When you play in the NHL, your ultimate goal is to win a Stanley Cup. At least once in your career. Every player dreams of it, and every kid dreams about it. The trophy named after Lord Stanley of Preston is the main "why" of everybody who plays in the National Hockey League. Some players are able to win it multiple times, some of them even become champions during their first season.
There are also players or even legends who had incredible careers and contributed to the progress of hockey but never touched nor won the Stanley Cup. You can play 1000 games, you can score 500 goals and make 400 assists, but nothing tastes like winning the holy Grail of hockey.
Find out more about the players who definitely deserved to win it all at least once. How many legends without the Cup can you name without hesitation?
Hockey Legends That Never Won the Stanley Cup
Jarome Iginla
The 20-year Hall of Fame-caliber career of veteran Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla won multiple major individual awards and established himself as one of the best hockey captains of all time. The native of Alberta won numerous titles at the junior and international levels, but even though he went as close as possible to winning a Stanley Cup with the Flames in 2004, he was unable to bring home the trophy.
Joe Thornton
From the time the Boston Bruins selected him first overall in the 1997 NHL Draft as a teenager until he played his final shift as a 42-year-old with the Florida Panthers during the 2022 playoffs, "Jumbo Joe" Thornton made a significant influence on the league. Despite playing in almost 1,900 regular and postseason games, scoring 1,673 points, and leading his team to victory in 15 playoff series (including the 2016 Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks), he never won the Stanley Cup.
Marcel Dionne
Marcel Dionne was a pure sniper. Despite being only 5'9", he managed to score goals in the NHL on a regular basis. With Dionne leading the scoring at center and Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor putting in the grunt work on the wings, he held together the Triple Crown line. In his career, he finished in the top 10 in goals, assists, and points for nine different clubs. His 1,771 points rank sixth all-time. Regrettably, Dionne's poor postseason performance has become somewhat of a reputation for him.
Peter Šťastný
Peter Šťastný, along with his brothers Anton and Marian, were among the first European players to achieve significant success in the NHL. They were originally from Czechoslovakia. When Šťastný joined the NHL in 1980–81, he was 24 years old. He scored an incredible 109 points and took home the Calder Trophy. He proceeded to finish in the top 10 in scoring six times and score at least 100 points in six of the following seven seasons. He scored a lot of goals, yet he never made it to the NHL Finals. He spent his whole playing career with the Quebec Nordiques, where his passing skills and vision helped him become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
Henrik Lundqvist
Henrik Lundqvist has an incredible resume of accomplishments from his twelve years in the NHL. Winner of the Vezina Award? Check. Gold medal at the Olympics? Check. Most victories by a goalie from Europe? Check (459, set in 2016). 20 victories in 13 straight seasons and 30 victories in 11 of his first 12 seasons in the NHL? Check. He never had the opportunity to win the Cup in his heyday, despite making it to the playoffs eleven times in his career and to the Final in 2014. As his contract expired in 2020, a big chapter ended in New York's history as he signed a one-year contract to play for one more season with the Washington Capitals.
Pavel Bure
In the NHL's history, only 13 guys have scored the most goals in the league three or more times. Pavel Bure was of the best players of his era. Bure played in the NHL for 12 seasons, although, just five of his teams advanced to the postseason. In 1994, the Canucks completed a historic run to the Final, with Bure finishing second in points and leading the playoffs in goals. Stanley Cup? Nope.
Hockey Legends Without the Cup: Honorable Mentions
There are more legendary players who played in NHL, had wonderful careers, but never won a single Stanley Cup. Who are we talking about? Dale Hawerchuk, Mike Gartner, Pierre Turgeon, Gilbert Perreault, Dino Ciccarelli, Phil Housley, Dale Hunter, Curtis Joseph, Paul Kariya, Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely, Eric Lindros, Brad Park, Joe Pavelski, Adam Oates, Börje Salming, Daniel Alfredsson, Mats Sundin and more.
PHOTO SOURCES: NBC Sports
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