This may not shock you, but the Florida Panthers took the bigger leap in our annual NHL salary-cap era franchise rankings.

This is where we go back to the 2005-06 season — the first under the salary cap — and weigh postseason success. That doesn’t mean making the playoffs. That means achieving something once there.

The Panthers, after advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 and winning the Cup this season, leaped from 25th to 14th in our rankings.

It could just be the start of their rise. Even though the cap has led to significant changes in South Florida this offseason, with the retainment of Sam Reinhart and Dmitry Kulikov and the loss of several key fixtures, the Panthers look like they’ll be a menace in the East for many years to come.

The Pittsburgh Penguins retained the top spot in the rankings, though they’re clearly on the decline, while the Tampa Bay Lightning made some bold choices this offseason to resume what once looked like a sure march upward into that top spot.

Before we get to all the teams and where they rank, here’s a breakdown of how the results are calculated:

Calculations began with the advent of the salary cap, the 2005-06 season.

Winning the Stanley Cup (SC): 11 points
Losing in the Stanley Cup Final (SCF): 5 points
Losing in the conference final (CF): 3 points
Making the playoffs: 1 point

Teams can’t earn points in multiple categories, so if a team wins the Stanley Cup in a given year, it also doesn’t get the point for making the playoffs. It’s also weighed in favor of significant playoff success. Sorry, teams that make the playoffs a lot but don’t do anything once they get there.

We’re talking to you, Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs.

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1. Pittsburgh Penguins

Total: 52 points
↔
2023: 1st, 52 points

The Penguins are no longer a legit Stanley Cup contender, but for the second straight season, they were a win or two away from at least adding to their point total here, and for the second straight season, they failed. Now, things seem primed to get worse before they get better, regardless of whether Sidney Crosby signs a contract extension. The bright side for the Penguins: They’ve got enough cushion to hold on to this spot for (at least) a bit longer, as the teams directly behind them are A) another aging mini-dynasty and B) not ready for prime time.

Total playoff years: 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17SC, 16SC, 15, 14, 13CF, 12, 11, 10, 09SC, 08SCF, 07

Playoff-only years: 11 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 3

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Total: 47 points
↔
2023: 2nd, 46 points

Few GMs have bigger cojones than Julien Brisebois, and he proved it again this summer by making the tough call of moving on from captain Steven Stamkos, the franchise’s all-time leader in games, goals, points and many other categories. He replaced the Lightning’s heart and soul with Jake Guentzel, who’s five years younger, makes only $1 million per year more and is a playoff gamer, as well as having superior five-on-five numbers. Out goes Mikhail Sergachev, and Ryan McDonagh returns, which should offset that loss. Whether you agree or disagree with BriseBois’ decisions, the fact is one of the league’s most successful teams in the cap era has no plans on its window closing.

Total playoff years: 24, 23, 22SCF, 21SC, 20SC, 19, 18CF, 16CF, 15SCF, 14, 11CF, 07, 06

Playoff-only years: 6 | Conference finals: 3 | Cup finals: 2 | Cup wins: 2

3. Chicago Blackhawks

Total: 44 points
↔
2023: 3rd, 44 points

Are the Blackhawks good enough to mount a real playoff push in Connor Bedard’s second season? Nope. Still, adding legit NHLers like Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen and Alec Martinez was a necessary bit of roster-building by Kyle Davidson. Chicago couldn’t be bad forever — and Bedard has enough juice right now to get them closer to relevance. In adding him, they took care of the toughest part. Now, it’s about making steady, incremental gains until they’re adding to their overall points total. They’re closer today than they were last year.

