Yes There Are Stanley Cup Engraving Rules

DETROIT – JUNE 12: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks before presenting the Stanley Cup to the Pittsburgh Penguins after defeating the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has sparked controversy by engraving the names of his wife and five children on the Stanley Cup. The age of the kids range from the early 20s to a 7 year old.

Equipment Manager Bobby Gorman, who has been with the franchise since they were the Hartford Whalers didn’t have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. His name, however, did appear on the Cup back in 2006.

And Joel Nystrom, who played 38 games for the team, doesn’t appear on the Stanley Cup.

Engraving Rules

Yes – there are Stanley Cup engraving rules and here they are:

1) A player is required to have appeared in at least 41 regular-season games with a team, or one Stanley Cup Final game, to be eligible to have his name engraved on the trophy.

2) A team may petition the NHL Commissioner for permission to have players’ names put on the Stanley Cup if extenuating circumstances prevented them from being available to play.

3) The management staff engraved on the trophy is determined by the team.

4) The maximum number of names a championship team can engrave on the trophy is 55.

5) All names submitted must be approved by both the NHL and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

So provided a team remains within its allotted number of engraving spots, includes all players who automatically qualify for inclusion, and obtains approval from the NHL and the Hockey Hall of Fame, the club retains significant discretion in determining which additional names are engraved on the Stanley Cup.

But the League does have the discretion to say no to names. The test to be applied by Commissioner Gary Bettman should be whether the request is reasonable and reflects the individual’s effort, contribution and meaningful role in achieving the championship.

Precedent

As a lawyer I do love precedents (it pays the mortgage).

This has happened two other times – and with two very different outcomes.

In 2024 and 2025, Florida Panther owner Vincent Viola engraved the names of his wife, Teresa, and their sons engraved on the Cup. The League was fine with it.

Back in 1984, however, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington had his father’s name, Basil Pocklington, engraved on the Cup despite having no official role with the team. Once the NHL discovered this, the name was removed.

The owner of the Red Wings, Mike Ilitch, did engrave the names of numerous family members on the Cup, including Christopher, Denise, Lisa, Carole, Michael, Atanas and Ron. All the kids, however, worked for the team.

Fan Disappointment Makes Sense

Ultimately, the Stanley Cup is more than a trophy. It’s an iconic symbol of sacrifice, commitment and contribution. While ownership families may be part of a franchise’s story, a place on the Cup has traditionally represented those who played a meaningful role in earning the championship. The outrage from fans is about what the decision represents. Children who had no role in building the team, competing for the championship, or supporting its operations are being recognized alongside players, coaches, and staff who went to war to win the Stanley Cup. For many fans, that diminishes the meaning of having a name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

And that’s a tough point to dispute.