List of NHL franchise post-season droughts

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These are lists of active and all-time NHL franchise post-season, post-season series win, Stanley Cup Final and Stanley Cup droughts up to and including the 2008 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 WHA. These lists do not include the canceled 2004–05 NHL season.

Contents 1 Longest Active Droughts 1.1 Post-season droughts 1.2 Post-season series win droughts 1.3 Stanley Cup Final droughts 1.4 Stanley Cup droughts 2 Longest All-Time Droughts 2.1 Post-season droughts 2.2 Post-season series win droughts 2.3 Stanley Cup Final droughts 2.4 Stanley Cup droughts 3 Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup 4 See also

[edit] Longest Active Droughts

[edit] Post-season droughts

A post-season 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 in this list.

The other 16 teams - Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals - all made the post-season for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Team	Last appearance in post-season	Post-season drought
Columbus Blue Jackets	never (inception of franchise in 2000–01)	7 seasons
Florida Panthers	1999–2000	7 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	2001–02	5 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	2001–02	5 seasons
Phoenix Coyotes	2001–02	5 seasons
St. Louis Blues	2003–04	3 seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs	2003–04	3 seasons
Carolina Hurricanes	2005–06	2 seasons
Edmonton Oilers	2005–06	2 seasons
Atlanta Thrashers	2006–07	1 season
Buffalo Sabres	2006–07	1 season
New York Islanders	2006–07	1 season
Tampa Bay Lightning	2006–07	1 season
Vancouver Canucks	2006–07	1 season

[edit] Post-season series win droughts

A post-season series win drought is continued either by not making the playoffs or making the playoffs and losing the first round series. Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series, there will always be 22 teams in this list - 14 teams that don't make the post-season plus the 8 losers of the first round playoffs.

Team	Last post-season series win	Subsequent post-season series losses	Post-season series win drought
Phoenix Coyotes	1986–87	10 : 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02	20 seasons1
New York Islanders	1992–93	5 : 1993–94, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07	14 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	1995–96	2 : 1996–97, 2001–02	11 seasons
Florida Panthers	1995–96	2 : 1996–97, 1999–2000	11 seasons
Nashville Predators	never (inception of franchise in 1998–99)	4 : 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08	9 seasons
Washington Capitals	1997–98	4 : 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007–08	9 seasons
Atlanta Thrashers	never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000)	1 : 2006–07	8 seasons
Boston Bruins	1998–99	4 : 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2007–08	8 seasons
Columbus Blue Jackets	never (inception of franchise in 2000–01)		7 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	2000–01	1 : 2001–02	6 seasons
St. Louis Blues	2001–02	2 : 2002–03, 2003–04	5 seasons
Minnesota Wild	2002–03	2 : 2006–07, 2007–08	4 seasons
Calgary Flames	2003–04	3 : 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08	3 seasons
Tampa Bay Lightning	2003–04	2 : 2005–06, 2006–07	3 seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs	2003–04		3 seasons
Carolina Hurricanes	2005–06		2 seasons
Edmonton Oilers	2005–06		2 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2006–07	1 : 2007–08	1 season
Buffalo Sabres	2006–07		1 season
New Jersey Devils	2006–07	1 : 2007–08	1 season
Ottawa Senators	2006–07	1 : 2007–08	1 season
Vancouver Canucks	2006–07		1 season

¹ includes 9 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1987–88 through to 1995–96) + 11 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2007–08)

