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

Monday, June 27, 2022

NHL Stanley Cup Championship Droughts

Last night the Colorado Avalanche won their third Stanley Cup (1996, 2001, 2022) with a Game 6 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. 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 
54         
Buffalo Sabres
51         
Never
Vancouver Canucks
51         
Never
Philadelphia Flyers
46         
Arizona Coyotes*
42         
Never
New York Islanders
38         
Calgary Flames
32         
Edmonton Oilers
31         
San Jose Sharks
30         
Never
Ottawa Senators
29         
Never
Montreal Canadiens
28         
Florida Panthers
28         
Never
New York Rangers
27         
Nashville Predators
23         
Never
Dallas Stars
22         
Winnipeg Jets**     
22         
Never
Columbus Blue Jackets
21         
Never
Minnesota Wild      
21         
Never
New Jersey Devils
18         
Carolina Hurricanes
16        
Anaheim Ducks
15        
Detroit Red Wings
14        
Boston Bruins
11        
Los Angeles Kings
8        
Chicago Blackhawks
7        
Pittsburgh Penguins
5        
Vegas Golden Knights
5        
Never
Washington Capitals
4        
St. Louis Blues
3        
Seattle Kraken
1        
Never
Tampa Bay Lightning
 1         
Average
21        

*   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 54 seasons (Toronto Maple Leafs), matching the 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 yet to win a playoff series since the 2004 NHL lockout.

More intriguing than the length of each team's drought is the fact that 12 of the 32 current NHL teams (37%) 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 (5 /1) and Toronto (9/1), with Montreal (150/1) and Arizona (250/1) 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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