The Shield

The 2025-26 war

The Shield

One club carries it. Every game it plays is a siege. Break the holder, and the Shield is yours.

2025-26 Shield champion

Colorado Avalanche

12 attackers beaten back, more than any club, across 4 reigns. Longest stand: 9 defenses.

Still standing with it at the last horn: the Vegas Golden Knights, after Golden Knights 4, Kraken 1.

Carried it into the season: Florida Panthers. The Florida Panthers won the 2025 Stanley Cup, so they opened 2025-26 holding the Shield.

THE SHIELD · MMXXV · MMXXVI THE SHIELD · MMXXV · MMXXVI ANABOSBUFCGYCARCHICOLCBJDALDETEDMFLALAKMINMTLNSHNJDNYINYROTTPHIPITSJSSEASTLTBLTORUTAVANVGKWSHWPG Anaheim Ducks: Never held it, beaten back onceBoston Bruins: Never held it, beaten back 3 timesBuffalo Sabres: Never held it, beaten back onceCalgary Flames: Never held it, beaten back 2 timesCarolina Hurricanes: 1 defense, beaten back 2 timesChicago Blackhawks: Never held it, beaten back 2 timesColorado Avalanche: 12 defenses: Shield championsColumbus Blue Jackets: Never held itDallas Stars: 2 defenses, beaten back onceDetroit Red Wings: Never held it, beaten back 2 timesEdmonton Oilers: Never held it, beaten back onceFlorida Panthers: 4 defenses, beaten back onceLos Angeles Kings: 0 defenses, beaten back onceMinnesota Wild: Never held it, beaten back onceMontréal Canadiens: 1 defense, beaten back onceNashville Predators: Never held it, beaten back 4 timesNew Jersey Devils: 2 defensesNew York Islanders: 3 defensesNew York Rangers: 2 defenses, beaten back onceOttawa Senators: 1 defense, beaten back 2 timesPhiladelphia Flyers: 1 defense, beaten back 4 timesPittsburgh Penguins: Never held it, beaten back onceSan Jose Sharks: Never held it, beaten back onceSeattle Kraken: 1 defense, beaten back 3 timesSt. Louis Blues: 2 defenses, beaten back onceTampa Bay Lightning: 5 defenses, beaten back onceToronto Maple Leafs: 3 defenses, beaten back onceUtah Mammoth: 4 defenses, beaten back 3 timesVancouver Canucks: Never held it, beaten back onceVegas Golden Knights: 2 defenses, beaten back onceWashington Capitals: 0 defensesWinnipeg Jets: 3 defenses, beaten back 4 times Defense 1: Hurricanes 5, Red Wings 2, Feb 28Defense 1: Avalanche 4, Predators 2, Dec 13Defense 2: Avalanche 5, Kraken 3, Dec 16Defense 3: Avalanche 3, Jets 2, Dec 19Defense 4: Avalanche 5, Wild 1, Dec 21Defense 5 (gold): Avalanche 1, Mammoth 0, Dec 23Defense 6: Avalanche 6, Golden Knights 5 (SO), Dec 27Defense 7: Avalanche 5, Kings 2, Dec 29Defense 8: Avalanche 6, Blues 1, Dec 31Defense 9: Avalanche 5, Hurricanes 3, Jan 3Defense 10 (gold): Avalanche 6, Penguins 2, Mar 24Defense 11: Avalanche 3, Jets 2, Mar 26Defense 12: Avalanche 3, Flames 1, Apr 9Defense 1: Stars 7, Canadiens 0, Nov 13Defense 2: Stars 5, Flyers 1, Nov 15Defense 1: Panthers 3, Blackhawks 2, Oct 7Defense 2: Panthers 2, Flyers 1, Oct 9Defense 3: Panthers 6, Senators 2, Oct 11Defense 4: Panthers 4, Mammoth 3, Dec 10Defense 1: Canadiens 4, Senators 3 (OT), Nov 1Defense 1: Devils 4, Bruins 3 (OT), Mar 16Defense 2: Devils 6, Rangers 3, Mar 18Defense 1: Islanders 5, Red Wings 0, Nov 20Defense 2: Islanders 6, Avalanche 3, Dec 4Defense 3: Islanders 2, Lightning 0, Dec 6Defense 1: Rangers 4, Hurricanes 2, Nov 26Defense 2: Rangers 6, Bruins 2, Nov 28Defense 1: Senators 4, Mammoth 2, Nov 9Defense 1: Flyers 3, Predators 1, Nov 6Defense 1: Kraken 3, Oilers 2, Oct 25Defense 1: Blues 3, Sharks 2 (OT), Mar 6Defense 2: Blues 4, Ducks 0, Mar 8Defense 1: Lightning 4, Jets 1, Jan 29Defense 2: Lightning 6, Bruins 5 (SO), Feb 1Defense 3: Lightning 4, Sabres 3 (OT), Feb 3Defense 4: Lightning 6, Panthers 1, Feb 5Defense 5 (gold): Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 2, Feb 25Defense 1: Maple Leafs 2, Flyers 1 (OT), Jan 8Defense 2: Maple Leafs 5, Canucks 0, Jan 10Defense 3: Maple Leafs 4, Avalanche 3 (OT), Jan 12Defense 1: Mammoth 2, Stars 1, Jan 15Defense 2: Mammoth 6, Kraken 3, Jan 17Defense 3: Mammoth 5, Flyers 4 (OT), Jan 21Defense 4: Mammoth 5, Predators 2, Jan 24Defense 1: Golden Knights 6, Jets 2, Apr 13Defense 2: Golden Knights 4, Kraken 1, Apr 15Defense 1: Jets 4, Predators 1, Oct 18Defense 2: Jets 2, Flames 1, Oct 20Defense 3: Jets 4, Blackhawks 3 (OT), Mar 31
COL
Colorado Avalanche

