Worst NHL Records Through 20 Games

Which NHL team has the worst record through 20 games?

The 1992-93 Ottawa Senators and 1930-31 Philadelphia Quakers tie for the worst all-time record through 20 games. They each went 1-18-1 in the first 20 games. The 1992-93 Ottawa Senators had a worst goal differential through 20 games, -62 vs -55.

Worst NHL Start Through 20 Games

Team Year Record Goal Differential Final Record Final Result
1 Ottawa Senators 1993 1-18-1 -62 10-70-4 Missed Playoffs
Philadelphia Quakers  1931 1-18-1 -55 4-36-4 Missed Playoffs
3 Boston Bruins 1925 2-18 -56 6-24 Missed Playoffs
New Jersey Devils 1984 2-18 -48 17-56-7 Missed Playoffs
Arizona Coyotes 2018 2-15-3 -33 29-41-12 Missed Playoffs
6 Quebec Athletics  1920 3-17 -65 4-20 Missed Playoffs
Washington Capitals 1975 2-16-2 -60 8-67-5 Missed Playoffs
San Jose Sharks 2024 3-15-2 -56 19-54-9 Season Ongoing
Washington Capitals 1976 2-16-2 -40 11-59-10 Missed Playoffs
Tampa Bay Lightning 1998 2-16-2 -38 17-55-10 Missed Playoffs
Carolina Hurricanes 2010 3-12-5 -31 35-37-10 Missed Playoffs
Toronto Maple Leafs 2010 3-11-6 -25 30-38-14 Missed Playoffs
13 San Jose Sharks 1992 3-16-1 -51 17-58-5 Missed Playoffs
Toronto Maple Leafs 1991 3-16-1 -42 23-46-11 Missed Playoffs
Winnipeg Jets 1981 1-14-5 -38 9-57-14 Missed Playoffs
16 New York Islanders 1973 3-15-2 -54 12-60-6 Missed Playoffs
Washington Capitals 1978 2-14-4 -43 17-49-14 Missed Playoffs
Minnesota North Stars 1976 4-16 -40 20-53-7 Missed Playoffs
Arizona Coyotes 2022 4-14-2 -37 25-50-7 Missed Playoffs
San Jose Sharks 1996 2-14-4 -36 20-55-7 Missed Playoffs
Ottawa Senators 2022 4-15-1 -31 33-42-7 Missed Playoffs
Edmonton Oilers 2014 4-14-2 -30 29-44-9 Missed Playoffs
Chicago Black Hawks 1928 3-15-2 -28 7-34-3 Missed Playoffs
St. Louis Blues 2006 4-13-3 -28 21-46-15 Missed Playoffs
Buffalo Sabres 2014 4-15-1 -27 21-51-10 Missed Playoffs
Florida Panthers 2014 4-12-4 -27 29-45-8 Missed Playoffs
New York Islanders 2011 4-12-4 -27 30-39-13 Missed Playoffs
Nashville Predators 2003 2-10-4-4 -22 27-35-13-7 Missed Playoffs
29 Los Angeles Kings 1972 4-15-1 -43 20-49-9 Missed Playoffs
San Jose Sharks 1993 4-15-1 -39 11-71-2 Missed Playoffs
New York Rangers 1944 4-15-1 -38 6-39-5 Missed Playoffs
Kansas City Scouts 1975 4-15-1 -36 15-54-11 Missed Playoffs
Los Angeles Kings 1970 4-15-1 -33 14-52-10 Missed Playoffs
Chicago Black Hawks 1945 3-14-3 -32 13-30-7 Missed Playoffs
Chicago Black Hawks 1955 3-14-3 -31 13-40-17 Missed Playoffs
Quebec Nordiques 1991 3-14-3 -31 16-50-14 Missed Playoffs
Detroit Red Wings 1938 3-14-3 -30 12-25-11 Missed Playoffs
Detroit Red Wings 1981 3-14-3 -29 19-43-18 Missed Playoffs
Quebec Nordiques 1992 4-15-1 -27 20-48-12 Missed Playoffs
Pittsburgh Pirates  1930 4-15-1 -26 5-36-3 Missed Playoffs
Edmonton Oilers 1994 3-14-3 -24 25-45-14 Missed Playoffs
Ottawa Senators 1995 3-14-3 -23 9-34-5 Missed Playoffs
