List of NHL franchise post season droughts

Post-season appearance droughts

A post-season appearance 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 that did not make the most recent playoffs on this list.

The other 16 teams – Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals – all qualified for the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.

¹ the Arizona Coyotes last qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2012 as the Phoenix Coyotes

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 losing the first round series. Since the first round of the NHL playoffs consist of 8 series (16 teams), there will always be 22 teams in this list – the 14 teams that do not qualify for the post-season, plus the 8 teams that lose their first round series.

The other 8 teams – the Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals – all won a post-season series in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.

¹ includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 5 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2015–16) ² the Arizona Coyotes last won a post-season series in 2012 as the Phoenix Coyotes

Stanley Cup Final droughts

This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have reached the Stanley Cup Final. This list does not include the two teams that made the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, the San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

¹ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 18 seasons for Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2014–15) ² includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 4 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2014–15)

Stanley Cup droughts

This is a list of the teams and the number of seasons since they have won the Stanley Cup.

¹ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 19 seasons for Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2015–16) ² includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 5 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2015–16)

Closest approaches without winning

¹ includes Preliminary Rounds from 1974–75 through to 1980–81, Division Semi-Finals from 1981–82 through to 1992–93 and Conference Quarterfinals from 1993–94 through to 2012–13 ² includes Quarter-Finals from 1967–68 through to 1980–81, Division Finals from 1981–82 through to 1992–93 and Conference Semifinals from 1993–94 through to 2012–13 ³ includes Semi-Finals up to and including 1980–81 ⁴ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 18 seasons for Arizona Coyotes/Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2014–15). ⁵ includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 4 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2014–15).

Post-season appearance droughts

¹ includes 4 seasons for Colorado Rockies (1978–79 through to 1981–82) + 5 seasons for New Jersey Devils (1982–83 through to 1986–87) ² franchise dissolved in 1978 in a merger with the Minnesota North Stars (current Dallas Stars) ³ includes 6 seasons for California Golden Seals (1970–71 through to 1975–76) + 2 seasons for Cleveland Barons (1976–77, 1977–78) ⁴ includes 4 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (2007–08 through to 2010–11) + 3 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2013–14)

Post-season series win droughts

¹ franchise renamed in 2014 as Arizona Coyotes ² includes 9 seasons of the Winnipeg Jets (1987–88 through to 1995–96) + 14 seasons of the Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2010–11) ³ includes 11 seasons for Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000 through to 2010–11) + 5 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (2011–12 through to 2015–16) ⁴ 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) ⁵ 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)

Stanley Cup Final droughts

¹ includes 17 seasons for Winnipeg Jets (1979–80 through to 1995–96) + 19 seasons for Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97 through to 2015–16)

Stanley Cup droughts

¹ it is common to refer to the duration of the New York Rangers' record Stanley Cup drought as 54 "years" (1940 to 1994), but that only encompasses 53 seasons (1940–41 to 1992–93). ² the name of the team was Black Hawks for a majority of the drought (25 of the 47 seasons) before being renamed to Blackhawks in 1986.

Cities/regions awaiting first Stanley Cup

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

¹ includes 1 season of the St. Louis Eagles (1934–35) + 48 seasons of the St. Louis Blues (1967–68 through to 2015–16). ² all three Stanley Cup Final appearances by the St. Louis Blues. ³ includes 26 seasons of the Minnesota North Stars (1967–68 through to 1992–93) + 15 seasons of the Minnesota Wild (2000–01 through to 2015–16). ⁴ both Stanley Cup Final appearances by the Minnesota North Stars. ⁵ includes 9 seasons of the California Seals, Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals franchise (1967–68 through to 1975–76) + 24 seasons of the San Jose Sharks (1991–92 through to 2015–16). ⁶ includes 2 seasons of the Cleveland Barons franchise (1976–77 through to 1977–78) + 15 seasons of the Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01 through to 2015–16).

Although the Vancouver Canucks have not won a Stanley Cup in their 45 seasons of play (inception of franchise in 1970–71 through to 2015-16), 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 23 seasons of play (inception of franchise in 1992–93 through to 2015-16), 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 22 seasons playing in Winnipeg (as of 2015-16), the city celebrated three Stanley Cup championships by the Winnipeg Victorias, the last in 1902, prior to the founding of the NHL in 1917.