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The Stanley Cup has been awarded to the NHL's champion every year since 1927 (with one exception). From 1915 to 1926, it was awarded to the winner of the NHL/NHA vs. PCHA/WCHL/WHL championship series (with one exception), and prior to that (1893-1914), it went to the winner of the Challenge Cup in Canada. 

Put another way: There is a lot of history behind the Stanley Cup.

With the 2024 Stanley Cup Final now complete, here is a list of every Cup winner and runner-up, along with the player who was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the postseason (beginning in 1965).

2024: Florida Panthers Losing team: Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid, C, Oilers

2023: Vegas Golden Knights Losing team: Florida Panthers Conn Smythe: Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Golden Knights

2022: Colorado Avalanche Losing team: Tampa Bay Lightning Conn Smythe: Cale Makar, D, Avalanche

2021: Tampa Bay Lightning Losing team: Montreal Canadiens Conn Smythe: Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Lightning

2020: Tampa Bay Lightning Losing team: Dallas Stars Conn Smythe: Victor Hedman, D, Lightning

2019: St. Louis Blues Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Ryan O'Reilly, C, Blues

2018: Washington Capitals Losing team: Vegas Golden Knights Conn Smythe: Alex Ovechkin, LW, Capitals

2017: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Nashville Predators Conn Smythe: Sidney Crosby, C, Penguins

2016: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: San Jose Sharks Conn Smythe: Sidney Crosby, C, Penguins

2015: Chicago Blackhawks Losing team: Tampa Bay Lightning Conn Smythe: Duncan Keith, D, Blackhawks

2014: Los Angeles Kings Losing team: New York Rangers Conn Smythe: Justin Williams, RW, Kings

2013: Chicago Blackhawks Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Patrick Kane, RW, Blackhawks

2012: Los Angeles Kings Losing team: New Jersey Devils Conn Smythe: Jonathan Quick, G, Kings

2011: Boston Bruins Losing team: Vancouver Canucks Conn Smythe: Tim Thomas, G, Bruins

2010: Chicago Blackhawks Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Jonathan Toews, C, Blackhawks

2009: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Detroit Red Wings Conn Smythe: Evgeni Malkin, C, Penguins

2008: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Pittsburgh Penguins Conn Smythe: Henrik Zetterberg, C, Red Wings

2007: Anaheim Ducks Losing team: Ottawa Senators Conn Smythe: Scott Niedermayer, D, Ducks

2006: Carolina Hurricanes Losing team: Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe: Cam Ward, G, Hurricanes

2005: Cancelled: Season-long lockout

2004: Tampa Bay Lightning Losing team: Calgary Flames Conn Smythe: Brad Richards, C, Lightning

2003: New Jersey Devils Losing team: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Conn Smythe: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G, Mighty Ducks

2002: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Carolina Hurricanes Conn Smythe: Nicklas Lidstrom, D, Red Wings

2001: Colorado Avalanche Losing team: New Jersey Devils Conn Smythe: Patrick Roy, G, Avalanche

2000: New Jersey Devils Losing team: Dallas Stars Conn Smythe: Scott Stevens, D, Devils

1999: Dallas Stars Losing team: Buffalo Sabres Conn Smythe: Joe Nieuwendyk, C, Stars

1998: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Washington Capitals Conn Smythe: Steve Yzerman, C, Red Wings

1997: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Mike Vernon, G, Red Wings

1996: Colorado Avalanche Losing team: Florida Panthers Conn Smythe: Joe Sakic, C, Avalanche

1995: New Jersey Devils Losing team: Detroit Red Wings Conn Smythe: Claude Lemieux, RW, Devils

1994: New York Rangers Losing team: Vancouver Canucks Conn Smythe: Brian Leetch, D, Rangers

1993: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Los Angeles Kings Conn Smythe: Patrick Roy, G, Canadiens

1992: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Chicago Blackhawks Conn Smythe: Mario Lemieux, C, Penguins

1991: Pittsburgh Penguins Losing team: Minnesota North Stars Conn Smythe: Mario Lemieux, C, Penguins

1990: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Bill Ranford, G, Oilers

