These are lists of active and all-time National Hockey League (NHL) franchise post-season appearance, post-season series win, Stanley Cup Final and Stanley Cup droughts up to and including the 2016 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 WHA league.
Note: These lists do not include the cancelled 2004–05 NHL season.
Among the current 30 NHL teams, 12 have never won the Stanley Cup, including one (the St. Louis Blues) that is among the five oldest expansion teams. Additionally, one of the Original Six franchises – the Toronto Maple Leafs – has a Stanley Cup drought that includes the entire expansion era (47 seasons and counting). Of the six franchises that have never been to the Stanley Cup Final, the oldest is the Arizona Coyotes (previously the Winnipeg Jets) (35 seasons), while the Maple Leafs and the Blues have even longer droughts (47 and 44 seasons, respectively). The longest Stanley Cup championship drought in history was that of the New York Rangers, broken in 1994 after 53 seasons. The second-longest was that of the Chicago Blackhawks, broken in 2010 after 47 seasons. The end of that drought was the first of three consecutive years in which one of the eleven longest such droughts was broken.
There are only two franchises that have never won a post-season playoff series (the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets and the Columbus Blue Jackets), though the oldest is just 15 seasons old; two other franchises (New York Islanders and Florida Panthers) have longer win droughts (21 and 18 seasons respectively). The Panthers had not appeared in the playoffs at all for 10 seasons, the longest such streak in NHL history which ended in 2012. This record was tied by the Edmonton Oilers when they missed their tenth straight postseason in 2016.
Longest active droughts
Post-season appearance droughts
A 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 30 teams in the NHL, there will always be 14 teams that did not make the most recent playoffs on this list.
The other 16 teams – Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Washington Capitals – all made the post-season for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.
- Further information: List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks
| ^ | Longest drought in team history |
| † | Tied for longest drought in team history |
| Team | Last appearance in post-season | Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes^ | 2008–09 | 8 seasons |
| Buffalo Sabres^ | 2010–11 | 6 seasons |
| Arizona Coyotes1 | 2011–12 | 5 seasons |
| New Jersey Devils | 2011–12 | 5 seasons |
| Colorado Avalanche | 2013–14 | 3 seasons |
| Vancouver Canucks | 2014–15 | 2 seasons |
| Winnipeg Jets | 2014–15 | 2 seasons |
| Dallas Stars | 2015–16 | 1 season |
| Detroit Red Wings | 2015–16 | 1 season |
| Florida Panthers | 2015–16 | 1 season |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2015–16 | 1 season |
| New York Islanders | 2015–16 | 1 season |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 2015–16 | 1 season |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2015–16 | 1 season |
- 1 the Arizona Coyotes last qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2012 as the Phoenix Coyotes
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 losing the first round series. Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series (16 teams), there will always be 22 teams in this list – the 14 teams that do not make the post-season plus the 8 teams that lose their first round series.
The other 8 teams – the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, and Washington Capitals – all won a post-season series in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.
- 1 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 4 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2014–15)
- 2 the Arizona Coyotes last won a post-season series in 2012 as the Phoenix Coyotes
Conference Final droughts
This is a list of the team and the number of seasons since they have reached the NHL Conference Finals, introduced in 1982. This list does not include the four teams that made this round in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs – San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
- 1 current Eastern Conference.
- 2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 3 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2013–14)
- 3 the Red Wings have since relocated to the Eastern Conference in the 2013 realignment.
- 4 the Arizona Coyotes were then known as the Phoenix Coyotes
Stanley Cup Final droughts
This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have reached the Stanley Cup Final. This list does not include the two teams that made the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks.
