The NHL plays 82 regular season games, and out of 32 teams, only 16 advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, one of professional sports’ most challenging tournaments to win a league championship. Even though 21 of the league’s current franchises have won the Stanley Cup, it’s not so easy qualifying for the postseason consistently as the current teams with the longest playoff streak is only eight seasons. Here’s a look at the 16 current teams skating in the league’s second season and their recent successes.
Washington Capitals – One Season (2024)
Since Alex Ovechkin made his NHL debut in 2005-06, the Washington Capitals have only missed the playoffs on four occasions: 2006, 2007, 2014, and 2023. As he approaches Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, he’s led the Capitals to one appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, which they won in 2018. Their longest playoff streak of the salary cap era is from 2015 to 2022.
Nashville Predators – One Season (2024)
The Nashville Predators returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024 after missing last season, ending an eight-season streak from 2015 to 2022. During the franchise’s best stretch of postseason hockey, they advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Related: Top 10 Longest Stanley Cup Playoff Streaks
Unfortunately, they only advanced out of the first round on three occasions, winning a single series the same season (2017-18) that they captured the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best team.
Vancouver Canucks – One Season (2024)
In 2024, the Vancouver Canucks just qualified for the playoffs for only the third time in the past decade. Despite reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2011, the British Columbia-based franchise has won just one series in 13 seasons. Once the Sedin brothers (Henrik and Daniel) retired in 2018, the organization turned a page with a young core playing their first postseason games in front of fans. Since 2015, their only playoff games were in the bubble in Edmonton, without spectators.
Winnipeg Jets – Two Seasons (2023, 2024)
The Winnipeg Jets just compiled one of the best regular season campaigns in franchise history, advancing to the postseason for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in the past seven years. Initially, this recent success started in the Western Conference Final in 2018, a spot the Jets would like to return to in 2024, hopefully skating in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. Since relocating to Manitoba…
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