Best NHL Teams to Never Win the Stanley Cup

These NHL teams prove that winning the Stanley Cup can be completely random.

Best NHL Teams to Never Win the Stanley Cup

Hockey is random.

You can assess all the predictive measures and crunch the numbers, and sometimes, it still doesn’t add up to a championship season. Especially in the salary-cap era, in which the NHL has promoted enhanced parity, the championship team ultimately survives instead of other sports where the best team wins.

Sometimes, the elite teams that fall short are the ones that are more memorable than those who actually lift the Cup. These are the teams we’re featuring here — the best NHL teams that couldn’t quite scale the mountain.

30. 2019-20 Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, Patrice Bergeron

Record: 44-14-12 (100 points)

Coach: Bruce Cassidy

Key players: Center Patrice Bergeron, right wing David Pastrnak, left wing Brad Marchand, defenseman Charlie McAvoy, defenseman Zdeno Chara

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference second round to Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1

The Bruins were running roughshod over the NHL. They were the only 100-point team in the NHL when the league paused on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, thus earning the Presidents’ Trophy that season.

Yet, when play resumed in the bubble in Toronto, after knocking off the pesky Carolina Hurricanes, Boston had no match for the well-rested Tampa Bay Lightning, losing the final four games after a Game 1 overtime win.

29. 2002-03 Detroit Red Wings

Record: 48-20-10-4 (110 points)

Coach: Dave Lewis

Key players: Center Pavel Datsyuk, center Sergei Fedorov, center Steve Yzerman, right wing Brendan Shanahan, right wing Luc Robitaille, right wing Brett Hull, defenseman Chris Chelios, defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, goalie Curtis Joseph

Finish: Lost in Western Conference quarterfinals to Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 4-0

On the heels of perhaps the greatest team to ever win the Stanley Cup, the Red Wings appeared poised to roll through the NHL to the Cup for the second straight year. Detroit’s roster was loaded with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, and it scored the most goals in the NHL (269) while surrendering the eighth-fewest.

Yet, once the Wings got to the postseason, they couldn’t solve Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The Mighty Ducks goalie stopped 165 of 171 shots (.965) in the sweep and then carried them to Game 7 of the Cup final, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy despite Anaheim’s defeat against the New Jersey Devils.

28. 2002-03 Ottawa Senators

Record: 52-21-8-1 (113 points)

Coach: Jacques Martin

Key players: Forward Marian Hossa, forward Jason Spezza, forward Daniel Alfredsson, defenseman Wade Redden, defenseman Zdeno Chara, goalie Patrick Lalime

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference final to New Jersey Devils, 4-3

The Senators won the Presidents’ Trophy with the most points in the NHL that season then ripped through their first two playoff series over the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers. Unfortunately, Ottawa fell behind 3-1 to the Devils before rebounding to force Game 7.

New Jersey knocked off Ottawa 3-2 in a memorable game, claiming the series en route to the Stanley Cup.

27. 1996-97 Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche left winger Valeri Kamensky

Record: 49-24-9 (107 points)

Coach: Bob Hartley

Key players: Forward Joe Sakic, forward Peter Forsberg, defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, goalie Patrick Roy

Finish: Lost in Western Conference final to Detroit Red Wings, 4-2

The defending champs had high aspirations in 1997 as well, and they delivered by winning the Pacific Division regular season by 22 points and the Presidents’ Trophy by three over the Dallas Stars.

The Avalanche took care of Chicago and Edmonton in their first two playoff series but ran into the rival Red Wings in the conference finals, who turned the tables on their nemeses en route to their first championship since 1955.

26. 1997-98 Dallas Stars

Record: 49-22-11 (109 points)

Coach: Ken Hitchcock

Key players: Forward Mike Modano, forward Joe Nieuwendyk, defenseman Sergei Zubov, defenseman Derian Hatcher, goalie Ed Belfour

Finish: Lost in Western Conference final to Detroit Red Wings, 4-2

The Stars built one of the strongest teams in the league in their fifth season in the Lonestar State, winning the Presidents’ Trophy, then going 8-3 in their first two playoff series. But Dallas, like Colorado in the 1997 conference final, stumbled in the Western Conference final against the Red Wings in six games.

