The NFL concluded its season with the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Carolina Hurricanes and the rest of the NHL are on a break while the Four Nations Face-Off prepares to kick off on Wednesday. The sports world has debated which trophy is the best in professional sports. The Lombardi Trophy was given at the Super Bowl but is the top trophy still the Stanley Cup? To put it politely, yes.
Every trophy has its history, but nothing compares to the Stanley Cup. The history of the winners and their players is written on the cup itself. The players each take turns lifting the cup and skating around the ice with it. The other professional sports mostly take a picture with their respective trophy and then continue the celebrations.
Additional proof showing the importance of the Stanley Cup is that each player from the winning team has their own day with the cup. It is that important of a trophy that each player would like a whole day with it if not more. Wherever the cup goes, the crowds flock. Even the worst team in the NHL could have the Stanley Cup on display at their arena and would get the biggest crowd of the year.
It would not be surprising to learn that players in other professional sports would dream of winning the Stanley Cup growing up and still to this day. The iconic trophy is almost more known around the world than the sport of hockey itself.
Another aspect of winning the Stanley Cup that is special is the grueling 7-game playoff series for each round of the playoffs. The playoff beards grow and the player's bodies take a beating just to get a chance at the trophy.
The Super Bowl is popular because it is a winner-take-all event, like the crucial game 7 in a playoff series. Would the Stanley Cup Finals be more popular if it were just a one-game event? It would detract from all the hard-fought playoff rounds before it, but there would be a unique excitement to the game. Ultimately, the Stanley Cup should be decided by a series, not just a bounce of the puck to favor a team in one game.