A defense Every fifth, gold Beaten back by the holder Lost the Shield Next challenger

The shield wall

Every club's own shield this season, crowned with its club's shape: painted once it has held the Shield, a rivet for every defense, an arrow for every time the holder threw it back, a gash for every time it lost the Shield. Pick one for its story.

The E 11 of 16 have held it

  • BOS
  • BUF
  • CAR
  • CBJ
  • DET
  • FLA
  • MTL
  • NJD
  • NYI
  • NYR
  • OTT
  • PHI
  • PIT
  • TBL
  • TOR
  • WSH

The We 8 of 16 have held it

  • ANA
  • CGY
  • CHI
  • COL
  • DAL
  • EDM
  • LAK
  • MIN
  • NSH
  • SEA
  • SJS
  • STL
  • UTA
  • VAN
  • VGK
  • WPG

The saga

33 reigns, every one ended by force but the last. Longest stand: the Avalanche, 9 attackers beaten back.

FLA3PHI0WPG2SEA1MTL1PHI1OTT1DAL2NYI1STL0NYR2TBL0NYI2FLA1COL9FLA0TOR3UTA4TBL5CAR1SEA0STL2NYI0LAK0NJD2WSH0COL2WPG1DAL0COL0STL0COL1VGK2

From Oct 781 Shield games, 33 reigns

Each block is one reign, in order from opening night: as wide as the Shield games it lasted, with its club and the number of defenses it made. Pick a block for the game its reign began with.

