Stanley Cup Best Sportsbooks
There is no greater honor in the world of ice hockey than being able to call yourself a Stanley Cup champion. It is the culmination of a hard-fought season as the best teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences battle it out over seven games, with the winners being crowned Stanley Cup champions. However, you can find out everything you need to know in this in-depth Stanley Cup betting guide.
Best Sportsbook For Betting On The Stanley Cup
What Is the Stanley Cup?
The Stanley Cup, named after Canada’s sixth Governor-General (1888-1893), Lord Stanley of Preston, is the trophy that is awarded to the playoff winner of the annual National Hockey League’s (NHL) professional ice hockey championship.
Winning this trophy is the dream of every professional hockey player and team. However, this isn’t just because it is a prestigious award, but also because of its rich history in the sport.
How Old is the Stanley Cup?
Lord Stanley’s Cup was first competed in Montreal, Canada, on March 22, 1894, after Lord Stanley of Preston purchased the cup in 1892. This makes the trophy over 129 years old, making it the oldest existing trophy that has ever been awarded to any professional sports franchise in North America.
List of Stanley Cup Winners
The past decade has been defined by several changes and shifts in the world of professional hockey, but the Stanley Cup continues to be the focus of everyone that is part of the sport. The most recent winners of the Stanley Cup can be found below.
| Year | Team | Coach |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Colorado Avalanche | Jared Bednar |
| 2021 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Jon Cooper |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Jon Cooper |
| 2019 | St. Louis Blues | Craig Berube |
| 2018 | Washington Capitals | Barry Trotz |
| 2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Mike Sullivan |
| 2016 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Mike Sullivan |
| 2015 | Chicago Blackhawks | Joel Quenneville |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Kings | Darryl Sutter |
| 2013 | Chicago Blackhawks | Joel Quenneville |
| 2012 | Los Angeles Kings | Darryl Sutter |
| 2011 | Boston Bruins | Claude Julien |
| 2010 | Chicago Blackhawks | Joel Quenneville |
NHL 2023 Schedule
| Date | NHL Event |
|---|---|
| October 7 | Opening Night |
| March 3 | Trade deadline |
| April 13 | Last day of the regular season |
| May 1 | Stanley Cup Playoffs begin |
| June 30 | Last possible day of Stanley Cup Final |
Who Has the Most Stanley Cups?
Henri Richard, who was a member of the Montreal Canadiens, has the most Stanley Cup wins of any ice hockey player on the planet. He has won 11 Stanley Cups, which means that his name is engraved 11 times on the cup. For his amazing sporting achievement, in 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.
How Many Games Are in the Stanley Cup?
The Stanley Cup playoffs generally consist of a total of four rounds of best-of-seven series, each of which is played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. As for the Stanley Cup Final, the home team in Game 1, 2, 5, and 7 will be the one with the higher regular-season points percentage. The team with the lower percentage points will be the home team in Games 3, 4, and 6.
How Many Stanley Cups Are There?
There are multiple Stanley Cups, which is expected especially considering how long it has been around. Over the past century, the cup itself has changed tremendously. It is now much taller, and some of its parts have been replaced – this includes the original bowl. Today, there are a total of three Stanley Cups, that is:
- The Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the original bowl donated by Lord Stanley
- The Presentation Cup, the one that hockey players from winning teams get to take around with them
- The Permanent Cup, a spelling-corrected version that is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame
Top 10 Teams With The Most Stanley Cup Wins
| Team | Number of Stanley Cup Wins |
|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 24 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 13 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 11 |
| Boston Bruins | 6 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 6 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 5 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 5 |
| New York Islanders | 4 |
| New York Rangers | 4 |
| St. Louis Eagles | 4 |
| New Jersey Devils | 3 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 3 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 3 |
Why Is It Called the Stanley Cup?
The Stanley Cup was named after Lord Stanley of Preston, who was the sixth governor-general of Canada from 1888 to 1893. He was a fan of hockey and sports in general, something that saw him purchase a trophy that would be awarded to the best hockey team in the country. The silver bowl he bought and donated for the game was named after him to honor his contributions to the beloved game.
How Much Is the Stanley Cup Worth?
In the world of hockey, the consensus is that the Stanley Cup is considered to be priceless. However, this has not stopped people from speculating how much the trophy could be worth in cold hard cash.
