Chronology of Stanley Cup engravings
This article lists a chronology of Stanley Cup engravings.
A unique feature of the Stanley Cup is that, with few exceptions in the past, it is the only trophy in professional sports that has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved on it.
This has not always been the case. When he first donated the Cup in 1892, one of Lord Stanley of Preston's original conditions was that each team could, at their own expense, add a ring on the Cup to commemorate their Cup victory. Lord Stanley's original trophy was simply a silver bowl minted with the words "Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup" on one side of the outside rim, and "From Stanley of Preston" with his family's coat of arms on the other side.
The format and location of the engravings, including the addition and deletion of extra bands and rings attached to the bottom of Lord Stanley's original cup/bowl, has changed through the years. For unknown reasons some teams, did not engrave their names on the Cup. This was rectified in the '1948 Redesign'.
Challenge Cup Era
During the Challenge Cup Era from 1893–1914, the Stanley Cup was a "challenge trophy"; the champions held onto the Cup until they either lost their league title to another club, or a champion from another league issued a formal challenge and subsequently defeated the reigning Cup champion in a special game or series.Teams had to add their names to the trophy at their own expense. Initially, there was only one ring, the one added by the first Cup champion Montreal HC. Clubs then engraved their team names, usually in the form " ", on that one ring until it was full in 1902. With no room to engrave their names, teams started leaving their mark on the bowl itself. A second ring was finally added by the Ottawa Senators in 1909. As mentioned earlier in this article, some teams during this era did not engrave their names on the Cup.
'' Note: The Winnipeg Victorias engraved "1895" instead of "1896" because they won their Stanley Cup Challenge against Montreal prior to the end of the 1896 season.
The "World Series" Era
Before the 1914–15 season, a new agreement was reached in which the respective champions of the NHA and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association would face each other for the Cup, similar to baseball's World Series played between the American League and National League champions.This agreement effectively ended the Challenge Cup rule in which a new champion was crowned after it won the title of the previous champion's league. However, the 1915 Ottawa Senators, the 1916 Portland Rosebuds, and the 1918 Vancouver Millionaires all engraved their names on the Cup even though they did not officially win it under the new system.
The NHA dissolved in 1917, and the National Hockey League took its place. Then after the Western Canada Hockey League was born in 1921, it was agreed that all three league champions would play for the Cup. The PCHA and the WCHL later merged to form the Western Hockey League in 1924.
The NHL takes over the Cup, and the "Stovepipe"
The WHL folded before the 1926-27 season began. As a result, the Cup has since been awarded to the annual NHL champions.Once the Cup became, effectively, the NHL championship trophy, the engraving of the Cup winner's information became a consistent annual tradition. This means that no Cup winning team has been missed since the 1922-23 Ottawa Senators chose to leave their name off the Cup.
Originally, a new band was added almost every year, causing the Cup to grow in size. Thus, it became commonly referred to as the "Stovepipe Cup" because of its resemblance to the exhaust pipe of a stove. It was also occasionally called the "cigar" Cup or the "elephant's leg" Cup for similar reasons.
