The Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators are the only teams to have won the Stanley Cups since 1970.
The New York Islanders are the oldest team to win it all.
Here’s a look at the top four teams in the NHL and what they need to do in order to win a Stanley Cup.
1.
Detroit Red Wing: It’s time for the Detroit Redwings to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
After posting an 8-2-0-0 start to the season, they dropped two games to the Anaheim Ducks and the Dallas Stars in four-game sweeps.
But the Red Wings were able to hang on to win their final three games to claim the Presidents’ Trophy.
It’s hard to argue with that record, but it’s tough to call it a Cinderella story.
Their chances of winning the Cup have never been better.
They’ll need a strong finish to the Eastern Conference to keep their playoff hopes alive.
2.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Maple Leafs are going to have to make some tough decisions in the offseason, but their depth and goaltending could prove a key to their chances of making it to the postseason.
While they’ve already clinched the Presidents’s Trophy, they’ll need to make changes to the team’s roster if they want to make it to a second consecutive postseason appearance.
If they can’t get that done, they won’t be able to compete for the Stanley, which will be their third in four years.
3.
Ottawa Senators: The Ottawa Senators could be the hottest team in the Eastern conference after finishing tied for second in the Central with an impressive 5-2 record.
The Senators have one of the league’s best offensive units, which could be key in their pursuit of a second straight playoff berth.
Ottawa needs to find some consistency, and the team will be missing key players such as goalie Craig Anderson, center John Mitchell, defenseman Erik Karlsson and winger Chris Neil.
The Sens could also miss the playoffs if they don’t have a better start to their season.
4.
Los Angeles Bruins: After missing the playoffs in 2017-18 and being eliminated from the playoffs last season, the Bruins are ready for another postseason run.
They won’t get the chance to do it this season, but the Bruins could still be in contention for a second Stanley Cup if they can continue to win games.
Losers of five straight, the franchise has the best shot of any team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
5.
New York Rangers: The Rangers could be in trouble if they aren’t able to find the right chemistry in the lineup.
After winning six of their first eight games, the Rangers fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games.
They’ve been getting good goaltending from the veteran Braden Holtby, but coach Alain Vigneault needs to bring in a top-line forward in the form of Pavel Buchnevich or Kevin Hayes.
The Rangers will need to be better in the postseason to make a run.
6.
Ottawa Capitals: The Capitals have a chance to go into the Stanley Playoffs as one of only two teams with a winning record.
They could have a tough time getting to the conference final if they finish out of the playoffs.
Washington needs to win more games in the regular season to have a shot at making the postseason, and they’ll be without key players like forward Braden Miller, defenseman Nicklas Backstrom and goalie Braden Shipley.
7.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild have a good chance to make the playoffs again this season.
They have a strong top-six in Mikko Koivu, Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle, but they’ve struggled to find a steady top-nine.
They might need to bring back some of their younger players and see if they have the depth to keep the team in playoff contention.
8.
Ottawa Flyers: The Flyers should be one of two teams in that group.
They’re the only one of those teams with any chance to keep a playoff spot this season after winning five of their past six games.
The Flyers have a lot of work to do to get to the Conference Final, but that’s what they’ll have to do if they hope to make another run at the Cup.
9.
New Jersey Devils: The Devils have been in the mix for the Presidents Cup for a while.
They haven’t won the Cup since 2010-11, but have a solid chance to get back to the Stanley Playoff.
The Devils are the last team to get a Presidents’ Cup trophy from the Western Conference before the current lockout ended in April.
They need to get healthy, but goalie Cory Schneider has done a nice job of holding the Devils to a sub-.500 record.
10.
Florida Panthers: The Panthers were able have a great regular season with a strong second half of the season.
It was the best season in franchise history, and it should have the Panthers back in the playoffs with a chance of reaching the postseason for the third