Yes, and it has happened more than once.
Over the years, the Stanley Cup has seen a lot of action, not just on the ice but during the wild celebrations that follow. Players have accidentally dropped it, dented it, forgotten it, and sometimes even set it on fire. The iconic NHL trophy may be built to last, but it is certainly not immune to the chaos of championship euphoria.
The Stanley Cup’s Bumpy Ride Through History
One of the most talked-about incidents came in 2022, right after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning. As the team gathered for a celebratory photo, forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel tripped while skating with the Stanley Cup. The result? A dented trophy before the team even finished posing.
Nicholas Aube-Kubel takes a tumble with the #StanleyCup 😬@Avalanche | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/bvQJJIyH7K
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2022
“I don’t even know if they even had it five minutes and there’s a dent at the bottom already,” said Phil Pritchard, the Keeper of the Cup. “I guess it’s a new record today…It’s the first time it’s ever happened on the ice.”
The Stanley Cup has endured more than just celebratory mishaps. Its long history includes some downright bizarre moments. Take 1962, for example. After the Toronto Maple Leafs secured their 11th title, the Cup was reportedly placed near a bonfire during the post-win festivities and ended up falling in. The damage was significant, but the team owned up and covered the repair costs.
And that is just the beginning. In 1987, center Mark Messier brought the Cup to a local bar during the Edmonton Oilers’ dynasty years. Fans drank from it and celebrated with it, and by the end of the night, it had a noticeable dent.
The Boston Bruins were not immune either. After their 2011 win over the Vancouver Canucks, forward Michael Ryder reportedly placed the Cup on a table, where it slipped off and took a hit. A similar fate awaited the trophy during the 2008 Detroit Red Wings parade when it accidentally fell off a table at defenseman Chris Chelios’ bar in Detroit.
Even recent winners have not been spared. In 2023, Bruce Cassidy, head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, revealed on the “What Chaos,” podcast that the team’s Cup suffered a “small break” during their celebration.
While he did not share exact details, he admitted it was a moment of panic. “Is this supposed to happen? Does this happen to everyone?” Cassidy joked.
A Trophy With Character
The Stanley Cup is not just a symbol of hockey excellence but also a witness to decades of joyful and chaotic stories. It has been left in snowbanks, reportedly stolen, and used as a flowerpot.
In 1905, Ottawa’s Senators Silver Seven allegedly kicked it into the Rideau Canal after partying. A few years later, Montreal’s Wanderers left it with a photographer, whose mother mistook it for a planter. And in 1924, the Montreal Canadiens forgot it in a snowbank while changing a tire on their way to a party.
Despite the mishaps, the Cup endures. Every dent tells a story, and every scratch adds to its legend. Despite all the accidents, drops, breaks, or misplaced instances, the Stanley Cup remains the most iconic trophy in hockey.
