List of NHL franchise post-season droughts


List of NHL franchise post-season droughts


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 2024 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, ten have never won the Stanley Cup, with the oldest of them being the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres (53 seasons). The longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs (56 seasons). Toronto's drought is still active, and they have not made the Finals since winning the last Stanley Cup in 1967, 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 (43 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 17 seasons and also have the longest active post-season appearance drought at 13 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 2023–24 season, there are sixteen teams that did not make the most recent playoffs on this list.

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 2023–24 NHL season: the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks.

1 includes 4 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (2007–08 through to 2010–11) + 13 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2023–24)
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 the regular season champions. This list does not include the most recent Presidents' Trophy champions: the New York Rangers.

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) + 41 season of the New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 2023–24)
3 includes 18 seasons of the Hartford Whalers (1979–80 through to 1996–97) + 26 seasons of the Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98 through to 2023–24)
4 includes 17 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 27 seasons of the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2023–24)
5 includes 11 seasons of the Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 13 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2023–24)

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 Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks – all won a post-season series in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Stanley Cup Finals droughts

This lists the teams and the number of seasons since reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. This list does not include a team that made the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals: the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.

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) + 27 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2023–24)
3 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 13 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2023–24)

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 Florida Panthers.

1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 27 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2023–24)
2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 13 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2023–24)

Closest approaches without winning

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) + 27 seasons for Arizona Coyotes/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2023–24).
5 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 13 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2023–24).

Longest all-time droughts

Post-season appearance droughts

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

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

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) + 27 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2023–24)
3 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 13 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2023–24)

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) + 27 seasons for Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2023–24)

Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup

This list only includes cities/regions currently hosting an NHL franchise.

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. The 1992–93 Montreal Canadiens remain the most recent Canadian club to win the Stanley Cup.

  • Last time that all Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs: 1985–86
  • 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: 2023–24 (Edmonton vs. Vancouver)
  • 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: 2023–24 (Edmonton)
  • Last all-Canadian Conference Finals: 1993–94 (Toronto vs. Vancouver)
  • Last Stanley Cup Finals appearance by a Canadian team: 2023–24 (Edmonton)
  • Last all-Canadian Stanley Cup Finals: 1988–89 (Calgary vs. Montreal)
  • Last Stanley Cup won by a Canadian team: 1992–93 (Montreal)

See also

  • Season structure of the NHL
  • List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks
  • List of MLB franchise post-season droughts
  • List of NBA franchise post-season droughts
  • List of NFL franchise post-season droughts

References


Text submitted to CC-BY-SA license. Source: List of NHL franchise post-season droughts by Wikipedia (Historical)



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