Active and all-time National Hockey League (NHL) franchise post-season appearance, post-season series win, Stanley Cup Finals and Stanley Cup droughts up to and including the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, are listed below. Those teams which have never made it in franchise history are listed by the season that they entered the league, either as a new franchise or when they merged into the NHL from the disbanded World Hockey Association (WHA) league. These lists do not include the cancelled 2004–05 NHL season when calculating "number of seasons".
Among the current 32 active NHL teams, 11 have never won the Stanley Cup, with the oldest of them being the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres (52 seasons). The longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs (55 seasons), breaking a tie with the New York Rangers. New York ended their drought in 1994, while Toronto's drought is still active, as they have not made the Finals since winning the last Stanley Cup before the expansion era. Five teams have never reached the Stanley Cup Finals, with the oldest of them being the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise (42 seasons). Toronto's active 55-season drought from the Finals is the longest in NHL history. In 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks ended what was the second-longest Stanley Cup championship drought at 49 seasons (now the sixth-longest). The end of that drought was the first of three consecutive years in which one of the eleven longest such droughts was broken (Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, Boston Bruins in 2011, and Los Angeles Kings in 2012).
The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active playoff series win drought at 16 seasons and also have the longest active post-season appearance drought at 12 seasons, a league record. The Florida Panthers have the longest playoff series win drought in league history at 24 seasons.
Longest active droughts
Post-season appearance droughts
A postseason appearance drought is continued by not making the NHL playoffs after the regular season. Since the first round of the playoffs normally consists of eight series (sixteen teams) and there were thirty-two active teams in the NHL during the 2022–23 season, there are sixteen teams that did not make the most recent playoffs on this list.
| Team | Last appearance in post-season | Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | 2010–11 | 12 seasons |
| Detroit Red Wings | 2015–16 | 7 seasons |
| Ottawa Senators | 2016–17 | 6 seasons |
| Anaheim Ducks | 2017–18 | 5 seasons |
| San Jose Sharks | 2018–19 | 4 seasons |
| Arizona Coyotes | 2019–20 | 3 seasons |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 2019–20 | 3 seasons |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 2019–20 | 3 seasons |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 2019–20 | 3 seasons |
| Vancouver Canucks | 2019–20 | 3 seasons |
| Montreal Canadiens | 2020–21 | 2 seasons |
| Calgary Flames | 2021–22 | 1 season |
| Nashville Predators | 2021–22 | 1 season |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 2021–22 | 1 season |
| St. Louis Blues | 2021–22 | 1 season |
| Washington Capitals | 2021–22 | 1 season |
Division championship droughts
This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have won the Division championship. This list does not include the division champions in the 2022–23 NHL season: the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Vegas Golden Knights.
- 1 includes 4 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (2007–08 through to 2010–11) + 11 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2021–22)
- 2 franchise changed its name in 2014 from Phoenix to Arizona Coyotes
Presidents' Trophy droughts
This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have won the Presidents' Trophy as being the regular season champions. This list does not include the most recent Presidents' Trophy champions: the Boston Bruins.
- 1 The trophy was introduced at the start of the 1985–86 NHL season.
- 2 includes 2 seasons of the Kansas City Scouts (1974–75 through to 1975–76) + 6 seasons of the Colorado Rockies (1976–77 through to 1981–82) + 40 season of the New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 2022–23)
- 3 includes 18 seasons of the Hartford Whalers (1979–80 through to 1996–97) + 25 seasons of the Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98 through to 2022–23)
- 4 includes 17 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 26 seasons of the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2022–23)
- 5 includes 11 seasons of the Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 12 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2022–23)
Post-season series win droughts
A post-season series win drought is continued either by not making the playoffs in a season or by making the playoffs in a season and subsequently losing the first round series. Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consists of eight series (sixteen teams), there will be twenty-four teams in this list – the sixteen teams that do not qualify for the post-season, plus the eight teams that lose their first round series.
The other eight teams – the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, Seattle Kraken, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights – all won a post-season series in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Stanley Cup Finals droughts
This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have reached the Stanley Cup Finals. This list does not include the two teams that made the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals: the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights.
- 1 includes Semifinals up to and including 1980–81 and Stanley Cup Semifinals in 2020–21
- 2 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 26 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2022–23)
- 3 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 12 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2022–23)
Stanley Cup droughts
This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have won the Stanley Cup. This list does not include the most recent Stanley Cup champions: the Vegas Golden Knights.
