The Blues aren't unlucky. They've just never been good enough, which has left the door open for other teams to push ahead of them.
Even in '97 and '98, when the Blues were eliminated by the eventual Cup-winning Red Wings, the Red Wings were only the #3 seed in the West and didn't have that many more points than the Blues (only 11 and then 5 more). The Blues had a better opportunity to upset than history makes it appear in hindsight. Also, in 2003 and 2006, the Red Wings lost in the 1st round and the Blues capitalized by losing in the 1st round, themselves, and missing the playoffs, respectively.
Similarly, the "dynasty" that replaced the Red Wings, the Hawks, lost in the 1st round in 2012 and the Blues took advantage by getting swept in the 2nd round to a different team. Last year, they actually dispatched the Hawks, themselves, only to lose to yet another team. This year, the Hawks were eliminated in the 1st round again and, instead of taking advantage, the Blues again find themselves on the brink of elimination in the 2nd round.
The Blues aren't "unlucky" to coexist with and face better teams. Every team deals with that and the good ones overcome it and/or take advantage when presented with an opportunity, and the Blues have historically done little of both.
Even in '97 and '98, when the Blues were eliminated by the eventual Cup-winning Red Wings, the Red Wings were only the #3 seed in the West and didn't have that many more points than the Blues (only 11 and then 5 more). The Blues had a better opportunity to upset than history makes it appear in hindsight. Also, in 2003 and 2006, the Red Wings lost in the 1st round and the Blues capitalized by losing in the 1st round, themselves, and missing the playoffs, respectively.
Similarly, the "dynasty" that replaced the Red Wings, the Hawks, lost in the 1st round in 2012 and the Blues took advantage by getting swept in the 2nd round to a different team. Last year, they actually dispatched the Hawks, themselves, only to lose to yet another team. This year, the Hawks were eliminated in the 1st round again and, instead of taking advantage, the Blues again find themselves on the brink of elimination in the 2nd round.
The Blues aren't "unlucky" to coexist with and face better teams. Every team deals with that and the good ones overcome it and/or take advantage when presented with an opportunity, and the Blues have historically done little of both.
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