The Stars learned from their mistakes after scoring just 11 goals in six games and added Hall of Fame forward Brett Hull in the offseason, who helped bring home the Stanley Cup in 1999.

25. 2014-15 New York Rangers

Record: 53-22-7 (115 points)

Coach: Alain Vigneault

Key players: Forward Rick Nash, forward Derek Stepan, forward Mats Zuccarello, defenseman Ryan McDonagh, defenseman Keith Yandle, goalie Henrik Lundqvist

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference final to Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3

The Rangers were the defending Eastern Conference champions and appeared poised for a run at the Cup, especially when they overcame Lundqvist’s fluke, midseason neck injury and still won the Presidents’ Trophy.

Still, the war of attrition got to the Rangers. New York lost Zuccarello, its leading scorer, to a head injury in the first round, then didn’t have McDonagh for parts of its conference-final series against Tampa Bay. The Rangers did not score in their final two home playoff games, falling a game shy of the final with their 2-0 loss in Game 7.

24. 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks

Record: 51-22-9 (111 points)

Coach: Alain Vigneault

Key players: Forward Daniel Sedin, forward Henrik Sedin, forward Ryan Kesler, forward Alex Burrows, defenseman Alex Edler, goalie Roberto Luongo

Finish: Lost in Western Conference quarterfinals to Los Angeles Kings, 4-1

On the heels of their devastating Game 7, Cup final loss in 2011 (more on that later), the Canucks looked loaded for a run at the Cup again in 2012. Yet, Vancouver, which scored the fourth-most goals during the regular season, ran into the buzzsaw that was the 2012 Kings, who built a 3-0 series lead and allowed just eight goals in five games.

The eighth-seeded Kings ran through the playoffs to the Cup.

23. 2017-18 Nashville Predators

Record: 53-18-11 (117 points)

Coach: Peter Laviolette

Key players: Forward Filip Forsberg, forward Ryan Johansen, forward Viktor Arvidsson, defenseman Roman Josi, defenseman P.K. Subban, goalie Pekka Rinne

Finish: Lost in Western Conference second round to Winnipeg Jets, 4-3

The Predators stunned the hockey world by advancing to the Cup final as the Western Conference No. 8 seed in 2017, then ripped off an exceptional regular season when Rinne won the Vezina Trophy and Nashville claimed the Presidents’ Trophy.

Nashville topped the Avalanche in six games in the first round, then played a knock-down, drag-out series against the Jets in the second round. But Winnipeg routed Nashville in Game 7, winning 6-2 and sending the Western Conference No. 1 seed home short of even the conference final.

22. 1988-89 Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens Mike Lalor, right, and goalie Patrick Roy

Record: 53-18-9 (115 points)

Coach: Pat Burns

Key players: Forward Guy Carbonneau, forward Bob Gainey, defenseman Eric Desjardins, defenseman Larry Robinson, goalie Patrick Roy

Finish: Lost in Stanley Cup final to Calgary Flames, 4-2

The 1989 Canadiens were loaded, led by Roy who won both the Vezina Trophy for best goalie and Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed in the regular season. Montreal won 12 of its first 15 postseason games, sweeping Hartford before polishing off Boston in five games and Philadelphia in six, yet had no answer for the upstart Flames.

Calgary, which fell to Montreal in five games in the 1986 Cup final, turned the tables on the Habs, winning the final three games and becoming the first and only road team to ever clinch the Cup at the famed Montreal Forum.

21. 2008-09 Boston Bruins

Record: 53-19-10 (116 points)

Coach: Claude Julien

Key players: Forward Patrice Bergeron, forward Marc Savard, forward Phil Kessel, forward Michael Ryder, defenseman Zdeno Chara, goalie Tim Thomas

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference semifinals to Carolina Hurricanes, 4-3

Led by Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, the Bruins finished the 2008-09 season with the second-most points in franchise history and the most points in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins then took care of the eighth-seeded Canadiens in the first round but fell behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven, second-round series against the upstart Hurricanes.

Boston won the next two to even the series, but Thomas’ key misplay in overtime led to Scott Walker’s overtime goal in Game 7, and Carolina ended Boston’s exceptional season.