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 18 seasons for Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2014–15)
- 2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 4 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2014–15)
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 2015 Stanley Cup champion, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Teams competing in 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs are highlighted.
| Team | Last Stanley Cup | Subsequent Stanley Cup Final losses |
Stanley Cup drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Blues | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 3 : 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70 | 47 seasons |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1966–67 | 47 seasons | |
| Buffalo Sabres | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 2 : 1974–75, 1998–99 | 44 seasons |
| Vancouver Canucks | never (inception of franchise in 1970–71) | 3 : 1981–82, 1993–94, 2010–11 | 44 seasons |
| Washington Capitals | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1 : 1997–98 | 40 seasons |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 1974–75 | 6 : 1975–76, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1996–97, 2009–10 | 39 seasons |
| Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 35 seasons1 | |
| New York Islanders | 1982–83 | 1 : 1983–84 | 31 seasons |
| Calgary Flames | 1988–89 | 1 : 2003–04 | 25 seasons |
| Edmonton Oilers | 1989–90 | 1 : 2005–06 | 24 seasons |
| San Jose Sharks | never (inception of franchise in 1991–92) | 1: 2015-16 | 23 seasons |
| Ottawa Senators | never (inception of franchise in 1992–93) | 1 : 2006–07 | 22 seasons |
| Florida Panthers | never (inception of franchise in 1993–94) | 1 : 1995–96 | 21 seasons |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1992–93 | 21 seasons | |
| New York Rangers | 1993–94 | 1 : 2013–14 | 20 seasons |
| Nashville Predators | never (inception of franchise in 1998–99) | 16 seasons | |
| Dallas Stars | 1998–99 | 1 : 1999–2000 | 15 seasons |
| Winnipeg Jets | never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000) | 15 seasons2 | |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 14 seasons | |
| Minnesota Wild | never (inception of franchise in 2000–01) | 14 seasons | |
| Colorado Avalanche | 2000–01 | 14 seasons | |
| New Jersey Devils | 2002–03 | 1 : 2011–12 | 12 seasons |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2003–04 | 1 : 2014–15 | 11 seasons |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 2005–06 | 10 seasons | |
| Anaheim Ducks | 2006–07 | 9 seasons | |
| Detroit Red Wings | 2007–08 | 1 : 2008–09 | 8 seasons |
| Boston Bruins | 2010–11 | 1 : 2012–13 | 5 seasons |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2013–14 | 2 season | |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 2014–15 | 1 season | |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 2015–16 | 0 seasons |
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 18 seasons for Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2014–15)
- 2 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 4 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2014–15)
Closest approaches without winning
| Team | Conference Quarter-Final Appearances1 | Conference Semi-Final Appearances2 | Conference Final Appearances3 | Stanley Cup Final Appearances | Fewest Wins Short of Stanley Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canucks | 25 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 win short : 1993–94a, 2010–11b |
| Buffalo Sabres | 27 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 2 wins short : 1974–75, 1998–99 |
| Ottawa Senators | 15 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 wins short : 2006–07 |
| St. Louis Blues | 32 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 4 wins short : 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70 |
| Florida Panthers | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 wins short : 1995–96 |
| Washington Capitals | 25 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 4 wins short : 1997–98 |
| San Jose Sharks | 18 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 wins short : 2015–16 |
| Arizona Coyotes4 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 7 wins short : 2011–12 | |
| Minnesota Wild | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 wins short : 2002–03 | |
| Nashville Predators | 8 | 3 | 9 wins short : 2015–16 | ||
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 3 | 14 wins short : 2013–14 | |||
| Winnipeg Jets5 | 2 | 16 wins short : 2006–07, 2014–15 |
- 1 includes Preliminary Rounds from 1974–75 through to 1980–81 and Division Semi-Finals from 1981–82 through to 1993–94
- 2 includes Quarter-Finals from 1967–68 through to 1980–81 and Division Finals from 1981–82 through to 1993–94
- 3 includes Semi-Finals up to and including 1980–81
- 4 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 18 seasons for Arizona Coyotes/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2014–15).
- 5 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 4 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2014–15).
- a In game 7 of 1994 Stanley Cup Finals, New York opened the scoring at 11:02 of the 1st period and never relinquished the lead. The game-winning goal scored at 13:29 of the 2nd period.