1989: Calgary Flames Losing team: Montreal Canadiens Conn Smythe: Al MacInnis, D, Flames

1988: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Wayne Gretzky, C, Oilers

1987: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Ron Hextall, G, Flyers

1986: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Calgary Flames Conn Smythe: Patrick Roy, G, Canadiens

1985: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Wayne Gretzky, C, Oilers

1984: Edmonton Oilers Losing team: New York Islanders Conn Smythe: Mark Messier, C, Oilers

1983: New York Islanders Losing team: Edmonton Oilers Conn Smythe: Billy Smith, G, Islanders

1982: New York Islanders Losing team: Vancouver Canucks Conn Smythe: Mike Bossy, RW, Islanders

1981: New York Islanders Losing team: Minnesota North Stars Conn Smythe: Butch Goring, C, Islanders

1980: New York Islanders Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Bryan Trottier, C, Islanders

1979: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: New York Rangers Conn Smythe: Bob Gainey, C, Canadiens

1978: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Larry Robinson, D, Canadiens

1977: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Guy Lafleur, RW, Canadiens

1976: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Philadelphia Flyers Conn Smythe: Reggie Leach, RW, Flyers

1975: Philadelphia Flyers Losing team: Buffalo Sabres Conn Smythe: Bernie Parent, G, Flyers

1974: Philadelphia Flyers Losing team: Boston Bruins Conn Smythe: Bernie Parent, G, Flyers

1973: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks Conn Smythe: Yvan Cournoyer, RW, Canadiens

1972: Boston Bruins Losing team: New York Rangers Conn Smythe: Bobby Orr, D, Bruins

1971: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks Conn Smythe: Ken Dryden, G, Canadiens

1970: Boston Bruins Losing team: St. Louis Blues Conn Smythe: Bobby Orr, D, Bruins

1969: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: St. Louis Blues Conn Smythe: Serge Savard, D, Canadiens

1968: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: St. Louis Blues Conn Smythe: Glenn Hall, G, Blues

1967: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Montreal Canadiens Conn Smythe: Dave Keon, C, Maple Leafs

1966: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Detroit Red Wings Conn Smythe: Roger Crozier, G, Red Wings

1965: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks Conn Smythe: Jean Beliveau, C, Canadiens

1964: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1963: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1962: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks

1961: Chicago Black Hawks Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1960: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1959: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1958: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins

1957: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins

1956: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1955: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Montreal Canadiens

1954: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Montreal Canadiens

1953: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins

1952: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Montreal Canadiens

1951: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Montreal Canadiens

1950: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: New York Rangers

1949: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1948: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1947: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Montreal Canadiens

1946: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins

1945: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1944: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks

1943: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Boston Bruins

1942: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1941: Boston Bruins Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1940: New York Rangers Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1939: Boston Bruins Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1938: Chicago Black Hawks Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1937: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: New York Rangers

1936: Detroit Red Wings Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1935: Montreal Maroons Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1934: Chicago Black Hawks Losing team: Detroit Red Wings

1933: New York Rangers Losing team: Toronto Maple Leafs

1932: Toronto Maple Leafs Losing team: New York Rangers

1931: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Chicago Black Hawks

1930: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Boston Bruins

1929: Boston Bruins Losing team: New York Rangers

1928: New York Rangers Losing team: Montreal Maroons

1927: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Boston Bruins

1926: Montreal Maroons Losing team: Victoria Cougars

1925: Victoria Cougars Losing team: Montreal Canadiens

1924: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Calgary Tigers

1923: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Edmonton Eskimos

1922: Toronto St. Patricks Losing team: Vancouver Millionaires

1921: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Vancouver Millionaires

1920: Ottawa Senators Losing team: Seattle Metropolitans

1919: Cancelled: Influenza epidemic

1918: Toronto Hockey Club Losing team: Vancouver Millionaires

1917: Seattle Metropolitans Losing team: Montreal Canadiens

1916: Montreal Canadiens Losing team: Portland Rosebuds

1915: Vancouver Millionaires Losing team: Ottawa Senators