Final answer:
The big prize for the National Hockey League (NHL) is called the Stanley Cup.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a) Stanley cup. The Stanley Cup is the big prize for the National Hockey League (NHL). It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America.
The cup is named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada who donated it to be used as the prize for the best amateur hockey team in Canada. Over time, the Stanley Cup became the trophy awarded to the NHL champions.
Teams compete in a playoff tournament at the end of each NHL season, with the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup. The winning team has their names engraved on the cup, and each player gets to spend a day with the cup, creating a unique tradition and a lifelong memory.