Stanley Cup Ring – Do Stanley Cup Winners Get a Big Shiny Ring?
At the end of each NHL season, one team emerges as the Stanley Cup champion, earning the most prestigious title in professional hockey. But lifting the Stanley Cup trophy isn’t the only reward for the winning team. A common question among fans is: Do Stanley Cup winners get a ring? What’s the history of these championship rings? Who receives them, what are they made of, and how much are they worth? This article breaks down the key details of Stanley Cup championship rings.
Do Stanley Cup Winners Receive Rings?
Yes, Stanley Cup winners receive custom-designed “Stanley Cup rings” to commemorate their championship victory. These rings are typically lavish, jewel-encrusted pieces that symbolize the team’s triumph and are awarded not only to the players but also to coaches, executives, and team staff.
A Brief History of Stanley Cup Rings
The tradition of awarding rings to NHL champions dates back to the 1890s, although early iterations were less consistent. The practice became a firm and expected tradition in the modern NHL era, particularly from the 1970s onward, with teams increasingly investing in the quality and design of the rings.
Today, Stanley Cup rings are custom-crafted by major jewelers like Jostens, often made of white gold or platinum and embedded with diamonds and team-specific engravings. These rings serve not only as personal mementos but also as collector’s items with significant value.
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What is a Stanley Cup Ring?
A Stanley Cup ring is a commemorative, jewel-encrusted ring awarded to players and team personnel of the NHL team that wins the Stanley Cup Finals—the league’s championship series.
Each year, the Stanley Cup Finals determine the National Hockey League’s champion, concluding the postseason with a best-of-seven series. The team that wins this series is awarded the Stanley Cup, the NHL’s most prestigious trophy.
Following the victory, the Stanley Cup-winning team is presented with the trophy in an on-ice ceremony by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. In addition to the Cup itself, players, coaches, and other team members are given custom-designed Stanley Cup rings to commemorate their championship.
As part of tradition, each player on the championship roster is also granted a “Day with the Cup”, during which they can take the trophy anywhere they choose for a full day during the offseason—a celebrated moment among NHL fans and hockey players worldwide.
Do Stanley Cup Winners Keep the Ring?
Stanley Cup winners receive more than just the Stanley Cup trophy—they are also awarded a Stanley Cup championship ring, which they keep permanently as a symbol of their victory.
The tradition of giving out Stanley Cup Rings dates back to 1893, when the Montreal Hockey Club became the first team to award its players with rings following their Stanley Cup win. That victory was also the first-ever Stanley Cup championship in history.
However, Stanley Cup Rings were not awarded again until 1927, when the Ottawa Senators—then a dominant force in early NHL history—revived the tradition.
It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s that rings became a more consistent form of recognition for winning the Stanley Cup. Even so, many teams during that era opted for alternate gifts such as engraved silverware, luxury watches, fine dining experiences, or even television sets.
By the early 2000s, however, it had become an established tradition for every Stanley Cup-winning team to commission and present custom Stanley Cup Rings to their players, coaches, and key personnel.
Each Stanley Cup Ring is uniquely designed to commemorate the team’s championship season and is produced after the team secures the Cup, as they are often crafted with high-value materials and intricate, personalized designs—making them both expensive and iconic.
Inside a Stanley Cup Ring: Design, Materials & Custom Features
Stanley Cup rings are among the most extravagant and personalized pieces of jewelry in professional sports. Designed to capture the spirit of a championship season, each ring tells a unique story.
Key Design Elements
Teams sometimes include motivational slogans, arena coordinates, or key dates.
- Material – Typically crafted from white gold, yellow gold, or platinum. Most modern teams choose 14K or 18K white gold for a clean, sleek appearance.
- Gemstones – Rings are encrusted with hundreds of diamonds, often totaling 20–30 carats. Teams may also incorporate colored gemstones (e.g., sapphires, rubies) matching team colors.
- Engraving & Customization – Each player’s name and jersey number are engraved inside or on the side of the ring. The ring often features the Stanley Cup, team logo, season record, and significant milestones (e.g., number of playoff wins).
- Symbolism – Many rings include Easter eggs or symbolic numbers—like the number of diamonds reflecting the number of wins or titles in franchise history.
The 2018 Stanley Cup-champion Washington Capitals team included a small image of the White House on their rings, given their home location of Washington, D.C.
How Much Is a Stanley Cup Ring Worth?
The actual value of a Stanley Cup ring depends on its:
- Design complexity
- Number of precious stones
- Manufacturer
- Limited nature (only a few dozen are made)
While most modern rings are valued between $30,000 and $70,000, some rings can be worth even more on the memorabilia market—especially if they belonged to star players.
Usually, a more affordable version of the ring is made available for fans of the winning team to purchase.
When the Chicago Blackhawks won the Cup in 2015, they offered an “Ultimate Fan Ring” for $5,800 and a “Regular Fan Ring” for $285. These were replicas, however, and each version featured fewer diamonds than the true rings handed out by the organization.
Recent Examples of Stanley Cup Rings
Tampa Bay Lightning (2021)
- Estimated value: $66,000 per ring.
- Featured 557 diamonds, 81 blue sapphires, and 16 custom-cut blue sapphires symbolizing each playoff win.
- Included a removable top, revealing a mini replica of Amalie Arena inside.
Colorado Avalanche (2022)
- Estimated value: $30,000–$40,000.
- Contained 669 diamonds and 18 custom-cut rubies.
- Top could also be removed to reveal the team’s logo on the ice at Ball Arena with player names on the “locker room walls.”
Vegas Golden Knights (2023)
- Featured a record-setting Vegas-themed design, including a working slot machine lever inside the ring top.
- Embellished with more than 600 diamonds and custom Vegas gold elements.
- Celebrated the team’s first Cup in just their sixth season.
Who Gets a Stanley Cup Ring?
While strict rules determine who gets their name engraved on the Stanley Cup, the distribution of Stanley Cup Rings is far more flexible. In fact, many more rings are handed out than names etched onto the trophy.
Naturally, all players on the championship roster receive Stanley Cup Rings. However, teams often choose to award rings to players who didn’t qualify to have their name engraved on the Cup. This includes players who:
- Did not appear in the Stanley Cup Final
- Spent the playoffs on the roster as healthy scratches or injured reserves
- Played fewer games than the minimum required during the regular season
Beyond players, Stanley Cup Rings are typically given to:
- Coaching staff
- Team executives and ownership
- Trainers and equipment managers
- Scouts and other hockey operations staff
If a team chooses to fund additional rings, even more members of the organization—including the front office.
If you enjoyed this article, then please make sure to check out a few more of my articles on the Stanley Cup, so you’re fully up to speed when the Stanley Cup Playoff Finals come around.
