How long did it take each NHL team to win their first Stanley Cup?

Toronto Maple Leafs

First season: 1917–18
First Stanley Cup: 1918
Seasons: 1

The Toronto Arenas (as they were called at the time) won the Stanley Cup in their very first season, defeating the Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) three games to two in the best-of-five game series.

Back in the early years of the NHL, the Stanley Cup was fought between the NHL and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA), and then later with the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL).

The Leafs, as they were known onwards from 1927, have gone on to win 13 Stanley Cups, with their last win coming in 1967.

Montreal Canadiens

First season: 1917–18 (NHL)
First Stanley Cup: 1924
Seasons: 7

The team with the most Stanley Cup wins to their name at 24, the Montreal Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup seven years after the founding of the NHL. The Habs defeated the WCHL’s champion Calgary Tigers two games to none in the best-of-three-game series.

But, looking back some more, that would technically stand as the Habs second Stanley Cup as a franchise.

Originally founded in 1909 in the NHA, it took them seven seasons to win the Stanley Cup.

In 1916, they defeated the Portland Rosebuds (PCHA) three games to two in the best-of-five-game series.

New York Rangers

First season: 1926–27
First Stanley Cup: 1928
Seasons: 2

The Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in their second season, defeating the Montreal Maroons three games to two.

This would be the second finals since the Stanley Cup became exclusive to the NHL.

To date, the Rangers have won the Cup four times, with the most recent in 1994.

Boston Bruins

First season: 1924–25
First Stanley Cup: 1929
Seasons: 3

Boston made the finals in their third season, losing to the original Ottawa Senators two games to none.

However, they managed to win the Cup two years later in their fifth season after joining the NHL, defeating the Rangers in two games.

To date the Bruins have won the Cup six times, with the most recent in 2011.

Chicago Blackhawks

First season: 1926–27
First Stanley Cup: 1934
Seasons: 8

The Chicago Blackhawks made an appearance in the 1931 finals in their fifth season, losing in five games to the Montreal Canadiens. But they didn’t have to wait long, as they won their first Stanley Cup three years later in their eighth season, defeating the Detroit Red Wings three games to one.

To date, the Hawks have won the Cup six times, with the most recent in 2015.

Detroit Red Wings

First season: 1926–27
First Stanley Cup: 1936
Seasons: 10

The last of the original six teams won the Cup in their 10th season in the NHL.

After losing in four games in the 1934 finals to the Blackhawks, the Red Wings made a return to the finals in 1936, winning against the Maple Leafs 3–1.

The Red Wings would also repeat as champions in the following season.

To date, the Wings have won the Cup 11 times, with the most recent in 2009.

Philadelphia Flyers

First season: 1967–68
First Stanley Cup: 1974
Seasons: 7

In 1974, the Flyers made their first appearance in the finals since joining the NHL as part of the 1967 expansion seven years earlier.

The Flyers defeated the Bruins four games to two and won the Cup again the following season in 1975.

New York Islanders

First season: 1972–73
First Stanley Cup: 1980
Seasons: 8

The New York Islanders joined the NHL as an expansion team in the early 1970s and won their first Stanley Cup during their inaugural finals appearance against the Philadelphia Flyers, just eight seasons into their existence.

This success marked the beginning of a remarkable era for the Islanders, as they went on to win three more championships in the next three consecutive seasons.

However, their dynasty came to an end after five consecutive finals appearances, losing in the 1984 finals to the next team on this list.

Edmonton Oilers

First season: 1979–80
First Stanley Cup: 1984
Seasons: 5

After the fall of the WHA, the Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL. Led by Wayne Gretzky, the team needed only five seasons to win the Stanley Cup.

They returned to the finals in 1984 and defeated the New York Islanders in five games after having lost to them the previous season. This victory marked the beginning of a new era in the NHL, as the Oilers went on to win four more Cups in the following five seasons.

Calgary Flames

First season: 1972–73 (Atlanta Flames)
First Stanley Cup: 1989
Seasons: 17

The Calgary Flames won their first Stanley Cup in their second appearance in the finals, which occurred during their 17th year as a franchise and ninth season in the city of Calgary.

The Flames are uniquely distinguished as the only team other than the Montreal Canadiens to have hoisted the Stanley Cup on the Montreal Forum ice.

Pittsburgh Penguins

First season: 1967–68
First Stanley Cup: 1991
Seasons: 24

The Pittsburgh Penguins, one of the teams that joined the NHL during the 1967 expansion, won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in the early 1990s. They claimed their first championship in their 24th season and first finals appearance, defeating another team from the 1967 expansion, the Minnesota North Stars.

As of now, the Penguins have won a total of five Stanley Cups, including another set of back-to-back victories in 2016 and 2017.

New Jersey Devils

First season: 1974–75 (Kansas City Scouts)
First Stanley Cup: 1995
Seasons: 21

Originally an expansion team that joined the league in the 1970s, the franchise spent two seasons in Kansas City as the Scouts before relocating to Denver and becoming the Colorado Rockies. After six seasons with only one playoff appearance, the Rockies moved again in 1982, this time to New Jersey.

After 21 seasons and 13 in New Jersey, the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 1995 during the shortened 48-game season, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in four games. 

The New Jersey Devils have captured the Stanley Cup two more times, winning in 2000 and 2003.

Colorado Avalanche

First season: 1979–80 (Quebec Nordiques)
First Stanley Cup: 1996
Seasons: 17

Thirteen years after professional hockey left Denver, the city was awarded a new team through relocation. The Quebec Nordiques—formerly a WHA team—joined the NHL in 1979 and played for 16 seasons before moving across the border to become the Colorado Avalanche in 1995.

It didn’t take long for the new team in Denver to achieve success. The Avalanche built on the success that the early ’90s Nordiques had established, winning the Stanley Cup in their first season in Colorado, which marked their 17th season as a franchise.

The Avalanche have won the Cup two more times, in 2001 and more recently in 2022.

Dallas Stars

First season: 1967–68 (Minnesota North Stars)
First Stanley Cup: 1999
Seasons: 32

Beginning as one of the 1967 expansion teams, the Minnesota North Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993, becoming the Dallas Stars.

During their time in Minnesota, the North Stars made two appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals but were unable to win a championship in 1981 and 1991.

Six seasons after relocating to Dallas and in their 32nd season as a franchise, the Stars won their lone Stanley Cup in 1999, clinching victory in game six over the Buffalo Sabres.

Turn of the century

Coming up in our second part of our look back at first-time Stanley Cup winners.  We will take a look at the next seven teams that won the Cup and dive into which teams have a chance to win it all in this postseason.