[edit] Stanley Cup Final droughts

Team	Last appearance in Stanley Cup Final	Stanley Cup Final drought
Toronto Maple Leafs	1966–67	40 seasons
St. Louis Blues	1969–70	37 seasons
Phoenix Coyotes	never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80)	28 seasons1
New York Islanders	1983–84	23 seasons
Boston Bruins	1989–90	17 seasons
San Jose Sharks	never (inception of franchise in 1991–92)	16 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	1991–92	15 seasons
Montreal Canadiens	1992–93	14 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	1992–93	14 seasons
New York Rangers	1993–94	13 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	1993–94	13 seasons
Florida Panthers	1995–96	11 seasons
Philadelphia Flyers	1996–97	10 seasons
Washington Capitals	1997–98	9 seasons
Nashville Predators	never (inception of franchise in 1998–99)	9 seasons
Buffalo Sabres	1998–99	8 seasons
Atlanta Thrashers	never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000)	8 seasons
Dallas Stars	1999–2000	7 seasons
Minnesota Wild	never (inception of franchise in 2000–01)	7 seasons
Columbus Blue Jackets	never (inception of franchise in 2000–01)	7 seasons
Colorado Avalanche	2000–01	6 seasons
New Jersey Devils	2002–03	4 seasons
Calgary Flames	2003–04	3 seasons
Tampa Bay Lightning	2003–04	3 seasons
Edmonton Oilers	2005–06	2 seasons
Carolina Hurricanes	2005–06	2 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2006–07	1 season
Ottawa Senators	2006–07	1 season

¹ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 11 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2007–08)

[edit] Stanley Cup droughts

Team	Last Stanley Cup	Subsequent Stanley Cup Final losses	Stanley Cup drought
Chicago Blackhawks	1960–61	5 : 1961–62, 1964–65, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1991–92	46 seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs	1966–67		40 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	never (inception of franchise in 1967–68)	1 : 1992–93	40 seasons
St. Louis Blues	never (inception of franchise in 1967–68)	3 : 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70	40 seasons
Buffalo Sabres	never (inception of franchise in 1970–71)	2 : 1974–75, 1998–99	37 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	never (inception of franchise in 1970–71)	2 : 1981–82, 1993–94	37 seasons
Boston Bruins	1971–72	5 : 1973–74, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1987–88, 1989–90	35 seasons
Washington Capitals	never (inception of franchise in 1974–75)	1 : 1997–98	33 seasons
Philadelphia Flyers	1974–75	5 : 1975–76, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1996–97	32 seasons
Phoenix Coyotes	never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80)		28 seasons1
New York Islanders	1982–83	1 : 1983-84	24 seasons
Calgary Flames	1988–89	1 : 2003–04	18 seasons
Edmonton Oilers	1989–90	1 : 2005–06	17 seasons
San Jose Sharks	never (inception of franchise in 1991–92)		16 seasons
Pittsburgh Penguins	1991–92	1 : 2007–08	15 seasons
Ottawa Senators	never (inception of franchise in 1992–93)	1 : 2006–07	15 seasons
Montreal Canadiens	1992–93		14 seasons
Florida Panthers	never (inception of franchise in 1993–94)	1 : 1995–96	14 seasons
New York Rangers	1993–94		13 seasons
Nashville Predators	never (inception of franchise in 1998–99)		9 seasons
Dallas Stars	1998–99	1 : 1999–2000	8 seasons
Atlanta Thrashers	never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000)		8 seasons
Minnesota Wild	never (inception of franchise in 2000–01)		7 seasons
Columbus Blue Jackets	never (inception of franchise in 2000–01)		7 seasons
Colorado Avalanche	2000–01		6 seasons
New Jersey Devils	2002–03		4 seasons
Tampa Bay Lightning	2003–04		3 seasons
Carolina Hurricanes	2005–06		2 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2006–07		1 season

¹ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 11 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2007–08)

[edit] Longest All-Time Droughts

[edit] Post-season droughts

     Active franchise streak is highlighted

Team	Previous post-season appearance	Next post-season appearance	Post-season drought
California Golden Seals / Cleveland Barons / Minnesota North Stars	1969–70	1979–80	9 seasons1
Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils	1977–78	1987–88	9 seasons2
Boston Bruins	1958–59	1967–68	8 seasons
Washington Capitals	never (inception of franchise in 1974–75)	1982–83	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)		7 seasons3
Florida Panthers	1999–2000		7 seasons
New York Americans	1928–29	1935–36	6 seasons
Chicago Black Hawks	1945–46	1952–53	6 seasons
Pittsburgh Penguins	1981–82	1988–89	6 seasons
Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes	1991–92	1998–99	6 seasons4
Tampa Bay Lightning	1995–96	2002–03	6 seasons
Atlanta Thrashers	never (inception of franchise in 1999–2000)	2006–07	6 seasons

