Historical Comparable to San Jose from 2006 to 2011

GMR

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They ran into a hot goalie in 03. They dominated in shots. Scoring chances. Everything. There's literally nothing else they could've done. If that series is played ten times, Detroit wins nine times. That was a sweep. But it wasn't your usual sweep where the loser is vastly outplayed.

I'm not sure they were better than Anaheim in 07. Maybe during the season. But that Ducks team was built for the postseason. There was only one team in the West that Detroit matched up poorly with. And unfortunately they ended up facing them.

In 04 and 06 they choked. There was zero excuses to lose to those teams. Some blame Joseph in 04. The man gave up like four total goals from game 4-game 6.
In all fairness to the Wings, Calgary likely won the Cup in 2004 (Gelinas' goal) and Edmonton would have won in 2006 if not for the injury to Roloson.

If both Calgary and Edmonton lost in the next round, that makes Detroit look much weaker in hindsight. Both teams went on a deep run. That doesn't make fans feel better, but makes things more understandable when looking back 15 years later.
 

KoozNetsOff 92

Hala Madrid
Apr 6, 2016
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Washington -
2008: 12th in the NHL in points, 8th in offense. Out in the 1st round.
2009: 4th in the NHL in points, 3rd in offense. Out in the 2nd round.
2010: 1st in the NHL in points, 1st in offense. Out in the 1st round.
2011: 2nd in the NHL in points, 19th in offense. Out in the 2nd round.
2012: 15th in the NHL in points, 15th in offense. Out in the 2nd round.
2013: 9th in the NHL in points, 3rd in offense. Out in the 1st round.
2014: Missed playoffs.
2015: 9th in the NHL in points, 6th in offense. Out in the 2nd round.
2016: 1st in the NHL in points, 2nd in offense. Out in the 2nd round.
2017: 1st in the NHL in points, 3rd in offense. Out in the 2nd round.

Then they found a center that could carry the puck through the NZ as opposed to a winger and it opened up their whole world...

Ok but now check their defense.

08: 17th
09: 20th
10: 17th
11: 4th
12: 19th
13: 16th
14: n/a
15: 6th
16: 2nd
17: 1st

It amazes me how some people still think those caps teams from 08-14 were good. With the exception of 1 random season, they were always in the bottom half in GA. There was no 2C and the D and goaltending were absolute garbage. Anyone who actually watched them knew they were going nowhere come playoffs. Once they actually got a legit blue line and goaltending, they became a legit contender. 2015 a blown call away from the ECF, 2016 & 2017 lost coin flip series to the eventual champs in what was the real SCF both years. So I don't think they should be included here, they weren't a good team until 14/15.
 

GMR

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Ok but now check their defense.

08: 17th
09: 20th
10: 17th
11: 4th
12: 19th
13: 16th
14: n/a
15: 6th
16: 2nd
17: 1st

It amazes me how some people still think those caps teams from 08-14 were good. With the exception of 1 random season, they were always in the bottom half in GA. There was no 2C and the D and goaltending were absolute garbage. Anyone who actually watched them knew they were going nowhere come playoffs. Once they actually got a legit blue line and goaltending, they became a legit contender. 2015 a blown call away from the ECF, 2016 & 2017 lost coin flip series to the eventual champs in what was the real SCF both years. So I don't think they should be included here, they weren't a good team until 14/15.
Well, they had many high finishes in the standings. I realize that doesn't make them a complete team (as you pointed out, they were offense heavy) but it certainly makes them a contender. Between 2009 to 2011, they had 108 points, 121 points, and 107 points. I'd say that's pretty good and is a team worth mentioning. They had some teams that weren't as strong, but the only season they missed the playoffs, during the years you listed, was 2014.
 

MadLuke

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Jan 18, 2011
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goaltending were absolute garbage.

That sound harsh between 2007-2008 and 2013-2014, Holtby has a .931% save percentage in the playoff:
NHL.com Stats

That really excellent and Holtby was obviously in hindsight good enough to win a team a cup, has he did not much later, I doubt it was just luck that he had elite save percentage playoff after playoff run while being garbage in reality, then winning the cup not long after.

Washington has 3 run on that first page:
NHL.com Stats

Washington team were certainly a really good team that could have easily won most year imo, the year they faced and lost to Halak was really just what being good but still loosing in hockey look like, they were really dominant that season and that first round.
 

KoozNetsOff 92

Hala Madrid
Apr 6, 2016
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That sound harsh between 2007-2008 and 2013-2014, Holtby has a .931% save percentage in the playoff:
NHL.com Stats

That really excellent and Holtby was obviously in hindsight good enough to win a team a cup, has he did not much later, I doubt it was just luck that he had elite save percentage playoff after playoff run while being garbage in reality, then winning the cup not long after.

