It’s got to be rough to be a Toronto Maple Leafs fan these days. The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions. That means every major-league MLSE property except the Leafs has won a title since 2017.
Toronto FC (MLS Cup) and the Toronto Argonauts (Grey Cup) both won in 2017. That same year, the minor-pro Toronto Marlies captured the AHL Calder Cup and Raptors 905 played in the NBA G League final.
The Leafs haven’t been to a final series since their last Stanley Cup win in 1967. They are one season away from tying the New York Rangers’ record 53-year drought between Cup wins in 1940 and 1994.
To make matters worse, the St. Louis Blues, who began NHL play in 1967-68, the last season that the Leafs were defending champs, are the reigning Stanley Cup holders.
It took 52 years and three failures in the final series but the Blues can finally say they got it done. It’s the second time in as many springs that a lengthy drought was halted. In 2017-18, the Washington Capitals won their first Cup, 42 years after joining the NHL as an expansion team.
Which NHL team will be next to end its Stanley Cup drought?
Here are the active Stanley Cup droughts of more than 20 years:
Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Cup win: 1967.
Drought: 52 years.
Close Calls: Reached final four in 1978, 1993, 1994, 1999 and 2002. Lost in Game 7 against the Los Angeles Kings in the 1994 Western Conference final.
Buffalo Sabres
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 49 years.
Close Calls: Lost in 1975 and 1999 Stanley Cup finals.
Vancouver Canucks
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 49 years.
Close Calls: Lost in 1982, 1994 and 2011 Stanley Cup finals. Were Game 7 losers in both 1994 and 2011.
Philadelphia Flyers
Last Cup win: 1975.
Drought: 44 years.
Close Calls: Have lost in six straight finals since the last Cup triumph. Fell in Game 7 to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1987 final.
Arizona Coyotes
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 40 years.
Close Call: Lost in 2012 Western Conference final.
San Jose Sharks
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 28 years.
Close Call: Lost to Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 Stanley Cup final.
Ottawa Senators
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 27 years.
Close Call: Lost to Anaheim Ducks in 2007 Stanley Cup final.
New York Islanders
Last Cup win: 1983.
Drought: 36 years.
Close Call: Lost to Edmonton Oilers in 1984 Stanley Cup final.
Calgary Flames
Last Cup win: 1989.
Drought: 30 years.
Close Call: Lost to Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 Stanley Cup final.
Edmonton Oilers
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 29 years.
Close Call: Lost to Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 Stanley Cup final.
Florida Panthers
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 26 years.
Close Call: Lost to Colorado Avalanche in 1996 Stanley Cup final.
Montreal Canadiens
Last Cup win: 1993.
Drought: 26 years.
Close Calls: Lost in 2010 and 2014 Eastern Conference finals.
Nashville Predators
Last Cup win: Never.
Drought: 21 years.
Close Call: Lost to Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017 Stanley Cup final.
[socialpoll id=”2554551″]