The numbers that have been thrown around range from a little over $10,00 for the cost of materials. On the higher side, the actual value of the trophy is estimated to be a whopping $650,000, which still seems pretty low, especially considering how highly sought and regarded it is.
What Team Has the Most Stanley Cups?
The team with the most Stanley Cup wins is the Montreal Canadiens. Established way back in 1909, this team has won the championships a record 24 times since 1915, with its most recent win being in the 1992-93 season. The professional ice hockey team has operated the longest of any team and is, in fact, even older than the National Hockey League itself.
The Stanley Cup playoffs are the most demanding sporting competition in the world, with only the fittest and best teams able to sustain their challenge. The rounds are meant to be difficult, as the teams in the NHL post-season are whittled down to decide the two that will take part in the Stanley Cup final at the end of May.
Playoffs Format
In essence, the format for the playoffs is simple. There are four rounds consisting of best of seven series. The teams participating in the playoffs are made up of the eight teams with the most regular-season points from the respective conferences.
The opening round sees the lower seeded wild card team in the conference play against the division winner. The other wild card then plays against the other conference winner. Meanwhile, the second and third-placed sides face off against each other. The team to have a home-ice advantage in the opening two rounds is given to the better seed. However, the home-ice advantage after that point is decided by the team with the most points in the regular season.
The teams are knocked out if they lose the best of seven series, with the winners progressing through to the next round. The conference champions are decided in the Eastern and Western finals, with these sides progressing through to the Stanley Cup final.
Betting on the Stanley Cup Playoffs
There are many ways that punters can bet on the Stanley Cup playoffs, and they differ between ante-post and individual match betting. Unlike the Stanley Cup itself, there is also the opportunity to combine bets into an accumulator and also bet on specific ante-post markets.
Ante-Post Stanley Cup Betting
Conference Winners
The most popular ante-post market revolving around the playoffs is the ability to place a bet on the team that will win the Eastern and Western Conferences. The odds in these markets will alter throughout the season depending on the form of the teams. Should a team look like they are going to get the top spot in their division, then their odds will be reflected by that in this market.
There is good value to be had in this market since the playoffs are very unpredictable. The bet is a winner as the bettor has placed their stake on the team that wins the respective conference.
Stanley Cup Betting
Along with betting on the teams that will win the respective conference, punters will also use the playoffs as the best time to get value on bets for the Stanley Cup winners. Gamblers will need to lay their stake on a team, and should that side win, then they will be rewarded with the returns. There will be better value on betting on the Stanley Cup winners earlier in the playoffs than when there are just two teams remaining.
Individual Match Betting
One of the most popular ways to bet on the Stanley Cup playoffs is by betting on each individual match. There are several ways in which bettors can do this, but here are the most common ways:
- Match Betting: The most straightforward way to place a bet for the playoffs is by simply predicting the team that will win the match. Gamblers will put their stake on one of the sides and be given the winnings should their pick win.
- Total Goals: A popular betting market that doesn’t require the bettor to put their stake on the winning team is the total goals market. Here, gamblers will put their money on over or under. The benchmark will be set by the sportsbook, and punters will bet whether there will be more or fewer goals. For instance, there could be a benchmark of 4.5 for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Tampa Bay Lightning. If the bettor feels there will be five or more goals, then they will put their stake on over.
- Handicap Betting: This option is far more popular in the regular season than in the post-season. However, there could still be value in using it. The favored side will start with a disadvantage that they will have to overcome. For instance, the Boston Bruins may start with a handicap of -1.5 against the New York Islanders. For the Bruins to bet to win, they must win by at least two goals.
- Will There Be Overtime?: Bettors can also wager on whether the match will go to overtime. If they believe it will, then they will put their stake on yes. The bet will be a winner regardless of the winner, as long as it goes past regulation time.
FAQ
The Stanley Cup weighs 34.5 pounds or 15.5 kilograms.
As part of the Edmonton Oilers, Wayne Gretzky won a total of Stanley Cups 4 in the 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, and 1987-88 seasons.
In addition to being crowned with the original bowl from Lord Stanley, the Stanley Cup is made up of silver and nickel alloy.
The Stanley Cup is named after Canada’s sixth Governor-General (1888-1893) Lord Stanley of Preston who was an avid sports enthusiast.
The 2021 Stanley Cup finals location has yet to be officially announced as of writing.
Best of Seven, excluding the qualifying round.
