What if?
24 famous title changes, replayed the other wayWe took famous NHL title changes, flipped the result, and replayed every game since through the same rules. Sometimes the belt finds its way home within days. Sometimes it never does.
What if Philadelphia Flyers had won?
Real result: Minnesota North Stars beat Philadelphia Flyers 7–1 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by January 22, 1980, 15 days later, after 1 reign that never happened.
The alternate belt: Canadiens
What if Montréal Canadiens had won?
Real result: New York Rangers beat Montréal Canadiens 6–3 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by March 28, 1978, 31 days later, after 4 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Sabres → Islanders → Flames → Red Wings
What if Edmonton Oilers had won?
Real result: Philadelphia Flyers beat Edmonton Oilers 7–5 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by November 29, 1984, 18 days later, after 4 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Canadiens → Maple Leafs → Stars → Devils
What if Pittsburgh Penguins had won?
Real result: St. Louis Blues beat Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by December 1, 1992, 33 days later, after 4 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Maple Leafs → Avalanche → Capitals → Penguins
What if Montréal Canadiens had won?
Real result: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Montréal Canadiens 3–2 · the game
It takes a while: the belt is back on its real path by November 1, 1945, 243 days later, after 10 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Blackhawks → Bruins → Canadiens → Maple Leafs → Canadiens → Maple Leafs → Canadiens → Maple Leafs → Red Wings → Maple Leafs
What if Boston Bruins had won?
Real result: St. Louis Blues beat Boston Bruins 3–1 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by March 19, 1969, 41 days later, after 5 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Canadiens → Maple Leafs → Canadiens → Red Wings → Rangers
What if Boston Bruins had won?
Real result: Detroit Red Wings beat Boston Bruins 5–3 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by November 26, 1970, 28 days later, after 3 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Blues → Stars → Bruins
What if Detroit Red Wings had won?
Real result: Montréal Canadiens beat Detroit Red Wings 4–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by April 9, 1955, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Canadiens
What if Utah Mammoth had won?
Real result: Vegas Golden Knights beat Utah Mammoth 5–4 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by April 29, 2026, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Golden Knights
What if Vegas Golden Knights had won?
Real result: Anaheim Ducks beat Vegas Golden Knights 3–1 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 8, 2026, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Ducks
What if Anaheim Ducks had won?
Real result: Vegas Golden Knights beat Anaheim Ducks 6–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 10, 2026, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Golden Knights
What if Vegas Golden Knights had won?
Real result: Anaheim Ducks beat Vegas Golden Knights 4–3 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 12, 2026, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Hurricanes
What if Anaheim Ducks had won?
Real result: Vegas Golden Knights beat Anaheim Ducks 3–2 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by May 14, 2026, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Golden Knights
What if Vegas Golden Knights had won?
Real result: Carolina Hurricanes beat Vegas Golden Knights 4–3 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by June 6, 2026, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Hurricanes
What if Carolina Hurricanes had won?
Real result: Vegas Golden Knights beat Carolina Hurricanes 5–4 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by June 9, 2026, 3 days later.
The alternate belt: Panthers
What if Vegas Golden Knights had won?
Real result: Carolina Hurricanes beat Vegas Golden Knights 5–3 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by June 11, 2026, 2 days later.
The alternate belt: Hurricanes
What if Dallas Stars had won?
Real result: Pittsburgh Penguins beat Dallas Stars 2–1 · the game
History snaps back fast: the belt is back on its real path by October 17, 2026, 7 days later, after 2 reigns that never happened.
The alternate belt: Avalanche → Stars
What if Pittsburgh Penguins had won?
Real result: Chicago Blackhawks beat Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Nashville Predators, not Vegas Golden Knights.
The alternate belt: Avalanche → Flyers → Ducks → Canucks → Sharks → Senators → Ducks → Predators
What if Chicago Blackhawks had won?
Real result: Dallas Stars beat Chicago Blackhawks 4–0 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Winnipeg Jets, not Vegas Golden Knights.
The alternate belt: Canadiens → Jets
What if Dallas Stars had won?
Real result: New Jersey Devils beat Dallas Stars 5–1 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Winnipeg Jets, not Vegas Golden Knights.
The alternate belt: Canadiens → Jets
What if New Jersey Devils had won?
Real result: Colorado Avalanche beat New Jersey Devils 5–2 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Winnipeg Jets, not Vegas Golden Knights.
The alternate belt: Jets
What if Colorado Avalanche had won?
Real result: Columbus Blue Jackets beat Colorado Avalanche 7–2 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Nashville Predators, not Vegas Golden Knights.
The alternate belt: Predators
What if Columbus Blue Jackets had won?
Real result: Buffalo Sabres beat Columbus Blue Jackets 5–2 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Florida Panthers, not Vegas Golden Knights.
The alternate belt: Panthers
What if Buffalo Sabres had won?
Real result: Vegas Golden Knights beat Buffalo Sabres 4–1 · the game
The belt never finds its way back. Today it would belong to Tampa Bay Lightning, not Vegas Golden Knights.
The alternate belt: Lightning