Stanley Cup Winners: A List of Champions by Year

• Defeated Florida Panthers 4-1

The Vegas Knights may have only been in their sixth season as an NHL franchise, but they were able to secure the Stanley Cup last season, becoming the 20th team to do so. It's incredible to see an expansion franchise find so much success early in their inception, but the Knights did just that.

What's even more incredible is that this wasn't the Knights first Stanley Cup apperance. In their first season as an NHL team in 2017/18 the Knights pulled off a Cinderella run by reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. They ultimately lost to the Capitals 4-1, but earned sweet redemption just five years later.

• Defeated Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2

The Colorado Avalanche prevented the Tampa Bay Lightning from pulling off an historic third straight Stanley Cup championship in the 2022 NHL Finals. They would have been just the third franchise to pull off such a feat. The Lightning were the best team in hockey, having won the past two Stanley Cups.

That's when Stan Kroenke and his sports dynasty came in. Korenke is the owner of the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Arsenal F.C., and many more sporting franchises. Almost all of those teams have won a championship in the last two years.

• Defeated Montreal Canadiens 4-1

The 2020-21 season was an odd one for just about every sports league in the world, as they were trying to navigate how to operate during a global pandemic. The NHL season was reduced to 56 games and the conferences were regionalized.

The Lightning proved that the pandemic had no bearing on them, as they repeated as champions after defeating the Canadians 4-1, cementing their legacy as the first dynasty of the 2020's.

• Defeated Dallas Stars 4-2

The 2020 NHL season was another year heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The league was put on pause on March 12th, 2020 after the NBA and other sporting leagues shut down. The Stanley Cup playoffs would begin on July 10th, a whole month after a champion is normally crowned.

The Lightning were defending Atlantic Division and President's Trophy Champions, and used that momentum fully in the postseason. They climbed their way to the finals and faced off against the Dallas Stars, who they took care of in six games.

• Defeated Boston Bruins 4-3

The St. Louis Blues finally won their first Stanley Cup championship in 2019 in their 52nd season. The Blues have the most playoff appearances outside the original-six NHL teams and had been to a number of Cup finals, including losing in back-to-back championship games.

They squared off against the Boston Bruins in a hotly contested series. The Blues went into game six leading 3-2, but lost 5-1, setting up the greatest two words in sports "game seven". St. Louis returned the favor in the deciding game, winning by a score of 4-1 to secure their franchises first and only Stanley Cup.

• Defeated Vegas Golden Knights 4-1

The Capitals, led by star forward Alex Ovechkin, had been a dominant regular-season team for years but had consistently faced postseason disappointments. However, in 2018, they managed to break through and reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1998. The pivotal Game 5, held in Las Vegas, saw the Capitals secure a 4-3 victory, clinching the Stanley Cup. Lars Eller scored the winning goal late in the third period, and Holtby made a remarkable stop dubbed the "The Save" on Alex Tuch, preserving the lead and ultimately securing the championship for the Capitals.

• Defeated Nashville Predators 4-2

The 2017 Stanley Cup Finals were contested between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators. The Penguins emerged victorious in the series, winning the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year. The Penguins entered the Finals as the defending Stanley Cup champions, having won the title in 2016. Led by captain Sidney Crosby and a talented roster including Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Matt Murray in goal, the Penguins were able to claim back-to-back Stanley Cups.

• Defeated San Jose Sharks 4-2

The 2016 Stanley Cup Finals featured the Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins emerged victorious, winning the series in six games to claim their fourth Stanley Cup title in franchise history. Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. Crosby's leadership, playmaking ability, and clutch performances were instrumental in the Penguins' championship run.

• Defeated Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2

The 2015 Stanley Cup Finals featured the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blackhawks emerged victorious, winning the series in six games to capture their third Stanley Cup title in six seasons. Duncan Keith was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. Keith's exceptional play, including his defensive contributions and timely scoring, played a pivotal role in the Blackhawks' championship run.

• Defeated New York Rangers 4-1

The Kings, known for their strong possession game and resilience, embarked on an impressive playoff run in 2014 led by key players such as Jonathan Quick, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Dustin Brown. They entered the Finals seeking their second championship in franchise history. Justin Williams was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. Williams, known for his clutch performances in critical moments, played a significant role in the Kings' championship run.