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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 2025 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 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 (57 seasons). Five teams have never reached the Stanley Cup Finals, with the oldest of them being the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise (43 seasons). 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 18 seasons and also have the longest active post-season appearance drought at 14 seasons, a league record. The Florida Panthers have the longest playoff series win drought in league history at 24 seasons, lasting from 1997 to 2022.
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 2024–25 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 | 14 seasons |
Detroit Red Wings | 2015–16 | 9 seasons |
Anaheim Ducks | 2017–18 | 7 seasons |
San Jose Sharks | 2018–19 | 6 seasons |
Chicago Blackhawks | 2019–20 | 5 seasons |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 2019–20 | 5 seasons |
Philadelphia Flyers | 2019–20 | 5 seasons |
Calgary Flames | 2021–22 | 3 seasons |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 2021–22 | 3 seasons |
Seattle Kraken | 2022–23 | 2 seasons |
Boston Bruins | 2023–24 | 1 season |
Nashville Predators | 2023–24 | 1 season |
New York Islanders | 2023–24 | 1 season |
New York Rangers | 2023–24 | 1 season |
Utah Mammoth | never (inception of franchise in 2024–25) | 1 season |
Vancouver Canucks | 2023–24 | 1 season |
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 2024–25 NHL season: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals, and Winnipeg Jets.
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 Winnipeg Jets.
Team | Last Presidents' Trophy1 | Subsequent Presidents' Trophy finalists | Presidents' Trophy drought |
---|---|---|---|
Toronto Maple Leafs | 1962–63 | 61 seasons1 | |
Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 57 seasons1 | |
New Jersey Devils | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 3 : 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99 | 50 seasons1,2 |
Montreal Canadiens | 1977–78 | 4 : 1978–79, 1987–88, 1988–89, 2014–15 | 46 seasons1 |
Carolina Hurricanes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 1 : 2022–23 | 45 seasons1,3 |
Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 44 seasons1,4,5 | |
New York Islanders | 1981–82 | 1 : 1983–84 | 42 seasons1 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 1984–85 | 2 : 1985–86, 1986–87 | 39 seasons1 |
Edmonton Oilers | 1986–87 | 37 seasons | |
Calgary Flames | 1988–89 | 2 : 1989–90, 2018–19 | 35 seasons |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 1992–93 | 2 : 2012–13, 2016–17 | 31 seasons |
Anaheim Ducks | never (inception of franchise in 1993–94) | 1 : 2013–14 | 31 seasons |
Dallas Stars | 1998–99 | 3 : 2002–03, 2015–16, 2023–24 | 25 seasons |
St. Louis Blues | 1999–2000 | 1 : 2019–20 | 24 seasons |
Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 24 seasons | |
Minnesota Wild | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 24 seasons | |
Ottawa Senators | 2002–03 | 1 : 2005–06 | 21 seasons |
Buffalo Sabres | 2006–07 | 18 seasons | |
Detroit Red Wings | 2007–08 | 17 seasons | |
San Jose Sharks | 2008–09 | 1 : 2009–10 | 16 seasons |
Vancouver Canucks | 2011–12 | 13 seasons | |
Chicago Blackhawks | 2012–13 | 12 seasons | |
Washington Capitals | 2016–17 | 1 : 2024–25 | 8 seasons |
Vegas Golden Knights | never (inception of franchise in 2017–18) | 1 : 2020–21 | 8 seasons |
Nashville Predators | 2017–18 | 7 seasons | |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 2018–19 | 6 seasons | |
Colorado Avalanche | 2020–21 | 1 : 2021–22 | 4 seasons |
Seattle Kraken | never (inception of franchise in 2021–22) | 4 seasons | |
Florida Panthers | 2021–22 | 3 seasons | |
Boston Bruins | 2022–23 | 2 seasons | |
New York Rangers | 2023–24 | 1 season | |
Utah Mammoth | never (inception of franchise in 2024–25) | 1 season |
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, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals, and Winnipeg Jets – all won a post-season series in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.
This lists the teams and the number of seasons since they last reached the Stanley Cup Finals. This list does not include the teams that made the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals: the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.
This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have won the Stanley Cup. This list excludes the most recent Stanley Cup champions: the Florida Panthers.
