All time NHL 10 Best Teams

The following top 10 list of National Hockey League teams that are all time best performers since the league’s inception in 1917, until the latest completed season of 2007–08.  It is based strictly on the combined number of Stanley Cup championships. According to Wikipedia, since the 1914–15 season, the trophy has been won a combined 92 times by 17 active NHL teams and five defunct teams. Prior to that, the challenge cup was held by nine different teams. Since the 1914–15 season, the trophy has been won a combined 92 times by 17 active NHL teams and five defunct teams. Prior to that, the challenge cup was held by nine Since the 1914–15 season, the trophy has been won a combined 92 times by 17 active NHL teams and 5 defunct teams. Prior to that, the challenge cup was held by nine different teams. There are two seasons that the Stanley Cup has not been awarded: the 1918–19 season, because of a Spanish flu epidemic, and 2004–05, because of the NHL lockout.

1. Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have hoisted the Stanley Cup on 24 occasions, nearly twice as many as the next NHL team. The Montreal Canadiens (French: Les Canadiens de Montréal) are based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The club is officially known as Le Club de Hockey Canadien.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs

Last cup that they held was in 1967 and Leafs have won it on 13 occasions all together. Toronto Maple Leafs failed to reach the Stanley Cup finals in the 40 years since then. The Leafs are based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the NHL. The organization, one of the “Original Six” members of the NHL, is officially known as the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and is the leading subsidiary of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE).

3. Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings are the last season’s (2007-2008) Stanley Cup champions and have combined 11 cups in club’s history. they have dominated the NHL in the last  two decades winning the most trophies and awards. Red Wings are based in Detroit, Michigan, who are the current Stanley Cup champions. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. The club is one of the Original Six teams of the NHL.

4. Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins  are in forth place and hold 5 Stanley Cups earned in 1972, 1970, 1941, 1939 and 1929. The Bruins are  based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise.

5. Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers led by Wayne Gretzky are sharing forth place with Boston Bruins and with 5 Stanley Cups in club history. The team is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Oilers were founded on November 1, 1971 with the team playing its first season in 1972 as one of twelve founding franchises of the major professional World Hockey Association (WHA).

6. Ottawa Senators

Often ignored Ottawa Senators won 4 Stanley cups in 1919/20, 1920/21, 1922/23, 1926/27 season. They also hold 6 other big trophey collection prior to NHL formation.  The Senators are based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the NHL. The Senators play their home games at the 20,500 capacity Scotiabank Place (originally named the ‘Palladium’, and later the ‘Corel Centre’).

7. New York Rangers

New York Rangers  – winners of Stanley Cups in  1927–28, 1932–33, 1939–40, 1993–94 season. The New York Rangers are  based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Rangers were the first NHL franchise in the United States to win the Stanley Cup, which they have done four times.

8. New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Islanders began play in 1972 and rapidly developed a dominant team that won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the early 1980s. They play their home games at the 16,234 capacity Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island.

9. Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks team is based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). They have won 3 Stanley Cup Championships and 13 division titles since their founding in 1926. Since 1994, the Blackhawks have played their home games at the United Center after having spent over 60 years playing at Chicago Stadium.

10. New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Devils are sharing the 9th place with the  Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins (the latest champions of 2008-2009 season)  claiming 3 Stanley Cups in its history. The Devils are based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the NHL. The club was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1974, moved to Denver, Colorado after only two seasons, and then settled in New Jersey in 1982.