NHL teams to never win a Stanley Cup: Updated list of 11 clubs without an NHL championship

When it comes to the hardest trophies to win in sports, the Stanley Cup is regarded as one of the most difficult. It takes four grueling rounds and 16 well-earned wins to reach the top of the NHL mountain.

The NHL playoffs are constantly one of the postseasons with the most parity. Upsets are common, with lower seeds knocking off the top dogs from the regular season. It’s unpredictable and chaotic — which makes it the most entertaining form of playoffs. 

Plenty of the 32 franchises in the sport have hoisted the Stanley Cup; however, there are a handful of clubs that have yet to find out the feeling of winning a hockey championship. 

Here’s an updated list of teams to never win a title in the NHL. 

MORE: Why is it called the Stanley Cup?

How many NHL teams have never won the Stanley Cup?In total, there are 11 clubs in the NHL that have never won a Stanley Cup. 

The clubs that never earned a championship in the NHL are the Panthers, Sabres, Blue Jackets, Wild, Predators, Sharks, Jets, Senators, Canucks, Kraken and Utah (formerly the Coyotes). 

Out of the 11 teams, six have made at least one appearance in a Stanley Cup Final. However, five of the clubs — Utah, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Columbus and Seattle — have never reached the Championship round.

TeamTotal SCF appearancesLast SCF appearanceDeepest playoff runVancouver Canucks32011Stanley Cup Final (1 win short)Florida Panthers32024Stanley Cup Final (3 wins short)Buffalo Sabres21999Stanley Cup Final (2 wins short)San Jose Sharks12016Stanley Cup Final (2 wins short)Nashville Predators12017Stanley Cup Final (2 wins short)Ottawa Senators12007Stanley Cup Final (3 wins short)Arizona Coyotes0—Western Conference FinalWinnipeg Jets0—Western Conference FinalMinnesota Wild0—Western Conference FinalSeattle Kraken0—Second RoundColumbus Blue Jackets0—Second RoundWho has won the most Stanley Cups in NHL history?The Canadiens have won the most Cups with 24. However, it’s been 30 years since the last time Montreal hoisted the trophy, which came in 1993.

After the Habs, it’s the Maple Leafs in second with 13, but their last Cup win came in 1967 and the team has not been to the finals since then. It marks the longest Stanley Cup win drought in the league. 

In third is the Red Wings with 11, most recently winning in 2008. 

TeamStanley CupsMontreal Canadiens24Toronto Maple Leafs13Detroit Red Wings11Boston Bruins 6Chicago Blackhawks 6Edmonton Oilers5Pittsburgh Penguins5New York Islanders4New York Rangers4New Jersey Devils3Tampa Bay Lightning 3Colorado Avalanche3Philadelphia Flyers2Los Angeles Kings2Dallas Stars 1St. Louis Blues1Calgary Flames1Anaheim Ducks1Carolina Hurricanes1Washington Capitals1Vegas Golden Knights1Stanley Cup winners year by yearHere is a look at every winner of the Stanley Cup since 1927.

