Since I have the spreadsheet right here in front of me, I figured I would use my SDS method (see
here for explanation) to weigh in on the debate. Here are the top ten one-year through five-year records of teams that didn't win the Cup:
One-Year SDS
1. 1996 Detroit Red Wings - 2.52
2. 1971 Boston Bruins - 2.28
3. 1934 Toronto Maple Leafs - 2.27
4. 1980 Buffalo Sabres - 2.10
5. 2001 New Jersey Devils - 2.08
6. 1979 New York Islanders - 2.06
7. 1995 Detroit Red Wings - 2.03
8. 1953 Detroit Red Wings - 1.99
9. 1982 Montreal Canadiens - 1.98
10. 1997 Colorado Avalanche - 1.92
Detroit with no less than three appearances on the list. Pretty funny that both the '96 Wings and '97 Avalanche are on there. Turnabout is fair play!
Most of these teams won a Cup within a year or two of their big years, and the Sabres were a fluke.
Two-Year SDS
1. 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings - 4.55
2. 1934-35 Maple Leafs - 3.60
3. 2003-04 Ottawa Senators - 3.51
4. 1981-82 Montreal Canadiens - 3.51
5. 1978-79 New York Islanders - 3.48
6. 1994-95 Detroit Red Wings - 3.43
7. 1927-28 Montreal Canadiens - 3.41
8. 1986-87 Philadelphia Flyers - 3.32
9. 1980-81 Buffalo Sabres - 3.28
10. 1982-83 Edmonton Oilers - 3.27
If anyone has any doubts to the strength of the Islanders competition of the early 80s...
Three-Year SDS
1. 1994-96 Detroit Red Wings - 5.95
2. 1980-82 Montreal Canadiens - 5.09
3. 1985-87 Philadelphia Flyers - 4.91
4. 1934-36 Toronto Maple Leafs - 4.66
5. 1977-79 New York Islanders - 4.60
6. 1993-95 Detroit Red Wings - 4.59
7. 1927-29 Montreal Canadiens - 4.50
8. 1981-83 Montreal Canadiens - 4.39
9. 2002-04 Ottawa Senators - 4.35
10. 1988-90 Montreal Canadiens - 4.21
A pattern develops. Early-90s Wings (pre-Cup), early-80s Habs (post-Cup). People forget that the Habs remained a beast even after their dynastic run.
Four-Year SDS
1. 1993-96 Detroit Red Wings - 7.11
2. 1980-83 Montreal Canadiens - 5.97
3. 1992-95 Detroit Red Wings - 5.93
4. 2001-04 Ottawa Senators - 5.79
5. 1984-87 Philadelphia Flyers - 5.78
6. 1976-79 New York Islanders - 5.76
7. 1987-90 Montreal Canadiens - 5.24
8. 1983-86 Philadelphia Flyers - 5.11
9. 1933-36 Toronto Maple Leafs - 4.97
10. 1985-88 Philadelphia Flyers - 4.91
The mid-eighties Flyers stake three spots in the top ten. Also, an appearance from the late-80s Habs, a very underrated team. That '86 Cup could have been the tip of the iceberg.
Five-Year SDS
1. 1992-96 Detroit Red Wings - 8.44
2. 1983-87 Philadelphia Flyers - 6.97
3. 2000-04 Ottawa Senators - 6.48
4. 1999-03 Ottawa Senators - 6.25
5. 1975-79 New York Islanders - 6.17
6. 1996-00 Philadelphia Flyers - 5.93
7. 1988-92 Montreal Canadiens - 5.91
8. 1980-84 Montreal Canadiens - 5.84
9. 1984-88 Philadelphia Flyers - 5.78
10. 1970-74 Chicago Blackhawks - 5.75
Once again, pre-Cup Wings and mid-80s Flyers, as well as the various 1980s Cup lulls of the Habs. We also see the late 90's Flyers make an appearance as well as the early 70s Blackhawks.
Statistically speaking, this suggests that the mid-80s Flyers and recent Senators (at least so far) are the best unrewarded teams of all-time. Both of these teams put up a few top-50 SDS rankings. Most teams that remain dominant over a period of time have found a way to win at least one Stanley Cup.