The Stanley Cup is awarded each year to the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). It was first awarded in 1893 and is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America. The trophy was donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, who was the Governor General of Canada at the time. Originally, amateur teams competed for the Cup. However, since 1926, only NHL teams have competed for it.
Over the years, Canadian NHL teams have had a great deal of success winning the Stanley Cup. Here is a look at how many Cups each Canadian franchise has won:
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup 13 times, which is the most of any Canadian team. Their Stanley Cup wins came in:
- 1918
- 1922
- 1932
- 1942
- 1945
- 1947
- 1948
- 1949
- 1951
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1967
The Leafs have the second most Cup wins overall behind only the Montreal Canadiens (24 Cups). However, Toronto has not won the championship since 1967, which marks the longest active Cup drought in the NHL.
Montreal Canadiens
As mentioned, the Montreal Canadiens are the most successful NHL franchise with 24 Stanley Cup wins. However, the Habs have hoisted hockey’s holy grail just 7 times since they joined the league in 1917:
- 1924
- 1930
- 1931
- 1944
- 1946
- 1953
- 1993
The Canadiens dominated the NHL’s early decades, winning 6 Cups between 1924 and 1931. They added 5 more between 1944 and 1953 during the Maurice “Rocket” Richard era. After a long drought, they won their last championship in 1993 led by goaltender Patrick Roy.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have won the Stanley Cup 5 times, all during the 1980s dynasty years:
- 1984
- 1985
- 1987
- 1988
- 1990
The Oilers won Cups in half the seasons they played during the ’80s thanks to a roster loaded with future Hall of Famers like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr and Paul Coffey. They remain the last Canadian team to hoist the Cup.
Vancouver Canucks
Despite being an original NHL franchise, the Vancouver Canucks have never won a Stanley Cup title. They came agonizingly close in 1982, 1994 and 2011, losing in the Finals each time.
Ottawa Senators
The modern Ottawa Senators joined the NHL in 1992 but have yet to win their first Stanley Cup championship. The original Ottawa Senators won 11 Cups, but folded in 1934.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets franchise was founded in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers before relocating to Winnipeg in 2011. They have not won a Stanley Cup in either city.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames have won the Stanley Cup once in their history:
- 1989
Led by the likes of Lanny McDonald, Joe Mullen, Doug Gilmour and Al MacInnis, the Flames defeated the Canadiens in the 1989 Finals to capture the franchise’s first and only championship.
Conclusion
To summarize:
| Team | Stanley Cup Wins |
|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 13 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 24 (7 since 1917) |
| Edmonton Oilers | 5 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 0 |
| Ottawa Senators | 0 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 0 |
| Calgary Flames | 1 |
In total, Canadian teams have won 43 Stanley Cups. However, the last Canadian franchise to win it all was the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. With the country in the midst of a nearly 30-year Cup drought, hockey fans across the nation long to see the trophy come back north of the border.
Despite the recent lack of success, Canada’s hockey history is filled with Stanley Cup memories. From the early years of dominance by the Senators and Canadiens, to the Maple Leafs’ Cup runs, to the 1980s Oilers dynasty, many of the greatest teams in NHL history have called Canada home. There is hope that one day soon, a Canadian squad will once again lift a 35-pound silver mug on the ice in June.
Here are some additional details on Stanley Cup wins by Canadian teams:
Stanley Cup Wins by City
Montreal – A record 24 Cups have been awarded to Montreal teams, including:
- Montreal Canadiens – 24 (23 as NHL champion)
- Montreal Victorias – 2 (as amateur champion in 1895, 1897)
- Montreal Hockey Club – 1 (as amateur champion in 1893)
- Montreal Shamrocks – 1 (as amateur champion in 1899)
- Montreal Wanderers – 1 (as NHL champion in 1918, just months before arena fire)
Toronto – 13 Cups have gone to Toronto franchises:
- Toronto Maple Leafs – 13
- Toronto Blueshirts – 1 (as NHL champion in 1918)
- Toronto Arenas – 1 (as NHL champion in 1918)
- Toronto St. Patricks – 1 (as NHL champion in 1922)
Ottawa – 13 Cups won by Ottawa teams:
- Original Ottawa Senators – 11 (9 as league champion from 1903-1927)
- Ottawa Silver Seven – 2 (as amateur champion in 1903, 1905)
Edmonton – 5 Cups, all by the Edmonton Oilers from 1984-1990
Calgary – 1 Cup by the Calgary Flames in 1989
No other cities have seen their teams win the Cup.