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 26 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2022–23)
- 2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 12 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2022–23)
Closest approaches without winning
| Team | First NHL season | First Round Appearances1 |
Second Round Appearances2 |
Conference Finals Appearances3 |
Stanley Cup Finals Appearances |
Fewest wins short of Stanley Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canucks | 1970–71 | 27 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 win short : 1993–94, 2010–11 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 1970–71 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 2 wins short : 1974–75, 1998–99 |
| San Jose Sharks | 1991–92 | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 2 wins short : 2015–16 |
| Nashville Predators | 1998–99 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 wins short : 2016–17 |
| Florida Panthers | 1993–94 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 wins short : 2022–23 |
| Ottawa Senators | 1992–93 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 wins short : 2006–07 |
| Arizona Coyotes4 | 1979–80 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 7 wins short : 2011–12 | |
| Winnipeg Jets5 | 1999–2000 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 7 wins short : 2017–18 | |
| Minnesota Wild | 2000–01 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 wins short : 2002–03 | |
| Seattle Kraken | 2021–22 | 1 | 1 | 9 wins short : 2022–23 | ||
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 2000–01 | 6 | 1 | 10 wins short : 2018–19 |
- 1 includes Preliminary Rounds from 1974–75 through to 1980–81, Division Semifinals from 1981–82 through to 1992–93 and Conference Quarterfinals from 1993–94 through to 2012–13.
- 2 includes Quarterfinals from 1967–68 through to 1980–81, Division Finals from 1981–82 through to 1992–93 and Conference Semifinals from 1993–94 through to 2012–13.
- 3 includes Semifinals up to and including 1980–81 and Stanley Cup Semifinals in 2020–21.
- 4 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 26 seasons for Arizona Coyotes/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2022–23).
- 5 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 12 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2022–23).
Longest all-time droughts
Post-season appearance droughts
| Team | Previous post-season appearance | Next post-season appearance | Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | 2010–11 | 12 seasons | |
| Florida Panthers | 1999–2000 | 2011–12 | 10 seasons1 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 2005–06 | 2016–17 | 10 seasons |
| Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils | 1977–78 | 1987–88 | 9 seasons2 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 2008–09 | 2018–19 | 9 seasons |
| California Golden Seals / Cleveland Barons3 | 1969–70 | never (merger of franchise after 1977–78) | 8 seasons4 |
| Boston Bruins | 1958–59 | 1967–68 | 8 seasons |
| Washington Capitals | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1982–83 | 8 seasons |
- 1 no post-season occurred in 2005, due to the 2004–05 NHL Lockout
- 2 includes 4 seasons for Colorado Rockies (1978–79 through to 1981–82) + 5 seasons for New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 1986–87)
- 3 franchise dissolved in 1978 in a merger with the Minnesota North Stars (current Dallas Stars)
- 4 includes 6 seasons for California Golden Seals (1970–71 through to 1975–76) + 2 seasons for Cleveland Barons (1976–77, 1977–78)
Division championship droughts
| Team | Last Division championship win |
Next Division championship win |
Division championship drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | 1986–87 | 35 seasons1 | |
| New York Islanders | 1987–88 | 34 seasons1 | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1937–382 | 1999–00 | 32 seasons |
| Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 2011–12 | 31 seasons1,3 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 1990–91 | 31 seasons1 | |
| New York Rangers | 1931–322 | 1989–90 | 28 seasons |
| Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1990–91 | 23 seasons |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1990–914 | 23 seasons |
| Kansas City Scouts / Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1996–97 | 22 seasons5 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 22 seasons1 |
- 1 no post-season occurred in 2005, due to the 2004–05 NHL Lockout
- 2 from 1938–1967 the NHL did not have any divisions.
- 3 includes 17 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 14 seasons of the Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2010–11)
- 4 won the Stanley Cup in the same year.
- 5 includes 2 seasons of the Kansas City Scouts (1974–75 through to 1975–76) + 6 seasons of the Colorado Rockies (1976–77 through to 1981–82) + 14 seasons of the New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 1995–96)
Presidents' Trophy droughts
| Team | Last Presidents' Trophy1 | Subsequent Presidents' Trophy finalists |
Next Presidents' Trophy | Presidents' Trophy drought |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1962–63 | 59 seasons | ||
| Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 55 seasons | ||
| New York Rangers | 1941–42 | 4 : 1957–58, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1971–72 | 1991–92 | 49 seasons |
| Kansas City Scouts / Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 3 : 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99 | 48 seasons2 | |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1977–78 | 4 : 1978–79, 1987–88, 1988–89, 2014–15 | 44 seasons | |
| Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 1 : 2022–23 | 43 seasons3 | |
| Winnipeg Jets / Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 43 seasons4 | ||
| Chicago Black Hawks | never (inception of franchise in 1926–27) | 3 : 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66 | 1966–67 | 40 seasons |
| New York Islanders | 1981–82 | 1 : 1983–84 | 40 seasons | |
| Vancouver Canucks | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 2010–11 | 39 seasons |
- 1 trophy was introduced at the start of the 1985–86
- 2 includes 2 seasons of the Kansas City Scouts (1974–75 through to 1975–76) + 6 seasons of the Colorado Rockies (1976–77 through to 1981–82) + 40 season of the New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 2022–23)
- 3 includes 18 seasons of the Hartford Whalers (1979–80 through to 1996–97) + 25 seasons of the Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98 through to 2022–23)
- 4 includes 17 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 26 seasons of the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2022–23)
Post-season series win droughts
- 1 franchise renamed in 2014 as Arizona Coyotes
- 2 includes 9 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (1987–88 through to 1995–96) + 14 seasons of the Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2010–11)
- 3 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 6 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2016–17)
- 4 won the Stanley Cup in the same year.