¹ includes 6 seasons for California Golden Seals (1970–71 through to 1975–76) + 2 seasons for Cleveland Barons (1976–77, 1977–78) + 1 season for Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)

² includes 4 seasons for Colorado Rockies (1978–79 through to 1981–82) + 5 seasons for New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 1986–87)

³ the Columbus Blue Jackets have never made the playoffs in their 7 year franchise existence

⁴ includes 5 seasons for Hartford Whalers (1992–93 through to 1996–97) + 1 season for Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)

[edit] Post-season series win droughts

     Active franchise streak is highlighted

Team	Previous post-season series win	Intervening post-season series losses	Next post-season series win	Post-season series win drought
New York Rangers	1949–50	8 : 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1961–62, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70	1970–71	20 seasons
Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes	1986–87	10 : 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02		20 seasons1
Chicago Blackhawks	1943–44	4 : 1945–46, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1959–60	1960–61	16 seasons
Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes	1985–86	8 : 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2000–01	2001–02	15 seasons2
Calgary Flames	1988–89	6 : 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96	2003–04	14 seasons
New York Islanders	1992–93	5 : 1993–94, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07		14 seasons
Kansas City Scouts / Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils	never (inception of franchise in 1974–75)	1 : 1977–78	1987–88	13 seasons3
California Golden Seals / Cleveland Barons / Minnesota North Stars	never (inception of franchise in 1967–68)	2 : 1968–69, 1969–70	1979–80	12 seasons4
Detroit Red Wings	1965–66	1 : 1969–70	1977–78	11 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	never (inception of franchise in 1970–71)	5 : 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81	1981–82	11 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	1995–96	2 : 1996–97, 2001–02		11 seasons
Florida Panthers	1995–96	2 : 1996–97, 1999–2000		11 seasons
New York Americans	never (inception of franchise in 1925–26)	1 : 1928–29	1935–36	10 seasons
Boston Bruins	1957–58	2 : 1958–59, 1967–68	1968–69	10 seasons
Tampa Bay Lightning	never (inception of franchise in 1992–93)	1 : 1995–96	2002–03	10 seasons

¹ includes 9 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (1987–88 through to 1995–96) + 11 seasons of the Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2007–08)

² 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)

³ 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)

⁴ includes 9 seasons of the California Seals, Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals (1967–68 through to 1975–76) + 2 seasons of the Cleveland Barons (1976–77, 1977–78) + 1 season of the Minnesota North Stars (1978–79)

[edit] 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		40 seasons
St. Louis Blues	1969–70		37 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	1965–66	1994–95	28 seasons
Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes	never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80)		28 seasons1
Los Angeles Kings	never (inception of franchise in 1967–68)	1992–93	25 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
Buffalo Sabres	1974–75	1998–99	23 seasons
New York Islanders	1983–84		23 seasons
Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes	never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80)	2001–02	22 seasons2
New York Rangers	1949–50	1971–72	21 seasons
Kansas City Scouts / Colorado Rockies / New Jersey Devils	never (inception of franchise in 1974–75)	1994–95	20 seasons3
Chicago Black Hawks	1972–73	1991–92	18 seasons
Boston Bruins	1989–90		17 seasons

¹ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 11 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2007–08)

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)

