Rank the last 20 Stanley Cup Champions

[member 51464]

Assuming a round-robin tournament where all the Champs since '89 played each other.

List them all if you like, or just your top 5/10 whatever and your reasons why. I suppose, though, I'm most interested in how the last few teams on everyone's lists will be ordered.

Click to read more...

 

[thefifthsedin*]

the worst are probably one of the devils teams from the dead puck era ...

names like brylin, holik, daneyko comes to mind

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

So basically since Gretzky left the Oilers? Because any Gretzky Oilers team would be better than any team since. I'll give it a quick go:

1. 2002 Detroit (best team money can buy, stacked with HOFers)
2. 2001 Colorado (stacked with high end talent)
3. 1997 Detroit (with the Russian five and Vernon)
4. 2000 New Jersey (deepest offense combined with the defense)
5. 1992 Penguins (a more complete team than 1991, Jagr also better)
6. 1991 Penguins (almost as dominant as 1992)
7. 1994 Rangers (stacked with former Oilers + Leetch + Zubov)
8. 1989 Flames (finally broke through - stuck in same division as the Oilers)
9. 1998 Detroit (not quite as good as the 97 team)
10. 1999 Dallas (one of the top teams finally won the Cup)
11. 1996 Avalanche (lots of high end talent and clutch players)
12. 1990 Oilers (not as dominant after Gretzky left)
13. 2008 Red Wings (dominant at both ends of the ice)
14. 1995 Devils (dominant defensively and dominated the playoffs, underrated offense)
15. 2007 Ducks (dominant defensively, questionsable offense)
16. 2009 Penguins (high end talent and not much depth)
17. 2004 Lightning (high end talent but not much depth)
18. 2003 Devils (all their key players were past their primes)
19. 1993 Montreal Candians (average team other than in goal)
20. 2006 Carolina Hurricanes (came out of nowhere then fell to earth the next year)

 

[Trottier]

Penguins, 1991 and '92.

The best player on the planet leading the 2nd greatest offensive machine ever assembled.

 

[member 51464]

So basically since Gretzky left the Oilers? Because any Gretzky Oilers team would be better than any team since. I'll give it a quick go:

That is exactly why I set the dates I did. Those Oiler teams were truly something else..

 

[Axxellien]

2002 Red Wings, no question!! By far the oldest team ever to win the cup..Dominated the league from October until June!!...An astounding feat of Arms!!

 

[Lounge Act*]

15. 2007 Ducks (dominant defensively, questionsable offense)

Really? I'd rank them easily the best champ since the lockout (although that ain't saying much) and ahead of everyone else except the Red Wings/Avalanche from '96-02

 

[VanIslander]

I'd just like to see this rivalry again!

1. 2002 Detroit (best team money can buy, stacked with HOFers)
2. 2001 Colorado (stacked with high end talent)

3. 1997 Detroit (with the Russian five and Vernon)
11. 1996 Avalanche (lots of high end talent and clutch players)

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Really? I'd rank them easily the best champ since the lockout (although that ain't saying much) and ahead of everyone else except the Red Wings/Avalanche from '96-02

They had one of the worst offenses of any Cup champ. Also, their bottom 3 dmen weren't that spectacular.

 

[CrosbyCrosby*]

they're still the best post lockout team

 

[Fredrik_71]

So basically since Gretzky left the Oilers? Because any Gretzky Oilers team would be better than any team since. I'll give it a quick go:

1. 2002 Detroit (best team money can buy, stacked with HOFers)
2. 2001 Colorado (stacked with high end talent)
3. 1997 Detroit (with the Russian five and Vernon)
4. 2000 New Jersey (deepest offense combined with the defense)
5. 1992 Penguins (a more complete team than 1991, Jagr also better)
6. 1991 Penguins (almost as dominant as 1992)
7. 1994 Rangers (stacked with former Oilers + Leetch + Zubov)
8. 1989 Flames (finally broke through - stuck in same division as the Oilers)
9. 1998 Detroit (not quite as good as the 97 team)
10. 1999 Dallas (one of the top teams finally won the Cup)
11. 1996 Avalanche (lots of high end talent and clutch players)
12. 1990 Oilers (not as dominant after Gretzky left)
13. 2008 Red Wings (dominant at both ends of the ice)
14. 1995 Devils (dominant defensively and dominated the playoffs, underrated offense)
15. 2007 Ducks (dominant defensively, questionsable offense)
16. 2009 Penguins (high end talent and not much depth)
17. 2004 Lightning (high end talent but not much depth)
18. 2003 Devils (all their key players were past their primes)
19. 1993 Montreal Candians (average team other than in goal)
20. 2006 Carolina Hurricanes (came out of nowhere then fell to earth the next year)

Good list. Top-10 are spot on.

/Cheers

 

[CC Chiefs*]

I'm going with the 1997 DRW. 16-4 in the Playoff and weren't Challenged (never trailed in a game in the finals) at all by the Flyers in the finals. At least in 1998 the Caps put up a better fight.

