List of NHL franchise post-season droughts
This article is a list of the 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 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. 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 defunct World Hockey Association (WHA) league.
Note: These lists do not include the cancelled 2004–05 NHL season.
Among the current 31 NHL teams, 11 have never won the Stanley Cup. Additionally, one of the Original Six franchises – the Toronto Maple Leafs – has a Stanley Cup drought that includes the entire expansion era (51 seasons and counting). With the Vegas Golden Knights winning the Western Conference in 2018, there are only four franchises that have never reached the Stanley Cup Finals. Of those four, the oldest is the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise (38 seasons), while the Maple Leafs have an even longer drought (51 seasons). The longest Stanley Cup championship drought in history was that of the New York Rangers, broken in 1994 after 53 seasons. The Maple Leafs have the current longest active Stanley Cup championship drought at 51 seasons and counting. In 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks ended what was the second-longest ever Stanley Cup championship drought at 47 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 Florida Panthers have the longest active playoff series win drought (22 seasons). The longest drought between series wins was that of the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise, broken in 2012 after 25 seasons. The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active playoff appearance drought (9 seasons). The longest playoff droughts in history were by the Panthers and Edmonton Oilers at 10 seasons, which ended in 2012 and 2017 respectively.
Longest active droughts
Postseason 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 8 series (16 teams) and there are 31 teams in the NHL, there will always be 15 teams that did not make the most recent playoffs on this list, except for 2020 as the league expanded the playoffs to 24 teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a result only 7 teams did not make the playoffs.
The other 24 teams – the Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets – all qualified for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
| Team | Last appearance in post-season | Postseason drought |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | 2010–11 | 9 seasons |
| Detroit Red Wings | 2015–16 | 4 seasons |
| Ottawa Senators | 2016–17 | 3 seasons |
| Anaheim Ducks | 2017–18 | 2 seasons |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2017–18 | 2 seasons |
| New Jersey Devils | 2017–18 | 2 seasons |
| San Jose Sharks | 2018–19 | 1 season |
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 but subsequently lost the first round series. Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series (16 teams), there will be 23 teams in this list – the 15 teams that do not qualify for the post-season, plus the 8 teams that lose their first round series.
The other 8 teams – the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, and St. Louis Blues – all won a post-season series in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.
- 1 the Arizona Coyotes last won a post-season series in 2012 as the Phoenix Coyotes
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 2019 Stanley Cup Finals: the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues.
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 22 seasons for Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2018–19)
- 2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 8 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2018–19)
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 St. Louis Blues.
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 22 seasons for Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2018–19)
- 2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 8 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2018–19)
Closest approaches without winning
| Team | First Round Appearances1 |
Second Round Appearances2 |
Conference Finals Appearances3 |
Stanley Cup Finals Appearances |
Fewest Wins Short of Stanley Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canucks | 26 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 win short : 1993–94, 2010–11 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 27 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 2 wins short : 1974–75, 1998–99 |
| San Jose Sharks | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 2 wins short : 2015–16 |
| Nashville Predators | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 wins short : 2016–17 |
| Ottawa Senators | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 wins short : 2006–07 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 wins short : 2017–18 |
| Florida Panthers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 wins short : 1995–96 |
| Arizona Coyotes4 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 7 wins short : 2011–12 | |
| Winnipeg Jets5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 wins short : 2017–18 | |
| Minnesota Wild | 9 | 3 | 1 | 8 wins short : 2002–03 | |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 5 | 1 | 10 wins short : 2018–19 |
- 1 includes Preliminary Rounds from 1974–75 through to 1980–81, Division Semi-Finals from 1981–82 through to 1992–93 and Conference Quarterfinals from 1993–94 through to 2012–13
- 2 includes Quarter-Finals 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 Semi-Finals up to and including 1980–81
- 4 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 22 seasons for Arizona Coyotes/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2018–19).
- 5 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 7 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2018–19).
