Fansided

Every NHL team’s best active player still searching for a Stanley Cup win

By Kyle McKenna

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 19: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks spots the puck in front of the net of the New York Rangers during a NHL game at the SAP Center at San Jose on March 19, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Nick Lust/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 19: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks spots the puck in front of the net of the New York Rangers during a NHL game at the SAP Center at San Jose on March 19, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Nick Lust/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Calgary Flames

There are a few notable skaters on the Calgary Flames that haven’t won a Stanley Cup, yet. Goaltender Mike Smith panned out to be one of the better NHL goaltenders to man the pipes over the past decade and Johnny Gaudreau has dazzled all with his shifty head fakes and uncanny ability to find the back of the net for Calgary.

There’s a case to be made for winger James Neal, who’s appeared in the last two Stanley Cup Finals, but only to lose both times while skating for the Nashville Predators and then the Vegas Golden Knights.

While “Johnny Hockey” has only played in four NHL seasons, he’s too good to pass up for this list. Since Gaudreau was drafted by Calgary back in 2011, the former fourth-round draft pick wasted no time reminding every NHL team that passed to select him that it probably should have taken him in the first round.

The 25-year-old is fresh off of a career season, after Gaudreau recorded 84 points (24 goals, 60 assists) in 2017-18. In minimal playoff action, the 5-foot-9 winger has recorded 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 15 games.

Similar to other younger stars on this list, Gaudreau and the Flames are expected to make a deep run the playoffs as early as 2019, and he could have his name removed from this list and placed on Lord Stanley.

The classic Western Conference rivalry between the Flames and the Edmonton Oilers is only heating up, and don’t be surprised to see the Flames, Gaudreau and the Oilers to make all the right headlines sooner rather than later.

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