List of NHL franchise post-season droughts

This article is a list of the active and all-time National Hockey League franchise post-season appearance, post-season series win, Stanley Cup Finals and Stanley Cup droughts up to and including the 2019 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 World Hockey Association league.
Note: These lists do not include the cancelled 2004–05 NHL season.
Among the current 31 NHL teams, 11 have never won the Stanley Cup. Additionally, one of the Original Six franchises – the Toronto Maple Leafs – has a Stanley Cup drought that includes the entire expansion era. With the Vegas Golden Knights winning the Western Conference in 2018, there are only four franchises that have never reached the Stanley Cup Finals. Of those four, the oldest is the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise, while the Maple Leafs have an even longer drought. The longest Stanley Cup championship drought in history was that of the New York Rangers, broken in 1994 after 53 seasons. The Maple Leafs have the current longest active Stanley Cup championship drought at 51 seasons and counting. In 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks ended what was the second-longest ever Stanley Cup championship drought at 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.
The Florida Panthers have the longest active playoff series win drought. The longest drought between series wins was that of the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise, broken in 2012 after 25 seasons. The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active playoff appearance drought. The longest playoff droughts in history were by the Panthers and Edmonton Oilers at 10 seasons, which ended in 2012 and 2017 respectively.

Longest active droughts

Postseason 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 8 series and there are 31 teams in the NHL, there will always be 15 teams that did not make the most recent playoffs on this list, except for 2020 as the league expanded the playoffs to 24 teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a result only 7 teams did not make the playoffs.
The other 24 teams – the Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets – all qualified for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Team	Last appearance in post-season	Postseason drought
Buffalo Sabres	2010–11	9 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	2015–16	4 seasons
Ottawa Senators	2016–17	3 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2017–18	2 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	2017–18	2 seasons
New Jersey Devils	2017–18	2 seasons
San Jose Sharks	2018–19	1 season

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 lost the first round series. Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series, there will 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.

Team	Last post-season series win	Subsequent post-season series losses	Postseason series win drought
Florida Panthers	1995–96	4 : 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2011–12, 2015–16	22 seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs	2003–04	4 : 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19	14 seasons
Buffalo Sabres	2006–07	2 : 2009–10, 2010–11	013 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	2010–11	3 : 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15	08 seasons
New Jersey Devils	2011–12	1 : 2017–18	08 seasons
Arizona Coyotes¹	2011–12		07 seasons
Philadelphia Flyers	2011–12	3 : 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18	07 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	2012–13	3 : 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16	07 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	2013–14	2 : 2015–16, 2017–18	06 seasons
Calgary Flames	2014–15	2 : 2016–17, 2018–19	04 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	2014–15	2 : 2015–16, 2016–17	04 seasons
Minnesota Wild	2014–15	3 : 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18	04 seasons
Montreal Canadiens	2014–15	1 : 2016–17	04 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2016–17	1 : 2017–18	03 seasons
Ottawa Senators	2016–17		03 seasons
Edmonton Oilers	2016–17		02 seasons
New York Rangers	2016–17		02 seasons
Nashville Predators	2017–18	1 : 2018–19	01 season
Pittsburgh Penguins	2017–18	1 : 2018–19	01 season
Tampa Bay Lightning	2017–18	1 : 2018–19	01 season
Vegas Golden Knights	2017–18	1 : 2018–19	01 season
Washington Capitals	2017–18	1 : 2018–19	01 season
Winnipeg Jets	2017–18	1 : 2018–19	01 season
San Jose Sharks	2018–19		01 season

Stanley Cup Finals droughts

This 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.

