How long is Canada's Stanley Cup drought? Breaking down the country's cold streak – NBC 5 Chicago

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Hockey might be Canada’s game, but the Stanley Cup resides in the United States.
It’s something Canada has grown accustomed to over recent decades. Despite dominating in the early days of the NHL and into the 1980s, the U.S. has taken complete control over the league and the Stanley Cup.
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Just seven of the 32 NHL teams call Canada home, giving the country slim chances of hosting a champion. Toss in those seven teams’ recent playoff history, and the reasons for a significant championship lull become even clearer.
Canada’s quest for the Cup in 2026 lied in the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, who made it to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. After winning Game 1 in Carolina, the Habs then lost their next four games, dashing the country’s hopes for a championship.
Just how long has it been since a team took the Stanley Cup to the Great White North? Here’s a breakdown of Canada’s ongoing Stanley Cup drought:
It’s been 33 years since a Canadian team lifted the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings four games to one in the 1993 Cup Final, and an American team has won it every year since.
Here’s when each Canadian organization last earned the Stanley Cup:

Prior to the Edmonton Oilers’ appearances in 2024 and 2025, the Canadiens came close to snapping the skid in 2021. However, they fell to the defending-champion Lightning in a gentleman’s sweep during the Cup Final.
Here’s each Canadian team’s last Cup Final appearance:
Since 1918, Canadian teams have won 49 Stanley Cups. Along with the four active NHL teams from Canada that have lifted the Cup, the country’s tally also includes two championships from the Montreal Maroons, who existed from 1924 to 1938.
U.S. teams are up to 57 following the 2025 Cup Final. It wasn’t until the Washington Capitals’ triumph in 2018 that the U.S. surpassed Canada in the overall tally.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article was published in June 2022.

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