Frozen: when the NHL belt sat out the playoffs

28 seasons the belt holder missed the playoffs and carried the belt into the next season.

The belt only moves when its holder plays. When the holder's season ends early, the belt freezes: the champions get crowned in the playoffs, and the belt waits for next season. It has happened 28 times in NHL belt history.

Every frozen season, newest first

1. 2023–24: Columbus Blue Jackets sat out the playoffs with the belt while Florida Panthers won the title.
2. 2019–20: Los Angeles Kings sat out the playoffs with the belt while Tampa Bay Lightning won the title.
3. 2017–18: Edmonton Oilers sat out the playoffs with the belt while Washington Capitals won the title.
4. 2016–17: Winnipeg Jets sat out the playoffs with the belt while Pittsburgh Penguins won the title.
5. 2015–16: Ottawa Senators sat out the playoffs with the belt while Pittsburgh Penguins won the title.
6. 2013–14: Winnipeg Jets sat out the playoffs with the belt while Los Angeles Kings won the title.
7. 2012–13: Edmonton Oilers sat out the playoffs with the belt while Chicago Blackhawks won the title.
8. 2011–12: Calgary Flames sat out the playoffs with the belt while Los Angeles Kings won the title.
9. 2008–09: Florida Panthers sat out the playoffs with the belt while Pittsburgh Penguins won the title.
10. 2003–04: Columbus Blue Jackets sat out the playoffs with the belt while Tampa Bay Lightning won the title.
11. 1977–78: Minnesota North Stars sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
12. 1975–76: California Golden Seals sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
13. 1972–73: Toronto Maple Leafs sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
14. 1967–68: Pittsburgh Penguins sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
15. 1960–61: Boston Bruins sat out the playoffs with the belt while Chicago Black Hawks won the title.
16. 1959–60: New York Rangers sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
17. 1955–56: Chicago Black Hawks sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
18. 1952–53: Toronto Maple Leafs sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
19. 1949–50: Chicago Black Hawks sat out the playoffs with the belt while Detroit Red Wings won the title.
20. 1945–46: New York Rangers sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
21. 1944–45: Chicago Black Hawks sat out the playoffs with the belt while Toronto Maple Leafs won the title.
22. 1935–36: New York Rangers sat out the playoffs with the belt while Detroit Red Wings won the title.
23. 1933–34: Boston Bruins sat out the playoffs with the belt while Chicago Black Hawks won the title.
24. 1928–29: Ottawa Senators sat out the playoffs with the belt while Boston Bruins won the title.
25. 1926–27: Toronto St. Patricks sat out the playoffs with the belt while Ottawa Senators won the title.
26. 1925–26: Boston Bruins sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montreal Maroons won the title.
27. 1924–25: Ottawa Senators sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.
28. 1917–18: Ottawa Senators sat out the playoffs with the belt while Montréal Canadiens won the title.

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