  1. Vegas Golden Knights 2 defenses Wrenched it from the Avalanche on Apr 11, 3-2 OT. Still standing at the last horn.
  2. Colorado Avalanche 1 defense Ripped it from the Blues on Apr 7, 3-1. Broken by the Golden Knights on Apr 11, 3-2 OT.
  3. St. Louis Blues 0 defenses Seized it from the Avalanche on Apr 5, 3-2. Lost it to the Avalanche on Apr 7, 3-1.
  4. Colorado Avalanche 0 defenses Tore it from the Stars on Apr 4, 2-0. Fell to the Blues on Apr 5, 3-2.
  5. Dallas Stars 0 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Jets on Apr 2, 3-0. Stripped of it by the Avalanche on Apr 4, 2-0.
  6. Winnipeg Jets 1 defense Took it by force from the Avalanche on Mar 28, 4-2. Overrun by the Stars on Apr 2, 3-0.
  7. Colorado Avalanche 2 defenses Wrenched it from the Capitals on Mar 22, 3-2 OT. Broken by the Jets on Mar 28, 4-2.
  8. Washington Capitals 0 defenses Ripped it from the Devils on Mar 20, 2-1. Lost it to the Avalanche on Mar 22, 3-2 OT.
  9. New Jersey Devils 2 defenses Seized it from the Kings on Mar 14, 6-4. Fell to the Capitals on Mar 20, 2-1.
  10. Los Angeles Kings 0 defenses Tore it from the Islanders on Mar 13, 3-2. Stripped of it by the Devils on Mar 14, 6-4.
  11. New York Islanders 0 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Blues on Mar 10, 4-3 OT. Overrun by the Kings on Mar 13, 3-2.
  12. St. Louis Blues 2 defenses Took it by force from the Kraken on Mar 4, 3-2. Broken by the Islanders on Mar 10, 4-3 OT.
  13. Seattle Kraken 0 defenses Wrenched it from the Hurricanes on Mar 2, 2-1. Lost it to the Blues on Mar 4, 3-2.
  14. Carolina Hurricanes 1 defense Ripped it from the Lightning on Feb 26, 5-4. Fell to the Kraken on Mar 2, 2-1.
  15. Tampa Bay Lightning 5 defenses Seized it from the Mammoth on Jan 26, 2-0. Stripped of it by the Hurricanes on Feb 26, 5-4.
  16. Utah Mammoth 4 defenses Tore it from the Maple Leafs on Jan 13, 6-1. Overrun by the Lightning on Jan 26, 2-0.
  17. Toronto Maple Leafs 3 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Panthers on Jan 6, 4-1. Broken by the Mammoth on Jan 13, 6-1.
  18. Florida Panthers 0 defenses Took it by force from the Avalanche on Jan 4, 2-1. Lost it to the Maple Leafs on Jan 6, 4-1.
  19. Colorado Avalanche 9 defenses Wrenched it from the Panthers on Dec 11, 6-2. Fell to the Panthers on Jan 4, 2-1.
  20. Florida Panthers 1 defense Ripped it from the Islanders on Dec 7, 4-1. Stripped of it by the Avalanche on Dec 11, 6-2.
  21. New York Islanders 2 defenses Seized it from the Lightning on Dec 2, 2-1. Overrun by the Panthers on Dec 7, 4-1.
  22. Tampa Bay Lightning 0 defenses Tore it from the Rangers on Nov 29, 4-1. Broken by the Islanders on Dec 2, 2-1.
  23. New York Rangers 2 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Blues on Nov 24, 3-2. Lost it to the Lightning on Nov 29, 4-1.
  24. St. Louis Blues 0 defenses Took it by force from the Islanders on Nov 22, 2-1. Fell to the Rangers on Nov 24, 3-2.
  25. New York Islanders 1 defense Wrenched it from the Stars on Nov 18, 3-2. Stripped of it by the Blues on Nov 22, 2-1.
  26. Dallas Stars 2 defenses Ripped it from the Senators on Nov 11, 3-2 OT. Overrun by the Islanders on Nov 18, 3-2.
  27. Ottawa Senators 1 defense Seized it from the Flyers on Nov 8, 3-2 OT. Broken by the Stars on Nov 11, 3-2 OT.
  28. Philadelphia Flyers 1 defense Tore it from the Canadiens on Nov 4, 5-4 SO. Lost it to the Senators on Nov 8, 3-2 OT.
  29. Montréal Canadiens 1 defense Cut it from the grip of the Kraken on Oct 28, 4-3 OT. Fell to the Flyers on Nov 4, 5-4 SO.
  30. Seattle Kraken 1 defense Took it by force from the Jets on Oct 23, 3-0. Stripped of it by the Canadiens on Oct 28, 4-3 OT.
  31. Winnipeg Jets 2 defenses Wrenched it from the Flyers on Oct 16, 5-2. Overrun by the Kraken on Oct 23, 3-0.
  32. Philadelphia Flyers 0 defenses Ripped it from the Panthers on Oct 13, 5-2. Broken by the Jets on Oct 16, 5-2.
  33. Florida Panthers 3 defenses Carried it into the season as Cup champions. Lost it to the Flyers on Oct 13, 5-2.

The war road

Every arena the Shield has been carried into this season, in order. Faint lines are its oldest marches; crossed swords mark where it was taken by force.

