| History
The O'Brien Trophy was donated to the National Hockey Association by its' name sake Senator J. O'Brien in recognition of his son J. Ambrose O'Brien, in 1910. The trophy was to be emblematic of the championship of the league.
J.A. O'Brien had hockey in his blood. He participated at all levels of the game - as a player, financier and founder. He almost single-handedly organized the National Hockey Association and helped launch one of the most famous teams in NHL history - the Montreal Canadiens.
After the demise of the National Hockey Association in 1917, the trophy was taken over by the National Hockey League and awarded to the league champions. Upon the donation of the Prince of Wales Trophy to the NHL in the early 1920's, a decision was made by the league executive to retire the O'Brien Trophy. However in 1928, the O'Brien Trophy officially was awarded to the Canadian team with the most points.
The significance of the O'Brien Trophy was again altered in 1939, when it became the award handed out to the losing Stanley Cup finalist. Of note, the trophy was not formerly awarded between 1939 and 1943. It wasn't until 1944 that the teams from that five-year period had their names inscribed on the trophy. The O'Brien Trophy was officially retired by the NHL at the end of the 1949-50 season.
ALL-TIME WINNERS
| 1950 |
New York Rangers |
| 1949 |
Detroit Red Wings |
| 1948 |
Detroit Red Wings |
| 1947 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1946 |
Boston Bruins |
| 1945 |
Detroit Red Wings |
| 1944 |
Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1943 |
Boston Bruins |
| 1942 |
Detroit Red Wings |
| 1941 |
Detroit Red Wings |
| 1940 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1939 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1938 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1937 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1936 |
Montreal Maroons |
| 1935 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1934 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1933 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1932 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1931 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1930 |
Montreal Maroons |
| 1929 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1928 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1923 |
Ottawa Senators |
| 1922 |
Toronto St Pats |
| 1921 |
Ottawa Senators |
| 1920 |
Ottawa Silver Seven |
| 1919 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1918 |
Toronto Arenas |
| 1917 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1916 |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 1915 |
Ottawa Senators |
| 1914 |
Toronto Blue Shirts |
| 1913 |
Quebec Bulldogs |
| 1912 |
Quebec Bulldogs |
| 1911 |
Ottawa Senators |
| 1910 |
Montreal Wanderers |
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