Which team has won the most Stanley Cup championships?

The Montreal Canadiens have won the most Stanley Cup championships.

The Canadiens have captured the Stanley Cup 24 times, more than any other franchise in NHL history. Their first championship came in 1916, when the club was still competing in the National Hockey Association, before the NHL was founded in 1917. They later won 23 Cups during the NHL era.

Montreal's greatest sustained run came in the 1950s and 1970s. The team won five consecutive championships from 1956 through 1960, then added four straight from 1976 through 1979. Legends such as Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy helped define those eras.

A common mix-up is confusing Stanley Cup wins with NHL membership or recent success. The Canadiens are one of the Original Six teams and were founded in 1909, but their record includes championships from before the modern NHL structure. Their most recent title was in 1993, the last time a Canadian team won the Cup.