Longest all-time droughts
Post-season appearance droughts
| Team | Previous post-season appearance | Next post-season appearance | Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 2010–11 | 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 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1969–70 | 1977–78 | 7 seasons |
| New York Islanders | 1993–94 | 2001–02 | 7 seasons |
| Calgary Flames | 1995–96 | 2003–04 | 7 seasons |
| New York Rangers | 1996–97 | 2005–06 | 7 seasons |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 2008–09 | 7 seasons |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 2003–04 | 2012–13 | 7 seasons |
| Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets | 2006–07 | 2014–15 | 7 seasons5 |
| Phoenix / Arizona Coyotes | 2011–12 | 2019–20 | 7 seasons6 |
- 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)
- 5 includes 4 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (2007–08 through to 2010–11) + 3 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2013–14)
- 6 franchise changed its name in 2014 from Phoenix to Arizona Coyotes
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 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
| Team | Previous Stanley Cup Finals | Intervening Conference Finals losses |
Next Stanley Cup Finals | Stanley Cup Finals drought |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1966–67 | 5: 1977–78, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1998–99, 2001–02 | 51 seasons | |
| St. Louis Blues | 1969–70 | 4: 1971–72, 1985–86, 2000–01, 2015–16 | 2018–19 | 47 seasons |
| Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix / Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 1: 2011–12 | 39 seasons1 | |
| New York Islanders | 1983–84 | 1: 1992–93 | 34 seasons | |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1965–66 | 2: 1986–87, 1987–88 | 1994–95 | 28 seasons |
| Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1: 1968–69 | 1992–93 | 25 seasons |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1992–93 | 2: 2009–10, 2013–14 | 25 seasons | |
| Buffalo Sabres | 1974–75 | 2: 1979–80, 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 23 seasons |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1: 1969–70 | 1990–91 | 23 seasons |
| Washington Capitals | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1: 1989–90 | 1997–98 | 23 seasons |
| San Jose Sharks | never (inception of franchise in 1991–92) | 3: 2003–04, 2009–10, 2010–11 | 2015–16 | 23 seasons |
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 21 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2017–18)
Stanley Cup droughts
| Team | Previous Stanley Cup | Intervening Stanley Cup Finals losses |
Next Stanley Cup | Stanley Cup drought |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Rangers | 1939–40 | 3 : 1949–50, 1971–72, 1978–79 | 1993–94 | 53 seasons1 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1966–67 | 51 seasons | ||
| St. Louis Blues | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 3 : 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70 | 2018–19 | 50 seasons |
| Buffalo Sabres | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 2 : 1974–75, 1998–99 | 49 seasons | |
| Vancouver Canucks | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 3 : 1981–82, 1993–94, 2010–11 | 48 seasons | |
| Chicago Black Hawks2 | 1960–61 | 5 : 1961–62, 1964–65, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1991–92 | 2009–10 | 47 seasons |
| Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1 : 1992–93 | 2011–12 | 43 seasons |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 1974–75 | 6 : 1975–76, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1996–97, 2009–10 | 43 seasons | |
| Washington Capitals | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1 : 1997–98 | 2017–18 | 42 seasons |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1954–55 | 6 : 1955–56, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1994–95 | 1996–97 | 41 seasons |
- 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.
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 | 49 | 1974–75, 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres |
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 441 | 1980–812, 1990–912 | Minnesota Wild |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 373 | 2015–16 | San Jose Sharks |
| South Florida | 25 | 1995–96 | Florida Panthers |
| Phoenix | 22 | Never | Arizona Coyotes |
| Columbus, Ohio | 204 | Never | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Nashville | 20 | 2016–17 | Nashville Predators |
| Las Vegas | 2 | 2017–18 | Vegas Golden Knights |
- 1 includes 26 seasons of the Minnesota North Stars (1967–68 through to 1992–93) and 18 seasons of the Minnesota Wild (2000–01 through to 2018–19).
- 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 28 seasons of the San Jose Sharks (1991–92 through to 2019–20).
- 4 includes 2 seasons of the Cleveland Barons franchise (1976–77 through to 1977–78) and 18 seasons of the Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01 through to 2018–19).
- Although the Vancouver Canucks have not won a Stanley Cup in their 48 seasons of play (inception of franchise in 1970–71 through to 2018–19), 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 in their 26 seasons of play (inception of franchise in 1992–93 through to 2018–19), Ottawa celebrated 11 Stanley Cup championships with the original era Ottawa Senators, the last one in 1927.
- While neither team called the Winnipeg Jets ever won the Stanley Cup in their combined 25 seasons playing in Winnipeg (as of 2018–19), the city celebrated three Stanley Cup championships by the Winnipeg Victorias, the last in 1902, prior to the founding of the NHL in 1917.
- When the Seattle NHL expansion team begins play in 2021–22, it will be more than a century since the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association became the first U.S.-based team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917, the Mets' only Cup championship.
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 7 to 24 since 2017), 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 last Canadian club to go all the way and win the Stanley Cup.[2]
- Last time that none of the Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs: 2015–16
- Last all-Canadian first round series: 2014–15 (Calgary vs. Vancouver and Montreal vs. Ottawa)
- Last time all the Canadian teams were eliminated in the first round: 2018–19 (Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg)
- Last all-Canadian second round series: 2001–02 (Ottawa vs. Toronto)
- Last time all the Canadian teams were eliminated in the second round: 2014–15 (Calgary, Montreal)
- Last Conference Finals appearance by a Canadian team: 2017–18 (Winnipeg)
- Last all-Canadian Conference Finals: 1993–94 (Toronto vs. Vancouver)
- Last Stanley Cup Finals appearance by a Canadian team: 2010–11 (Vancouver)
- 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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