[edit] Stanley Cup droughts

     Active franchise streak is highlighted

Team	Previous Stanley Cup	Intervening Stanley Cup Final losses	Next Stanley Cup	Stanley Cup drought
New York Rangers	1939–40	3 : 1949–50, 1971–72, 1978–79	1993–94	53 seasons1
Chicago Blackhawks	1960–61	5 : 1961–62, 1964–65, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1991–92		46 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	1954–55	6 : 1955–56, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1994–95	1996–97	41 seasons
Toronto Maple Leafs	1966–67	none		40 seasons
Los Angeles Kings	never (inception of franchise in 1967–68)	1 : 1992–93		40 seasons
St. Louis Blues	never (inception of franchise in 1967–68)	3 : 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70		40 seasons
Buffalo Sabres	never (inception of franchise in 1970–71)	2 : 1974–75, 1998–99		37 seasons
Vancouver Canucks	never (inception of franchise in 1970–71)	2 : 1981–82, 1993–94		37 seasons
Boston Bruins	1971–72	5 : 1973–74, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1987–88, 1989–90		35 seasons
Washington Capitals	never (inception of franchise in 1974–75)	1 : 1997–98		33 seasons
Philadelphia Flyers	1974–75	5 : 1975–76, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1996–97		32 seasons
Minnesota North Stars / Dallas Stars	never (inception of franchise in 1967–68)	2 : 1980–81, 1990–91	1998–99	31 seasons2
Boston Bruins	1940–41	5 : 1942–43, 1945–46, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1957–58	1969–70	28 seasons
Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes	never (franchise entered the NHL in 1979–80)	none		28 seasons3

¹ It is common to refer to the duration of the New York Rangers' record Stanley Cup drought as 54 "years" as the length of time between Stanley Cup wins (1940 to 1994) as it is easily calculated and understood. However, in the measuring of post-season consecutive streaks and droughts the use of "seasons" is more appropriate.

² includes 26 seasons for Minnesota North Stars (1967–68 through to 1992–93) + 5 seasons for Dallas Stars (1993–94 through to 1997–98).

³ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 11 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2007–08). However, the Winnipeg Jets were the defending Avco World Cup champions of the WHA when the franchise entered the NHL for the 1979–80 NHL season.

[edit] Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup

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

City/Region	Seasons waited	Stanley Cup Final appearances	Current NHL team
St. Louis	41 1	1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70	St. Louis Blues
Buffalo	37	1974–75, 1998–99	Buffalo Sabres
Minneapolis-Saint Paul	33 2	1980–813, 1990–913	Minnesota Wild
Washington, D.C.	33	1997–98	Washington Capitals
San Francisco Bay Area	25 4	never	San Jose Sharks
Atlanta	16 5	never	Atlanta Thrashers
South Florida	14	1995–96	Florida Panthers
Phoenix	11	never	Phoenix Coyotes
Nashville	9	never	Nashville Predators
Columbus	7	never	Columbus Blue Jackets6

¹ includes 1 season of the St. Louis Eagles (1934–35) + 40 seasons of the St. Louis Blues (1967–68 through to 2007–08)

² includes 26 seasons of the Minnesota North Stars (1967–68 through to 1992–93) + 7 seasons of the Minnesota Wild (2000–01 through to 2007–08)

³ both Stanley Cup Final appearances by the Minnesota North Stars

⁴ includes 9 seasons of the California Seals, Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals franchise (1967–68 through to 1975–76) + 16 seasons of the San Jose Sharks (1991–92 through to 2007–08)

⁵ includes 8 seasons of the Atlanta Flames (1972–73 through to 1979–80) + 8 seasons of the Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2007–08)

⁶ no playoff appearances to date

• Although the Vancouver Canucks haven't won a Stanley Cup in their 37 seasons of existence (inception of franchise in 1970–71 through to 2007–08), Vancouver has one Stanley Cup to its credit - the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association won the Stanley Cup in 1915.
• While the Ottawa Senators have never won the Stanley Cup in their 15 seasons of existence (inception of franchise in 1992–93 through to 2007–08), Ottawa celebrated 11 Stanley Cup championships with the original era Ottawa Senators, the last one in 1927.

[edit] See also

• List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks

• List of Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise post-season droughts
• List of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise post-season droughts
• List of National Football League (NFL) franchise post-season droughts

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