Total playoff years: 20, 17, 16, 15SC, 14CF, 13SC, 12, 11, 10SC, 09CF

Playoff-only years: 5 | Conference finals: 2 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 3

4. Boston Bruins

Total: 33 points
↔
2023: 4th, 32 points

Just when you think the Bruins’ decline is arriving, they come up with another playoff-caliber season. There are only a few stalwarts left from their glory years — namely captain Brad Marchand — but they’re feeling the loss of perennial Selke winner Patrice Bergeron. Boston took a big swing in bolstering its lineup up the middle with Elias Lindholm but is now weaker on the wings. The B’s are betting on Jeremy Swayman to be their No. 1 in net, having broken up the league’s best between-the-pipes bromance by dealing Linus Ullmark to the Senators. It feels like they’re going to be battling to crack the top three in the Atlantic and might have to fight for a wild card.

Total playoff years: 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19SCF, 18, 17, 14, 13SCF, 12, 11SC, 10, 09, 08

Playoff-only years: 12 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 2 | Cup wins: 1

5. Los Angeles Kings

Total: 32 points
↔
2023: 5th, 31 points

There haven’t been many lulls in the Kings’ Cap Era run, and they deserve credit for that. At times over the past two years, they seemed like a threat to add to their point total in a real way. Their big swing last offseason — trading for and extending Pierre-Luc Dubois — didn’t quite go as planned, though, and they’ve now lost to the Oilers in three consecutive first rounds. That seems like a long-term roadblock. Still, Quinton Byfield has regained some of his franchise-player luster, and there are enough other solid players in the mix to keep them adding to their point total.

Total playoff years: 24, 23, 22, 18, 16, 14SC, 13CF, 12SC, 11, 10

Playoff-only years: 7 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 2

6 (tie). Anaheim Ducks

Total: 27 points
↔️
2023: 6th (tie), 27 points

General manager Pat Verbeek begins the third full season of his complete overhaul of the Ducks, who have missed the playoffs six years in a row. He continues to mix in top prospects and change the culture by adding veteran winners. Last year, it was two-time Cup champion Alex Killorn from the Lightning and Radko Gudas fresh off a run with the Panthers. This year, it’s former Penguins playoff stalwart Brian Dumoulin. The Ducks still have some potential trade chips out there with Trevor Zegras and John Gibson, and it’ll be interesting to see how Cutter Gauthier plays during his rookie year after arriving in last season’s Jamie Drysdale trade. But they’re living in the past being ranked this high here.

Total playoff years: 18, 17CF, 16, 15CF, 14, 13, 11, 09, 08, 07SC, 06CF

Playoff-only years: 7 | Conference finals: 3 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 1

6 (tie). Detroit Red Wings

Total: 27 points
↔️
2023: 6th (tie), 27 points

The Wings came within a tiebreaker of ending their playoff drought and breaking a tie with the Ducks — but instead it’s now at eight seasons and counting. The fact that they’re here at all is a testament to how good they were for the first decade of the Cap Era. It’s fair to wonder whether general manager Steve Yzerman is building a true contender around Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider and Co., but he’s finally assembled a group that’s capable of playing meaningful hockey. Is a roster without any glaring holes enough? It might be time to find out.

Total playoff years: 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 09SCF, 08SC, 07CF, 06

Playoff-only years: 8 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 1

6 (tie). New York Rangers

Total: 27 points
⬆️
2023: 8th (tie), 24 points

The Rangers keep knocking on the door, going to the conference final in two of the past three years. But their top dogs couldn’t get it done against the Panthers. One reason was a revolving door of wingers on the top line. Former Vegas Cup champ Reilly Smith enters the equation and should help, as will Alexis Lafrenière’s continued rise toward stardom. The Rangers should continue to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference and march up these rankings, but it remains to be seen if they have enough to win a Cup and make a major leap.

Total playoff years: 24CF, 23, 22CF, 20, 17, 16, 15CF, 14SCF, 13, 12CF, 11, 09, 08, 07, 06

Playoff-only years: 10 | Conference finals: 4 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

9. Washington Capitals

Total: 25 points
⬇️
2023: 8th (tie), 24 points

There might not be a team on this list in an odder position than the Capitals. After lucking their way into the postseason in 2024 while Alex Ovechkin’s record chase progressed, they made major, win-now changes. Those almost certainly aren’t enough to make them a true contender in Ovechkin’s twilight, but it’ll keep them in a position to add points on our list. If nothing else, general manager Brian MacLellan deserves credit for the attempt. Rebuilding on the fly rarely works, but he’s done his best.

