How long did it take each NHL team to win their first Stanley Cup? Part Two

Tampa Bay Lightning

First season: 1992–93 First Stanley Cup: 2004 Seasons: 12

The Tampa Bay Lightning won their first Stanley Cup, defeating the Calgary Flames in seven games in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.

Twelve seasons after joining the NHL in 1992 as an expansion team and two previous playoff appearances, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in their first Final appearance.

As of today, the Lightning have a total of three championships, having won back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021. They nearly achieved a three-peat but fell to the Colorado Avalanche in six games in the 2022 final.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

First season: 1979–80 (Hartford Whalers) First Stanley Cup: 2006 Seasons: 34

Originally joining the NHL from the WHA in the 1979–80 season as the Hartford Whalers, the franchise relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1997 becoming the Carolina Hurricanes. This was the Hurricanes’ second trip to the finals, where they fell in five games to the Red Wings in 2002, three years earlier.

After missing the playoffs for the next two seasons, the Hurricanes returned to the playoffs, winning their only Stanley Cup by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. The Canes won the Cup in their eighth season in Raleigh and their 27th overall as a franchise, and were the first team to win it after the NHL lockout.

ANAHEIM DUCKS

First season: 1993–94 First Stanley Cup: 2007 Seasons: 13

The Anaheim Mighty Ducks joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1993, alongside the Florida Panthers. The Mighty Ducks reached the final in 2003, but ultimately lost in Game seven to the New Jersey Devils.

Four years later, after dropping “Mighty” from their name, the Anaheim Ducks returned to the final in 2007 and defeated fellow ’90s expansion team, the Ottawa Senators, in five games. This victory made them the first California-based team to win the Stanley Cup.

LOS ANGELES KINGS

First season: 1967–68 First Stanley Cup: 2012 Seasons: 44

The Los Angeles Kings, 44 years after joining the NHL as part of the 1967 expansion, captured their first Stanley Cup by winning a six-game series against the New Jersey Devils in the Final. 

With this victory, the Kings became the second California-based team to win the championship, joining the Anaheim Ducks. They now hold the record for the most Stanley Cups won by a California team, having secured a second championship two years later in 2014.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

First season: 1974–75 First Stanley Cup: 2018 Seasons: 43

The Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in their 43rd NHL season by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. This marked the Capitals’ second appearance in the final; they previously reached the final in 1998 but lost in four games to the Detroit Red Wings.

ST. LOUIS BLUES

First season: 1967–68, First Stanley Cup: 2019, Seasons: 51

The St. Louis Blues, the last surviving team from the 1967 expansion, won their first championship after having the longest wait in NHL history. They secured the Stanley Cup in their 51st season by winning the finals in seven games over the Boston Bruins.

This was the Blues’ fourth appearance in the finals, having previously reached the championship series three consecutive times from 1968 to 1970 after joining the NHL.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

First season: 2017–18 First Stanley Cup: 2023 Seasons: 6

In just their sixth season, the Vegas Golden Knights returned to the finals in 2023 after appearing in the finals back in their inaugural season.  The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers in Game 5, securing the Stanley Cup.

This victory makes Vegas the second-fastest franchise in modern NHL history to win the championship, following the Edmonton Oilers, who won in their fifth season, back in the 1983–84 season.

FLORIDA PANTHERS

First season: 1993–94 First Stanley Cup: 2024 Seasons: 30

After losing in the Final the previous season, the Florida Panthers returned to win their first Stanley Cup. Despite leading the series 3–0, the Edmonton Oilers fought back and pushed the series to Game 7.

In a narrow 2–1 win, the Panthers became only the second team in NHL history to win the Cup after giving up a 3–0 series lead, following the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs.

This was the Panthers’ third trip to the final after previous defeats in 1996 and 2024.

Who’s next?

With the 2025 playoffs in full swing, three teams are looking for their first championship.

Minnesota Wild

First season: 2000–01 Best Finish: 2003 Western Conference Final Season: 24

The Minnesota Wild are currently tied 1–1 in the opening round of the playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights as they are on the hunt for that first Stanley Cup. The Wild have never reached the final, with their closest attempt being a trip to the conference finals in 2003.

As for the state of Minnesota, the former Minnesota North Stars reached the finals in 1991 but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Winnipeg Jets

First season: 1999–2000 (Atlanta Thrashers) Best Finish: 2018 Western Conference Finals Season: 25

Next, the Winnipeg Jets head into the 2025 playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winners and are my pick to win their first cup among these three teams.

Winnipeg currently leads the St. Louis Blues, 2–0, in the opening round.

The Jets are in their 25th season as a franchise and 14th in Winnipeg, with their best finish being an appearance in the 2018 Western Conference Final.

Looking back into the past, the Original Winnipeg Jets joined the NHL in 1979 along with the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, and the Quebec Nordiques.

The three-time WHA Avco Cup winners made the postseason 11 times in 17 seasons before the team moved to the state of Arizona in 1996.

If adding the total seasons Winnipeg has had an NHL team, this would mark the 31st season the city have been in pursuit of a Stanley Cup.

And in my opinion, after the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes, and Utah acting as a new expansion franchise, the team should fully reclaim the original Jets’ history and records.

Ottawa Senators

First season: 1992–93 Best Finish: 2007 Stanley Cup Finals Season: 33

In Season 33, the Ottawa Senators have returned to the postseason for the first time since 2017.

Currently they are in a tough matchup against provincial rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs trailing 2–0 in Round 1.

The Senators have one trip to the final in their history, when they appeared in the 2007 Final against the Anaheim Ducks.

Again, looking back into the past, the original Senators played in the NHL from 1917 to 1934 and won the Stanley Cup four times, with the first Stanley Cup in the second season.

That team also won Lord Stanley’s Cup seven times before the NHL was established, having been founded in 1883.