The Gagarin Cup () is the trophy presented to the winner of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) playoffs, and is named after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. The Cup was supposedly named after Gagarin because the last possible game of the inaugural KHL season took place on April 12, the anniversary date of Gagarin's flight.
After the end of the KHL's regular season, sixteen teams participate in the playoffs. The round of 16 and quarter-finals were a best-of-five series during the first season, and the semi-finals and finals were a best-of-seven series during the first season. Conferences were established for the second season. Conference quarter-finals are a best-of-five series while the conference semi-finals, conference finals and Gagarin Cup finals are a best-of-seven series. The winner of the final best-of-seven series receives the Gagarin Cup. It has been reported that the Cup weighs 18 kg (40 lbs), making it heavier than the NHL's Stanley Cup.
Naming history According to league president Alexander Medvedev, the Cup was named after Yuri Gagarin because Russian citizens associate his name with the achievement of great accomplishments, and the man himself has been described as a symbol of the nation.
Series results + Key to colors Win for eventual play-off winner Loss for eventual play-off winner WWestern Conference champion EEastern Conference champion N/AN/A, KHL conferences established during the second season of competition SeasonTeamsGame scores Seriesscore Series-winning goal scorer12345672008–09N/AAk Bars Kazan0–34–3 OT2–31–0 4Alexei Morozov (50:04)N/ALokomotiv Yaroslavl3–02–52–3 OT 3 2009–10 EAk Bars Kazan2–31–27–1 4 Nikita Alexeev (21:18) WHC MVD2–31–43–20–2 3 2010–11 ESalavat Yulaev Ufa2–1 OT3–13–2 4Alexander Svitov (55:48) WAtlant Moscow Oblast2–34–0 1 2011–12 EAvangard Omsk2–11–2 2–30–13 Jakub Klepiš (52:03) WDynamo Moscow 0–11–2 OT 5–2 4 2012–13 ETraktor Chelyabinsk 3–10–1 2–3 OT2 Alexei Tsvetkov (65:57) WDynamo Moscow2–13–2 3–4 4 2013–14 EMetallurg Magnitogorsk0–34–1 2–1 OT 7–44 Sergei Mozyakin (43:10) WLev Prague 3–2 3–5 5–4 OT 3 2014–15 E Ak Bars Kazan2–40–1 1–61 Roman Červenka (58:57) WSKA Saint Petersburg 1–2 3–2 4 2015–16 E Metallurg Magnitogorsk 2–3 OT1–0 2–3 OT4 Chris Lee (38:57) WCSKA Moscow5–11–2 1–2 OT1–33 2016–17 E Metallurg Magnitogorsk4–53–1 3–51 Ilya Kovalchuk (40:09) WSKA Saint Petersburg 2–1 OT3–24 2017–18 E Ak Bars Kazan 2–3 OT3–1 4 Rob Klinkhammer (41:06) WCSKA Moscow1–21–2 0–1 1 2018–19 E Avangard Omsk 0–22–3 OT 0 Maxim Mamin (77:44) W CSKA Moscow5–23–0 4 2019–20 E – W – 2020–21 W Avangard Omsk 1–24–3 OT 1–04 Sergey Tolchinsky (19:28) E CSKA Moscow1–43–0 0–2 2 2021–22 E Metallurg Magnitogorsk1–36–4 2–3 1–43 Alexander Popov (09:29) W CSKA Moscow 0–40–1 2–1 4 2022–23 E Ak Bars Kazan4–10–3 2–1 2–33 Darren Dietz (31:28) W CSKA Moscow 3–22–1 0–3 4 2023–24 E Metallurg Magnitogorsk2–11–0 4 Daniil Vovchenko (51:10) W Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 2–12–1 0 2024–25 E Traktor Chelyabinsk 2–51–3 1 Maxim Shalunov (68:01) W Lokomotiv Yaroslavl1–24–1 2–1 OT 4 2025–26 E Ak Bars Kazan 1–42–12–32 Maxim Shalunov (52:30) W Lokomotiv Yaroslavl3–11–5 4–1 4
Appearances In the table, the teams are sorted by the number of appearances in the Gagarin Cup finals, then by the number of wins. Italicized marks now non-existent (not playing in the KHL) teams. In the "Years of appearance" column, bold years indicate winning Gagarin Cup Finals appearances.
Team Wins Losses Win % Years of appearance (in Gagarin Cup Finals) CSKA Moscow 6 3 3 .500 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 Ak Bars Kazan 6 3 3 .500 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2026 Metallurg Magnitogorsk 5 3 2 .600 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 4 2 2 .500 2009, 2024, 2025, 2026 Avangard Omsk 3 1 2 .333 2012, 2019, 2021 Dynamo Moscow 2 2 0 1.000 2012, 2013 SKA Saint Petersburg 2 2 0 1.000 2015, 2017 Traktor Chelyabinsk 2 0 2 .000 2013, 2025 Salavat Yulaev Ufa 1 1 0 1.000 2011 HC MVD Moscow Oblast 1 0 1 .000 2010 Atlant Moscow Oblast 1 0 1 .000 2011 Lev Praha 1 0 1 .000 2014
References