20. 2013-14 Anaheim Ducks

Record: 54-20-8 (116 points)

Coach: Bruce Boudreau

Key players: Forward Ryan Getzlaf, forward Corey Perry, forward Teemu Selanne, defenseman Cam Fowler, goalie Jonas Hiller

Finish: Lost in Western Conference second round to Los Angeles Kings, 4-3

The Ducks lost on home ice in Game 7 four consecutive years under Boudreau, and 2014 was the second in that span. Anaheim posted the best record in the Western Conference and won its first-round series against Dallas but ran into the red-hot, rival Kings in the classic series.

Los Angeles won the first two games before the Ducks rallied to win three straight. After falling 2-1 in Game 6 in L.A., the Ducks were routed by the Kings 6-2 in the decisive game — which was the last contest of Selanne’s Hall of Fame career. Los Angeles went on to win the Cup, further twisting the knife on its rivals to the south.

19. 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres

Record: 53-22-7 (113 points)

Coach: Lindy Ruff

Key players: Forward Chris Drury, forward Danny Briere, forward Thomas Vanek, defenseman Brian Campbell, goalie Ryan Miller

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference final to Ottawa Senators, 4-1

The Sabres fell a game short of the Stanley Cup final in 2006, losing in Game 7 to the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes. But Buffalo was even stronger in 2006-07, finishing tied with the Detroit Red Wings for most points in the NHL during the regular season.

Buffalo swiftly dispatched its New York rivals, the Islanders and Rangers, but ran into a buzzsaw in the Ottawa Senators in the conference final. The Senators won the first three games, then ended the Sabres’ season on Daniel Alfredsson’s overtime goal in Game 5 of the conference final.

18. 1999-2000 St. Louis Blues

Record: 51-19-11-1 (114 points)

Coach: Joel Quenneville

Key players: Forward Pavol Demitra, forward Pierre Turgeon, defenseman Chris Pronger, defenseman Al MacInnis, goalie Roman Turek

Finish: Lost in Western Conference quarterfinals to San Jose Sharks, 4-3

The 1999-2000 Blues had all the pieces to make a run to the Cup. Pronger won the Hart Trophy as the regular-season MVP. Turek was the Vezina Trophy runner-up, and he and backup Jamie McLennan shared the Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed in the regular season.

But St. Louis fell behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series against the upstart Sharks, and although it rallied to force Game 7, the Blues fell 3-1 in the do-or-die game on home ice.

17. 2013-14 Boston Bruins

Record: 54-19-9 (117 points)

Coach: Claude Julien

Key players: Forward Patrice Bergeron, forward Brad Marchand, forward Jarome Iginla, forward David Krejci, forward Milan Lucic, defenseman Zdeno Chara, goalie Tuukka Rask

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference second round to Montreal Canadiens, 4-3

The 2013 Bruins fell just short of the Stanley Cup — famously allowing the game-tying and winning goals 17 seconds apart to the Chicago Blackhawks. But Julien’s bunch rebounded by winning the Presidents’ Trophy and regular-season Atlantic Division crown.

Yet, after rag-dolling the Detroit Red Wings in the first round, Boston couldn’t overcome Carey Price and the rival Canadiens in the second round. Price posted a .936 save percentage in six games, outplaying Boston goalie Tuukka Rask, and Montreal overcame a 3-2 deficit and beat the Bruins in Game 7.

16. 2008-09 San Jose Sharks

Record: 53-18-11 (117 points)

Coach: Todd McLellan

Key players: Forward Joe Thornton, forward Patrick Marleau, forward Joe Pavelski, defenseman Dan Boyle, defenseman Rob Blake, goalie Evgeni Nabokov

Finish: Lost in Western Conference quarterfinals to Anaheim Ducks, 4-2

Of the Sharks teams to fall short, this was undoubtedly the most painful. San Jose set franchise records for wins and points in a single season, winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

Yet, when tasked with knocking off the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks, who it had gone 4-2 against during the regular season, the Sharks wilted, falling behind 2-0 before eventually losing in six games. The Sharks are still chasing that elusive first championship.

