What is the History of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

A Century of Glory and Grit: Tracing the Storied History of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs have a long and storied history. The NHL’s championship playoff tournament has been around since the league began in 1917, with its first champion being awarded to the Montreal Wanderers on March 14th of that year. Since then, teams from all over Canada and much of the United States have competed for hockey’s ultimate prize every springtime season.

Before there was an official Stanley Cup Playoff tournament each team would compete against one another during regular-season play as well as at exhibition matches at neutral sites such as Madison Square Garden or Maple Leaf Gardens. Afterward, four clubs were chosen by vote to participate in what we now know today known as the Stanley cup Finals. By 1932 this format was expanded into two divisional round robin tournaments; one involving three American based teams – Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings– and one including the five Canadian franchises – Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Maroons, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and theHamilton Tigers. As soon as these initial series ended it marked the beginning of the current "Best Of Seven Final Series" between Eastern And Western Conference Champions which continues until present day! 

In 1933, after completing their demonstration tour across Europe through England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Hungary, and many more nations, the NHL decided that Patrick Trophy Winners (Eastern Conference) would face off against the Campbell Trophy winners (Western Conference) for the right of crowning themselves “Stanley Cup Champions”.

Lord Stanley of Preston, the sixteenth Earl and Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893, is best known for his strong connection with hockey. He was an avid sportsman who enjoyed playing lacrosse as well as ice skating on the frozen Rideau Canal near Ottawa during winter months.

In 1892 Lord Stanley proposed that a challenge trophy be presented annually to "the champion hockey team in the Dominion." The proposal took hold quickly among enthusiasts across Canada; within three years four clubs had formed: Montreal's Victorias (1893), Toronto’s Blueshirts (1894), Quebec City's Bulldogs (1903) and Winnipeg’s Victorias (1905). On March 18th, 1893 he donated what became known as “The Hockey Cup”. Since it first came into existence over 120 years ago this cup has been awarded every year – except in 1919 due to the Spanish Flu epidemic – to NHL champions ever since being renamed “The Stanley Cup”' after its donor. 

Keenly aware of how popular professional sports could impact people around him, Lord Stanley's financial support extended beyond just donations towards teams by also providing personal funds so they could acquire uniforms or equipment when necessary. His enthusiasm encouraged others at different levels to take part in hockey. Amateur leagues grew in popularity due in large part to the skills and values that sports could impart on young people, like leadership and teamwork.

Over time, several changes took place within rules governing the Stanley Cup Playoff process like restricting the number of participating teams to 16 from 1967 onwards instead of the 24 teams the former system provided. Throughout the last three decades, focus has shifted towards making superstars rather than strong cohesive team units. This has allowed for individual players to shine brighter than ever before while leading their respective franchises to glory. This trend culminated recently when Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby became the youngest player of his generation to record 100 points in a season at just 18 years old. All said and done though, regardless of any adjustments made, nothing can take away from the prestige associated with winning the right amount of match ups and hoisting the eponymous trophy above your head.