Teams picks in awe of Sphere draft spectacle
The Stanley Cup has been awarded to the NHL's champion every year since 1927 (with one exception). From 1915 to 1926, it was awarded to the winner of the NHL/NHA vs. PCHA/WCHL/WHL championship series (with one exception), and prior to that (1893-1914), it went to the winner of the Challenge Cup in Canada.
Put another way: There is a lot of history behind the Stanley Cup.
With the 2024 Stanley Cup Final now complete, here is a list of every Cup winner and runner-up, along with the player who was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the postseason (beginning in 1965).
2024: Florida Panthers Losing team: Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid, C, Oilers
2023: Vegas Golden Knights Losing team: Florida Panthers Conn Smythe: Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Golden Knights
2022: Colorado Avalanche Losing team: Tampa Bay Lightning Conn Smythe: Cale Makar, D, Avalanche
2021: Tampa Bay Lightning Losing team: Montreal Canadiens Conn Smythe: Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Lightning
2020: Tampa Bay Lightning Losing team: Dallas Stars Conn Smythe: Victor Hedman, D, Lightning
2019: St. Louis Blues Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Ryan O'Reilly, C, Blues
2018: Washington Capitals Losing team: Vegas Golden Knights Conn Smythe: Alex Ovechkin, LW, Capitals
2017: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Nashville Predators Conn Smythe: Sidney Crosby, C, Penguins
2016: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: San Jose Sharks Conn Smythe: Sidney Crosby, C, Penguins
2015: Chicago Blackhawks Losing team: Tampa Bay Lightning Conn Smythe: Duncan Keith, D, Blackhawks
2014: Los Angeles Kings Losing team: New York Rangers Conn Smythe: Justin Williams, RW, Kings
2013: Chicago Blackhawks Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Patrick Kane, RW, Blackhawks
2012: Los Angeles Kings Losing team: New Jersey Devils Conn Smythe: Jonathan Quick, G, Kings
2011: Boston Bruins Losing team: Vancouver Canucks Conn Smythe: Tim Thomas, G, Bruins
2010: Chicago Blackhawks Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Jonathan Toews, C, Blackhawks
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Detroit Red Wings Conn Smythe: Evgeni Malkin, C, Penguins
2008: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Pittsburgh Penguins Conn Smythe: Henrik Zetterberg, C, Red Wings
2007: Anaheim Ducks Losing team: Ottawa Senators Conn Smythe: Scott Niedermayer, D, Ducks
2006: Carolina Hurricanes Losing team: Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe: Cam Ward, G, Hurricanes
2005: Cancelled: Season-long lockout
2004: Tampa Bay Lightning Losing team: Calgary Flames Conn Smythe: Brad Richards, C, Lightning
2003: New Jersey Devils Losing team: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Conn Smythe: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G, Mighty Ducks
2002: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Carolina Hurricanes Conn Smythe: Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Red Wings
2001: Colorado Avalanche Losing team: New Jersey Devils Conn Smythe: Patrick Roy, G, Avalanche
2000: New Jersey Devils Losing team: Dallas Stars Conn Smythe: Scott Stevens, D, Devils
1999: Dallas Stars Losing team: Buffalo Sabres Conn Smythe: Joe Nieuwendyk, C, Stars
1998: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Washington Capitals Conn Smythe: Steve Yzerman, C, Red Wings
1997: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Mike Vernon, G, Red Wings
1996: Colorado Avalanche Losing team: Florida Panthers Conn Smythe: Joe Sakic, C, Avalanche
1995: New Jersey Devils Losing team: Detroit Red Wings Conn Smythe: Claude Lemieux, RW, Devils
1994: New York Rangers Losing team: Vancouver Canucks Conn Smythe: Brian Leetch, D, Rangers
1993: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Los Angeles Kings Conn Smythe: Patrick Roy, G, Canadiens
1992: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Chicago Blackhawks Conn Smythe: Mario Lemieux, C, Penguins
1991: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Minnesota North Stars Conn Smythe: Mario Lemieux, C, Penguins
1990: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Bill Ranford, G, Oilers
1989: Calgary Flames Losing team: Montreal Canadiens Conn Smythe: Al MacInnis, D, Flames
1988: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Wayne Gretzky, C, Oilers
1987: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Ron Hextall, G, Flyers
1986: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Calgary Flames Conn Smythe: Patrick Roy, G, Canadiens
1985: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Wayne Gretzky, C, Oilers
1984: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: New York Islanders Conn Smythe: Mark Messier, C, Oilers
1983: New York Islanders Losing team: Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe: Billy Smith, G, Islanders
1982: New York Islanders Losing team: Vancouver Canucks Conn Smythe: Mike Bossy, RW, Islanders
