Its clear as pneps research has showed that the East team in the Finals had a distinct disadvantage against the Oilers who fairly breezed through to the finals in their Cup years in the 80's. Its akin to the Blues being guaranteed a place in the Finals in the 60's. What if they'd won?
We see the Flyers for instance being beat up and destroyed and injured in 87 by the time they reached the finals and still taking the well rested and healthy Oilers to 7 games.
We see the inordinate days off before the finals the OIlers always had because of the easy road in the West. Like before they played the Islanders in 84. Thats why they won not becasue they had "learned to win" or some other nonsense. Meanwhile the Isles had to hack through 3 tough rounds - remember v. Habs how the teams tried to kill each other - even Gainey went after Potvins knees and he was gone for a few days and wasnt the same the rest of the playoffs.
Keenan said recently referring to their 85 team who also lost to those same Oilers - "I wish we could have played them healthy (Kerr etc hurt)".
Well you couldnt have Mike, because the odds were stacked against you in the East while the OIlers were sailing through teams like the 85 Hawks scoring 44 goals in 12-9 joke playoff wins.
You were banged and tired by the time you got to the Finals - I recall the tough road the Habs had in 86 and then they destroyed a weak Flamers team which had knocked off 99's Oilers. Its high time an asterisk was placed next to the Oilers Dynasty "accomplishments" same as for Bonds.
Well- Researched comments only.
Well choocher, if we are going to put asterisks next to Stanley Cup wins, I think we should start with the Canadiens wins prior to 1969. They were allowed to scoop all players produced in the province of Quebec so, American teams and the Leafs had no shot at getting them. The Habs build their teams on unfair trade practices.
When you look back at the Oilers cup wins, it was not the peewee tournament that you describe.
In 83-84, the average team the Oilers faced in the playoffs, prior to the finals, had 81 points during the regular season. Their finals opponents, the Islanders, faced an average opponent of 89.67.
In 84-85 the Oilers faced an average opponent of 87 points, the Flyers faced an average opponent of 79.67.
In 86-87, the Oilers faced 78.67 and the Flyers faced 83.33.
In 87-88 the Oilers faced 91.67 and the Bruins faced 90.
In 89-90 the Oilers were up against 82.67 and the Bruins were up against 85.33.
Looking at these numbers, twice in five cup runs, the Oilers faced BETTER competition than did their Wales conference rivals - including 84-85 where the Oilers faced SIGNIFICANTLY better opponents in the Kings (82 points), the Jets (96 points) and the Blackhawks (83 points). The Flyers faced the
Rangers (62 points), the Islanders (86) and Quebec (91).
So, your argument is false, chooch. Try again next time and bring some real evidence to your arguments.
And remember, the Oilers were just
that good.