| Season | Winning Team | Engravings Added | Location Added |
| 1926–27 | Ottawa Senators | "Won By / Ottawa Senators / 1926–27", plus 17 names added. | A new ring added between Victoria's 1925 ring and the 1893 base ring |
| 1927–28 | New York Rangers | "New York Rangers / 1927–28", plus 19 names added, and five game series | A new ring added directly below the Bowl |
| 1928–29 | Boston Bruins | "Won By / Boston Bruins / 1928–29", plus most players, President, Manager, Trainer. Originally 16 members names added. There was not enough room to include every winning member. | The open half of Ottawa's 1927 ring |
| 1929–30 | Montreal Canadiens | "World's Champions / Canadiens of Montreal / 1930", 27 names added, plus playoff scores from the team's postseason rounds | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1930–31 | Montreal Canadiens | "World's Champions / Canadiens of Montreal / 1931", plus 28 names., and playoff scores from the team's postseason rounds | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1931–32 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs / 1931-32 / World's Champions", full roster, non-players, team mascot, and playoff scores. 5 players were listed by only their last name only. 42 names in all, 17 investors, and the 5 players listed by only their last name were left off newer version of Cup made in 1957-58. | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1932–33 | New York Rangers | "New York Rangers Professional Hockey Club / World's Champions and Winners of the / Stanley Cup - 1932-33". plus 17 names added to the first ring. | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1934–35 | Montreal Maroons | "Montreal Professional Hockey Club / Winners / 1934-35", plus 24 names. no playoff scores included. | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1935–36 | Detroit Red Wings | "Detroit Red Wings / 1935-36", plus 21 names, with all players & non players positions, and playoff score from each game. | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1936–37 | Detroit Red Wings | "Detroit Red Wings / 1936-37", plus 27 names, with all players & non players positions, score from each playoff game. | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1937–38 | Chicago Black Hawks | "Chicago National Hockey Team, Inc. / The Black Hawks / 1937-38", plus 23 names added, and playoff scores from the team's postseason rounds | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1938–39 | Boston Bruins | "Boston Bruins / 1938-39", plus 24 names, and last team to included playoff scores from the team's postseason rounds . | Over the next 10 years, 10 new rings were added to top of the trophy. In 1932-33 New York Rangers added 2 rings, so Chicago did not need to add a ring in 1933-34. |
| 1939–40 | New York Rangers | "The New York Rangers 1939-40", plus 19 names.. | A new, larger ring that is added to the top of the stovepipe |
| 1940–41 | Boston Bruins | "Boston Bruins 1940-1 '", plus 21 names. | The 1940 larger ring |
| 1941–42 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1941-2 '" plus 27 names. Goalie's name listed twice on new ring made in 1957-58. | The 1940 larger ring |
| 1942–43 | Detroit Red Wings | "Detroit Red Wings 1942-3 '", plus 20 names. | The 1940 larger ring |
| 1943–44 | Montreal Canadiens | "Canadiens of Montreal 1943-4 '". plus 20 names. | The 1940 larger ring |
| 1944–45 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1944-45", plus 29 names. | The 1940 larger ring |
| 1945–46 | Montreal Canadiens | "Canadiens of Montreal 1944-46". plus 23 names. | The 1940 larger ring |
| 1946–47 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1946-47", plus 30 names. | Engravings were postponed, pending the Cup redesign |
The 1948 redesign
With the Stovepipe Cup becoming impractical because of its ever-increasing height, the NHL decided to redesign the trophy.The base of the Stovepipe Cup was moved back to the top directly under the bowl. A new shoulder collar was added below, onto which only the names of the previous winning teams were engraved. This new shoulder includes all winning team names only. The 1908, 1910 Montreal Wanderers, 1911 Ottawa Senators, 1918 Toronto Arenas, 1922 Toronto St. Pats, 1920, 1921, 1923 Ottawa Senators team names were finally added to the Cup. The cancelled 1919 Stanley Cup Finals was also acknowledged with "1919/Montreal Canadiens/Seattle Metropolitans/Series Not Completed". Room was left on the new collar for future teams.
All of the 1927–28 to 1945–46 rings from the Stovepipe Cup were redone into nine bands of various heights that were attached below the new collar, forming a vastly expanded barrel-like body. The first 5 rings and half the sixth ring included the winners 1928, 1930 to 1939. There was room to add one more team the sixth band. The 1956 winner was added later. Underneath that was a replica of the wide 1940 band from the Stovepipe Cup, but expanded to allow room for all winners from 1940 to 1951. The 1946–47 Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs, who had to wait a year because of the redesign, was also added to the wide band. Finally, two more narrow blank bands were added to the bottom of the trophy for the winners 1952 to 1955.
