Odds of the 14 Longest Stanley Cup Droughts Ending During the 2013 Season

What makes for a Stanley Cup drought?

For the purposes of this piece, any team that has not won the Stanley Cup in 20 years.

Teams like the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets and Winnipeg Jets (started in 1999-2000 as the Atlanta Thrashers). Teams that were not in existence in the 1993-94 season are not eligible.

The Montreal Canadiens are the most decorated team in the NHL, but they have not won a Stanley Cup since 1993. They are eligible.

But the New York Rangers, who won the following year, are not. They have gone just 19 years without a Stanley Cup.

It may feel like a drought, but they have been through a much longer dry spell—from 1940 through 1994.

We have divided the 14 remaining teams into four groups, from strong contenders to rank outsiders.

Strong Contenders

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have gotten over a rather slow start and look like one of the best teams in the NHL. It would not be a shock if they ran down the Chicago Blackhawks and won the President's Trophy again this year.

The Canucks are getting stellar goaltending from Roberto Luongo, and that has halted trade talk for the time being (source: vansunsportsblogs.com).

The Canucks have depth, leadership and solid scoring.

Stanley Cup Odds: 5-to-1

San Jose Sharks

The Sharks started the season with tremendous thrust, winning their first seven games before they tasted defeat.

They have since slowed down quite a bit and were hammered 6-2 by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 11. However, the getaway shows that this is still a proud team with the weapons needed to cause havoc in the postseason.

Veterans Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau don't want to go down easily this year.

Stanley Cup Odds: 12-to-1

Longshot Contenders

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have been a solid playoff team in recent years. They have won two Stanley Cups in their history, but none since 1975.

The long dry spell is not likely to end this season. The Flyers have explosive players like Claude Giroux, Danny Briere and Wayne Simmonds who can score, but they just don't have the defensive strength to stop opponents at key moments.

Stanley Cup odds: 35-to-1

Ottawa Senators

The Senators made a nice improvement last year finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference and pushed the New York Rangers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.

Much is expected from them this year and the Senators are a strong. However, they don't look like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

The injury to Jason Spezza (back surgery) is a huge blow to this team. They have very little chance of winning the Stanley Cup without him.

Stanley Cup odds: 35-to-1

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs appear to have made great strides this year under head coach Randy Carlyle. Most impressive is their 6-1-0 road record.

Still, this team hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1967 and hasn't been to the playoffs since the 2003-04 season. They are probably the most scrutinized team in the NHL and there is significant pressure on every player.

While the goaltending has been decent to this point, it's not good enough to win an NHL championship.

Stanley Cup odds: 30-to-1

St. Louis Blues

The Blues first started playing in the great expansion of 1967-68 and they made the Stanley Cup Finals in each of their first three seasons.

They haven't been back since Bobby Orr scored his famous flying goal in 1970.

The Blues were the second-best team in the Western Conference during the regular season last year as they rode the hot goaltending of Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak to their strong season. Elliott's play has been weak this year and the Blues are in a tailspin after a good start.

With veteran winger Jamie Langenbrunner on injured reserve as a result of hip surgery, the Blues are not likely to improve any time soon.

Stanley Cup odds: 30-to-1

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers figure to be strong Stanley Cup contenders eventually. However, they are not likely to get there this year.

They simply have too many young players. While Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle are exciting, they also make mistakes.

Those mistakes will keep the Oilers from advancing far if they do happen to make the playoffs.

Stanley Cup odds: 30-to-1

Phoenix Coyotes

They are still a team without an owner and they could be on the move at the end of the season, even though the NHL says it wants to keep the Desert Dogs in Phoenix.

They had a bit of magic in last year's playoffs and made it to the Western Conference Finals, but they don't seem good enough this year. They are tied for sixth in the conference and they will struggle to make the playoffs.

Defense appears to be an issue with 35 goals allowed in 11 games.

Stanley Cup odds: 35-to-1

Outsiders

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres attempted to add grit and toughness to their lineup by bringing in Steve Ott and goonish John Scott in the offseason. Those moves have made the Sabres tougher, but they are not better.

They are an inconsistent 5-7-1 and the team defense has been miserable despite the presence of top goaltender Ryan Miller.

Stanley Cup odds: 45-to-1

Florida Panthers

The Panthers are playing their 19th year of hockey in their 20th year of existence (the 2004-05 season was wiped out by a lockout).

The Panthers shocked the NHL by winning the Southeast Division this year, but head coach Kevin Dineen's team is off to a 4-6-1 start.

The biggest problem is that the defensive is butter soft. The Panthers have allowed 40 goals in 11 games. Goalie Jose Theodore has a 4-5-0 record with a 3.41 goals against average and an .890 save percentage.

Stanley Cup odds: 50-to-1

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens appear to be much improved this year after finishing 15th and dead last in the Eastern Conference last year.

New head coach Michel Therrien is demanding discipline from his players and the Canadiens have minimized their mistakes.

While Carey Price is a top-flight goaltender, the Canadiens lack the offensive firepower to have a good chance against legitimate contenders.

Stanley Cup odds: 45-to-1

Playing Out the Season

Washington Capitals

The Caps are one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL this season.

They are dead last in the Eastern Conference, superstar Alexander Ovechkin is an enigma and the defense has been disappointing.

New head coach Adam Oates must figure out an answer quickly or the season will be a disaster in Washington.

Stanley Cup odds: 100-to-1

New York Islanders

The Islanders are not a bad team, but they face the misfortune of playing in the same division as the Rangers. Flyers, Penguins and Devils.

For the Islanders to exceed expectations, they are going to have to do a better job of keeping the puck out of the net. They have given up 43 goals in 12 games.

Don't expect new acquisition of Tim Thomas to help (source: NYPost.com). Thomas says he will not play until the 2013-14 season.

Stanley Cup odds: 90-to-1

Calgary Flames

The Flames often play competitively, but regularly come up on the short end of the score.

General manager Jay Feaster thinks he has a team that can contend for a playoff spot and perhaps pull off a run like the Kings did last year, but few share that opinion.

The Flames are tied for 14th in the Western Conference and they are not likely to move up enough to make a strong run at the playoffs.

Stanley Cup odds: 70-to-1