# What is the best NHL franchise of all time?

> The NHL has been home to legendary franchises with rich histories, passionate fan bases, and championship pedigrees. Which franchise stands above them all?

*By YPB Team · Published May 27, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-nhl-franchise-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Montreal Canadiens**
   The most decorated franchise in NHL history with 24 Stanley Cup championships, including a record five consecutive titles from 1956 to 1960.
2. **Detroit Red Wings**
   A powerhouse franchise with 11 Stanley Cups, including four titles in six years during the Yzerman-Lidstrom dynasty of the 1990s–2000s.
3. **Toronto Maple Leafs**
   Canada's most storied team with 13 Stanley Cups and one of the most passionate fanbases in hockey history, despite decades without a title.
4. **Boston Bruins**
   One of the NHL's Original Six teams with 6 Stanley Cups, anchored across eras by legends like Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, and Zdeno Chara.
5. **Pittsburgh Penguins**
   The dominant modern dynasty with 5 Stanley Cups, built around Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby.
6. **Chicago Blackhawks**
   Six Stanley Cup titles, including three in six years (2010, 2013, 2015) anchored by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
7. **Edmonton Oilers**
   The 1980s dynasty team featuring Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Glenn Anderson — five Stanley Cups between 1984 and 1990.
8. **New York Rangers**
   An Original Six franchise with 4 Stanley Cups and one of the largest fanbases in the league, playing at iconic Madison Square Garden.
9. **New York Islanders**
   Back-to-back-to-back-to-back Stanley Cup champions from 1980 to 1983, built around Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier.
10. **Philadelphia Flyers**
   The feared 'Broad Street Bullies' of the 1970s, winning back-to-back Cups in 1974 and 1975 with an intimidating, physical style.
11. **Colorado Avalanche**
   Three Stanley Cups including two modern championships (2001, 2022) built around legends Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy, and Nathan MacKinnon.
12. **New Jersey Devils**
   Three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003) built on the neutral-zone trap and the elite goaltending of Martin Brodeur.
13. **Tampa Bay Lightning**
   Three Stanley Cup titles including back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, powered by Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos.
14. **Carolina Hurricanes**
   A perennial Stanley Cup contender in the 2020s, known for their electric playoff runs and passionate 'Bunch of Jerks' identity.

Tags: sports, hockey, canada, nhl, teams, legends, north america