Team | Last Stanley Cup | Subsequent Stanley Cup Finals losses | Stanley Cup drought |
---|---|---|---|
Toronto Maple Leafs | 1966–67 | 57 seasons | |
Buffalo Sabres | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 2 : 1974–75, 1998–99 | 54 seasons |
Vancouver Canucks | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 3 : 1981–82, 1993–94, 2010–11 | 54 seasons |
Philadelphia Flyers | 1974–75 | 6 : 1975–76, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1996–97, 2009–10 | 49 seasons |
Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 44 seasons1,2 | |
New York Islanders | 1982–83 | 1 : 1983–84 | 41 seasons |
Calgary Flames | 1988–89 | 1 : 2003–04 | 35 seasons |
Edmonton Oilers | 1989–90 | 3 : 2005–06, 2023–24, 2024–25 | 34 seasons |
San Jose Sharks | never (inception of franchise in 1991–92) | 1 : 2015–16 | 33 seasons |
Ottawa Senators | never (inception of franchise in 1992–93) | 1 : 2006–07 | 32 seasons |
Montreal Canadiens | 1992–93 | 1 : 2020–21 | 31 seasons |
New York Rangers | 1993–94 | 1 : 2013–14 | 30 seasons |
Nashville Predators | never (inception of franchise in 1998–99) | 1 : 2016–17 | 26 seasons |
Winnipeg Jets | never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000) | 25 seasons3 | |
Dallas Stars | 1998–99 | 2 : 1999–2000, 2019–20 | 25 seasons |
Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 24 seasons | |
Minnesota Wild | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 24 seasons | |
New Jersey Devils | 2002–03 | 1 : 2011–12 | 21 seasons |
Carolina Hurricanes | 2005–06 | 19 seasons | |
Anaheim Ducks | 2006–07 | 18 seasons | |
Detroit Red Wings | 2007–08 | 1 : 2008–09 | 17 seasons |
Boston Bruins | 2010–11 | 2 : 2012–13, 2018–19 | 14 seasons |
Los Angeles Kings | 2013–14 | 11 seasons | |
Chicago Blackhawks | 2014–15 | 10 seasons | |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 2016–17 | 8 seasons | |
Washington Capitals | 2017–18 | 7 seasons | |
St. Louis Blues | 2018–19 | 6 seasons | |
Seattle Kraken | never (inception of franchise in 2021–22) | 4 seasons | |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 2020–21 | 1: 2021–22 | 4 seasons |
Colorado Avalanche | 2021–22 | 3 seasons | |
Vegas Golden Knights | 2022–23 | 2 seasons | |
Utah Mammoth | never (inception of franchise in 2024–25) | 1 season |
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 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 3 | : 1993–94, 2010–11 | 1 win short
Buffalo Sabres | 1970–71 | 27 | 15 | 6 | 2 | : 1974–75, 1998–99 | 2 wins short
San Jose Sharks | 1991–92 | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | : 2015–16 | 2 wins short
Nashville Predators | 1998–99 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 wins short : 2016–17 |
Ottawa Senators | 1992–93 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 1 | : 2006–07 | 3 wins short
Arizona Coyotes 4,5 | 1979–80 | 20 | 3 | 1 | : 2011–12 | 7 wins short|
Winnipeg Jets 6 | 1999–2000 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 7 wins short : 2017–18 | |
Minnesota Wild | 2000–01 | 13 | 3 | 1 | : 2002–03 | 8 wins short|
Seattle Kraken | 2021–22 | 1 | 1 | 9 wins short : 2022–23 | ||
Columbus Blue Jackets | 2000–01 | 6 | 1 | 10 wins short : 2018–19 |
Team | Last Division championship win | Next Division championship win | Division championship drought |
---|---|---|---|
Edmonton Oilers | 1986–87 | 37 seasons1 | |
New York Islanders | 1987–88 | 36 seasons1 | |
Los Angeles Kings | 1990–91 | 33 seasons1 | |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 1937–38 2 | 1999–2000 | 32 seasons |
Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 2011–12 | 31 seasons1,3 |
New York Rangers | 1931–32 2 | 1989–90 | 28 seasons |
Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 24 seasons1 | |
Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1990–91 | 23 seasons |
Pittsburgh Penguins | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1990–91 4 | 23 seasons |
Kansas City Scouts / Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1996–97 | 22 seasons5 |
Team | Last Presidents' Trophy1 | Subsequent Presidents' Trophy finalists | Next Presidents' Trophy | Presidents' Trophy drought |
---|---|---|---|---|
Toronto Maple Leafs | 1962–63 | 61 seasons | ||
Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 57 seasons | ||
Kansas City Scouts / Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 3 : 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99 | 50 seasons2 | |
New York Rangers | 1941–42 | 4 : 1957–58, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1971–72 | 1991–92 | 49 seasons |
Montreal Canadiens | 1977–78 | 4 : 1978–79, 1987–88, 1988–89, 2014–15 | 46 seasons | |
Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 1 : 2022–23 | 45 seasons3 | |
Winnipeg Jets / Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 44 seasons4,5 | ||
New York Islanders | 1981–82 | 1 : 1983–84 | 42 seasons | |
Chicago Black Hawks | never (inception of franchise in 1926–27) | 3 : 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66 | 1966–67 | 40 seasons |
Vancouver Canucks | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 2010–11 6 | 39 seasons | |
Philadelphia Flyers | 1984–85 | 2 : 1985–86, 1986–87 | 39 seasons |
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 | 57 seasons | |
St. Louis Blues | 1969–70 | 4: 1971–72, 1985–86, 2000–01, 2015–16 | 2018–19 1 | 47 seasons |
Winnipeg Jets / Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 1: 2011–12 | 44 seasons2,3 | |
New York Islanders | 1983–84 | 3: 1992–93, 2019–20, 2020–21 | 40 seasons | |
Detroit Red Wings | 1965–66 | 2: 1986–87, 1987–88 | 1994–95 | 28 seasons |
Montreal Canadiens | 1992–93 | 2: 2009–10, 2013–14 | 2020–21 | 26 seasons |
Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1: 1968–69 | 1992–93 | 25 seasons |
Florida Panthers | 1995–96 | 2022–23 | 25 seasons | |
Buffalo Sabres | 1998–99 | 2: 2005–06, 2006–07 | 25 seasons | |
Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets | never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000) | 1: 2017–18 | 25 seasons4 | |
Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 24 seasons | ||
Minnesota Wild | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 1: 2002–03 | 24 seasons |
This list only includes cities/regions currently hosting an NHL franchise.
City/Region | Seasons waiting | Stanley Cup Finals appearances | Current NHL team |
---|---|---|---|
Buffalo | 54 | 1974–75, 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres |
Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 501 | 1980–81 2, 1990–91 2 | Minnesota Wild |
San Francisco Bay | 423 | 2015–16 | San Jose Sharks |
Nashville | 26 | 2016–17 | Nashville Predators |
Columbus | 24 | Never | Columbus Blue Jackets |
Salt Lake City | 1 | Never | Utah Mammoth |
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]
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.