Every NHL season gives teams a chance to hoist the Stanley Cup. Yet, it’s a moment only two-thirds of the organizations have experienced.
Hockey’s signature prize has undergone changes across its 131-year history, but a half-dozen teams have hogged it. The NHL’s Original Six franchises have combined to win 64 Stanley Cups dating back to 1916. The Edmonton Oilers (five), Pittsburgh Penguins (five) and New York Islanders (four) also have their fair share of titles in that span.
That leaves a sizable chunk of the NHL with no championships. In some cases, the teams haven’t even gotten to the Stanley Cup Final, let alone take the Cup home.
Let’s look at the NHL teams that have never won a Stanley Cup title.
Which NHL teams have never won the Stanley Cup?
The following 11 NHL franchises have never won the Stanley Cup:
- Vancouver Canucks
- Buffalo Sabres
- Florida Panthers
- Ottawa Senators
- San Jose Sharks
- Nashville Predators
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Minnesota Wild
- Seattle Kraken
- Winnipeg Jets
- Arizona Coyotes
Which NHL teams have never reached the Stanley Cup Final?
Six teams from that group have made it to the Stanley Cup Final, while the other five are still seeking their first appearance.
The Panthers were just on the precipice of their first title. They upset the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins in the first round before cruising through the next two rounds to make their second ever Stanley Cup Final appearance and first since 1996. Florida squared off against another franchise that had never won the Stanley Cup in the Vegas Golden Knights, and it was the Golden Knights that made franchise history with a gentleman’s sweep in the series.
The Canucks (1982, 1994 and 2011) and Sabres (1975 and 1999) also have multiple Cup Final appearances but no titles. The Predators (2017), Sharks (2016) and Senators (2007) all made – and lost – their lone Stanley Cup Final appearances.
The Blue Jackets, Wild, Kraken, Jets and Coyotes are still looking to reach the NHL’s biggest stage for the first time.
Has every NHL team reached the conference finals in its history?
Of the five teams to never appear in the Stanley Cup Final, three have at least made the conference finals, while the other two have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs.
The Jets made the 2018 Western Conference Finals before bowing out in five games against the Golden Knights. The Coyotes reached the 2012 Western Conference Finals and have only made one playoff appearance since. The Wild reached the 2003 Western Conference Finals in just their third year of existence but have not made it back over the last 20 seasons.
Then there are the Blue Jackets and Kraken.
Columbus has just six playoff appearances across 22 seasons since it entered the NHL and only made it out of the first round once. The team stunned the Tampa Bay Lightning to open the 2018-19 playoffs and then lost 4-2 to the Bruins in its ensuing series.
Seattle became the NHL’s newest expansion franchise in 2021 and has already been on the cusp of the Western Conference Finals. After missing the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Kraken reached the 2023 postseason and got their first ever playoff series triumph by ousting the defending Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. They then pushed their second-round series against the Dallas Stars to seven games, but they were unable to win Game 7 in Dallas and punch their ticket to the conference finals.
FAQs
The Canucks, along with the Sabres, are the two oldest teams in the NHL to have never won the Stanley Cup.
What 11 teams have never won a Stanley Cup? ›
There are 11 teams that have yet to win a Stanley Cup:
- Arizona Coyotes.
- Buffalo Sabres.
- Columbus Blue Jackets.
- Florida Panthers.
- Minnesota Wild.
- Nashville Predators.
- Ottawa Senators.
- San Jose Sharks.
The Canucks, along with the Sabres, are the two oldest teams in the NHL to have never won the Stanley Cup.
What teams are in the NHL playoffs 2024 bracket? ›
Stanley Cup playoffs 2024: Bracket, schedule, scores, news
- A1 Florida. Panthers. vs.
- A2 Boston. Bruins.
- M1 New York. Rangers. vs.
- M2 Carolina. Hurricanes.
- C1 Dallas. Stars. vs.
- C3 Colorado. Avalanche.
- P1 Vancouver. Canucks. vs.
- P2 Edmonton. Oilers.
There are 19 defunct and relocated NHL teams. The Montreal Wanderers, original Ottawa Senators, and the Quebec Bulldogs had played in the NHA before joining the NHL; Quebec City joined the NHL two years later as the Athletics.
What team has 0 Stanley Cups? ›
The Coyotes, Sabres, Blue Jackets, Wild, Predators, Sharks, Jets, Senators, Canucks, Panthers and Kraken have never won a championship in NHL history.
Who has 11 Stanley Cup rings? ›
The most ever won by a single player was Henri Richard with 11 total championship rings.
What is the least successful NHL team? ›
The Winnipeg Jets have the lowest playoff winning percentage, (. 340). Additionally, the Boston Bruins lead all NHL franchises in playoff losses (341).
Who lost the Stanley Cup 3 years in a row? ›
Perry went on to lose his third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with a third different team, becoming the first player in NHL history to do so.
Who has 13 Stanley Cups? ›
Stanley Cup betting odds 2024
| Team | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|
| Stars | +240 | +230 |
| Panthers | +260 ❄️ | +290 🔥 |
| Rangers | +500 | +490 |
| Oilers | +500 🔥 | +460 |
4 more rowsStanley Cup, Conference futures
| Team | Stanley Cup | 2nd-Rd series |
|---|
| Florida Panthers | +270 | -700 |
| New York Rangers | +475 | -250 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +500 | -190 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1100 | +200 |
4 more rows1 day ago
The league has undergone multiple eras of expansion over its existence to get to where it is now, which is highlighted by its two newest franchises, the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams will be facing off on January 1, 2024 in the 2024 Winter Classic.
Is Gatorade no longer NHL? ›
Gatorade has opted not to renew its partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of a wider shift in the company's sports marketing strategy. The sports drink brand has been a sponsor of the North American ice hockey league since 2006 and its parent company PepsiCo last renewed the deal in 2018.
What is the oldest NHL team? ›
Montreal Canadiens, Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The oldest continually operating team in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Canadiens have won more Stanley Cup titles than any other team (24) and are the most successful franchise in league history.
Which Canadian NHL teams moved to the USA? ›
The Winnipeg Jets
The first iteration of the Jets existed from 1972 to 1996. Originally a WHA team, the Jets joined the NHL in 1979. The best they ever did was in the 1984-85 season, where they ranked fourth. Financial troubles caused them to move to Phoenix, Arizona, and become the Coyotes.
Who are the original six teams in the NHL? ›
The Original Six (French: six équipes originales) are the teams that composed the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1942 and 1967. The six teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Who has the most Stanley Cup rings ever? ›
It is the oldest existing trophy awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America. As of 2022, the player with the most Stanley Cup wins of all time was Henri Richard. The centre won 11 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens between 1955 and 1975.
Who has the most Stanley Cups ever? ›
Having lifted the trophy a total of 24 times, the Montreal Canadiens are the team with more Stanley Cup titles than any other franchise. Founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team and the only existing NHL club to predate the founding of the NHL itself.
Which team holds the most Stanley Cups? ›
Which team has hoisted the Stanley Cup the most times? That would be the Montreal Canadiens, with 24 titles. Next are the Toronto Maple Leafs, with 13 championships, followed by the Detroit Red Wings, the winners of 11 Stanley Cups.
