Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
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Which of these dynasties is better. Here's my the profile for both of them.
NY Islanders - Cups in '80, '81, '82, '83. Regular season points in that order: 91, 110, 118, 96. Twice led the league in points those years. HOFers are Bossy, Trottier, Potvin, Smith and Gilles.
Detroit - Cups in '50, '52, '54, '55. Regualr season points in order: 88, 100, 88, 95. Led the league in points all four times, plus the two non Cup years (51, '53). This was also a 70 game season. HOFers are Howe, Lindsay, Abel, Delvecchio, Kelly, Pronovost, Sawchuk.
Here's my take on it. The Islanders had a tough Cup final opponent in '80 in the Flyers who led the league in points. But in '81 Minnesota and '82 Vancouver were not even close to the best team in the league or even second best. In fact Vancouver was below .500. In '83 the Oilers were a good test but they were still unproven. Still, four Cups in a row in the 80s is tremendous. Compare that to the Red Wings. They won the Cup in '50 in seven games vs. a much weaker Ranger team. But then they went 8-0 in the '52 playoffs and beat the Canadiens in '54 and '55 in both seven game series. They didnt dominate the post season like the Isles but they had to play the Habs twice. That's harder than playing the Canucks for sure.
And you look at individuals as well. Howe was better than either Trottier or Bossy, Sawchuk was better than Smith and Kelly was at least as good as Potvin. Throw in Delvecchio and Lindsay and they were better than Gilles and Bourne or Goring or Tonelli. Personally I think the Red Wing Teams were better than the Isle teams. Much more dominant. Remember the Habs were still very good in the early 50s and by the time the Isles won in '80 the Habs of the '70s were finished and the Oilers hadnt quite emerged. So there wasnt a dominant team around to challenge them as much in the early 80s. The red Wings had the Canadiens. Plus in those years Howe was the best player in the game, Bossy or Trottier weren't.
I love the Isles, but they wouldnt have beaten the Red Wings.
NY Islanders - Cups in '80, '81, '82, '83. Regular season points in that order: 91, 110, 118, 96. Twice led the league in points those years. HOFers are Bossy, Trottier, Potvin, Smith and Gilles.
Detroit - Cups in '50, '52, '54, '55. Regualr season points in order: 88, 100, 88, 95. Led the league in points all four times, plus the two non Cup years (51, '53). This was also a 70 game season. HOFers are Howe, Lindsay, Abel, Delvecchio, Kelly, Pronovost, Sawchuk.
Here's my take on it. The Islanders had a tough Cup final opponent in '80 in the Flyers who led the league in points. But in '81 Minnesota and '82 Vancouver were not even close to the best team in the league or even second best. In fact Vancouver was below .500. In '83 the Oilers were a good test but they were still unproven. Still, four Cups in a row in the 80s is tremendous. Compare that to the Red Wings. They won the Cup in '50 in seven games vs. a much weaker Ranger team. But then they went 8-0 in the '52 playoffs and beat the Canadiens in '54 and '55 in both seven game series. They didnt dominate the post season like the Isles but they had to play the Habs twice. That's harder than playing the Canucks for sure.
And you look at individuals as well. Howe was better than either Trottier or Bossy, Sawchuk was better than Smith and Kelly was at least as good as Potvin. Throw in Delvecchio and Lindsay and they were better than Gilles and Bourne or Goring or Tonelli. Personally I think the Red Wing Teams were better than the Isle teams. Much more dominant. Remember the Habs were still very good in the early 50s and by the time the Isles won in '80 the Habs of the '70s were finished and the Oilers hadnt quite emerged. So there wasnt a dominant team around to challenge them as much in the early 80s. The red Wings had the Canadiens. Plus in those years Howe was the best player in the game, Bossy or Trottier weren't.
I love the Isles, but they wouldnt have beaten the Red Wings.