Fun on Friday: What’s the Big Deal About the Stanley Cup?

So, what do you think about the Muller report? I think it completely exonerates the president! No, wait. I think it shows he’s absolutely guilty and should be impeached! No, wait…

Actually, I think the whole thing goes to show how people can spin political theater any way they want to, depending on their political proclivities. I don’t really have any political proclivities – at least not when it comes to party politics. I haven’t been following the whole saga, so, I don’t know much about Russiagate at all.

But you know what I do know about?  Hockey! And it’s Stanley Cup playoff season!

Actually, this isn’t a particularly happy subject for me either. You see, I am a Tampa Bay Lightning fan. If you follow hockey, or really sports in general, you know that the Lightning just completed arguably the most epic meltdown in sports history.

The Bolts ended up tied for the most regular season wins in NHL history. They completely dominated the league. They locked up the No. 1 seed in the playoffs weeks before the season ended. Then they proceeded to get swept 4 games to none in the first round of the playoffs by the 8th seed Columbus Blue Jackets.

If you’re not a sports fan, suffice to say that is less than ideal.

It’s kind of like losing in the last minute to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl after going 16-0. (Sorry New England Patriots.) Or blowing a 25-point third quarter lead in the Super Bowl (Sorry Atlanta Falcons, but you’re welcome New England Patriots.) Or winning 116 regular season baseball games and then losing to the Yankees in the AL Championship. (Sorry Seattle Mariners.)

What I’m getting at is that this was a choke on an epic scale.

It underscores how hard it is to win a championship in sports. And the Stanley Cup is arguably the most difficult trophy to win. In order to hoist the Cup, you have to win four best-of-seven series.

Ask any hockey player and they will tell you that the Stanley Cup is priceless. Getting your name etched on that iconic trophy is the ultimate dream of every kid you laces up the skates and picks up a stick.

The Cup itself has a monetary value as well. It’s just that nobody can pin down exactly what that is. The best estimate I’ve been able to find is around $600,000.

On a side-note, did you know the Stanley Cup has a guardian? Phil Pritchard serves as “Keeper if the Cup.” He and his cohort travel everywhere with the trophy to make sure it stays safe. That further demonstrates the value of the trophy.

The Cup itself is pure silver and the rest of the trophy is formed out of a silver/nickel mix. That gives it value in and of itself. Silver has long been coveted for its beauty and scarcity. I wouldn’t recommend melting the Cup down though. It’s is even more valuable when you factor in the intangibles.

The name of every player to ever win the Cup is carved right into it. Obviously, the trophy would become ridiculously tall if they keep all the rings attached, so the bottom one is removed once the top one is full. The old rings are kept at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Nevertheless, nobody will ever forget Erwin Murph Chamberlain won the 1946 Cup with the Montreal Canadians. It’s carved right there on the trophy.

Of course, in order to get your hands on the Stanley Cup, you have to win the NHL championship – or go someplace where the trophy is on display. The good news is if you like silver, it’s much easier to get your hands on that. Just call 1-888-GOLD-160 today!

Fun on Friday is a weekly SchiffGold feature. We dig up some of the off-the-wall and off-beat stories relating to precious metals and share them with you – with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Click here to read other posts in this series.

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