Team	Last appearance in Stanley Cup Finals	Subsequent Conference Finals losses	Stanley Cup Finals drought
Toronto Maple Leafs	1966–67	5: 1977–78, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1998–99, 2001–02	51 seasons
Arizona Coyotes	never	1: 2011–12	39 seasons¹
New York Islanders	1983–84	1: 1992–93	34 seasons
Montreal Canadiens	1992–93	2: 2009–10, 2013–14	25 seasons
Florida Panthers	1995–96		22 seasons
Buffalo Sabres	1998–99	2: 2005–06, 2006–07	20 seasons
Winnipeg Jets	never	1: 2017–18	19 seasons²
Dallas Stars	1999–2000	1: 2007–08	18 seasons
Columbus Blue Jackets	never		18 seasons
Minnesota Wild	never	1: 2002–03	18 seasons
Colorado Avalanche	2000–01	1: 2001–02	17 seasons
Calgary Flames	2003–04		14 seasons
Carolina Hurricanes	2005–06	2: 2008–09, 2018–19	013 seasons
Edmonton Oilers	2005–06		013 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2006–07	2: 2014–15, 2016–17	013 seasons
Ottawa Senators	2006–07	1: 2016–17	013 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	2008–09		011 seasons
Philadelphia Flyers	2009–10		09 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	2010–11		08 seasons
New Jersey Devils	2011–12		08 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	2013–14		06 seasons
New York Rangers	2013–14	1: 2014–15	05 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	2014–15		04 seasons
Tampa Bay Lightning	2014–15	2: 2015–16, 2017–18	04 seasons
San Jose Sharks	2015–16	1: 2018–19	04 seasons
Nashville Predators	2016–17		02 seasons
Pittsburgh Penguins	2016–17		02 seasons
Vegas Golden Knights	2017–18		1 season
Washington Capitals	2017–18		1 season

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 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	2 : 1974–75, 1998–99	49 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	never	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		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	1 : 2015–16	28 seasons
Ottawa Senators	never	1 : 2006–07	27 seasons
Montreal Canadiens	1992–93		25 seasons
Florida Panthers	never	1 : 1995–96	25 seasons
New York Rangers	1993–94	1 : 2013–14	24 seasons
Nashville Predators	never	1 : 2016–17	20 seasons
Dallas Stars	1998–99	1 : 1999–2000	19 seasons
Winnipeg Jets	never		19 seasons²
Columbus Blue Jackets	never		18 seasons
Minnesota Wild	never		18 seasons
Colorado Avalanche	2000–01		17 seasons
New Jersey Devils	2002–03	1 : 2011–12	16 seasons
Tampa Bay Lightning	2003–04	1 : 2014–15	14 seasons
Carolina Hurricanes	2005–06		013 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2006–07		013 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	2007–08	1 : 2008–09	012 seasons
Boston Bruins	2010–11	2 : 2012–13, 2018–19	08 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	2013–14		06 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	2014–15		04 seasons
Pittsburgh Penguins	2016–17		02 seasons
Vegas Golden Knights	never	1 : 2017–18	02 seasons
Washington Capitals	2017–18		01 season

Closest approaches without winning

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	01 win short : 1993–94, 2010–11
Buffalo Sabres	27	15	6	2	02 wins short : 1974–75, 1998–99
San Jose Sharks	21	15	5	1	02 wins short : 2015–16
Nashville Predators	12	5	1	1	2 wins short : 2016–17
Ottawa Senators	16	7	3	1	03 wins short : 2006–07
Vegas Golden Knights	2	1	1	1	03 wins short : 2017–18
Florida Panthers	5	1	1	1	04 wins short : 1995–96
Arizona Coyotes⁴	19	3	1		07 wins short : 2011–12
Winnipeg Jets⁵	4	1	1		7 wins short : 2017–18
Minnesota Wild	9	3	1		08 wins short : 2002–03
Columbus Blue Jackets	5	1			10 wins short : 2018–19

Longest all-time droughts

Post-season appearance droughts

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	010 seasons
Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils	1977–78	1987–88	09 seasons²
Carolina Hurricanes	2008–09	2018–19	09 seasons
Buffalo Sabres	2010–11		09 seasons
California Golden Seals / Cleveland Barons³	1969–70	never	08 seasons⁴
Boston Bruins	1958–59	1967–68	08 seasons
Washington Capitals	never	1982–83	08 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	1969–70	1977–78	07 seasons
New York Islanders	1993–94	2001–02	07 seasons
Calgary Flames	1995–96	2003–04	07 seasons
New York Rangers	1996–97	2005–06	07 seasons
Columbus Blue Jackets	never	2008–09	07 seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs	2003–04	2012–13	07 seasons
Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets	2006–07	2014–15	07 seasons⁵
Phoenix / Arizona Coyotes	2011–12	2019–20	07 seasons⁶