15. 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 48-12-20 (116 points)

Coach: Pat Quinn

Key players: Forward Reggie Leach, forward Bob Clarke, forward Brian Propp, forward Bill Barber forward Ken Linseman, defenseman Ken Dailey, goalie Pete Peeters

Finish: Lost in Stanley Cup final to New York Islanders, 4-2

The 1980s Flyers were supposed to take the reins from the Montreal Canadiens and build a dynasty of tenacious and skilled teams, like they had done when they reached the Cup final in three straight seasons and won the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasons in 1975 and 1976.

Unfortunately, Philadelphia couldn’t find a way through the Edmonton Oilers or Islanders, who stunned the Flyers in the Cup final series. Philadelphia finished 25 points better than New York in the regular season yet fell behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series before falling in Game 6 on Bob Nystrom’s famous overtime, Cup-clinching goal.

14. 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 51-13-16 (118 points)

Coach: Fred Shero

Key players: Forward Bob Clarke, forward Bill Barber, forward Reggie Leach, defenseman Larry Goodenough, goalie Wayne Stephenson

Finish: Lost in Stanley Cup final to Montreal Canadiens, 4-0

The Broad Street Bullies were the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions who were seeking a third straight. The Flyers did as much as they could. Led by Leach’s 61 goals and Clarke’s league-leading 89 assists, the Flyers posted a 118-point season — in the days before the NHL adopted overtime — reaching the Cup final.

Montreal, which posted a 127-point regular season, went 12-1 in the playoffs and swept the Flyers in the championship round for the first of its four straight championships.

13. 1950-51 Detroit Red Wings

Record: 44-13-13 (101 points)

Coach: Tommy Ivan

Key players: Forward Sid Abel, forward Gordie Howe, forward Alex Delvecchio, forward Ted Lindsay, defenseman Red Kelly, goalie Terry Sawchuk

Finish: Lost in NHL semifinals to Montreal Canadiens, 4-2

The Red Wings posted the first 100-point season in NHL history, led by the Production Line of Delvecchio, Lindsay and Howe, three Hall of Famers who combined for 90 goals and 116 assists over the 70-game season.

Yet, when the playoffs arrived, Detroit lost a pair of marathon games — Game 1 went four overtimes and Game 2 lasted three extra sessions. Plus, Lindsay produced just one point over six games, and the Red Wings lost in six games to the Canadiens.

12. 1994-95 Detroit Red Wings

Record: 33-11-4 (70 points)

Coach: Scotty Bowman

Key players: Center Steve Yzerman, center Sergei Fedorov, right wing Dino Ciccarelli, defenseman Mark Howe, defenseman Viacheslav Fedorov, defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, goalie Mike Vernon

Finish: Lost in Stanley Cup final to New Jersey Devils, 4-0

The Red Wings rolled through the regular season in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season, putting up a 120-point, 82-game pace. The star-laden Red Wings then went 12-2 in their first 14 playoff games, building 3-0 series advantages in each of their Western Conference playoff rounds before running into the white-hot Devils, who swept Detroit in the Cup final.

The 1995 loss was the third in a string of four straight devastating postseason exits for Detroit, which hadn’t won the Cup since 1955 at the time.

11. 2012-13 Pittsburgh Penguins

Record: 36-12-0 (72 points)

Coach: Dan Bylsma

Key players: Forward Sidney Crosby, forward Evgeni Malkin, forward Jarome Iginla, forward James Neal, forward Pascal Dupuis defenseman Kris Letang, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference final to Boston Bruins, 4-0

The Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks appeared on a collision course for the Stanley Cup final in the lockout-shortened 2013 season, especially after Pittsburgh acquired Jarome Iginla at the trade deadline. Chicago did its part, but the Penguins’ goaltending struggled all postseason, as Fleury’s playoff struggles came to the forefront and Thomas Vokoun took over in net.

Pittsburgh could not get past the upstart Boston Bruins, who outscored it 12-2 in the four-game, conference-final sweep.

