The quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup is often described as the most grueling journey in professional sports. For decades, the Florida Panthers were part of a group of franchises defined by their proximity to greatness but an ultimate lack of hardware. That changed in June 2024, when the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling seven-game series to secure their first title in franchise history. While South Florida celebrates, their departure from the list of ringless franchises leaves a specific group of NHL teams that have never won a Stanley Cup still searching for that elusive glory.
The 2024 Breakthrough: How Florida Changed the List
Before we dive into the teams still waiting, it is important to recognize how difficult it is to get off this list. The Florida Panthers entered the league in 1993 and reached the Finals twice—once in 1996 and again in 2023—before finally reaching the mountaintop in 2024. Their victory serves as a beacon of hope for the remaining fanbases, proving that even after decades of heartbreak, the right mix of talent, coaching, and resilience can result in a championship. With Florida now immortalized on the silver trophy, 10 active NHL franchises remain without a championship.
The Longest Droughts: NHL Teams That Have Never Won a Stanley Cup
At the top of the list for the longest wait are two franchises that entered the league together in 1970: the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks. Both teams have surpassed the 50-year mark without a title, and both have come agonizingly close on multiple occasions.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1975 and 1999. The 1999 loss remains one of the most controversial moments in NHL history, courtesy of Brett Hull’s "skate in the crease" goal for the Dallas Stars. Since their last deep run in the mid-2000s, the Sabres have struggled with the longest active playoff drought in the league, making their path back to the Finals a significant uphill battle.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have reached the Stanley Cup Final three times (1982, 1994, and 2011). Their 1994 run went to seven games against the New York Rangers, and their 2011 run was perhaps even more painful, as they held a 3-2 series lead over the Boston Bruins before falling in Game 7 on home ice. Despite these heartbreaks, the Canucks remain one of the most storied franchises yet to hoist the Cup.
Expansion Era Contenders: The 1990s Arrivals
Several teams that joined the league during the expansion booms of the 1990s have established themselves as perennial contenders but have yet to finish the job. These franchises have seen significant postseason success, yet the ultimate reward remains out of reach.
San Jose Sharks
Joining the league in 1991, the Sharks were a model of consistency for nearly two decades, rarely missing the postseason. They finally reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, where they faced a powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins team. While they fell in six games, the Sharks' history is filled with deep playoff runs that simply stopped just short of the finish line.
Ottawa Senators
The modern iteration of the Senators (established in 1992) reached the Final in 2007, falling to the Anaheim Ducks in five games. During the early 2000s, Ottawa was a dominant force in the Eastern Conference, but they have been unable to replicate that level of success in recent years as they continue their rebuild.
Nashville Predators
The Predators (1998) represent the success of hockey in non-traditional markets. They made a memorable run to the Final in 2017 as an eighth seed, capturing the heart of the hockey world with "Smashville" pride before losing to the Penguins in six games. They remain a consistent threat in the Western Conference.
The 21st Century Franchises and Relocated Teams
The turn of the millennium and subsequent franchise moves have added several names to the list of teams still searching for their first banner. For these organizations, the history is shorter, but the hunger for a title is just as intense.
Winnipeg Jets
The current Winnipeg Jets franchise (formerly the Atlanta Thrashers) moved to Manitoba in 2011. While the original Jets never won a Cup before moving to Phoenix, the current iteration has become a powerhouse in the Western Conference. Their deepest run came in 2018 when they reached the Western Conference Finals.
Minnesota Wild
Joining the NHL in 2000, the Wild have been frequent playoff participants. However, they have only reached the Western Conference Finals once, back in 2003. Known for a defensive-minded culture, the Wild are still looking for the offensive spark that can carry them through four rounds of playoff hockey.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Also joining in 2000, the Blue Jackets have had a slower climb. They earned their first-ever playoff series win in 2019 in a historic sweep of the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. While that moment remains a franchise highlight, they have yet to progress past the second round of the postseason.
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken are the newest members of this list, having joined the league in 2021. Unlike the Vegas Golden Knights—who won the Cup in just their sixth season—the Kraken are still building their foundation. However, their second-season playoff run in 2023, where they upset the defending champion Colorado Avalanche, showed they have the potential to exit this list sooner rather than later.
Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club, which inherited the roster and hockey assets of the Arizona Coyotes in 2024, starts its journey in Salt Lake City with a clean slate. While the franchise history (including its time as the original Winnipeg Jets and the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes) includes zero Stanley Cup Final appearances, the move to Utah represents a new chapter in the search for a championship.
As the NHL continues to see incredible parity, the list of teams without a championship will likely continue to shrink. For the fans in Buffalo, Vancouver, and the eight other cities on this list, the Florida Panthers' 2024 victory serves as a reminder that the wait, however long, makes the eventual celebration that much sweeter.
Sources & Original Reporting
