Canadian hockey fans have shown remarkable patience while waiting for the Stanley Cup to return north of the border. How much longer must they wait? Perhaps not much longer, with the Edmonton Oilers making a run for the Stanley Cup Final.
The last occasion a Canadian team hoisted the trophy was on June 9, 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings in five games. That era saw `Jurassic Park` dominating movie theaters, sitcoms like `Roseanne` and `Home Improvement` popular on American television, and Janet Jackson`s `That`s the Way Love Goes` topping music charts.
Since that historic win, the Stanley Cup has resided exclusively in the United States for 32 consecutive years.
Entering the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers stand as the sole Canadian contender. After falling behind 2-0 in their initial series against the Los Angeles Kings, the Oilers have been exceptional, achieving a 14-2 record while eliminating both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars in just five games each.
Superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are performing at an elite level, leading all players in postseason scoring. The team`s defensive play has been solid, and goaltender Stuart Skinner has been a difference-maker after facing challenges earlier in the playoffs.
Everything seems to be clicking for Edmonton, but they face a formidable and familiar challenge in the Final: the Florida Panthers. The Panthers, who the text states defeated the Oilers in seven games to claim the Cup last year, may even be a stronger opponent this time around.
Securing these final four victories will undoubtedly be the most difficult task for the Oilers. However, they appear to have all the necessary components to potentially bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the first time since 1993. Below is a look at the Stanley Cup drought duration for each Canadian team:
Longest Stanley Cup Droughts for Canadian Teams
Toronto Maple Leafs | 58 years
- Stanley Cup wins: 13
- Years won: 1967, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1951, 1949, 1948, 1947, 1945, 1942, 1932, 1922, 1918
Vancouver Canucks | 55 years
- Stanley Cup wins: 0
- Years won: N/A
Calgary Flames | 36 years
- Stanley Cup wins: 1
- Years won: 1989
Edmonton Oilers | 35 years
- Stanley Cup wins: 5
- Years won: 1990, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1984
Ottawa Senators | 33 years
- Stanley Cup wins: 0
- Years won: N/A
Montreal Canadiens | 32 years
- Stanley Cup wins: 23
- Years won: 1993, 1986, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1973, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1966, 1965, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1953, 1946, 1944, 1931, 1930, 1924, 1926
Winnipeg Jets | 14 years
- Stanley Cup wins: 0
- Years won: N/A
