Hockey’s Most Decorated Franchises
The Stanley Cup is notoriously known as one of the most—if not the most—difficult trophies to win in any professional sport, which makes it all the more glorious when a team does win it. And believe it or not, some teams on this list have won sports' hardest trophy a lot more times than just once or twice. Here are the five most decorated franchises in the NHL.
1. Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are the most decorated franchise in the NHL, having won the Stanley Cup a whopping 24 times. And even though they haven't lifted the Stanley since their last win in 1993, there's no dispute that this is an extremely legendary—and gifted—team.
Kristina Servant from Montreal, Canada on Wikimedia
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup 13 times, with their last championship coming in 1967—nearly thirty years before the Canadiens' last win. Despite the long drought, fans haven't lost all hope, and each playoff season the Leafs show up in is always a memorable one.
erik forsberg from Helsingborg, Sweden on Wikimedia
3. Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings have won 11 total Stanley Cup championships—the most of any US-based NHL team. Their last win came in 2008; before then, they won in 2002 and back-to-back in 1997 and 1998. This was owed to the dominance that Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidström, and many others brought during that era.
4. Boston Bruins & Chicago Blackhawks
The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks are both tied for the fourth-most decorated team in the NHL, having won six Stanley Cups each. The last time the Bruins won was in 2011, and for the Blackhawks, in 2015.
5. Edmonton Oilers & Pittsburgh Penguins
Both the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins are tied for the fifth-most decorated franchise in the NHL, with five Stanley Cups under their belts. For the Oilers, they last lifted the Stanley in 1990; for the Penguins, in 2017.
