Montreal holds 24 Stanley Cups

The Montreal Canadiens’ total of 24 Stanley Cup championships remains the NHL record as the club returns to the Eastern Conference final in 2026. ESPN highlighted that figure in its playoff preview published Tuesday, one day after Montreal beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime in Game 7 to advance. NHL records and other historical references continue to list the Canadiens as the league’s most decorated franchise. Montreal’s last Stanley Cup title came in 1993, but no team has matched its overall total since. ### Why does Montreal’s total read 24 when some franchise lists show 23 NHL-era titles? The Canadiens’ record is usually presented two ways. Montreal has 24 Stanley Cup championships overall, but only 23 of those came after the NHL was founded in 1917. The distinction exists because the Canadiens also won the Cup in 1916, before the NHL began play. (msn.com) The Stanley Cup itself predates the modern NHL. The Canadian Encyclopedia says the trophy was first awarded in 1893, and NHL control of the competition began in 1926. That longer history is why pre-NHL championships can still count in a franchise’s official Cup total. ### How far ahead are the Canadiens on the all-time list? Montreal’s 24 championships put it well ahead of every other franchise. (sportingnews.com) The Canadian Encyclopedia lists the Toronto Maple Leafs second with 13, while Britannica describes the Canadiens as the most successful franchise in league history. NHL records continue to maintain the Canadiens’ place atop the sport’s championship list. (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca) No active franchise is close to matching Montreal’s total, and the club’s record has held even through long stretches without a title. ### When did Montreal build most of that lead? The Canadiens built much of their advantage in two long runs. Montreal won five straight Stanley Cups from 1956 through 1960, then added another four straight from 1976 through 1979. (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca) Those dynastic stretches account for nine titles by themselves. The franchise’s most recent championships came in 1986 and 1993. (records.nhl.com) The 1992-93 season remains the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup, according to Britannica and other historical summaries. ### Why is the number back in the conversation now? Montreal put the number back in front of fans by making another deep playoff run. NHL.com said Tuesday that the Canadiens advanced to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final after their 3-2 overtime win against Buffalo on Monday at KeyBank Center. (en.wikipedia.org) ESPN’s preview of that series cited the franchise’s 24 championships as historical context for the matchup. (britannica.com) Sportsnet also noted that Montreal reached the conference final for the first time since its 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Final. That does not change the historical record, but it explains why the Canadiens’ championship count is being foregrounded again in current playoff coverage. ### What comes next in this year’s playoff run? (nhl.com) The 2026 Eastern Conference final now matches Montreal against Carolina. NHL.com and ESPN both identified the Hurricanes as the Canadiens’ next opponent after Montreal’s Game 7 win over Buffalo. The broader historical marker remains unchanged going into that series: Montreal still holds the Stanley Cup record at 24 championships, and any future title would extend its own lead atop the NHL list. (sportsnet.ca) (records.nhl.com) (nhl.com)