Post-season series win droughts

Team	Previous post-season series win	Intervening post-season series losses	Next post-season series win	Post-season series win drought
Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes¹	1986–87	12 : 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2010–11	2011–12	25 seasons²
New York Islanders	1992–93	07 : 1993–94, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2012–13, 2014–15	2015–16	23 seasons
Florida Panthers	1995–96	04 : 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2011–12, 2015–16		22 seasons
New York Rangers	1949–50	08 : 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1961–62, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70	1970–71	20 seasons
Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets	never	02 : 2006–07, 2014–15	2017–18	17 seasons³
Columbus Blue Jackets	never	04 : 2008–09, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18	2018–19	17 seasons
Chicago Black Hawks	1943–44	04 : 1945–46, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1959–60	1960–61	16 seasons
Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes	1985–86	08 : 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2000–01	2001–02	15 seasons⁴
Calgary Flames	1988–89	06 : 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96	2003–04	14 seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs	2003–04	4 : 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19		14 seasons

Stanley Cup Finals droughts

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	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	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	1: 1969–70	1990–91	23 seasons
Washington Capitals	never	1: 1989–90	1997–98	23 seasons
San Jose Sharks	never	3: 2003–04, 2009–10, 2010–11	2015–16	23 seasons

Stanley Cup droughts

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	3 : 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70	2018–19	50 seasons
Buffalo Sabres	never	2 : 1974–75, 1998–99		49 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	never	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	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	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

Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup

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

City/Region	Seasons waiting	Stanley Cup Finals appearances	Current NHL team
Buffalo	490	1974–75, 1998–99	Buffalo Sabres
Minneapolis–Saint Paul	44¹	1980–81², 1990–91²	Minnesota Wild
San Francisco Bay Area	37³	2015–16	San Jose Sharks
South Florida	250	1995–96	Florida Panthers
Phoenix	220	Never	Arizona Coyotes
Columbus, Ohio	20⁴	Never	Columbus Blue Jackets
Nashville	200	2016–17	Nashville Predators
Las Vegas	2	2017–18	Vegas Golden Knights

Although the Vancouver Canucks have not won a Stanley Cup in their 48 seasons of play, 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, 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, the city celebrated three Stanley Cup championships by the Winnipeg Victorias, the last in 1902, prior to the founding of the NHL in 1917.
When the Seattle Kraken begin play in 2021–22, it will be more than a century since the Seattle Metropolitans of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association became the first U.S.-based team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917, the Mets' only Cup championship.
Canadian droughts

Despite having fewer Canadian-based teams than U.S.-based ones throughout much of the NHL's existence, 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 last Canadian club to go all the way and win the Stanley Cup.

Last time that none of the Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs: 2015–16
Last all-Canadian first round series: 2014–15
Last time all the Canadian teams were eliminated in the first round: 2018–19
Last all-Canadian second round series: 2001–02
Last time all the Canadian teams were eliminated in the second round: 2014–15
Last Conference Finals appearance by a Canadian team: 2017–18
Last all-Canadian Conference Finals: 1993–94
Last Stanley Cup Finals appearance by a Canadian team: 2010–11
Last all-Canadian Stanley Cup Finals: 1988–89
Last Stanley Cup won by a Canadian team: 1992–93

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List of NHL franchise post-season droughts

Longest active droughts

Postseason appearance droughts

Post-season series win droughts

Stanley Cup Finals droughts

Stanley Cup droughts

Closest approaches without winning

Longest all-time droughts

Post-season appearance droughts

Post-season series win droughts

Stanley Cup Finals droughts

Stanley Cup droughts

Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup

Canadian droughts