10. 2010-11 Vancouver Canucks

Mason Raymond, Pavol Demitra, of Slovakia

Record: 54-19-9 (117 points)

Coach: Alain Vigneault

Key players: Forward Daniel Sedin, forward Henrik Sedin, forward Ryan Kesler, forward Alex Burrows, defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, defenseman Alex Edler, goalie Roberto Luongo

Finish: Lost in Stanley Cup final to Boston Bruins, 4-3

The greatest team in Canucks history deserved a better fate. Vancouver famously exorcized its demons against the Chicago Blackhawks — after almost blowing a 3-0 series advantage — en route to its first Cup final appearance since 1994. The Canucks then built a seemingly insurmountable 2-0 series advantage on a pair of one-goal wins against the underdog Bruins in the Cup final before the wheels quickly came off.

Boston outscored Vancouver 21-4 over the final five games as it shelled Luongo in the three games at TD Garden, stealing the Cup and leaving Vancouver in shambles after residents famously rioted after the Bruins’ 4-0 Cup-clinching victory.

9. 2016-17 Washington Capitals

Record: 55-19-8 (118 points)

Coach: Barry Trotz

Key players: Forward Alex Ovechkin, forward Nicklas Backstrom, forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, forward T.J. Oshie, forward Justin Williams, defenseman John Carlson, goalie Braden Holtby

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference second round to Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3

The 2016-17 Capitals weren’t as dominant as their 2015-16 counterparts (more on them later) but still were on a record-setting pace for much of the season. Washington again entered as the Presidents’ Trophy winner and wide favorite to win the Cup, then teased its fan base by rallying from 3-1 down in its second-round series against the archrival Penguins.

Yet, Pittsburgh pulled the rug out from under the Capitals again, claiming a 2-0 win in Game 7 en route to its fifth championship. Washington learned from defeat though, rebounding to win the Cup in 2018.

8. 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins

Record: 56-21-7 (119 points)

Coach: Scotty Bowman

Key players: Forward Mario Lemieux, forward Jaromir Jagr, forward Ron Francis, forward Kevin Stevens, forward Rick Tocchet, forward Joe Mullen, defenseman Larry Murphy, goalie Tom Barrasso

Finish: Lost in Patrick Division final to New York Islanders, 4-3

The 1993 Penguins were without a doubt the best regular-season team in the franchise’s history, thanks to Lemieux’s historic season in which he led the NHL in scoring despite missing 24 games while receiving treatment for Hodgkin’s disease. On the heels of consecutive Stanley Cup championships, Pittsburgh rolled through the regular season, then quickly dispatched the New Jersey Devils in five games and built a 3-2 series lead against the Islanders in its second-round series.

But the Penguins dropped the final two games, including a memorable Game 7 in which Islanders’ checking-line forward David Volek scored two goals, including the game-winner at 5:16 of overtime to lift New York to the stunning upset.

7. 2015-16 Washington Capitals

Record: 56-18-8 (120 points)

Coach: Barry Trotz

Key players: Forward Alex Ovechkin, forward Nicklas Backstrom, forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, forward T.J. Oshie, forward Justin Williams, defenseman John Carlson, goalie Braden Holtby

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference second round to Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2

Washington was on pace to set a new NHL record for wins and points all season until it lost eight of its final 15 games and settled for a 120-point campaign. Still, the Capitals were heavy favorites to reach the Cup final and hoist its first championship trophy in team history until it ran into the rival Penguins, who won four of their final five games (including two in overtime) in the Eastern Conference second round.

Pittsburgh ultimately won the Cup.

6. 2009-10 Washington Capitals

Record: 54-15-13 (121 points)

Coach: Bruce Boudreau

Key players: Forward Alex Ovechkin, forward Nicklas Backstrom, forward Alex Semin, defenseman Mike Green, defenseman John Carlson, goalie Semyon Varlamov

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference quarterfinals to Montreal Canadiens, 4-3

The Capitals have a rich history of blowing 3-1 series leads, and this was perhaps the most famous example. Washington built the advantage before getting “Halak’d,” a term named for then-Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak that has since become synonymous with a goalie standing on his head for multiple games in a row.

The Montreal goalie stopped 131 of the final 134 shots (.977 save percentage) he faced in Games 5-7, and the Canadiens stole the series in seven games.