| Season | Winning Team | Engravings Added | Location Added |
| 1947–48 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1947-48", plus 33 names. | Band 7 |
| 1948–49 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1948-49", plus 35 names. | Band 7 |
| 1949–50 | Detroit Red Wings | "Detroit Red Wings 1949-50", plus 32 names. | Band 7 |
| 1950–51 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1950-51", plus 37 names. | Band 7 |
| 1951–52 | Detroit Red Wings | "Detroit Red Wings 1951-52". plus 32 names. | Band 8 |
| 1952–53 | Montreal Canadiens | "Canadiens of Montreal 1952-53", plus 29 names added. | Band 8 |
| 1953–54 | Detroit Red Wings | "Detroit Red Wings 1953-54", plus 30 names added. | Band 9 |
| 1954–55 | Detroit Red Wings | "Detroit Red Wings 1954-55", plus 26 names added.. | Band 9 |
| 1955–56 | Montreal Canadiens | "Montreal 'Canadiens' 1955-56", plus 27 names added. | Band 6 beside 1938-39 Boston Bruins |
The 1957 redesign
As soon as the 1956 Montreal Canadiens added their names to the Cup, all of the various narrow and wide bands of the trophy's barrel was full. Therefore, they were replaced with five symmetrical bands, each of which could contain 13 winning teams. The winning teams and rosters from 1927–28 to 1939–40 were engraved on the first band, the 1940–41 to 1952–53 champions on the second band, and the 1953–54 winners onward on the third band.Although the bands were originally designed to fill up during the Cup's centennial year, the names of the 1964–65 Montreal Canadiens were engraved over a larger area than allotted. Also the Cup underwent several minor alterations, namely the retirement of the collar in 1963 and the bowl in 1969 in favor of duplicates because the originals became too brittle.
| Season | Winning Team | Engravings Added | Location Added |
| 1956–57 | Montreal Canadiens | "Montreal Canadiens 1956–57", plus 26 names. | Band 3 |
| 1957–58 | Montreal Canadiens | "Montreal Canadiens 1957–58", plus 29 names. | Band 3 |
| 1958–59 | Montreal Canadiens | "Montreal Canadiens 1958–59", plus 29 names. | Band 3 |
| 1959–60 | Montreal Canadiens | "Montreal Canadiens 1959–60", plus 27 names. | Band 3 |
| 1960–61 | Chicago Black Hawks | "Chicago Black Hawks 1960–61", plus 30 names. | Band 3 |
| 1961–62 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1961–62", plus 31 names. | Band 3 |
| 1962–63 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leaes ' 1962–63", plus 28 names. | Band 3 |
| 1963–64 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1963–64", plus 27 names. | Band 3 |
| 1964–65 | Montreal Canadiens | "Montreal Canadiens 1964–65"*, plus 32 names. | Band 3 |
| 1965–66 | Montreal Canadiens | "Montreal Canadiene ', 1965–66", plus 27 names | Band 4 |
| 1966–67 | Toronto Maple Leafs | "Toronto Maple Leafs 1966–67", plus 29 names. | Band 4 |
| 1967–68 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1967–68",plus 28 names. | Band 4 |
| 1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1968–69", plus 28 names. | Band 4 |
| 1969–70 | Boston Bruins | "Boston Bruins 1969–70", plus 36 names | Band 4 |
| 1970–71 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club. De. Hockey. Canadien. 1970.71", plus 31 names. | Band 4 |
| 1971–72 | Boston Bruins | "Bqstqn ' Bruins 1971–72", plus 27 names | Band 4 |
| 1972–73 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1972–73", plus 29 names,. | Band 4 |
| 1973–74 | Philadelphia Flyers | "Philadelphia Flyers 1973–74", plus 31 names. | Band 4 |
| 1974–75 | Philadelphia Flyers | "Philadelphia Flyers 1974–75". plus 33 names. | Band 4 |
| 1975–76 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1975–76", plus 34 names. | Band 4 |
| 1976–77 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1976–77", plus 34 names. | Band 4 |
| 1977–78 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1977–78", plus 35 names. | Band 4 |
| 1978–79 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1978–79", plus 36 names. | Band 5 |
| 1979–80 | New York Islanders | "New York Islanders 1979–80", plus 33 names. | Band 5 |
| 1980–81 | New York Islanders | "New York Ilanders ' 1980-81", plus 33 names | Band 5 |
| 1981–82 | New York Islanders | "New York Islanders 1981–82", plus 31 names. | Band 5 |
| 1982–83 | New York Islanders | "New York Islanders 1982–83", plus 31 names. | Band 5 |
| 1983–84 | Edmonton Oilers | "Edmonton Oilers 1983–84", plus 30 names | Band 5 |
| 1984–85 | Edmonton Oilers | "Edmonton Oilers 1984–85", plus 38 names. | Band 5 |
| 1985–86 | Montreal Canadiens | "Club De Hockey Canadien 1985–86", plus 41 names. | Band 5 |
| 1986–87 | Edmonton Oilers | "Edmonton Oilers 1986–87", plus 40 names. | Band 5 |
| 1987–88 | Edmonton Oilers | "Edmonton Oilers 1987–88", plus 34 names. | Band 5 |
| 1988–89 | Calgary Flames | "Calgary Flames 1988–89", plus 39 names. | Band 5 |
| 1989–90 | Edmonton Oilers | "Edmonton Oilers 1989–90", plus 46 names. | Band 5 |
| 1990–91 | Pittsburgh Penguins | "Pittsburgh Penguins 1990–91", plus 41 members names. | Band 5 |
The top ring is retired
After the bands were finally all filled, the top band of the large barrel, with the 1927–28 to 1939–40 champions, was taken to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and a new blank band was introduced at the bottom so the size of the Stanley Cup would not grow further.One year later, the shoulder collar listing the names of the previous winners was also filled to capacity, but it was decided to keep it on the trophy, unchanged in perpetuity. 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins was last winning team to be engraved on the collar.