Total playoff years: 24, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18SC, 17, 16, 15, 13, 12, 11, 10, 09, 08

Playoff-only years: 14 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 1

10 (tie). Carolina Hurricanes

Total: 24 points
↔️
2023: 10th (tie) 23 points

The Hurricanes took their shot this year at the trade deadline by acquiring Jake Guentzel in a blockbuster, but it turned out to be a two-month rental as the Canes couldn’t get past the Rangers in the second round, largely due to poor goaltending. They also lost Brady Skjei but replaced him with Sean Walker. It’s looking more and more like Martin Necas is staying, and perhaps new general manager Eric Tulsky can put his mark on the team and get them over the hump. Coach Rod Brind’Amour continues to be bullish that his team and this style can get it done, but results say otherwise as they look to get back to the Cup Final for the first time since 2006.

Total playoff years: 24, 23CF, 22, 21, 20, 19CF, 09CF, 06SC

Playoff-only years: 4 | Conference finals: 3 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 1

10 (tie). Vegas Golden Knights (tie)

Total: 24 points
↔️
2023: 10th (tie), 23 points

If this list were based on “points per year of existence,” the Golden Knights would be in first place by a comfortable margin. Their 3.43 average leads Pittsburgh by about 0.7, and overall they’re ahead of 19 teams that have competed for the entirety of the Cap Era despite having played only seven seasons. We’re not grading on that particular curve, though. Sorry, Vegas fans — you’ll have to settle for a franchise that seems hell-bent on adding every premium player who hits the open market. Their window is still wide open.

Total playoff years: 24, 23SC, 21CF, 20CF, 19, 18SCF

Playoff-only years: 2 | Conference finals: 2 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 1

12 (tie). San Jose Sharks

Total: 23
⬇️
2023: 10th (tie), 23 points

The Sharks of the 2010s might have been the best cap-era team that couldn’t seal the deal. The bill came due, though, and they’re now a year or two into a full tear-down. Hitting lottery gold in Macklin Celebrini gives them a major leg up, and general manager Mike Grier doesn’t seem interested in spending another year as a tank commander, but there’s still major work to be done before his team is capable of treading water on our list, let alone winning the first Cup in franchise history.

Total playoff years: 19CF, 18, 17, 16SCF, 14, 13, 12, 11CF, 10CF, 09, 08, 07, 06

Playoff-only years: 9 | Conference finals: 3 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

12 (tie). St. Louis Blues

Total: 23 points
⬇️
2023: 10th (tie), 23 points

The retool continues for the Blues, with Alex Steen acknowledged now as the general manager-in-waiting to succeed long-time architect Doug Armstrong. St. Louis didn’t make splashy moves in the summer, though bringing in brothers Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier Joseph was a feel-good story. They are betting on their core, with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou signed long-term as the centerpieces. They added Ryan Suter to a crowded blue line, and Radek Faksa knows the Central well and will bring his normal piss-and-vinegar style. But the Blues, just five years removed from a Stanley Cup title, remain in the mushy middle in a competitive Central Division.

Total playoff years: 22, 21, 20, 19SC, 17, 16CF, 15, 14, 13, 12, 09

Playoff-only years: 9 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 1

14 (tie). Colorado Avalanche

Total: 21 points
↔️
2023: 14th, 20 points

The Avs are in cap hell, so it’ll be interesting to see how they fill out the roster heading into next season. Some are expecting a step back and the Central is only getting better, but this is still a playoff team at worst, built around Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar. Colorado lost some of its deadline-added grit in Brandon Duhaime, Yakov Trenin and Sean Walker. The uncertainty around captain Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin looms large.