 

[CC Chiefs*]

So basically since Gretzky left the Oilers? Because any Gretzky Oilers team would be better than any team since. I'll give it a quick go:

1. 2002 Detroit (best team money can buy, stacked with HOFers)
2. 2001 Colorado (stacked with high end talent)
3. 1997 Detroit (with the Russian five and Vernon)
4. 2000 New Jersey (deepest offense combined with the defense)
5. 1992 Penguins (a more complete team than 1991, Jagr also better)
6. 1991 Penguins (almost as dominant as 1992)
7. 1994 Rangers (stacked with former Oilers + Leetch + Zubov)
8. 1989 Flames (finally broke through - stuck in same division as the Oilers)
9. 1998 Detroit (not quite as good as the 97 team)
10. 1999 Dallas (one of the top teams finally won the Cup)
11. 1996 Avalanche (lots of high end talent and clutch players)
12. 1990 Oilers (not as dominant after Gretzky left)
13. 2008 Red Wings (dominant at both ends of the ice)
14. 1995 Devils (dominant defensively and dominated the playoffs, underrated offense)
15. 2007 Ducks (dominant defensively, questionsable offense)
16. 2009 Penguins (high end talent and not much depth)
17. 2004 Lightning (high end talent but not much depth)
18. 2003 Devils (all their key players were past their primes)
19. 1993 Montreal Candians (average team other than in goal)
20. 2006 Carolina Hurricanes (came out of nowhere then fell to earth the next year)

That could have been Buffalo if the NHL had decided to enforce their own rules.

 

[Super Fadio Bro]

Really? I'd rank them easily the best champ since the lockout (although that ain't saying much) and ahead of everyone else except the Red Wings/Avalanche from '96-02

No, the 2008 Red Wings were the best champ since the lock-out

That could have been Buffalo if the NHL had decided to enforce their own rules.

No, that would still be the stars

 

[member 51464]

No, the 2008 Red Wings were the best champ since the lock-out

Why?

 

[Super Fadio Bro]

Why?

Beside in goal, they had a better offense than the 3 other cup winners post lock-out and dominant in defense.

And an irrevelant one: They never trailed in a series during their run

 

[CC Chiefs*]

Beside in goal, they had a better offense than the 3 other cup winners post lock-out and dominant in defense.

And an irrevelant one: They never trailed in a series during their run

I have to put 1997 ahead of 2002. In 2002 they did lose 1 game in the finals to far inferior team.

 

[CC Chiefs*]

Beside in goal, they had a better offense than the 3 other cup winners post lock-out and dominant in defense.

And an irrevelant one: They never trailed in a series during their run

Not true they lost game 1 in 2002.

 

[Super Fadio Bro]

Not true they lost game 1 in 2002.

I was talking about the 2008 red wings who were IMO the best champ post lock-out

But over the last 20 years, the 1997 red wings would be my choice for the best champion

 

[CC Chiefs*]

I was talking about the 2008 red wings who were IMO the best champ post lock-out

But over the last 20 years, the 1997 red wings would be my choice for the best champion

OKAY now I'm on the same page with you.

 

[edog37]

I was talking about the 2008 red wings who were IMO the best champ post lock-out

But over the last 20 years, the 1997 red wings would be my choice for the best champion

how could the 08 Red Wings be the best champ post lockout, after losing to the Pens this year with an enhanced roster?

 

[Thegeneral66]

how could the 08 Red Wings be the best champ post lockout, after losing to the Pens this year with an enhanced roster?

This argument would only make sense if the penguin's roster and individual player skill stayed static, which it didn't. You can't really compare in this way as a result.

 

[NOTENOUGHJTCGOALS]

how could the 08 Red Wings be the best champ post lockout, after losing to the Pens this year with an enhanced roster?

This years 09 Wings were injured, last year they were very healthy. Osgood played incredible last year. This time not so much. And most importantly this seasons Pens are infinitely better with more experience.

 

[seventieslord]

I normally would not participate in a discussion like this. I usually consider them silly. But this is just so tempting.

1. Detroit 2002
2. Colorado 2001
New Jersey 2000
Colorado 1996
Dallas 1999
Pittsburgh 1992
Detroit 1997
NY Rangers 1994
Detroit 2008
Pittsburgh 1991
Calgary 1989
Detroit 1998
New Jersey 2003
Pittsburgh 2009
Edmonton 1990
Montreal 1993
Anaheim 2007
New Jersey 1995
Tampa Bay 2004
Carolina 2006

 

[edog37]

This argument would only make sense if the penguin's roster and individual player skill stayed static, which it didn't. You can't really compare in this way as a result.

Some would argue that the Pens roster actually got worse....it wasn't like the Pens swept the Wings, the Wings blew a 2-0 series lead, so the question remains....