- b Vancouver had a 3-2 series lead in 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. In game 6, Boston opened the scoring at 05:31 of the 1st period and never relinquished the lead. The game-winning goal scored at 08:35 of the 1st period. In game 7, Boston opened the scoring with the game-winning goal at 14:37 of the 1st period and went on to win the game 4-0.
Longest all-time droughts
Post-season appearance droughts
Active franchise streak is highlighted
| Team | Previous post-season appearance | Next post-season appearance | Post-season drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | 1999–2000 | 2011–12 | 10 seasons |
| Edmonton Oilers | 2005–06 | 2015–16 | 10 seasons |
| Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils | 1977–78 | 1987–88 | 9 seasons1 |
| California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons2 | 1969–70 | never | 8 seasons3 |
| Boston Bruins | 1958–59 | 1967–68 | 8 seasons |
| Washington Capitals | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1982–83 | 8 seasons |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 2008–09 | 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 seasons4 |
- 1 includes 4 seasons for Colorado Rockies (1978–79 through to 1981–82) + 5 seasons for New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 1986–87)
- 2 franchise dissolved in 1978 in a merger with the Minnesota North Stars (current Dallas Stars) The merger was later undone, forming the San Jose Sharks.
- 3 includes 6 seasons for California Golden Seals (1970–71 through to 1975–76) + 2 seasons for Cleveland Barons (1976–77, 1977–78)
- 4 includes 4 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (2007–08 through to 2010–11) + 3 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2013–14)
Post-season series win droughts
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 of the Hartford Whalers (1986–87 through to 1996–97) + 4 season of the Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98) through to 2000–01)
- 4 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 4 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2014–15)
- 5 includes 2 seasons of the Kansas City Scouts (1974–75, 1975–76) + 6 seasons for Colorado Rockies (1976–77 through to 1981–82) + 5 seasons of the New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 1986–87)
Longest Conference Final droughts
Appearance droughts updated through the 2015–16 season. The current Conference Finals format introduced in 1980.
| ^ | Denotes active streak |
| † | Year the team joined the NHL |
| Seasons | Team | Conference Finals appearance droughts |
Subsequent appearance in Conference Finals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes 1 | 1980 – 2001 | 2012 |
| 23 | New York Islanders^ | 1994– 2017 | Active drought |
| 22 | Hartford Whalers\Carolina Hurricanes2 | 1980 – 2001 | 2002 |
| 20 | Florida Panthers ^ | 1997 – 2017 | Active drought |
| 17 | Boston Bruins | 1993– 2010 | 2011 |
| 17 | Buffalo Sabres | 1981– 1997 | 1998 |
| 17 | Los Angeles Kings | 1994– 2011 | 2012 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals ^ | 1999 – 2016 | Active drought |
| 17 | Nashville Predators ^ | 1999†– 2016 | Active drought |
| 17 | Winnipeg Jets ^3 | 2000†– 2017 | Active drought |
| 15 | Columbus Blue Jackets ^ | 2001†– 2016 | Active drought |
| 15 | Vancouver Canucks | 1995– 2010 | 2011 |
| 15 | Montreal Canadiens | 1994– 2009 | 2010 |
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 14 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2010–11); franchise renamed Arizona Coyotes in 2014.
