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NHL Teams That Have Never Won the Stanley Cup

Every year 16 playoff teams go on a journey to be the first to obtain 16 wins through 4 rounds and the ultimate hockey prize, Lord Stanley’s Cup. However there are still a good chunk of NHL teams that have yet to ever win the best trophy in all of professional sports. Some have had multiple chances and others have yet to make it beyond the first round of the playoffs. Here are those very teams still searching to get their hands on the glory one day:

 

  • St. Louis Blues (Established: 1967-68)
    Seasons: 50 (1967-68 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 41
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 164-201

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 1815-1578-432-139 (4201 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Brett Hull, 527

    All-time Points Leader: Bernie Federko, 1073

    Most Goals, Season: Brett Hull (1990-91), 86

    Most Points, Season: Brett Hull (1990-91), 131

    The Blues represented the Western Division (consisting exclusively of expansion teams) in the Stanley Cup Finals of 1968, 1969, and 1970 (All in their first 3 seasons as a franchise). In-fact, the Blues went 25 consecutive years with a playoff birth from 1979 through 2004 which currently stands as the third longest playoff appearance streak in the NHL.


  • Buffalo Sabres (Established: 1970-71)
    Seasons: 47 (1970-71 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 29
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 124-132

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 1727-1460-409-142 (4005 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Gilbert Perreault, 512

    All-time Points Leader: Gilbert Perreault, 1326

    Most Goals, Season: Alexander Mogilny (1992-93), 76

    Most Points, Season: Pat LaFontaine (1992-93), 148

    The Sabres have been to the Stanley Cup Final twice, losing to the Flyers in 1975 and Stars in 1999.


  • Vancouver Canucks (Established: 1970-71)
    Seasons: 47 (1970-71 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 27
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 101-128

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 1555-1654-391-138 (3639 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Daniel Sedin, 393

    All-time Points Leader: Henrik Sedin, 1070

    Most Goals, Season: Pavel Bure (1992-93), Pavel Bure (1993-94), 60

    Most Points, Season: Henrik Sedin (2009-10), 112

    The Canucks have been to the Stanley Cup Final three times, losing to the Islanders in 1982, the Rangers in 1994, and the Bruins in 2011.


  • Washington Capitals (Established: 1974-75)
    Seasons: 43 (1974-75 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 28
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 130-143

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 1575-1406-303-142 (3595 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Alex Ovechkin, 607

    All-time Points Leader: Alex Ovechkin, 1122

    Most Goals, Season: Alex Ovechkin (2007-08), 65

    Most Points, Season: Dennis Maruk (1981-82), 136

    The Capitals have been to the Stanley Cup Final once, losing to the Red Wings in 1998.


  • San Jose Sharks (Established: 1991-92)
    Seasons: 26 (1991-92 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 20
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 109-112

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 974-829-121-142 (2211 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Patrick Marleau, 508

    All-time Points Leader: Patrick Marleau, 1082

    Most Goals, Season: Jonathan Cheechoo (2005-06), 56

    Most Points, Season: Joe Thornton (2006-07), 114

    The Sharks have been to the Stanley Cup Final once, losing to the Penguins in 2016


  • Florida Panthers (Established: 1993-94)
    Seasons: 24 (1993-94 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 5
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 18-26

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 781-798-142-181 (1885 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Olli Jokinen, 188

    All-time Points Leader: Olli Jokinen, 419

    Most Goals, Season: Pavel Bure (2000-01), 59

    Most Points, Season: Pavel Bure (1999-00), 94

    The Panthers have been to the Stanley Cup Final once, losing to the Avalanche in 1996.


  • Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes (**Established: 1996-97**)
    Seasons: 38 (1979-80 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 19
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 41-78

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 1239-1378-266-143 (2887 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Shane Doan, 402

    All-time Points Leader: Shane Doan, 972

    Most Goals, Season: Teemu Selanne (1992-93), 76

    Most Points, Season: Teemu Selanne (1992-93), 132

    The Coyotes have made one appearance in the Western Conference Final, but have never played in a Stanley Cup Final. As the Winnipeg Jets (1979-1996) the team never made it further than the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.


  • Nashville Predators (Established: 1998-99)
    Seasons: 19 (1998-99 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 11
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 49-56

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 739-578-60-147 (1685 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: David Legwand, 210

    All-time Points Leader: David Legwand, 566

    Most Goals, Season: Jason Arnott (2008-09), Filip Forsberg (2015-16), 33

    Most Points, Season: Paul Kariya (2005-06), 85

  • The Nashville Predators have been to the Stanley Cup Final once, losing to the Penguins in 2017.

  • Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets (Established: 1999-2000)
    Seasons: 18 (1999-00 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 3
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 9-16

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 610-648-45-139 (1404 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Ilya Kovalchuk, 328

    All-time Points Leader: Ilya Kovalchuk, 615

    Most Goals, Season: Ilya Kovalchuk (2005-06), Ilya Kovalchuk (2007-08), 52

    Most Points, Season: Marian Hossa (2006-07), 100

    The Jets have made one appearance in the Western Conference Final, but have never played in a Stanley Cup Final. As the Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011) the team never won a single playoff game.


  • Minnesota Wild (Established: 2000-01)
    Seasons: 17 (2000-01 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 9
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 26-47

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 652-520-55-133 (1492 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Marian Gaborik, 219

    All-time Points Leader: Mikko Koivu, 659

    Most Goals, Season: Marian Gaborik (2007-08), Eric Staal (2017-18), 42

    Most Points, Season: Marian Gaborik (2007-08), 83

    The Wild have made one appearance in the Western Conference Final, but have never played in a Stanley Cup Final.


  • Columbus Blue Jackets (Established: 2000-01)
    Seasons: 17 (2000-01 to 2017-18)
    NHL Playoff Appearances: 4
    NHL Championships: 0 (0 Stanley Cup)Playoff Record: 5-16

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 580-619-33-128 (1321 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: Rick Nash, 289

    All-time Points Leader: Rick Nash, 547

    Most Goals, Season: Rick Nash (2003-04), 41

    Most Points, Season: Artemi Panarin (2017-18), 82

    The Blue Jackets have never won a Stanley Cup Playoff round including never winning more than 2 playoff games in a single series.


  • Vegas Golden Knights (Established: 2017-2018)
    Seasons: 1 (2017-18 to 2017-18)

    NHL Playoff Appearances: 1

    NHL Championships: (0 Stanley Cup)

    Playoff Record: 13-5

    Record (W-L-T-OTL): 51-24-0-7 (109 points)

    All-time Goals Leader: William Karlsson, 43

    All-time Points Leader: William Karlsson, 78

    Most Goals, Season: William Karlsson (2017-18), 43

    Most Points, Season: William Karlsson (2017-18), 78

    The Golden Knights in their inaugural season made the Stanley Cup Final (2018).

Igor Burdetskiy

Igor Burdetskiy

Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & CEO at Hooked on Hockey Magazine
I grew up playing Ball and Roller Hockey day and night somewhat religiously throughout elementary and middle school. The two don't compare though when I lace up the skates and hit the ice. I live and breathe hockey beyond the perspective of "it's just a game" and I will gladly talk hockey for hours with anyone. Hockey is more than just a lifestyle, it's a culture of passionate people who make memories every time the puck is dropped. Hockey has not only helped me get through some of the hardest times in life but has created some of the best memories to date. Want to talk hockey with me? Shoot me an email: iburdetskiy@hookedonhockey.com and let's talk some hockey!
Igor Burdetskiy
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