The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) also views the Stanley Cup as one of the 'most important championships available to the sport'. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered to be the top ranked professional ice hockey league in the world, with players from 17 countries as of the 2023–24 season. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The National Hockey League ( NHL French: Ligue nationale de hockey, LNH) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams-25 in the United States and 7 in Canada.