Total playoff years: 24, 23, 22SC, 21, 20, 19, 18, 14, 10, 08, 06

Playoff-only years: 10 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 1

14 (tie). Florida Panthers

Total: 21 points
⬆️
2023: 25th, 10 points

Fourteen months ago, the Panthers were a relevant team but near the bottom of this list. Now, they’re middle class and rapidly rising. That’s what two Cup Final appearances and one win can do for a franchise. On paper, Florida might have taken a bit of a backward step this fall — such is life for a roster as deep and talented as the one general manager Bill Zito had assembled — but the Panthers still have a core of in-their-prime champs. In other words, look out, top 10.

Total playoff years: 24SC, 23SCF, 22, 21, 20, 16, 12

Playoff-only years: 5 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 1

16. Dallas Stars

Total: 20 points
⬆️
2023: 17th, 17 points

The Stars have had a tough offseason with the retirement of Joe Pavelski and the departure of Chris Tanev, but they should still be the class of the Central, especially with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson in the fold and Wyatt Johnston about to become a true superstar. The blue line is a concern, though, because Matt Dumba is no replacement for Tanev. The big worry is whether Jake Oettinger can supply the goaltending to make this a true Cup contender after posting by far the worst save percentage and goals-against average of his career in 2023-24. But the Stars have made the conference finals in three of the past five years and sure seem capable of something special.

Total playoff years: 24CF, 23CF, 22, 20SCF, 19, 16, 14, 08CF, 07, 06

Playoff-only years: 6 | Conference finals: 3 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

17 (tie). Montreal Canadiens

Total: 19 points
⬇️
2023: 15th, 19 points

It’s premature to label the Canadiens as a lock to add to their point total, but better days certainly seem to be on the horizon. Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky both leveled up last season, and there are star prospects at forward, defense and goaltender. General manager Kent Hughes and coach Martin St. Louis deserve plenty of credit for expediting what could’ve been a generation-long rebuild. The foundation is strong. Now it’s time for the next step — and it’s a doozy.

Total playoff years: 21SCF, 20, 17, 15, 14CF, 13, 11, 10CF, 09, 08, 06

Playoff-only years: 8 | Conference finals: 2 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

17 (tie). Nashville Predators

Total: 19 points
⬇️
2023: 16th, 18 points

Few teams had a bigger offseason than the Predators, who landed Lightning franchise icon Steven Stamkos with a four-year, $8 million-per-year deal, along with Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. This doesn’t just move them into Cup contender status, but they should be pushing for a top-three spot in a very competitive Central Division. They locked up franchise goalie Juuse Saros to a long-term deal, and it feels like general manager Barry Trotz isn’t done putting his mark on this group. A day after the free-agent frenzy, coach Andrew Brunette was already in the coaching office working on line combinations and power-play deployments.

Total playoff years: 24, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17SCF, 16, 15, 12, 11, 10, 08, 07, 06

Playoff-only years: 14 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

19. Edmonton Oilers

Total: 17 points
⬆️
2023: 20th (tie), 12 points

The Oilers are coming off the most impressive accomplishment of the Connor McDavid Era: breaking a major logjam at No. 20 on our list. Congratulations! Also, they made the Stanley Cup Final. After adding important secondary scoring pieces Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, the 2024-25 season will bring with it an extra sense of urgency. If Leon Draisaitl doesn’t sign a contract extension in the next few months, that’ll ratchet up even more. Fascinating times in Edmonton.

Total playoff years: 24SCF, 23, 22CF, 21, 20, 17, 06SCF

Playoff-only years: 4 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 2 | Cup wins: 0

20. Philadelphia Flyers

Total: 16 points
⬇️
2023: 18th, 16 points

Team president Keith Jones and general manager Daniel Briere are reportedly in the Trevor Zegras sweepstakes, but they made headlines earlier this offseason when they found a way to bring over Matvei Michkov from the KHL. This kid has star potential and should help accelerate the rebuild of a team that surprised everyone by flirting with a playoff spot in 2023-24. Jones and Briere are committed to doing this right and setting this franchise up for the future after years of unstable management.