- 2 includes 18 seasons for Hartford Whalers (1979–80 through to 1996–97) + 4 seasons for Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98 through to 2000–01)
- 3 includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 5 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2015–16)
Stanley Cup Final droughts
Active franchise streak is highlighted
| Team | Previous Stanley Cup Final | Next Stanley Cup Final | Stanley Cup Final drought |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1966–67 | 47 seasons | |
| St. Louis Blues | 1969–70 | 44 seasons | |
| Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes | never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80) | 35 seasons1 | |
| New York Islanders | 1983–84 | 30 seasons | |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1965–66 | 1994–95 | 28 seasons |
| Los Angeles Kings | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1992–93 | 25 seasons |
| Buffalo Sabres | 1974–75 | 1998–99 | 23 seasons |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | never (inception of franchise in 1967–68) | 1990–91 | 23 seasons |
| Washington Capitals | never (inception of franchise in 1974–75) | 1997–98 | 23 seasons |
| San Jose Sharks | never (inception of franchise in 1991–92) | 2015-16 | 23 seasons |
- 1 includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 18 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2014–15)
- 2 includes 18 seasons for Hartford Whalers (1979–80 through to 1996–97) + 4 seasons for Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98 through to 2000–01)
- 3 includes 2 seasons for Kansas City Scouts (1974–75, 1975–76) + 6 seasons for Colorado Rockies (1976–77 through to 1981–82) + 12 seasons for New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 1993–94)
Stanley Cup droughts
Active franchise streak is highlighted
- 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.
Longest post-season droughts in team history
Updated through the 2017 playoffs.
| ^ | Denotes active streak |
Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup
This list only includes cities/regions currently hosting an NHL franchise.
| City/Region | Seasons waiting | Stanley Cup Final appearances |
Current NHL team |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 471 | 1967–682, 1968–692, 1969–702 | St. Louis Blues |
| Buffalo | 43 | 1974–75, 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres |
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 393 | 1980–814, 1990–914 | Minnesota Wild |
| Washington, D.C. | 39 | 1997–98 | Washington Capitals |
| San Francisco Bay Area | 315 | 2015-16 | San Jose Sharks |
| South Florida | 20 | 1995–96 | Florida Panthers |
| Phoenix | 17 | never | Arizona Coyotes |
| Nashville | 15 | never | Nashville Predators |
| Ohio | 156 | never | Columbus Blue Jackets |
- 1 includes 1 season of the St. Louis Eagles (1934–35) + 46 seasons of the St. Louis Blues (1967–68 through to 2013–14).
- 2 all three Stanley Cup Final appearances by the St. Louis Blues.
- 3 includes 26 seasons of the Minnesota North Stars (1967–68 through to 1992–93) + 13 seasons of the Minnesota Wild (2000–01 through to 2013–14).
- 4 both Stanley Cup Final appearances by the Minnesota North Stars.
- 5 includes 9 seasons of the California Seals, Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals franchise (1967–68 through to 1975–76) + 22 seasons of the San Jose Sharks (1991–92 through to 2013–14).
- 6 includes 13 seasons of the Columbus Blue Jackets franchise (2000-01 through to 2013-14) + 2 seasons of the Cleveland Barons (1976-77 through to 1977-78).
- Although the Vancouver Canucks have not won a Stanley Cup in their 43 seasons of play (inception of franchise in 1970–71 through to 2013–14), 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 21 seasons of play (inception of franchise in 1992–93 through to 2013–14), 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 20 seasons playing in Winnipeg (as of 2013–14), the city celebrated three Stanley Cup championships by the Winnipeg Victorias, the last in 1902, prior to the founding of the NHL in 1917.
See also
| National Hockey League | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| Structure | Playoffs (Streaks • Droughts • All-time playoff series) • Conference Finals • Finals |
|---|---|
| Annual events | Seasons • Stanley Cup (Champions • Winning players • Traditions and anecdotes) • Presidents' Trophy • All-Star Game • Draft • Awards • All-Star Teams |
| Players | List of players • Association • Retired jersey numbers • Captains |
| History | Lore • Organizational changes :: • Defunct teams • NHA • Original Six • 1967 Expansion • WHA Merger • Lockouts |
| Others | Outdoor games (Winter Classic • Heritage Classic • Stadium Series) • Potential expansion • Hall of Fame (Members) • Rivalries • Arenas • Rules • Fighting • Violence : International games • Kraft Hockeyville • Collective bargaining agreement • Television and radio coverage |
| Category • 2020–21 Season • 2021–22 Season • 2022–23 Season | |
| This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at List of NHL franchise post-season droughts. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA). |