Prime 10 Longest Stanley Cup Playoff Streaks – The Hockey Writers – Hockey Historical past

The start of the 2024-25 NHL season is upon us, with playoff aspirations very a lot alive all through the league. Some groups have been a constant presence within the postseason, with the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs tying for the longest streak of playoff appearances with eight. In the meantime, on the different finish of the spectrum are the Buffalo Sabres, who haven’t been to the postseason since 2010-11.

Associated: Notable NHL Captains Who Received Traded

Taking that into consideration, which groups all through the league’s historical past have the longest playoff streaks? Let’s dig into the ten longest streaks.

10. Pittsburgh Penguins – 16 seasons (2006-07 to 2021-22)

The Penguins are the latest workforce on this record after their streak ended through the 2022-23 season. After failing to qualify for the playoffs in Sidney Crosby’s rookie season of 2005-06, when he performed with then-owner Mario Lemieux, the membership secured the longest energetic postseason streak in skilled sports activities. 

Throughout their 16-year journey within the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the workforce grew to become the primary franchise to win back-to-back championships through the wage cap period, claiming the silver chalice in 2016 and 2017. Moreover, the Penguins had consecutive appearances within the Last, shedding in 2008 and successful in 2009. Traditionally, Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury are liable for this most up-to-date decade and a half of success.

9. Atlanta/Calgary Flames – 16 seasons (1975-76 to 1990-91)

Curiously, the Flames franchise is the one workforce within the high ten for prolonged playoff streaks to relocate throughout their run. Initially, the Atlanta Flames certified for the postseason in 1975-76 and misplaced within the first spherical yearly till relocating to Calgary for the 1980-81 season. Upon arrival in Canada, the workforce put their failures in Georgia behind them, reaching the Stanley Cup Last in 1986 and successful all of it in 1989. 

Throughout this era in Flames historical past, the workforce drafted a number of Corridor of Fame gamers like Joe Nieuwendyk and Al MacInnis, each gamers important to the championship run in 1989. Regardless of going head-to-head with their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers and Wayne Gretzky, for the majority of their run, the membership collected three division titles and three seasons of 100 factors or extra. 

8. Philadelphia Flyers – 17 seasons (1972-73 to 1988-89)

The Flyers joined the NHL in 1967-68 through the first growth interval and have been the primary non-Authentic Six workforce to seize the Stanley Cup, successful back-to-back titles in 1974 and 1975. Unsurprisingly, the franchise grew to become the primary growth workforce to achieve the postseason in 17 seasons, defining an period of tough-nosed hockey for an entire new technology of followers.

Moreover, their explicit interval in Flyers’ historical past is well their greatest period because it included two titles and 4 losses within the Last. Though they’ve had higher common seasons in later a long time, the membership has not received a championship since 1975 and solely returned to the Last on two events. From 1972 to 1989, the Flyers completed first of their division 9 instances, surpassing 100 factors throughout ten seasons. 

7. Detroit Pink Wings – 20 seasons (1938-39 to 1957-58)

The Pink Wings grew to become the primary workforce in league historical past to qualify for the playoffs in 20 consecutive seasons, holding onto their report for over a decade. Curiously, Detroit started its prolonged streak earlier than the Authentic Six period, which got here into existence in 1942 and ended 10 seasons earlier than the growth of 1967. 

To place this streak into perspective, Corridor of Famer Gordie Howe certified for the playoffs in his first 12 seasons, successful 4 Stanley Cup rings. Nevertheless, earlier than Howe made it to the Motor Metropolis, the Pink Wings have been already on 12 months eight of the streak, which included one other championship (1943) and quite a few losses within the Last. 

Curiously, the NHL performed 48-game seasons in 1938-39 and have been as much as 70 video games by the top of their run in 1957-58.

6. Montreal Canadiens – 21 seasons (1948-49 to 1968-69)

The Canadiens are the New York Yankees of the NHL, due to the sport’s most illustrious historical past in skilled hockey. By the point Montreal launched into one of many biggest runs in membership historical past, they have been already seven-time Stanley Cup winners. After lacking the playoffs in 1947-48, the primary time since 1939-40, the workforce finally broke the Pink Wings report for many consecutive years within the playoffs. 

Over the following 20 years, the Canadiens received 10 Stanley Cup championships underneath the steering of Dick Irvin and Toe Blake, legendary coaches enshrined within the Corridor of Fame. Though this era got here through the Authentic Six period, they did end because the league’s high workforce on ten events and completed with 100 factors in simply two seasons. 

