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The conversation around hockey teams with the most Stanley Cups is really a history of eras: Original Six strangleholds, expansion upsets, cap-era mini-dynasties, and today’s parity. Taken together, it answers the big question—which NHL teams have won the most Stanley Cup titles—while showing how styles and rosters changed across decades. Here’s a clear, source-backed leaderboard of NHL teams with the most Stanley Cups, grouped by tiers that remain remarkably stable at the top.
No franchise defines hockey teams with the most championships like Montreal. Multiple distinct dynasties—five straight Cups from 1956–60 and four straight from 1976–79—anchor a record total that still stands alone. Hall-of-Fame depth, elite goaltending, and special-teams control were consistent traits across eras. (NHL.com)
Toronto’s banner count spans early multi-Cup runs in the 1940s and 1960s. The long modern drought doesn’t change the place of the Maple Leafs on any list of NHL teams with the most Stanley Cups; historically, defense, crease strength, and opportunistic scoring marked their title years. (NHL.com)
Detroit’s total comes from longevity and two modern surges: back-to-back in 1997–98 and additional Cups in 2002 and 2008. Puck-moving blue lines and two-way centers underpinned a possession game that translated in every round. (NHL.com)
Both Original Six clubs sit next in the ranking of hockey teams with the most Stanley Cups. Boston’s titles stretch from Eddie Shore to 2011’s defense-first champion; Chicago’s modern three-in-six (2010, 2013, 2015) showcased possession dominance and depth scoring. (Hockey-Reference) If you're curious about the what baseball team has the most world series team, read our deep dive on the MLB!
Two franchises that won across distinct eras. Edmonton’s 1980s burst (four Cups in five seasons, then 1990) set scoring records; Pittsburgh matched longevity with two-era success—early 1990s and the Crosby-Malkin years in 2009, 2016, and 2017. (Hockey-Reference)
The Islanders’ four-peat from 1980–83 remains one of the sport’s defining achievements, followed by a fifth consecutive Final appearance. The Rangers’ banners—culminating in 1994—reflect anchor goaltending and heavy top-pair minutes in their winning years. (Hockey-Reference)
Three franchises share this tier. Colorado’s Cups (1996, 2001, 2022) bookend generations of star cores; New Jersey’s defense-and-goaltending template delivered in 1995, 2000, and 2003; Tampa Bay’s 2004 title and 2020–21 repeat define the modern, cap-era mini-dynasty. (Hockey-Reference)
Which NHL teams have won the most Stanley Cup titles?
Montreal (24) leads the leaderboard of hockey teams with the most championships, followed by Toronto (13) and Detroit (11).
Why count by franchise rather than city?
Championships follow franchise lineage, so relocations don’t reset totals—standard practice in official records.
Recent wins mostly shuffle the middle tiers; the top three totals have been stable for decades (NHL.com).
Teams in the four- and three-Cup tiers—Islanders, Rangers, Avalanche, Devils, Lightning—are the most likely to climb next, depending on current windows and cores.
The league’s official champions page provides every winner, runner-up, and season context in one place.
The final ledger puts history in plain view: Montreal, Toronto, and Detroit anchor any list of hockey teams with the most Stanley Cups, with tiers below them shifting as modern contenders rise. Read as a snapshot, it answers which NHL teams have won the most Stanley Cup titles while showing how expansion and the cap era produced shorter, sharper surges. Those mini-dynasties keep reshaping the middle of the board and sustaining debate around hockey teams with the most championships every June. Taken together, the pattern is a living ranking of NHL teams with the most Stanley Cups that updates with each new banner.
Disclosure: This list is intended as an informational resource and is based on independent research and publicly available information. It does not imply that these businesses are the absolute best in their category.
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Dana Nemirovsky is a senior copywriter and digital media analyst who uncovers how marketing, entertainment, technology, and cultural trends shape the way we live and consume. At Brand Vision Insights, Dana has authored in-depth features on major brand players, while also covering global economics, lifestyle trends, and digital culture. With a bachelor’s degree in Design and prior experience writing for a fashion magazine, Dana explores how media shapes consumer behaviour, highlighting shifts in marketing strategies and societal trends. Through her copywriting position, she utilizes her knowledge of how audiences engage with language to uncover patterns that inform broader marketing and cultural trends.
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