blank'/> THE PUCK REPORT: NHL Stanley Cup Championship Droughts

Thursday, June 15, 2023

NHL Stanley Cup Championship Droughts

This week the Vegas Golden Knights won their first Stanley Cup with a Game 5 win over the Florida Panthers. The NHL's other 31 teams, however, extended their respective win-less droughts by another year. The chart below describes, in descending order, the number of years each team has gone without winning a Stanley Cup, showing the last year they hoisted the hardware (if ever).

Team       Seasons           Last Cup Win
Toronto Maple Leafs 
55         
Buffalo Sabres
52         
Never
Vancouver Canucks
52         
Never
Philadelphia Flyers
47         
Arizona Coyotes*
43         
Never
New York Islanders
39         
Calgary Flames
33         
Edmonton Oilers
32         
San Jose Sharks
31         
Never
Ottawa Senators
20         
Never
Montreal Canadiens
29         
Florida Panthers
29         
Never
New York Rangers
28         
Nashville Predators
24         
Never
Dallas Stars
23         
Winnipeg Jets**     
23         
Never
Columbus Blue Jackets
22         
Never
Minnesota Wild      
22         
Never
New Jersey Devils
19         
Carolina Hurricanes
17        
Anaheim Ducks
16        
Detroit Red Wings
15        
Boston Bruins
12        
Los Angeles Kings
9        
Chicago Blackhawks
8        
Pittsburgh Penguins
6        
Washington Capitals
5        
St. Louis Blues
4        
Seattle Kraken
2        
Never
Tampa Bay Lightning
 2         
Colorado Avalanche
 1         
Average
22        

*   Includes record of Winnipeg Jets prior to relocation to Phoenix
** Includes record of Atlanta Thrashers prior to relocation to Winnipeg

The average drought rests at 22 seasons with longest being 55 seasons (Toronto Maple Leafs), besting the previous all-time win-less streak held by the New York Rangers (1940-1994). Not only has Toronto failed to win since the NHL expansion beyond its original six teams, they haven't reached the Stanley Cup Final during that span. In fact, they've won only one playoff series since the 2004 NHL lockout.

More intriguing than the length of each team's drought is the fact that 11 of the 32 current NHL teams (34%) have never won the Stanley Cup. In fact, 5 of the 32 teams (15%) have never skated in a Final in their franchise history (Arizona Coyotes, Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken).

In ten months the quest for the Stanley Cup continues for 16 of the 32 clubs that qualify for the postseason. Early Vegas odds favor Colorado (9 /1), Carolina (9/1), Toronto (11/1), Edmonton (11/1), New Jersey (11/1) and Vegas (13/1), with Arizona (300/1) pulling up the rear.

* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Qualification Droughts.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Series Win Droughts.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Final Appearance Droughts.

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