Everyone, and I mean everyone, seemingly puts together long playoff streaks with the Detroit Red Wings. As they made the playoffs from 1990-91 through the 2015-16 season, it is an impressive streak nonetheless.
But, there is another team that made nearly as long of a playoff streak, from 1980-81 through 2003-04. That team was the St. Louis Blues.
Here is why that streak should be in the conversation with the Red Wings' historic run, and why it also should not be.
Why it should be in high regard?
25 straight years of having a chance to win a Stanley Cup is a fantastic accomplishment. That was 25 cracks to make it to the big showdown and to lift the Stanley Cup. It also symbolizes that there were 25 straight regular seasons of winning hockey games, more often than not. That is two generations of players, cycling in and out, to consistently win games.
There was the rise of Brett Hull, alongside his dynamic duo, Adam Oates. Much of the Blues Mount Rushmore played during this period of time. Over the 25 chances, they made it to the Conference Finals on two occasions, in 1985-86 and 2000-01.
Unforunately, they could not get it done.
Why it is likely forgotten about?
There were 25 chances to make it to the Stanley Cup final and win it all, and the Blues could not do it once. These were incredible teams, with historic players at the prime of their careers. There were also historic coaches during this era, like Joel Quenville and Brian Sutter.
In comparison to the Red Wings, who made it to the Stanley Cup Final six times and won it four times, it is easy to push the Blues' playoff streak to the side. Those Red Wings teams were also pretty historic with Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nick Lidstrom, and Steve Yzerman.
At the moment, after making the playoffs in 2024-25, there is a chance for another historic run to begin. The Blues have a great core, and some young up-and-comers to carry on the legacy for another hockey generation or two.