Total playoff years: 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 11, 10SCF, 09, 08CF, 06

Playoff-only years: 8 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

21. Ottawa Senators

Total: 14 points
⬇️
2023: 19th, 14 points

It’s the summer, so we’re talking about the Senators filling holes, looking stronger and preparing for an actual playoff push. At some point, they’ll actually deliver. Probably. Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle are too good to stay stuck in neutral. And hey, if nothing else, new goaltender Linus Ullmark can’t be worse than Joonas Korpisalo. Still, that three-point run in 2017 feels like it happened a lot longer than seven years ago.

Total playoff years: 17CF, 15, 13, 12, 10, 08, 07SCF, 06

Playoff-only years: 6 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

22 (tie). New York Islanders

Total: 13 points
⬇️
2023: 20th (tie), 12 points

Patrick Roy did a terrific job coming onto the scene and getting the Islanders into the playoffs, but the Hurricanes made quick work out of them. They’re on the decline since consecutive trips to the conference final during the pandemic-shortened seasons, and they’re in an increasingly difficult division. Anthony Duclair should bring some needed speed to this plodding team, but is it enough to keep the points coming?

Total playoff years: 24, 23, 21CF, 20CF, 19, 16, 15, 13, 07

Playoff-only years: 7 | Conference finals: 2 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

22 (tie). Vancouver Canucks

Total: 13 points
⬇️
2023: 20th (tie), 12 points

It seems unfair for a team to have a season as good as the Canucks had in 2023-24 and lose ground in these rankings, but that’s exactly what happened. We knew they had high-end pieces at every position. Quinn Hughes, in particular, went out and proved it. Now, with some added depth at forward and some important experience under their belts, it’s time to keep the ball rolling. One playoff series win was nice, but a simple repeat probably won’t make anyone in Vancouver all that happy.

Total playoff years: 24, 20, 15, 13, 12, 11SCF, 10, 09, 07

Playoff-only years: 8 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

24 (tie). Minnesota Wild

Total: 12 points
⬇️
2023: 20th (tie), 12 points

The masters of the first-round exit didn’t even do that well in 2023-24, failing to make the playoffs for the second time since 2012. Bill Guerin is entering his sixth season as general manager, and the Wild have yet to advance past the first round, but he keeps extending his veterans to three- or four-year deals. They’ll run it back again in 2024-25, hoping better health, better goaltending and a better bottom six can get them back to the postseason. They’re a year away from $14.7 million in dead cap space finally decreasing dramatically, which is when the future really begins for the Wild.

Total playoff years: 23, 22, 21, 20, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 08, 07

Playoff-only years: 12 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

24 (tie). New Jersey Devils

Total: 12 points
⬇️
2023: 20th (tie), 12 points

Jack Hughes and the Devils were a trendy (and smart) pick to take a leap ahead of last season. Then came an unexpected injury to Dougie Hamilton and a kind-of-expected run of terrible play from their goaltenders. Now, Hamilton is healthy, Jacob Markstrom is in the building and the Devils, again, seem primed to make a major statement. If they’re still stuck in the mid-20s at this time next summer, something will have gone wrong. At least Sheldon Keefe’s finally in, as he told the Toronto Star, the “real NHL.”

Total playoff years: 23, 18, 12SCF, 10, 09, 08, 07, 06

Playoff-only years: 7 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 1 | Cup wins: 0

26. Winnipeg Jets

Total: 10 points
↔
2023: 26th (tie), 9 points

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff did a tremendous job last offseason getting both Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck to sign on the dotted line, plus committed the trade of the century in getting the Kings to take Pierre-Luc Dubois off his hands for Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo. Things came crumbling down in the playoffs when Hellebuyck was outdueled by … Alexandar Georgiev, and it’ll be interesting to see where they go from here after a quiet offseason in which they only added Kaapo Kahkonen and lost Tyler Toffoli, Brenden Dillon and Sean Monahan.