1981: New York Islanders Losing team: Minnesota North Stars Conn Smythe: Butch Goring, C, Islanders
1980: New York Islanders Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Bryan Trottier, C, Islanders
1979: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: New York Rangers Conn Smythe: Bob Gainey, C, Canadiens
1978: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Larry Robinson, D, Canadiens
1977: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Guy Lafleur, RW, Canadiens
1976: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Reggie Leach, RW, Flyers
1975: Philadelphia Flyers Losing team: Buffalo Sabres Conn Smythe: Bernie Parent, G, Flyers
1974: Philadelphia Flyers Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Bernie Parent, G, Flyers
1973: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks Conn Smythe: Yvan Cournoyer, RW, Canadiens
1972: Boston Bruins Losing team: New York Rangers Conn Smythe: Bobby Orr, D, Bruins
1971: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks Conn Smythe: Ken Dryden, G, Canadiens
1970: Boston Bruins Losing team: St. Louis Blues Conn Smythe: Bobby Orr, D, Bruins
1969: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: St. Louis Blues Conn Smythe: Serge Savard, D, Canadiens
1968: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: St. Louis Blues Conn Smythe: Glenn Hall, G, Blues
1967: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Montreal Canadiens Conn Smythe: Dave Keon, C, Maple Leafs
1966: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Detroit Red Wings Conn Smythe: Roger Crozier, G, Red Wings
1965: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks Conn Smythe: Jean Beliveau, C, Canadiens
1964: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1963: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1962: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks
1961: Chicago Black Hawks Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1960: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1959: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1958: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins
1957: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins
1956: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1955: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Montreal Canadiens
1954: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Montreal Canadiens
1953: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins
1952: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Montreal Canadiens
1951: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Montreal Canadiens
1950: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: New York Rangers
1949: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1948: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1947: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Montreal Canadiens
1946: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins
1945: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1944: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks
1943: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Boston Bruins
1942: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1941: Boston Bruins Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1940: New York Rangers Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1939: Boston Bruins Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1938: Chicago Black Hawks Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1937: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: New York Rangers
1936: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1935: Montreal Maroons Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1934: Chicago Black Hawks Losing team: Detroit Red Wings
1933: New York Rangers Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs
1932: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: New York Rangers
1931: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks
1930: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins
1929: Boston Bruins Losing team: New York Rangers
1928: New York Rangers Losing team: Montreal Maroons
1927: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Boston Bruins
1926: Montreal Maroons Losing team: Victoria Cougars
1925: Victoria Cougars Losing team: Montreal Canadiens
1924: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Calgary Tigers
1923: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Edmonton Eskimos
1922: Toronto St. Patricks Losing team: Vancouver Millionaires
1921: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Vancouver Millionaires
1920: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Seattle Metropolitans
1919: Cancelled: Influenza epidemic
1918: Toronto Hockey Club Losing team: Vancouver Millionaires
1917: Seattle Metropolitans Losing team: Montreal Canadiens
1916: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Portland Rosebuds
1915: Vancouver Millionaires Losing team: Ottawa Senators