5. 1985-86 Edmonton Oilers

Record: 56-17-7 (119 points)

Coach: Glenn Sather

Key players: Forward Wayne Gretzky, forward Mark Messier, forward Jari Kurri, forward Glenn Anderson, defenseman Paul Coffey, defenseman Kevin Lowe, goalie Grant Fuhr

Finish: Lost in Smythe Division final to Calgary Flames, 4-3

Personally, this is my favorite team on the list because the 1986 Oilers were as close to a lock to win the Stanley Cup as any team ever. Edmonton opened the year at +120 to win the Cup, stunningly short odds, then rolled through the regular season led by Wayne Gretzky’s NHL-record 215 points — a mark that will likely never be broken.

The Oilers swept the Vancouver Canucks in the Smythe Division first round before splitting the first six game against the provincial-rival Flames. Calgary stunned Edmonton in Game 7 when defenseman Steve Smith attempted a breakout pass that clipped goalie Grant Fuhr’s skate and went in for the game-winning goal — ultimately awarded to Perry Berezan, who was the last Flames player to touch the puck. Edmonton went on to win the next two Stanley Cup championships before Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles in 1988.

4. 1970-71 Boston Bruins

Record: 57-14-7 (121 points)

Coach: Tom Johnson

Key players: Center Phil Esposito, center Johnny Bucyk, center Derek Sanderson, defenseman Bobby Orr, goalie Gerry Cheevers

Finish: Lost in NHL first round to Montreal Canadiens, 4-3

The 1970 Bruins won the Stanley Cup on Bobby Orr’s famous flight, then put together the best regular season in franchise history, setting team records for wins and points that still stand. Yet, like most teams in Bruins history, those pesky Montreal Canadiens got in the way to spoil everything.

Montreal rookie goalie Ken Dryden outplayed Cheevers in the series, and Montreal rallied from 3-2 down to claim the series en route to the Stanley Cup. Boston rebounded in 1972 by winning the trophy.

3. 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings

Record: 58-16-8 (124 points)

Coach: Mike Babcock

Key players: Center Steve Yzerman, center Pavel Datsyuk, right wing Brendan Shanahan, left wing Henrik Zetterberg, defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, goalie Manny Legace

Finish: Lost in Western Conference first round to Edmonton Oilers, 4-2

It’s hard to believe this isn’t even the best Red Wings team on the list — stay tuned — but in the first year out of the 2003-04 NHL lockout, Detroit had a dominant regular season when it posted a .756 points percentage and won 58 games.

Yet, the duo of goalie Dwayne Roloson and defenseman Chris Pronger stymied the Wings at every turn in their first-round series against the Oilers, and Edmonton shocked Detroit en route to a run that ended in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

2. 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 62-16-4 (128 points)

Coach: Jon Cooper

Key players: Center Steven Stamkos, right wing Nikita Kucherov, defenseman Victor Hedman, goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy

Finish: Lost in Eastern Conference first round to Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-0

The Lightning tied the NHL record for most wins in the regular season as part of a historic season. Yet, they couldn’t even pick up a playoff victory, falling in stunning fashion to the Columbus Blue Jackets — blowing a 3-0, Game 1 lead before being outscored 15-5 in the final three games.

Tampa Bay, like so many teams on this list, learned from failure and went on to win the next two Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

1. 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings

Record: 62-13-7 (132 points)

Coach: Scotty Bowman

Key players: Center Steve Yzerman, center Sergei Fedorov, center Igor Larionov, right wing Dino Ciccarelli, defenseman Paul Coffey, defenseman Nick Lidstrom, goalie Chris Osgood

Finish: Lost in Western Conference Final to Colorado Avalanche, 4-2

The Red Wings set NHL records for wins and points, yet could not even reach the Stanley Cup final in 1996. Detroit famously squeezed past Wayne Gretzky and the St. Louis Blues on Steve Yzerman’s overtime goal in Game 7 of their second-round series, only to get done in by the upstart Colorado Avalanche in a brutal series in which Claude Lemieux broke Red Wings forward Kris Draper’s nose.

Detroit learned from its mistakes and won the next two Stanley Cup championships.