- 5 includes 11 seasons of the Hartford Whalers (1986–87 through to 1996–97) + 4 season of the Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98 through to 2000–01)
Stanley Cup Finals droughts
- 1 won the Stanley Cup in the same year.
- 2 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 26 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2022–23)
- 3 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 12 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2022–23)
Stanley Cup droughts
- 1 it is common to refer to the duration of the New York Rangers' record Stanley Cup drought as 54 "years" (1940 to 1994), but that only encompasses 53 seasons (1940–41 to 1992–93).
- 2 the name of the team was Black Hawks for a majority of the drought (25 of the 47 seasons) before being renamed to Blackhawks in 1986.
- 3 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 26 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2022–23)
Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup
This list only includes cities/regions currently hosting an NHL franchise.
| City/Region | Seasons waiting | Stanley Cup Finals appearances |
Current NHL team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 52 | 1974–75, 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres |
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 481 | 1980–812, 1990–912 | Minnesota Wild |
| San Francisco Bay | 403 | 2015–16 | San Jose Sharks |
| Miami | 29 | 1995–96, 2022–23 | Florida Panthers |
| Phoenix | 26 | Never | Arizona Coyotes |
| Nashville | 24 | 2016–17 | Nashville Predators |
| Columbus | 22 | Never | Columbus Blue Jackets |
- 1 includes 26 seasons of the Minnesota North Stars (1967–68 through to 1992–93) and all seasons of the Minnesota Wild which has been competing since 2000–01.
- 2 both Stanley Cup Finals appearances by the Minnesota North Stars.
- 3 includes 9 seasons of the California Seals, Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals franchise (1967–68 through to 1975–76) and all seasons of the San Jose Sharks which has been competing since 1991–92.
- Although the Vancouver Canucks have not won a Stanley Cup since inception of franchise in 1970–71, Vancouver has one Stanley Cup to its credit - the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association won the Stanley Cup in 1915 prior to the founding of the NHL in 1917.
- While the current Ottawa Senators have never won the Stanley Cup since inception of franchise in 1992–93, Ottawa celebrated 11 Stanley Cup championships with the original era Ottawa Senators, the last one in 1927.
- While neither team called the Winnipeg Jets has ever won the Stanley Cup in Winnipeg, the city celebrated three Stanley Cup championships by the Winnipeg Victorias, the last in 1902, prior to the founding of the NHL in 1917. The original Winnipeg Jets team played between 1979–80 and 1995–96, while the current Winnipeg Jets team has been competing since 2011–12.
- The Seattle Kraken began play in 2021–22; however, the city of Seattle has one prior Stanley Cup championship as the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association became the first U.S.-based team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917.
Canadian droughts
Despite having fewer Canadian-based teams than U.S.-based ones throughout much of the NHL's existence (dating back to the Original Six era when it was two Canadian clubs to four American ones, and now seven to twenty-five since 2021), there have been only two times in league history where none of the Canadian teams qualified for the postseason: 1969–70 and 2015–16.[1] The 1992–93 Montreal Canadiens remain the most recent Canadian club to win the Stanley Cup.[2]
- Last time that no Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs: 2015–16
- Last all-Canadian first round series: 2020–21 (Toronto vs. Montreal and Edmonton vs. Winnipeg)
- Last all-Canadian first round series without North Division: 2014–15 (Montreal vs. Ottawa and Vancouver vs. Calgary)
- Last time all the Canadian teams were eliminated in the first round: 2018–19 (Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg)
- Last all-Canadian second round series: 2021–22 (Calgary vs. Edmonton)
- Last time all the Canadian teams were eliminated by the end of the second round: 2022–23 (Edmonton and Toronto)
- Last Conference Finals appearance by a Canadian team: 2021–22 (Edmonton)
- Last all-Canadian Conference Finals: 1993–94 (Toronto vs. Vancouver)
- Last Stanley Cup Finals appearance by a Canadian team: 2020–21 (Montreal)
- Last all-Canadian Stanley Cup Finals: 1988–89 (Calgary vs. Montreal)
- Last Stanley Cup won by a Canadian team: 1992–93 (Montreal)
See also
References
- ↑ Stubbs, Dave (March 31, 2016). "Woe Canada. No playoffs this year north of border". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ↑ Tim Warnsby (June 15, 2011). "Bruins win Stanley Cup". CBC Sports. Retrieved Feb 5, 2012.
The Canucks weren't going to become the first Canadian-based team since the 1992-93 Montreal Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup with such little production.
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