When you think of awful NHL hockey teams, which is the first that comes to mind? While there have been some unforgettably subpar hockey clubs, there are 10 teams that stand above the rest, or, more to the point, below.
You don’t need to be a hockey savant to know that these ignominious 10 teams would have had the longest hockey odds to win the Stanley Cup at any given point during their historically poor seasons.
Worst Single-Season NHL Teams of All Time
10. 1983-84, Penguins, Points Percentage: 0.238%
The 1983-84 Penguins’ woeful 16-58-6 record was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed the franchise to draft Mario Lemieux with the No. 1 pick, paving the way for one of the most storied redemptions in sports history.
The team went from the league’s laughingstock to perennial Stanley Cup odds favourites.
Related: 6 Best Teams in NHL History: Ranking Best Hockey Dynasties
9. 1953-54, Blackhawks, Points Percentage: 0.221%
The 1953-54 Chicago Blackhawks finished 12-51-7. While an abhorrent record, the Blackhawks’ claim to infamy was their 1.90 goals for per game, the third-worst in NHL history and the fewest on this top-10 list.
8. 1993-94, Senators, Points Percentage: 0.220%
The Ottawa Senators’ second season back in Ottawa went better than the first, but not by much. The Sens finished the 1993-94 season with a 14-61-9 record, four wins more than the previous season.
7. 1980-81, Jets, Points Percentage: 0.200%
Joining the 1974-75 Washington Capitals as the only other team to win fewer than 10 games, the 1980-81 Winnipeg Jets finished the season with a 9-57-14 record.
Seven of those nine victories came on home ice, with their 2-32-6 away record joining the 1992-93 Senators and Sharks as the worst in NHL history.
6. 1975-76, Capitals, Points Percentage: 0.200%
Appearing on this list twice is not a good look. Even worse, though, is having two consecutive seasons with a points percentage of .200 or below.
The 1975-76 Capitals were better than the 1974-75 team, albeit marginally, winning 11 of 80 games. At least they didn’t finish below the 10-win mark like the previous season. Then again, a bunch of players were around for both ghastly campaigns.
5. 1989-90, Nordiques, Points Percentage: 0.194%
The second-lowest point for the Quebec Nordiques franchise occurred in 1989-90, when they endured a 12-61-7 record, the sixth-worst points percentage in NHL history.
No prizes for guessing correctly their worst franchise moment, which came five years later when the team relocated to Colorado.
4. 1972-73, Islanders, Points Percentage: 0.192%
Just less than a decade before their era-defining Stanley Cup four-peat, the New York Islanders stunk. In the 1972-73 season, they won two of 39 road games and finished with an overall record of 12-60-6.
3. 1992-93, Senators, Points Percentage: 0.143%
Two of the worst teams in NHL history came from the 1992-93 season, with the Senators joining the San Jose Sharks at the bottom of the barrel.
The Senators’ claim to shame in their 10-win campaign came on the road, where they won one of 42 contests, taking two from a possible 84 points.
2. 1992-93, Sharks, Points Percentage: 0.143%
The Sharks won just 11 of 84 games in their second NHL season, suffering 71 defeats, the most in history. They won three of 42 away contests and allowed 37 shots per game on their travels.
1. 1974-75, Capitals, Points Percentage: 0.131%
The 1974-75 Capitals are one of two teams to finish a regular season with fewer than 10 wins.
They won eight games and conceded 5.58 goals per game, both of which are the worst in NHL history.
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