, such as “Jacques Plante” being misspelled multiple times, or Boston Bruins being engraved as “BQSTQN” in 1972. While some errors have been corrected in recent years, others remain—adding a layer of charm and history to the Cup.
Who engraves the names on the Stanley Cup?
Over the league’s history, only four people have engraved their names onto the Stanley Cup. Presently, an engraver named Louise St. Jacques performs the task.
St. Jacques has been the Stanley Cup’s name engraver since 1989. She estimates that it takes around 10 hours to engrave a full team’s list of names on the Cup.
St. Jacques dismantles the trophy and clamps the band she’s working with to complete the engraving. She does this each September after the players all had their day with the Cup in private.
The NHL takes the history and preservation of the Stanley Cup seriously. The trophy has evolved since its 1892 creation, and it is amended with the names of new Stanley Cup champions every season.
Who keeps the Stanley Cup trophy?
The official home for the Stanley Cup is the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada. However, the Cup being stationary at any time during the year is a rarity. This is because the Stanley Cup is unlike any other professional sports trophy. It is not remade every year.
Instead, the winners of the Cup are awarded a set amount of time with it.
When a new champion is crowned, it will be passed on to them.
The Keeper of the Cup, as they call him, is Phil Pritchard. He has been following the Stanley Cup since the early 1990s, and you will rarely see it without him.
What happens to the Stanley Cup after a team wins it?
When a team wins the Stanley Cup, they’ll be given 100 days during the offseason with the Cup. Players, management, training staff, coaches, general managers, and whoever else would like to spend time with the Cup can do so.
How long do players keep the Stanley Cup?
Since 1995, a cherished tradition has allowed each Stanley Cup-winning player to enjoy a private day with the Cup, taking it anywhere they please. This tradition has become one of the most personal and beloved parts of winning the NHL’s ultimate prize.
However, players do not take full possession of the Cup alone. To protect the historic trophy, each player is accompanied by at least one representative from the Hockey Hall of Fame, often referred to as a “Cup Keeper.” These guardians ensure the Cup is handled with care and that its condition remains intact during its travels.
In addition to players, coaches, general managers, team owners, and select support staff also get time with the Stanley Cup—often in hometowns, local communities, or charity events. The Cup has visited countless countries and locations over the years, from small-town rinks to mountaintops and even swimming pools.
Has the Stanley Cup ever been dropped?
Yes, the Stanley Cup has been dropped multiple times throughout its long and storied history. It has endured dents, scratches, and even falls, but so far, none have rendered the trophy beyond repair.
One of the most recent incidents occurred in 2021, when Tampa Bay Lightning forward Patrick Maroon accidentally dented the Cup while celebrating. While hoisting it overhead, he lost his footing and fell—causing a visible dent in the bowl. The damage was repaired quickly by expert silversmiths, as is common with such mishaps.
These accidents are nothing new. In fact, the Cup has been dropped, sat on, and even tossed into pools since the early 1900s. Though mishandling is never encouraged, these moments have become part of the Cup’s legend, symbolizing the raw emotion and joy of winning hockey’s most prestigious prize.
What team has the most Stanley Cups?
When it comes to Stanley Cup championships, a few NHL teams stand out for their historic dominance. Below is a list of the teams with the most Stanley Cup wins in NHL history:
- Montreal Canadiens – 24 Stanley Cups
The Canadiens are the most successful team in NHL history, with their last Cup win coming in 1993. (Note: While 23 were won as an NHL franchise, the total count including pre-NHL era is 24.) - Toronto Maple Leafs – 13 Stanley Cups
The Maple Leafs are second in total championships but haven’t won since 1967, the last season before the NHL’s expansion era began. - Detroit Red Wings – 11 Stanley Cups
The Red Wings are the most successful American NHL franchise, with their most recent win in 2008. - Boston Bruins – 6 Stanley Cups
The Bruins’ most recent championship came in 2011, breaking a 39-year drought. - Chicago Blackhawks – 6 Stanley Cups
The Blackhawks experienced a dominant run in the 2010s, winning three Cups in six seasons (2010, 2013, 2015). - Edmonton Oilers – 5 Stanley Cups
All of Edmonton’s Cups came during their dynasty run in the 1980s, led by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. Their last win was in 1990. - Pittsburgh Penguins – 5 Stanley Cups
The Penguins have had two dominant eras—first with Mario Lemieux in the early 1990s, and later with Sidney Crosby in the 2000s and 2010s. Their last win came in 2017.
Which player has the most Stanley Cups?
Henri Richard holds the record for the most Stanley Cup wins by a single player in NHL history, with 11 championships to his name.
He earned all 11 titles while playing for the legendary Montreal Canadiens dynasty during the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. His first Cup came in the 1955–56 season, and his final championship was in 1972–73.
Henri Richard’s Career Highlights:
- 11 Stanley Cups (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973)
- 1258 career NHL games
- 1046 career points
- Renowned for his tenacity, consistency, and leadership on the ice
Henri, the younger brother of Canadiens legend Maurice “Rocket” Richard, was known as “The Pocket Rocket” and was a relentless competitor throughout his 20-year career.
He passed away in 2020 at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy that may never be matched—especially in today’s 32-team NHL, where Stanley Cup championships are harder to come by.
Top Stanley Cup Winners in NHL History (All from the Canadiens):
- Henri Richard – 11 Cups
- Jean Béliveau – 10 Cups (as a player)
- Yvan Cournoyer – 10 Cups
- Claude Provost – 9 Cups
- Maurice Richard – 8 Cups
With the modern NHL’s competitive parity and expansion, it’s highly unlikely that any current or future player will break into this elite top five.
If you want more history on the NHL, then make sure to check out the video below, which provides a great snapshot of how the league evolved into where it is as we know it today.
