NHL unveils 20 greatest teams of all time

[Hennessy]

It's a fan vote. May as well argue about HF proposals.

 

[Fugazy]

I find this hard to rank because of all these similar teams that fell within dynasty years (Penguins, Oilers, Islanders, etc.).

 

[BraveCanadian]

This "all-time" list is truly horrible.

That is all that needs to be said about it.

 

[Evincar]

not if they played today

You could say the same about any of the teams on the list.

 

[Bieber fever]

2015-16 Penguins is the best team of all time ?

 

[JaegerDice]

I don't get the desire for more old teams on this list.

If you dropped each of these teams as they were, into a round robin tournament, the modern teams would absolutely smoke the older teams.

I tried a few 'showdowns' on their site, and found it difficult to rationalize a single matchup any of the 70s teams could win against teams from 2000 or later.

Now, granted, that's not actually whats gonna decide who wins this contest. It's a popularity contest and if I were to bet on it, one of the Oilers teams will win it.... with maybe the slimmest of outside chances to either the 2001 Avalanche or 2002 Wings due to sheer star power.

 

[Butch 19]

How are the 1970 Bruins better than the 1977 Canadiens?

um, it says so on that list up there ^^^^^

duh

 

[jw2]

This "all-time" list is truly horrible.

That is all that needs to be said about it.

True. Beyond arguing. Just bad.

 

[McspOiler]

Thank god this list didn't come out while the oilers were still in the decade of darkness it would have got annoying around here... and I am an oiler fan saying that lol

 

[hockeykicker]

wait a second.

Two rounds of voting narrowed the field of 96 Stanley Cup winners down to the following list, presented in reverse chronological order:

· 2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks
· 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings
· 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche
· 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings
· 1993-94 New York Rangers
· 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 1988-89 Calgary Flames
· 1987-88 Edmonton Oilers
· 1986-87 Edmonton Oilers
· 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers
· 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers
· 1982-83 New York Islanders
· 1981-82 New York Islanders
· 1979-80 New York Islanders
· 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens
· 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens
· 1975-76 Montreal Canadiens
· 1969-1970 Boston Bruins

its been a long day so my brain is fried but doesnt that mean bruins are the best?

 

[hockeykicker]

· 2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks
· 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings
· 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche
· 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings
· 1993-94 New York Rangers
· 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 1988-89 Calgary Flames
· 1987-88 Edmonton Oilers
· 1986-87 Edmonton Oilers
· 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers
· 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers
· 1982-83 New York Islanders
· 1981-82 New York Islanders
· 1979-80 New York Islanders
· 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens
· 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens
· 1975-76 Montreal Canadiens
· 1969-1970 Boston Bruins

no the nhl fans voted on it

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

I'm just surprised the list isn't the last five years' worth of Penguins, Blackhawks, and Rangers

 

[Theodore450]

· 2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks
· 2001-02 Detroit Red Wings
· 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche
· 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings
· 1993-94 New York Rangers
· 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins
· 1988-89 Calgary Flames
· 1987-88 Edmonton Oilers
· 1986-87 Edmonton Oilers
· 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers
· 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers
· 1982-83 New York Islanders
· 1981-82 New York Islanders
· 1979-80 New York Islanders
· 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens
· 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens
· 1975-76 Montreal Canadiens
· 1969-1970 Boston Bruins

Not in order.... look at the years

 

[dechire]

wait a second.



its been a long day so my brain is fried but doesnt that mean bruins are the best?

Reverse chronological order mean by date with the most recent first. Nothing to do with quality whatsoever.

 

[gretskidoo]

wait a second.



its been a long day so my brain is fried but doesnt that mean bruins are the best?

Chronological is the key word here.

 

[mouser]

wait a second.



its been a long day so my brain is fried but doesnt that mean bruins are the best?

No, it means these are the top 20, not ranked 1st to 20th.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Take out the Blackhawks, put in one of the Howe/Abel/Lindsay/Sawchuk Red Wings teams'.

TBH, they really should only put in one or two from a dynasty. Putting all four Islander teams, for example just eats up space, and if you do that, you're really restricting yourself to like five teams. 50's wings, 80s Islanders and Oilers, 60's and 70's Canadiens, as you have 3-4 different yearly iterations of the same team.

 

[unknown33]

Doesn't look very "alltime" to me.

Unless you'd use the time machine argument which doesn't make much sense doing such lists. Using relative strength only is tough on the current teams though, just way harder to stand out with the cap.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Yeah, I'd unequivocally say that the 2013 Hawks were better than the 2010 Hawks.

 

[SI90]

The islanders, oilers, and Habs dynasty teams were unreal.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

2013 Hawks team was much better then 2010 team IMO

Far better D and goaltending

 

[Honour Over Glory]

The 08 team was better in pretty much every aspect outside of looking at the lineup on paper. 08 was like a well oiled machine offensively and defensively and 09 was basically a "we're going to win on talent."

Hossa didn't necessarily gel well with Datsyuk or Zetterberg and Babcock basically refused to play them together like in 2008 except for when Datsyuk returned from injury in Game 5 of the Finals and couldn't even play center (thus he played on Z's wing.)

And like you mentioned, 2008's goaltending was much better in the regular season (although once the playoffs hit Osgood stepped back up.)

09 Detroit still wins a Cup with better health, but at their best the 08 team was more impressive statically and visually.

Injuries happen, most players are gimped in the playoffs, unless they're completely out then sure, an excuse there is fine. But man, you guys just can't let 2009 go at all huh.

2008 Wings were a good team, but ease up, your bias is clearly showing.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

wait a second.



its been a long day so my brain is fried but doesnt that mean bruins are the best?

Do you not understand what chronological means? Let alone, reverse chronological.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If anything, the 15-16 Pens should be the odd ones out here

No, I think the 90-91 Penguins would be the odd one out if any on them were the odd ones out.

 

[Regal]

So an almost entirely hall of fame worthy roster is out? If anything take out the blackhawks

What? It was a good roster, but more deep than loaded with greats. There was 5 HHOFers (MacInnis, Gilmour, Mullen, McDonald and Nieuwendyk), but the last 3 of those were pretty weak inductions and Lanny was on his last legs at the time. The Hawks had what will likely be 4 Hall of Famers themselves who were all in their primes.