The Gagarin Cup (Russian: Кубок Гагарина, Kubok Gagarina) 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.
[1] After the end of the KHL's regular season, sixteen teams participate in the playoffs.
The winner of the final best-of-seven series receives the Gagarin Cup.
[3] 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.
Italicized marks now non-existent (not playing in the KHL) teams.