The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs are considered the most grueling postseason in professional sports, and that intensity ramps up even more for the Stanley Cup Final.
While the Carolina Hurricanes lifted Lord Stanley's Cup in 2026, the Florida Panthers are favored to return to glory in 2027.
Discover the latest NHL odds, plus the key resources you need to navigate the 2026-27 season on the road to the postseason.
2027 Stanley Cup odds
Stanley Cup odds are a form of NHL futures. These long-running odds markets open before the regular season and adjust over the course of the schedule based on results, trade volume, and injuries.
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📅 2027 NHL Playoffs schedule
ESPN platforms will present the 2027 playoffs, beginning in April of next year. Check back later for a round-by-round breakdown.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First Round | April 2027 |
| Second Round begins | TBD |
| Conference Finals begin | TBD |
| Stanley Cup Finals | TBD |
Stanley Cup format
In the NHL's best-of-seven postseason, the first team to win four games advances to the next round, while the loser is eliminated. To ensure fairness, the league utilizes a 2-2-1-1-1 home-ice format, which allocates hosting duties based on regular-season performance.
This structure guarantees that the team with the superior regular-season record enjoys home-ice advantage, meaning they host the series opener and, most crucially, the decisive seventh game.
📺 How to watch the Stanley Cup
In Canada, fans can catch Stanley Cup Final games on Sportsnet after it was announced HNIC will no longer take place on CBC, while fans in the United States can find Stanley Cup Final action exclusively on ABC. Cord-cutters can stream the games on ESPN+ (Sportsnet+ in Canada).
Where to trade on the Stanley Cup
Hockey trading is on the rise in North America. The NHL’s popularity provides fun and unique ways to wager on hockey action all season long. Where you trade on hockey is just as important as what you bet, and Covers has reviewed the best prediction market apps available in your region.
💵 How to trade on hockey
Hockey is one of the most exciting sports to trade on due to the fast-paced action and swings in momentum. And the Stanley Cup playoffs dial up the drama, with plenty of unpredictable outcomes and thrilling underdog stories. Learn how to trade on hockey and make smarter NHL wagers with Covers.
📜 Stanley Cup history
The Stanley Cup Final is one of the longest-running championship events in North American sports, with a rich history of memorable competition and outstanding players
Origins
The Stanley Cup is named after Lord Frederick Stanley, the 16th Earl of Derby, who donated the trophy to honor the best amateur hockey team in Canada.
The Stanley Cup was first awarded to the winner of the Canadian Challenge Cup (1893-1914) and later used as the top prize in a championship series between the winner of the National Hockey Association and the winner of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (1915-1926).
It wasn’t until 1927 that the National Hockey League adopted the Stanley Cup as its championship trophy.
The first Stanley Cup
The first winner of the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Hockey Club, which won the Challenge Cup in 1893. The first NHA vs. PCHA winner was the Vancouver Millionaires in 1915. The first NHL champion to hoist Lord Stanley was the Ottawa Senators in 1927.
🏆 NHL Stanley Cup Winners
| Year | Team |
| 2026 |  Carolina Hurricanes |
| 2025 |  Florida Panthers |
| 2024 | Florida Panthers |
| 2023 |  Vegas Golden Knights |
| 2022 |  Colorado Avalanche |
| 2021 |  Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2019 |  St. Louis Blues |
| 2018 |  Washington Capitals |
| 2017 |  Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2015 |  Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2014 |  Los Angeles Kings |
| 2013 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Kings |
| 2011 |  Boston Bruins |
| 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2009 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2008 |  Detroit Red Wings |
| 2007 |  Anaheim Ducks |
| 2006 | Carolina Hurricanes |
| 2005 | Season canceled due to NHL lockout |
| 2004 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2003 |  New Jersey Devils |
| 2002 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 2001 | Colorado Avalanche |
| 2000 | New Jersey Devils |
| 1999 |  Dallas Stars |
| 1998 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1997 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1996 | Colorado Avalanche |
| 1995 | New Jersey Devils |
| 1994 |  New York Rangers |
| 1993 |  Montreal Canadiens |
| 1992 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 1991 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 1990 |  Edmonton Oilers |
| 1989 |  Calgary Flames |
| 1988 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1987 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1986 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1985 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1984 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1983 |  New York Islanders |
| 1982 | New York Islanders |
| 1981 | New York Islanders |
| 1980 | New York Islanders |
| 1979 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1978 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1977 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1976 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1975 |  Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1974 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1973 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1972 | Boston Bruins |
| 1971 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1970 | Boston Bruins |
| 1969 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1968 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1967 |  Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1966 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1965 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1964 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1963 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1962 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1961 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1960 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1959 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1958 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1957 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1956 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1955 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1954 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1953 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1952 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1951 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1950 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1949 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1948 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1947 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1946 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1945 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1944 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1943 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1942 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1941 | Boston Bruins |
| 1940 | New York Rangers |
| 1939 | Boston Bruins |
| 1938 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1937 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1936 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1935 | Montreal Maroons |
| 1934 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1933 | New York Rangers |
| 1932 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1931 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1930 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1929 | Boston Bruins |
| 1928 | New York Rangers |
| 1927 |  Ottawa Senators |
Stanley Cup FAQs
The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games to win the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.
Henri Richard won the most Stanley Cups as a player with 11 in his storied career with the Montreal Canadiens.
There are nine current NHL franchises that have never won the Stanley Cup (Vancouver, Buffalo, San Jose, Winnipeg, Las Vegas, Nashville, Arizona, Minnesota, Columbus).
Yes, there have been 19 teams win the Stanley Cup in at least two consecutive years since 1918. Tampa Bay won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and Florida won back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.
