No NHL wild-card team enters the postseason as the Stanley Cup odds favourite.
Since being introduced to the playoff fold, only three wild-card teams have advanced past the second round, and 30% of wild-card teams have won their first-round series.
There have, however, been a few wild-card gems, which I’ve ranked below.
Ranking the Greatest NHL Wild Card Teams
4. Seattle Kraken (2023)
The Seattle Kraken surprised everyone by their colossal upset over the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, just one year after entering the NHL as an expansion team.
They dispatched the second-seeded Avalanche in seven games, winning Game 7 in Colorado 2-1. Seattle won three of four one-goal games and all but one in Colorado.
The Kraken fell one game short of upending the Dallas Stars in the second round, this time losing 2-1 in the decisive Game 7.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (2019)
The Carolina Hurricanes went into the playoffs as the first-placed wild-card team, finishing only five points behind Metropolitan Division winner, the Washington Capitals.
The Hurricanes got past the Capitals, thanks to a Game 7 win in double overtime. Rod Brind’Amour’s team then swept the New York Islanders, outscoring them 13-5.
They endured the same fate in the Eastern Conference final, losing four straight to the Boston Bruins. That series was as lopsided as the sweep suggests, as they were outscored 17-5.
2. Nashville Predators (2017)
As the second wild-card team, the Nashville Predators lost four games en route to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, sweeping the No. 1-seeded Chicago Blackhawks before dispatching the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks, each in six games.
They met their match in the final, losing 4-2 to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Predators finished the postseason with a 9-2 home record and became the first wild-card team to make the Stanley Cup Final.
1. Florida Panthers (2023)
As sizable hockey odds underdogs at the BetMGM online sportsbook, and in arguably the biggest upset in decades, the 2023 Panthers ousted the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins, who broke the record for most points in a regular season (135).
Their Game 7 overtime win provided the platform and momentum required to make a run at the Stanley Cup.
Eventually, they succumbed to the Vegas Golden Knights in the final, but went on to win the next two Stanley Cups.
What Are Wild Card Teams’ Records in the First Round?
In 40 first-round playoff series, wild-card teams advanced to the second round 12 times. That 12-28 record equates to a 30% win rate.
What Year Was Best First Round for Wild Card Teams?
Wild-card teams won all four first-round series in 2019, with the Avalanche, Stars, Hurricanes, and Columbus Blue Jackets advancing to the second round.
Have Any Wild Card Teams Won the Stanley Cup?
No wild-card team has won the Stanley Cup, with the 2017 Predators and 2023 Panthers losing in the Stanley Cup Final.
When Did the NHL Include Wild Card Teams in Playoffs?
Wild-card teams were introduced in 2013-14, the same season the NHL playoff format changed.
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