SeasonWinnerSeriesRunner-up2023Vegas Golden Knights4-1Florida Panthers2022Colorado Avalanche4-2Tampa Bay Lightning2021Tampa Bay Lightning4-1Montreal Canadiens2020Tampa Bay Lightning4-2Dallas Stars2019St. Louis Blues4-3Boston Bruins2018Washington Capitals4-1Vegas Golden Knights2017Pittsburgh Penguins4-2Nashville Predators2016Pittsburgh Penguins4-2San Jose Sharks2015Chicago Blackhawks4-2Tampa Bay Lightning2014Los Angeles Kings4-2New York Rangers2013Chicago Blackhawks4-2Boston Bruins2012Los Angeles Kings4-2New Jersey Devils2011Boston Bruins4-3Vancouver Canucks2010Chicago Blackhawks4-2Philadelphia Flyers2009Pittsburgh Penguins4-3Detroit Red Wings2008Detroit Red Wings4-2Pittsburgh Penguins2007Anaheim Ducks4-1Ottawa Senators2006Carolina Hurricanes4-3Edmonton Oilers2005— (Lockout)——2004Tampa Bay Lightning4-3Calgary Flames2003New Jersey Devils4-3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim2002Detroit Red Wings4-1Carolina Hurricanes2001Colorado Avalanche4-3New Jersey Devils2000New Jersey Devils4-2Dallas Stars1999Dallas Stars4-2Buffalo Sabres1998Detroit Red Wings4-0Washington Capitals1997Detroit Red Wings4-0Philadelphia Flyers1996Colorado Avalanche4-0Florida Panthers1995New Jersey Devils4-0Detroit Red Wings1994New York Rangers4-3Vancouver Canucks1993Montreal Canadiens4-1Los Angeles Kings1992Pittsburgh Penguins4-0Chicago Blackhawks1991Pittsburgh Penguins4-2Minnesota North Stars1990Edmonton Oilers4-1Boston Bruins1989Calgary Flames4-2Montreal Canadiens1988Edmonton Oilers4-0Boston Bruins1987Edmonton Oilers4-3Philadelphia Flyers1986Montreal Canadiens4-1Calgary Flames1985Edmonton Oilers4-1Philadelphia Flyers1984Edmonton Oilers4-1New York Islanders1983New York Islanders4-0Edmonton Oilers1982New York Islanders4-0Vancouver Canucks1981New York Islanders4-1Minnesota North Stars1980New York Islanders4-1Philadelphia Flyers1979Montreal Canadiens4-1New York Rangers1978Montreal Canadiens4-2Boston Bruins1977Montreal Canadiens4-0Boston Bruins1976Montreal Canadiens4-0Philadelphia Flyers1975Philadelphia Flyers4-2Buffalo Sabres1974Philadelphia Flyers4-2Boston Bruins1973Montreal Canadiens4-2Chicago Black Hawks1972Boston Bruins4-2New York Rangers1971Montreal Canadiens4-3Chicago Black Hawks1970Boston Bruins4-0St. Louis Blues1969Montreal Canadiens4-0St. Louis Blues1968Montreal Canadiens4-0St. Louis Blues1967Toronto Maple Leafs4-2Montreal Canadiens1966Montreal Canadiens4-2Detroit Red Wings1965Montreal Canadiens4-3Chicago Black Hawks1964Toronto Maple Leafs4-3Detroit Red Wings1963Toronto Maple Leafs4-1Detroit Red Wings1962Toronto Maple Leafs4-2Chicago Black Hawks1961Chicago Black Hawks4-2Detroit Red Wings1960Montreal Canadiens4-0Toronto Maple Leafs1959Montreal Canadiens4-1Toronto Maple Leafs1958Montreal Canadiens4-2Boston Bruins1957Montreal Canadiens4-1Boston Bruins1956Montreal Canadiens4-1Detroit Red Wings1955Detroit Red Wings4-3Montreal Canadiens1954Detroit Red Wings4-3Montreal Canadiens1953Montreal Canadiens4-1Boston Bruins1952Detroit Red Wings4-0Montreal Canadiens1951Toronto Maple Leafs4-1Montreal Canadiens1950Detroit Red Wings4-3New York Rangers1949Toronto Maple Leafs4-0Detroit Red Wings1948Toronto Maple Leafs4-0Detroit Red Wings1947Toronto Maple Leafs4-2Montreal Canadiens1946Montreal Canadiens4-1Boston Bruins1945Toronto Maple Leafs4-3Detroit Red Wings1944Montreal Canadiens4-0Chicago Black Hawks1943Detroit Red Wings4-0Boston Bruins1942Toronto Maple Leafs4-3Detroit Red Wings1941Boston Bruins4-0Detroit Red Wings1940New York Rangers4-2Toronto Maple Leafs1939Boston Bruins4-1Toronto Maple Leafs1938Chicago Black Hawks3-1Toronto Maple Leafs1937Detroit Red Wings3-2New York Rangers1936Detroit Red Wings3-1Toronto Maple Leafs1935Montreal Maroons3-0Toronto Maple Leafs1934Chicago Black Hawks3-1Detroit Red Wings1933New York Rangers3-1Toronto Maple Leafs1932Toronto Maple Leafs3-0New York Rangers1931Montreal Canadiens3-2Chicago Black Hawks1930Montreal Canadiens2-0Boston Bruins1929Boston Bruins2-0New York Rangers1928New York Rangers3-2Montreal Maroons1927Ottawa Senators2-0Boston Bruins

Author(s)

Bryan Murphy is an NHL content producer at The Sporting News.