Washington has 3 run on that first page:
NHL.com Stats

Washington team were certainly a really good team that could have easily won most year imo, the year they faced and lost to Halak was really just what being good but still loosing in hockey look like, they were really dominant that season and that first round.

Holtby 1st playoffs were in 11/12 so the goaltending was still garbage from 07/08-10/11. And in 11/12 and 12/13 caps had probably 2 of the worst coaches in NHL history, which obviously didn't help (along with their terrible D).

No, those weren't really good teams. There were 2 great forwards (OV and Backstrom), 1 really really good forward (Semin) and 1 great offensive Dman (Green) who didn't know what his own zone looked like.
 

KoozNetsOff 92

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Apr 6, 2016
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Well, they had many high finishes in the standings. I realize that doesn't make them a complete team (as you pointed out, they were offense heavy) but it certainly makes them a contender. Between 2009 to 2011, they had 108 points, 121 points, and 107 points. I'd say that's pretty good and is a team worth mentioning. They had some teams that weren't as strong, but the only season they missed the playoffs, during the years you listed, was 2014.

They piled up pts in the regular season because peak OV insured they could outscore their problems. When the playoffs came around obviously the game slowed down, their lack of depth and pathetic blue line was exposed. I understand what you're saying in terms of listing off teams that had so many pts, but those teams weren't good. If you want to say caps 14/15-16/17 that's perfectly valid because those were complete teams that finished high in pts but couldn't get it done come playoffs.
 
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MadLuke

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They piled up pts in the regular season because peak OV insured they could outscore their problems.

Many of those season they were a more dominant team with Ovechkin on the bench than on the ice no ? Last time I check that era if I am not mistaken the Capitals were one of the best team in the league in GF/GA without Ovechkin on the ice many season.
 

frisco

Some people claim that there's a woman to blame...
Sep 14, 2017
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Buffalo in the 10 seasons from 75-76 to 84-85
'76: 4th
'77: 5th
'78: 5th
'79: 7th
'80: 2nd
'81: 5th
'82: 6th
'83: 9th
'84: 4th
'85: 8th

Never were considered the Cup favorite in any of those seasons, but still a playoff disappointment. Four 1st round losses, five 2nd round losses, and one lone trip to the semi-finals in '80.
Good one. From 74-75 through 84-84 (adding in the Finals '75 team) they averaged 100 points a year for eleven years with only one Finals to show for it.

My Best-Carey
 

Big Phil

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Nov 2, 2003
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San Jose from 2006 to 2011 is not unique. In fact, you could name a bunch of teams similar. Boston in the late 1980s early 1990s. Buffalo from the mid 1970s for about half a dozen years. Rangers from the late 1960s to mid 1970s. Ottawa, St. Louis and Toronto all in the late 1990s to mid 2000s. Ottawa even up until 2007 for that matter. Hawks after 1961 and then for another decade. Just a hunch, but Tampa Bay could easily be that team in its current state. Has a good 5-6 years of similar play as the Sharks had and no Cup to show for it.
 
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MVP of West Hollywd

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They piled up pts in the regular season because peak OV insured they could outscore their problems. When the playoffs came around obviously the game slowed down, their lack of depth and pathetic blue line was exposed. I understand what you're saying in terms of listing off teams that had so many pts, but those teams weren't good. If you want to say caps 14/15-16/17 that's perfectly valid because those were complete teams that finished high in pts but couldn't get it done come playoffs.

It's hard for me to say a team with 121 pts isn't good

They were obviously mega offensive orientated and therefore probably not as good a fit for a playoff run, but being a good team by having by far the most goals is still being a good team
 

GMR

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San Jose from 2006 to 2011 is not unique. In fact, you could name a bunch of teams similar. Boston in the late 1980s early 1990s. Buffalo from the mid 1970s for about half a dozen years. Rangers from the late 1960s to mid 1970s. Ottawa, St. Louis and Toronto all in the late 1990s to mid 2000s. Ottawa even up until 2007 for that matter. Hawks after 1961 and then for another decade. Just a hunch, but Tampa Bay could easily be that team in its current state. Has a good 5-6 years of similar play as the Sharks had and no Cup to show for it.
I was specifically talking about teams who didn't even make the Finals. At least half of those teams you mentioned did.
 

Big Phil

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I was specifically talking about teams who didn't even make the Finals. At least half of those teams you mentioned did.

Then you could be talking about Washington for much of the 1980s and once they got Rod Langway. Or even St. Louis back in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
 

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