The National Hockey League (NHL) is the premier men's professional ice hockey league in North America. Presently, the league comprises 32 active teams (25 from the United States and 7 from Canada). Moreover, the NHL was established in 1917 and is headquartered in Midtown, Manhattan. Remarkably, the league organizes an annual competition for the prestigious Stanley Cup, known to be the oldest and most prestigious trophy in North America. It was donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada in 1892. Since then, the league has evolved significantly, expanding from its original four Canadian teams to 32 active teams.
Presently, the NHL is divided into two conferences (Eastern and Western), which consists of two divisions each, out of which the top 16 teams qualify to participate in the Stanley Cup playoffs. As a matter of fact, the Stanley Cup has been awarded 107 times till now, with 22 active teams having received the honors.
Also Read: NHL coaches with multiple Stanley Cup appearances
NHL Teams With No Stanley Cups
The Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wilds, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, and Seattle Kraken are the teams who have not yet been crowned with the Stanley Cup, as of April 2025.
The Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks are the oldest teams to have not won the Stanley Cup yet. Notably, both teams have reached the finals a combined five times (the Sabres twice and the Canucks thrice). Following them are the Arizona Coyotes as the other oldest team to have not won the Stanley Cup.
| Team | City |
| Arizona Coyotes | Arizona |
| Buffalo Sabres | Buffalo |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Columbus |
| Florida Panthers | Sunrise |
| Minnesota Wild | St. Paul |
| Nashville Predators | Nashville |
| Ottawa Senators | Ottawa |
| San Jose Sharks | San Jose |
| Seattle Kraken | Seattle |
| Vancouver Canucks | Vancouver |
| Winnipeg Jets | Winnipeg |
Note: Teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets and Arizona Coyotes have never made it to the Stanley Cup finals.
FAQs on Stanley Cup
A. 11 NHL teams have not yet been crowned with the Stanley Cup, as of April 2025.
A. The Boston Bruins have been in the Stanley Cup finals, falling short 13 times.
A. The Montreal Canadiens is the most successful team in the NHL with 24 Stanley Cups.
A. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs are part of the "Original Six".
A. The Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in the 1966-67 season.