5. Montreal Canadiens – 24 seasons (1970-71 to 1993-94)

It’s becoming that the longest playoff streak within the historical past of the Montreal Canadiens equals the identical quantity of Stanley Cup banners on the Bell Centre. Though they discovered extra success of their earlier 21-year streak (see under for extra particulars), the workforce from Montreal did seize eight titles between 1970-71 and 1993-94, remaining the final workforce from Canada to win all of it in 1993.

Curiously, this period began in 1970-71, one season after the workforce didn’t qualify for the postseason, breaking their earlier streak. Realistically, the record of Corridor of Famers throughout this period requires their very own article, which outlined 13 division titles (eight in a row) and 13 seasons with 100 factors or extra, together with a stretch of eight campaigns.

4. St. Louis Blues – 25 seasons (1979-80 to 2003-04)

Surprisingly, the St. Louis Blues are the one non-Authentic Six franchise with a spot amongst the highest 5 longest playoff streaks in league historical past. After qualifying for the postseason in 1979-80 with just one Corridor of Famer, Bernie Federko, within the lineup, the membership would problem for the Stanley Cup for the following 25 years. Lastly, when the streak ended 1 / 4 century later, the Blues solely had one Corridor of Famer, Chris Pronger, as an everyday participant. 

Shockingly, the Blues solely received 4 division titles whereas eclipsing 100 factors on 4 events throughout this time-frame. Traditionally, they have been the one franchise to make the postseason in additional than 15 consecutive years with out an look within the Stanley Cup Last. 

3. Detroit Pink Wings – 25 seasons (1990-91 to 2015-16)

Though the Detroit Pink Wings don’t personal the report for many consecutive years within the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there can be little to no argument that this franchise had some of the dominant runs in league historical past. Whether or not examing the roster in 1990-91 or 2015-16, Pink Wings administration loaded their dressing rooms with many Corridor of Famers, leading to 4 championships in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008. 

Due to excellent careers from franchise icons Nicklas Lidstrom, Steve Yzerman, Henrik Zetterberg, and Pavel Datsyuk, the Pink Wings have been capable of bridge two generations of hockey. After successful eight divisional titles in a row from 2000 to 2008, the membership completed their report 25-year run with an extra 5 division crowns and had 17 seasons with greater than 100 factors, together with yearly from 1999 to 2012. 

2. Chicago Blackhawks – 28 seasons (1969-70 to 1996-97)

The Chicago Blackhawks had an opportunity to tie the Bruins on the high of the record, starting a 28-year playoff streak in 1969-70, when hockey legends Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, and Tony Esposito have been nonetheless in crimson and black. Sadly, the workforce failed to achieve the playoffs after 1996-97 with Corridor of Famers Ed Belfour and Chris Chelios within the lineup. 

Curiously, the Blackhawks are the one Authentic Six workforce to seem on the record with a playoff streak of over 20 years with out hoisting the Stanley Cup, shedding within the 1971, 1973, and 1992 Finals. Moreover, they received their division 13 instances and surpassed 100 factors on six events. 

1. Boston Bruins – 29 seasons (1967-68 to 1995-96)

The Boston Bruins at the moment personal the NHL report for longest playoff streak, qualifying for the postseason in 29 consecutive seasons. Traditionally, this streak began with Hockey Corridor of Famers Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito on the helm in 1967-68 and ended with Corridor of Famers Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, and Adam Oates in 1995-96. 

Throughout these 29 years, the Bruins received the Stanley Cup twice, in 1970 and 1972, and misplaced within the Last 5 instances in 1974, 1977, 1978, 1988, and 1990. Moreover, the membership completed first of their division on 12 events and picked up over 100 factors in 15 seasons.  

Historic Views

The cut-off to safe a spot within the high 10 longest playoff streak is 16 years. With the Penguins not on an energetic streak, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Bruins take excessive spot on the present record with their eighth straight journey to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

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Surprisingly, once we look again at different golf equipment with prolonged playoff streaks in double digits, the record contains a number of growth groups and the 2 different Authentic Six groups. After the Penguins (16 seasons), the record consists of the Maple Leafs (15), New York Islanders (14), Capitals (14), Oilers (13), New Jersey Devils (13), Buffalo Sabres (11), Penguins (11), Flyers (11), Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche (11), Ottawa Senators (11), Blackhawks (11), New York Rangers (10), and San Jose Sharks (10). 

Total, each participant who places on a pair of skates goals of successful the Stanley Cup. Due to this fact, qualifying for the playoffs is half the battle, so incomes the precise to compete for the sport’s grandest prize yearly for a decade is kind of an accomplishment by itself.

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