| Season | Winning Team | Engravings Added | Location Added |
| 1991–92 | Pittsburgh Penguins, plus 52 names.. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1992–93 | Montreal Canadiens, plus 41 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1993–94 | New York Rangers, plus 44 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1994–95 | New Jersey Devils, plus 43 names. Season shortened by 1994–95 NHL lockout. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1995–96 | Colorado Avalanche, plus 41 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings, plus 52 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1997–98 | Detroit Red Wings, plus 55 names. *-Maximum limit of 52 members per year introduced.-* | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1998–99 | Dallas Stars, plus 47 names added. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 1999–2000 | New Jersey Devils, plus 52 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 2000–01 | Colorado Avalanche, plus 48 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 2001–02 | Detroit Red Wings, plus 52 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 2002–03 | New Jersey Devils, plus 52 names. | " " | The new bottom band |
| 2003–04 | Tampa Bay Lightning, plus 52 names added. | " " | The new bottom band |
A second ring is retired
The band listing the 1940–41 to 1952–53 Cup winners was scheduled to be retired following the crowning of the 2004–05 champions. However, that season was cancelled because of a labour dispute. The ring was finally taken to the Hockey Hall of Fame one year later after the 2005–06 champion Carolina Hurricanes were crowned. In addition to listing the names of the Hurricanes on the new bottom ring, it was decided to also acknowledge the cancelled 2004–05 season.| Season | Winning Team | Engravings Added |
| 2004–05 | Not awarded because of 2004–05 NHL lockout. | "2004–05 Season Not Played" |
| 2005–06 | Carolina Hurricanes, plus 52 names.. | " " |
| 2006–07 | Anaheim Ducks, plus 47 names. | " " |
| 2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings, plus 52 names. | " " |
| 2008–09 | Pittsburgh Penguins, plus 52 names.. | " " |
| 2009–10 | Chicago Blackhawks, plus 52 names. | " " |
| 2011–12 | Los Angeles Kings, plus 53 names. | " " |
| 2012–13 | Chicago Blackhawks, plus 52 names. Season shortened by 2012–13 NHL lockout. | " " |
| 2013–14 | Los Angeles Kings, plus 52 names. | " " |
| 2014–15 | Chicago Blackhawks, plus 52 names. | " " |
| 2015–16 | Pittsburgh Penguins, plus 52 names | " " |
| 2016–17 | Pittsburgh Penguins, plus 52 names | " " |
A third ring is retired
The band listing the 1953–54 to 1964–65 Cup winners was retired on October 1, 2018, following the crowning of the 2017–18 champions, the Washington Capitals.| Season | Winning Team | Engravings Added |
| 2017–18 | Washington Capitals, plus 52 names | - |
| 2018–19 | St. Louis Blues, plus 52 names | - |
| 2019–20 | - | |
| 2020–21 | - | |
| 2021–22 | - | |
| 2022–23 | - | |
| 2023–24 | - | |
| 2024–25 | - | |
| 2025–26 | - | |
| 2026–27 | - | |
| 2027–28 | - | |
| 2028–29 | - | |
| 2029–30 | - |