The National Hockey League (NHL) is undeniably a thrilling spectacle where teams grapple each season for the honor of hoisting the legendary Stanley Cup. Yet, despite this annual competition, not all clubs have had the privilege of basking in this ultimate glory. Among the 32 franchises battling on the ice each season, 11 have yet to engrave their name on the illustrious trophy. In some instances, these teams have not even managed to reach the Stanley Cup Final, remaining tantalizingly close yet far from victory.
In this exploration, we delve into the chronicles of these NHL teams, still striving for their first Stanley Cup title.
Which Teams Make Up This Exclusive List?
The exclusive list consists of teams that have shown great potential and tenacity over the years but have yet to taste the sweet triumph of a Stanley Cup victory. These teams include:
- Vancouver Canucks
- Winnipeg Jets
- Ottawa Senators
- Buffalo Sabres
- Minnesota Wild
- Florida Panthers
- San Jose Sharks
- Arizona Coyotes
- Nashville Predators
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Seattle Kraken
NHL Teams That Haven’t Made It to the Stanley Cup Final
While a group of NHL teams have been so close to tasting the glory of the Stanley Cup, another set has never even made it to the Finals. These teams are still waiting for their moment under the spotlight of the NHL’s biggest stage.
Among them are the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, whose fans remain hopeful each season that their teams will finally break through the barriers to reach the final. However, they get a small asterisk next to their name since they didn’t begin playing until the 2000 season and are younger than most NHL franchises. Minnesota did reach the Stanley Cup twice in the 1980s as the North Stars, although this franchise relocated to Dallas to become the Stars.
The Seattle Kraken have an even bigger asterisk since they just started playing in 2021. As we saw with the Vegas Golden Knights, success can come quickly if they build their team right. Seattle made the playoffs in just their second season, losing in the second round to the Dallas Stars.
The Winnipeg Jets and the Arizona Coyotes, two teams that have relocated to their current cities, have also never been to a Cup Final throughout their journey. Strangely enough, the Coyotes were once the Winnipeg Jets (they relocated to Phoenix in 1996); the closest that Jets team came to a Stanley Cup was the Conference Semifinals in 1985 and 1987. The current Winnipeg Jets team was formed from the Atlanta Thrashers, which began play in 1999 and then relocated to Winnipeg in 2014.
It’s important to note that the Quebec Nordiques never made it to a Stanley Cup, either, while they resided in Canada. However, when they moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche, they hoisted the Stanley Cup three times. Similarly, the Hartford Whalers never went to a Stanley Cup but won the championship in 2006 after relocating and being re-named the Carolina Hurricanes.
Have All NHL Teams Made It to the Conference Finals?
Not all NHL teams have had the experience of participating in the Conference Finals. Among the five teams that have never graced the Stanley Cup Final, three have managed to make it to the Conference Finals at some point. The Jets tasted this level of competition during the 2018 Western Conference Finals but fell to the Golden Knights in five games. The Coyotes experienced a similar fate in the 2012 Western Conference Finals, which marks their last significant playoff appearance. The Wild reached the 2003 Western Conference Finals, an impressive feat considering it was their third season, but they have not been able to repeat this success for the past 20 seasons.
The Blue Jackets and Kraken have never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. The Blue Jackets only once moved past the first round in their 22 seasons in the NHL, stunning the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2018-19 playoffs before succumbing to the Bruins. The latest franchise, the Kraken, nearly made it to the Western Conference Finals in the 2023 postseason but fell short in Game 7 in their second-round series against the Dallas Stars.
Final Thoughts
Raising the Stanley Cup is the ultimate dream of every NHL team, but the journey to this coveted achievement is filled with fierce competition, countless challenges, and the need for a little bit of luck. For the 11 teams yet to taste this glory, the pursuit continues. Each season brings a mix of hope and uncertainty, and even though the odds may seem against them, the beauty of this sport lies in its unpredictable nature. The process of overcoming challenges, refining strategy, and building a cohesive, resilient team are valuable experiences in their own right.
The Stanley Cup odds might be stacked against these teams today, but in the world of hockey, fortunes can change in the blink of an eye. Their fans remain steadfast, eagerly waiting for the day when their team will finally hoist the Stanley Cup. Until then, the pursuit continues, and the passion for the game burns brighter than ever.