Total playoff years: 24, 23, 21, 20, 19, 18CF, 15, 07

Playoff-only years: 7 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

27 (tie). Calgary Flames

Total: 9 points
⬇️
2023: 26th (tie), 9 points

The Flames missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2014, and they look likely to miss again in 2024-25. If there isn’t an appetite for a true rebuild in Calgary, there should be. What seems certain, though, is that the Flames are worse than they were last year and are not going to add any rankings points here any time soon.

Total playoff years: 22, 20, 19, 17, 15, 09, 08, 07, 06

Playoff-only years: 9 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

27 (tie). Toronto Maple Leafs

Total: 9 points
⬆️
2023: 28th (tie), 8 points

As Maple Leafs fans know all too well, especially those who have been alive since 1967, this picture ain’t pretty. The Maple Leafs are, as of now, running it back yet again with their core of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares with the hope of creating some distance on the cap-era playoff lesser lights behind them. They prioritized the blue line this offseason, adding Chris Tanev and Cup champ Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and we’ll see if new coach Craig Berube brings the no-nonsense style and accountability he is known for.

Total playoff years: 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 13

Playoff-only years: 9 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

29. Buffalo Sabres

Total: 8 points
⬇️
2023: 28th (tie), 8 points

No team has gone longer without adding a point — a fact Sabres fans are well aware of. Last season brought optimism, which gave way to some major disappointment. So it goes for Buffalo’s teams. There’s some fresh hope, though, thanks in part to the goaltending combo of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi. We know the roster is dotted with skaters talented enough to make a difference, last season’s backslide aside. If coach Lindy Ruff can dial the production back up, the drought could finally end — but we’ve heard that before.

Total playoff years: 11, 10, 07CF, 06CF

Playoff-only years: 2 | Conference finals: 2 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

30 (tie). Columbus Blue Jackets

Total: 6 points
↔
2023: 30th (tie), 6 points

Jarmo Kekäläinen was replaced this offseason as general manager by Don Waddell, and Pascal Vincent was replaced behind the bench by Dean Evason. No fan base has endured more misery than the Blue Jackets, but they keep coming back in droves despite missing the playoffs four years in a row and getting past the first round only once (2019) since their 2000 inception. They added Sean Monahan this offseason and have tons of quality young players they hope make the future bright.

Total playoff years: 20, 19, 18, 17, 14, 09

Playoff-only years: 6 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

30 (tie). Utah Hockey Club

Total: 6 points
↔
2023: 30th (tie), 6 points

Utah is looking like a trendy dark-horse pick to make the postseason in 2024-25, and it’s easy to see why. The vibes in Salt Lake City are great, and the roster is a whole lot better. General manager Bill Armstrong needed defensemen, so he went out and got Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino and Ian Cole. Funny how easy a GM’s job can be when they’re allowed to spend money. Still, Utah probably has another year left in the 30s before the climb can truly start.

Total playoff years: 20, 12CF, 11, 10

Playoff-only years: 3 | Conference finals: 1 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

32. Seattle Kraken

Total: 1 point
↔
2023: 32nd, 1 point

After coming within one win of the conference final in just their second year of existence, the Kraken missed the playoffs in 2023-24, fired Dave Hakstol and brought in Dan Bylsma, who had spent years not being able to get back behind an NHL bench as head coach. General manager Ron Francis had to build this expansion franchise very differently than Vegas and has had tons of draft picks to choose from. It’s clear ownership wants to win now, evidenced by the fact that they went out and spent a pretty penny this offseason on a couple of recent Cup champions in Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson.

Total playoff years: 22

Playoff-only years: 1 | Conference finals: 0 | Cup finals: 0 | Cup wins: 0

(Graphic: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic, with photos from Adam Hunger and Eliot J. Schechter / NHLI via Getty Images)