Chicago Black Hawks 1960 3-14-3 -19 28-29-13 Lost Conf Finals
Chicago Black Hawks 1954 3-14-3 -18 12-51-7 Missed Playoffs
45 Vancouver Canucks 1985 4-14-2 -52 25-46-9 Missed Playoffs
California Golden Seals  1975 3-13-4 -50 19-48-13 Missed Playoffs
Colorado Rockies 1982 3-13-4 -50 18-49-13 Missed Playoffs
Detroit Red Wings 1983 3-13-4 -40 21-44-15 Missed Playoffs
Colorado Rockies 1979 3-13-4 -39 15-53-12 Missed Playoffs
St. Louis Blues 1979 3-13-4 -39 18-50-12 Missed Playoffs
Atlanta Thrashers 2002 4-12-2-2 -36 19-47-11-5 Missed Playoffs
Buffalo Sabres 2015 5-13-2 -35 23-51-8 Missed Playoffs
Columbus Blue Jackets 2006 5-15 -33 35-43-4 Missed Playoffs
Edmonton Oilers 2011 5-11-4 -33 25-45-12 Missed Playoffs
Ottawa Senators 2021 5-14-1 -33 23-28-5 Missed Playoffs
Philadelphia Flyers 2007 5-13-2 -33 22-48-12 Missed Playoffs
Chicago Black Hawks 1948 4-14-2 -32 20-34-6 Missed Playoffs
Calgary Flames 1996 3-13-4 -31 34-37-11 Lost First Round
Boston Bruins 1963 2-12-6 -30 14-39-17 Missed Playoffs
California Golden Seals  1973 3-13-4 -30 16-46-16 Missed Playoffs
Hamilton Tigers  1921 5-15 -30 6-18 Missed Playoffs
New Jersey Devils 2011 5-13-2 -29 38-39-5 Missed Playoffs
Hartford Whalers 1994 4-14-2 -28 27-48-9 Missed Playoffs
New York Islanders 2012 5-11-4 -28 34-37-11 Missed Playoffs
Montreal Canadiens 2022 5-13-2 -26 22-49-11 Missed Playoffs
New York Rangers 1946 4-14-2 -26 13-28-9 Missed Playoffs
Buffalo Sabres 2018 5-11-4 -25 25-45-12 Missed Playoffs
Detroit Red Wings 2021 5-12-3 -25 19-27-10 Missed Playoffs
Columbus Blue Jackets 2012 5-13-2 -23 29-46-7 Missed Playoffs
New York Islanders 2022 5-10-5 -23 37-35-10 Missed Playoffs
Columbus Blue Jackets 2007 5-13-2 -22 33-42-7 Missed Playoffs
Chicago Black Hawks 1929 4-14-2 -20 7-29-8 Missed Playoffs
Tampa Bay Lightning 1994 4-14-2 -19 30-43-11 Missed Playoffs
Calgary Flames 1998 3-13-4 -18 26-41-15 Missed Playoffs
Columbus Blue Jackets 2013 5-12-3 -17 24-17-7 Missed Playoffs
Columbus Blue Jackets 2024 5-11-4 -15 27-43-12 Season Ongoing

Which NHL team had the worst start through 20 games but still made the playoffs?

The 1959-60 Chicago Black Hawks started the season 3-14-3, but still managed to make the playoffs. The Black Hawks lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the Conference Finals.

Which NHL team had the worst start through 20 games and went on to win the stanley cup?

The 2018-19 St. Louis Blues started the season with a 7-10-3 record through 20 games, but still made the playoffs and then went on to win the stanley cup.

Are any 2024 teams in the top 50 all-time worst NHL starts through 20 games?

There are multiple recent teams on the list of all-time worst NHL starts through 20 games. The 2023-24 San Jose Sharks are tied for 6th on the list with their 3-15-2 record. The 2023-24 Columbus Blue Jackets are tied for 45th on the list with their 5-11-4 record.

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