Stanley Cup Wins by Province
Ontario – 27 Cups
Quebec – 24 Cups
Alberta – 5 Cups
Manitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have never won a Cup.
Most Consecutive Stanley Cup Wins
Montreal Canadiens – 5 straight from 1956-1960
Toronto Maple Leafs – 3 straight from 1947-1949, 1962-1964
Edmonton Oilers – 2 straight in 1984-1985, 1987-1988
Active Canadian Stanley Cup droughts
- Toronto Maple Leafs – 55 seasons (last won in 1967)
- Montreal Canadiens – 30 seasons (last won in 1993)
- Calgary Flames – 33 seasons (last won in 1989)
- Edmonton Oilers – 32 seasons (last won in 1990)
- Vancouver Canucks – 52 seasons (joined league in 1970, never won)
- Ottawa Senators – 31 seasons (joined league in 1992, never won)
- Winnipeg Jets – 23 seasons (joined league in 1999 as Thrashers, never won)
No Canadian team has hoisted the Cup since Montreal in 1993 – the longest drought ever for Canada.
Active non-Canadian Stanley Cup droughts
Several American teams are also mired in lengthy Stanley Cup droughts:
- New York Rangers – 28 seasons (last won in 1994)
- Los Angeles Kings – 28 seasons (last won in 2014)
- Buffalo Sabres – 51 seasons (joined league in 1970, never won)
- Vancouver Canucks – 52 seasons (joined league in 1970, never won)
- Philadelphia Flyers – 47 seasons (last won in 1975)
- Toronto Maple Leafs – 55 seasons (last won in 1967)
- St. Louis Blues – 51 seasons (joined league in 1967, never won)
Most Stanley Cup Wins of Expansion Era (since 1967)
Montreal Canadiens – 10 Cups
Pittsburgh Penguins – 5 Cups
Edmonton Oilers – 5 Cups
New York Islanders – 4 Cups
Philadelphia Flyers – 2 Cups
New Jersey Devils – 3 Cups
Detroit Red Wings – 4 Cups
Colorado Avalanche – 2 Cups
Dallas Stars – 1 Cup
Tampa Bay Lightning – 3 Cups
Carolina Hurricanes – 1 Cup
Anaheim Ducks – 1 Cup
Los Angeles Kings – 2 Cups
Chicago Blackhawks – 3 Cups
Washington Capitals – 1 Cup
St. Louis Blues – 1 Cup
No Canadian team has won the Cup since Montreal in 1993.
Longest active Stanley Cup Final droughts
Here are the teams that have waited the longest to make it back to the championship series:
- Toronto Maple Leafs – 1967 (last won Cup that season)
- St. Louis Blues – 1970 (lost Cup in first 3 seasons as expansion team)
- Vancouver Canucks – 1994
- Winnipeg Jets – Never (franchise entered NHL in 1999, formerly Atlanta Thrashers)
- Ottawa Senators – Never (entered NHL in 1992)
No Canadian team has played in the Final since Vancouver lost to Boston in 2011.
Key Takeaways
- Canadian teams have won a total of 43 Stanley Cups.
- The last Canadian franchise to win was Montreal in 1993.
- Toronto has won 13 Cups, the most of any Canadian team.
- Montreal holds the overall record with 24 Cups.
- 5 Canadian cities have seen their teams win the Cup: Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton and Calgary.
- The current 30+ year Cup drought is the longest ever for Canada.
Despite Canada’s rich hockey history and dominance of the early NHL, the nation is currently mired in an unprecedented Stanley Cup drought. The trophy has resided in the U.S. since 1993, but hockey-crazed fans across Canada continue to dream of the day when the Stanley Cup finally returns home.
