It’s been nearly 90 years since the Montreal Maroons last played in the NHL. When the team folded in 1938, it took many incredible moments from hockey history along with it. But their story still stands out — even today.
Not many people know this, but the Maroons were the last team to win the Stanley Cup by beating the champions of another league — the Western League. That happened back in 1926. And they later added another Cup by sweeping the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1935.
The Maroons also had big stars of their time like Nels Stewart, the NHL’s first two-time Hart Trophy winner, along with Hall of Famers Hooley Smith, Lionel Conacher, and Babe Siebert.
Why the Maroons Still Matter Today
Despite shutting down due to the Great Depression, the Maroons were one of the strongest teams of their era. They played 46 playoff games in just 14 seasons — only the Maple Leafs and New York Rangers played more during that time. If they were added to today’s list of most playoff-tested NHL teams since 2000, they still wouldn’t be at the bottom!
They would actually rank above a few modern teams like the Seattle Kraken, who have just started their NHL journey.
Top NHL Playoff Teams Since 2000
Here’s a look at the top playoff-performing teams since the year 2000, ranked by the number of playoff games they’ve played.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
219 games played.
Sidney Crosby’s era included four Stanley Cup finals, three titles, and two more Eastern Conference finals. Greatness personified.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
played 213 games.
Jon Cooper of the Bolts has coached more postseason games than all but 13 coaches in NHL history.
3. Boston Bruins
208 games played
The playoffs have mostly resulted in heartbreak. See 2019’s Game 7 Cup-final loss and 2023’s heartbreaking first-round exit.
4. San Jose Sharks
204 games played
The Sharks circled but never feasted during the postseason. San Jose struggled to shed the aughts’ choke-artist label.
5. Colorado Avalanche
192 games played
The last 25 years have been marked by a period of stagnation followed by periods of brilliant performance. Nathan MacKinnon is the Avs’ rightful heir to Joe Sakic.
6. Dallas Stars
184 games played
The Cup came before Y2K, but the well-stocked Stars are poised to take the next step following consecutive conference final losses.
7. Detroit Red Wings
182 games played
How stable were the Wings in the early 2000s? Despite the fact that there have been no playoffs in the previous nine years, that is enough to place seventh on this list.
8. New York Rangers
175 games played
The Rangers have played more playoff games than any other team since 2000, but only five in the Stanley Cup Final.
9. Philadelphia Flyers
169 games played
Since 2000, eight coaches have won playoff games in Philadelphia, but none have lasted four full seasons with the Flyers.
10. Washington Capitals
168 games played
The Capitals have finished first in their division ten times during the Alex Ovechkin era, but 2018 was their only Cup victory.
11. New Jersey Devils
161 games played
The Devils won the Cup in 2000 and 2003, but have struggled for more than a decade, winning only one series in the last 12 years.
12. St. Louis Blues
157 games played
Peaks and valleys over the last 25 years, but ascended the NHL mountaintop with a Gloria-powered 2019 Cup run.
13. Anaheim Ducks
147 games played
“Game 7” became an expletive in Anaheim as the Ducks lost four consecutive Game 7s from 2013 to 2016, three by two goals or less.
14. Carolina Hurricanes
146 games played
Only four teams have won more playoff games since Rod Brind’Amour took over the bench, but the Cup has eluded the Canes.
15. Montreal Canadiens
143 games played
Habs fans, enjoy those postseason goals. Since 2000, Montreal has scored the third fewest goals per playoff game.
16. Chicago Blackhawks
142 games played
Periods of dominance are sandwiched between deep morasses, and the Hawks do not appear to be on track to return to the playoffs anytime soon.
17. Vancouver Canucks
135 games played
A steady rise to the 2011 Cup final, but only five berths since, with no runs past the second round.
18. Nashville Predators
131 games played
Predators are the most consistent contender from the 2000s expansion boom, but they have only made it past the first round five times.
19. Ottawa Senators
129 games played
Was 2017 a ‘Sliding Doors’ moment? This season marks the Sens’ first playoff appearance since losing in double overtime in Game 7 of the East final.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs
127 games played
Playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, but only one advanced beyond the first round. The Leafs haven’t advanced to the third round since 2002.
21. Los Angeles Kings
127 games played
After two Cups in three seasons, the Kings have won only seven playoff games and no playoff rounds in the last ten years.
22. Edmonton Oilers
115 games played
With Connor McDavid behind the wheel, and now with reps in the Cup final, the Oilers will be dangerous for years to come.
23. New York Islanders
106 games played
The halcyon days of the 1980s have long passed. The Islanders did not win a single playoff round during the first 15 years of the 2000s.
24. Minnesota Wild
96 games played
The Wild are regular playoff contenders, but they are usually eliminated early: Minnesota has an average of 7.4 games per berth.
25. Vegas Golden Knights
95 games played
The yin to the Wild’s yang is Vegas, which has averaged 15.8 games per playoff berth, the most of any team in the 2000s.
26. Calgary Flames
94 games played
Total boosted by 2004 Cup victory. In the two decades since, the Flames have only advanced beyond the first round twice.
27. Florida Panthers
82 games played
The defending champions have reached back-to-back finals and are expected to remain among the top contenders in the East.
28. Buffalo Sabres
65 games played
Only San Jose has a higher post-2000 playoff win percentage without a Cup win.
29. Winnipeg Jets
53 games played
The franchise’s first three playoff exits, as well as its last three, were the result of four straight losses.
30. Utah Hockey Club (Arizona Coyotes)
46 games played
Give Mike Smith credit for one-third of these games. His 2012 playoff performance propelled the Coyotes to the West Finals.
31. Columbus Blue Jackets
41 games played
The Blue Jackets have only won one seven-game series, the historic sweep of the Lightning in 2019.
32. Seattle Kraken
14 games played
Seattle’s only playoffs featured two Game 7s and a lot of goals: Kraken and opponents combined for 6.35 goals per game.
Even though the Montreal Maroons disappeared nearly a century ago, their success in the early NHL still holds up. In fact, some modern-day teams still haven’t matched their playoff impact. Today’s NHL may be faster and more competitive, but the stories from the past remind us how deep the sport’s history runs.
As the 2025 playoffs kick off, the race for the Cup is more thrilling than ever, with rising contenders and old champions looking to add new chapters to their legacies.
