List of NHL franchise post-season droughts
Wikimedia list article
These are lists of active and all-time NHL team post-season, post-season series win, Stanley Cup Final and Stanley Cup droughts up to and including the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Those teams which have never made it in team history are listed by the season that they entered the league, either as a new team or when they merged into the NHL from the WHA. These lists do not include the canceled 2004–05 NHL season.
Longest active droughts
changePost-season appearance droughts
changeA post-season appearance drought is continued by not making the NHL playoffs after the regular season. Since the first round of the playoffs consists of 8 series (16 teams) and there are 32 teams in the NHL, there will always be 16 teams that did not make the most recent playoffs on this list.
The other 16 teams – the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals, and Winnipeg Jets – all qualified for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
| Team | Last appearance in post-season | Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | 2010–11 | 13 seasons |
| Detroit Red Wings | 2015–16 | 8 seasons |
| Ottawa Senators | 2016–17 | 7 seasons |
| Anaheim Ducks | 2017–18 | 6 seasons |
| San Jose Sharks | 2018–19 | 5 seasons |
| Arizona Coyotes | 2019–20 | 4 seasons |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 2019–20 | 4 seasons |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 2019–20 | 4 seasons |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 2019–20 | 4 seasons |
| Montreal Canadiens | 2021 | 3 seasons |
| Calgary Flames | 2021–22 | 2 seasons |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 2021–22 | 2 seasons |
| St. Louis Blues | 2021–22 | 2 seasons |
| Minnesota Wild | 2022–23 | 1 season |
| New Jersey Devils | 2022–23 | 1 season |
| Seattle Kraken | 2022–23 | 1 season |
Post-season series win droughts
changeA 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 losing the first round series. Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series (16 teams), there will always 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
changeThis 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) + 21 seasons for Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2017–18)
- 2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 7 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2017–18)
Stanley Cup droughts
changeThis 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.
| Team | Last Stanley Cup | Subsequent Stanley Cup Finals losses |
Stanley Cup drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1966–67 | 51 seasons | |
| Buffalo Sabres | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 2 : 1974–75, 1998–99 | 48 seasons |
| Vancouver Canucks | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 3 : 1981–82, 1993–94, 2010–11 | 48 seasons |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 1974–75 | 6 : 1975–76, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1996–97, 2009–10 | 43 seasons |
| Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 39 seasons1 | |
| New York Islanders | 1982–83 | 1 : 1983–84 | 35 seasons |
| Calgary Flames | 1988–89 | 1 : 2003–04 | 29 seasons |
| Edmonton Oilers | 1989–90 | 1 : 2005–06 | 28 seasons |
| San Jose Sharks | never (inception of franchise in 1991–92) | 1 : 2015–16 | 27 seasons |
| Ottawa Senators | never (inception of franchise in 1992–93) | 1 : 2006–07 | 26 seasons |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1992–93 | 25 seasons | |
| Florida Panthers | never (inception of franchise in 1993–94) | 1 : 1995–96 | 25 seasons |
| New York Rangers | 1993–94 | 1 : 2013–14 | 24 seasons |
| Nashville Predators | never (inception of franchise in 1998–99) | 1 : 2016–17 | 20 seasons |
| Dallas Stars | 1998–99 | 1 : 1999–2000 | 19 seasons |
| Winnipeg Jets | never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000) | 19 seasons2 | |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 18 seasons | |
| Minnesota Wild | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 18 seasons | |
| Colorado Avalanche | 2000–01 | 17 seasons | |
| New Jersey Devils | 2002–03 | 1 : 2011–12 | 15 seasons |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2003–04 | 1 : 2014–15 | 14 seasons |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 2005–06 | 13 seasons | |
| Anaheim Ducks | 2006–07 | 12 seasons | |
| Detroit Red Wings | 2007–08 | 1 : 2008–09 | 11 seasons |
| Boston Bruins | 2010–11 | 2 : 2012–13, 2018–19 | 8 seasons |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2013–14 | 5 seasons | |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 2014–15 | 4 seasons | |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 2016–17 | 2 seasons | |
| Vegas Golden Knights | never (inception of franchise in 2017–18) | 1 : 2017–18 | 2 seasons |
| Washington Capitals | 2017–18 | 1 season |
- 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
change| 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 | 20 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 wins short : 2015–16 |
| Nashville Predators | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 wins short : 2016–17 |
| Ottawa Senators | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 wins short : 2006–07 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 1 | 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 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 wins short : 2017–18 | |
| Minnesota Wild | 9 | 3 | 1 | 8 wins short : 2002–03 | |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 4 | 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) + 21 seasons for Arizona Coyotes/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2017–18).
- 5 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 6 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2017–18).
Longest all-time droughts
changePost-season appearance droughts
change Active franchise streak is highlighted
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 2010–11 | 10 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 |
| Arizona Coyotes | 2011–12 | 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 Coyotes
Post-season series win droughts
change Active franchise streak is highlighted
- 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
change Active franchise streak is highlighted
| 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
change Active franchise streak is highlighted
| 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 | 48 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
changeThis list only includes cities/regions currently hosting an NHL franchise.
| City/Region | Seasons waiting | Stanley Cup Finals appearances |
Current NHL team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 48 | 1974–75, 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres |
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 441 | 1980–812, 1990–912 | Minnesota Wild |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 363 | 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 |
- 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 27 seasons of the San Jose Sharks (1991–92 through to 2018–19).
- 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.