ANABOSBUFCARCBJCGYCHICOLDALDETEDMFLALAKMINMTLNJDNSHNYINYROTTPHIPITSEASJSSTLTBLTORUTAVANVGKWPGWSH Oct 13: The Flyers take the Shield from the PanthersOct 16: The Jets break the Flyers and seize the ShieldOct 23: The Kraken take the Shield from the JetsOct 28: The Canadiens take the Shield from the KrakenNov 4: The Flyers take the Shield from the CanadiensNov 8: The Senators take the Shield from the FlyersNov 11: The Stars break the Senators and seize the ShieldNov 18: The Islanders break the Stars and seize the ShieldNov 22: The Blues take the Shield from the IslandersNov 24: The Rangers strip the Shield from the BluesNov 29: The Lightning strip the Shield from the RangersDec 2: The Islanders break the Lightning and seize the ShieldDec 7: The Panthers break the Islanders and seize the ShieldDec 11: The Avalanche break the Panthers and seize the ShieldJan 4: The Panthers strip the Shield from the AvalancheJan 6: The Maple Leafs take the Shield from the PanthersJan 13: The Mammoth tear the Shield from the Maple LeafsJan 26: The Lightning tear the Shield from the MammothFeb 26: The Hurricanes strip the Shield from the LightningMar 2: The Kraken tear the Shield from the HurricanesMar 4: The Blues break the Kraken and seize the ShieldMar 10: The Islanders strip the Shield from the BluesMar 13: The Kings tear the Shield from the IslandersMar 14: The Devils break the Kings and seize the ShieldMar 20: The Capitals strip the Shield from the DevilsMar 22: The Avalanche strip the Shield from the CapitalsMar 28: The Jets break the Avalanche and seize the ShieldApr 2: The Stars break the Jets and seize the ShieldApr 4: The Avalanche tear the Shield from the StarsApr 5: The Blues take the Shield from the AvalancheApr 7: The Avalanche break the Blues and seize the ShieldApr 11: The Golden Knights break the Avalanche and seize the Shield

How the war ended

Most defenses wins the season's Shield. Level? Longest reign, then captures, then whoever got there first.

#TeamDefensesLongest reignCapturesReignsChallenges
1 Avalanche 12 9 4 4 6
2 Lightning 5 5 2 2 3
3 Mammoth 4 4 1 1 4
4 Panthers 4 3 2 3 3
5 Maple Leafs 3 3 1 1 2
6 Islanders 3 2 3 3 3
7 Jets 3 2 2 2 6
8 Blues 2 2 3 3 4
9 Stars 2 2 2 2 3
10 Rangers 2 2 1 1 2
11 Devils 2 2 1 1 1
12 Golden Knights 2 2 1 1 2
13 Kraken 1 1 2 2 5
14 Flyers 1 1 2 2 6
15 Canadiens 1 1 1 1 2
16 Senators 1 1 1 1 3
17 Hurricanes 1 1 1 1 3
18 Kings 0 0 1 1 2
19 Capitals 0 0 1 1 1

Never laid a hand on it: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Bruins, Canucks, Ducks, Flames, Oilers, Penguins, Predators, Red Wings, Sabres, Sharks, Wild.

Shieldbearers

Every Shield game names a Shieldbearer: the warrior on the winning side who did most to hold the wall or break it. How they're picked.

#PlayerClubShieldbearer
1Nathan MacKinnonAvalanche6
2Jason RobertsonStars3
3Nikita KucherovLightning3
4Robert ThomasBlues3
5Martin NecasAvalanche3
6Mark ScheifeleJets2
7Aaron EkbladPanthers2
8William NylanderMaple Leafs2
9Mathew BarzalIslanders2
10Brock NelsonAvalanche2

The warriors

Every goal, assist and win in net in a Shield game this season, for the wall or against it.

Goals

#PlayerGoals
1Nathan MacKinnonAvalanche16
2Martin NecasAvalanche12
3Brock NelsonAvalanche10
4Mark ScheifeleJets8
5Jason RobertsonStars8
6Valeri NichushkinAvalanche7
7Robert ThomasBlues7
8Nikita KucherovLightning5

Points

#PlayerPoints
1Nathan MacKinnonAvalanche3416G 18A
2Martin NecasAvalanche2812G 16A
3Brock NelsonAvalanche2110G 11A
4Nikita KucherovLightning205G 15A
5Valeri NichushkinAvalanche177G 10A
6Cale MakarAvalanche163G 13A
7Mark ScheifeleJets148G 6A
8Darren RaddyshLightning134G 9A

Wins in net

#PlayerWins in net
1Scott WedgewoodAvalanche82 shutouts
2Mackenzie BlackwoodAvalanche8
3Andrei VasilevskiyLightning61 shutout
4Ilya SorokinIslanders52 shutouts
5Karel VejmelkaMammoth5
6Connor HellebuyckJets5
7Sergei BobrovskyPanthers4
8Joseph WollMaple Leafs31 shutout

The law of the Shield

  1. One holder. One club carries the Shield at a time. The reigning Stanley Cup champions carry it into opening night.
  2. Every game is a siege. Whenever the holder plays, the Shield is on the line. Any opponent, any arena.
  3. Win, and the wall holds. A win in regulation, overtime or a shootout is a defense, and a rivet hammered into the Shield.
  4. Lose, and it's gone. Beat the holder and the Shield is yours on the spot. Now everyone is coming for you.

The full law: no extra games, no bracket, the NHL standings untouched.