Rank the last 20 Stanley Cup Champions

[edog37]

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.

as I mentioned, they were still up 2-0 in the Final & managed to choke.....& the injury card is way overplayed. Everyone is injured come playoff time....

 

[tony d]

The 2002 Detroit Red Wings. Many potential Hall of Famers. A close second would be the 2001 Colorado Avalanche.

 

[NOTENOUGHJTCGOALS]

as I mentioned, they were still up 2-0 in the Final & managed to choke.....& the injury card is way overplayed. Everyone is injured come playoff time....

Lidstrom and Datsyuk in 2009 playoffs compared to 2008 playoffs. There is a huge difference in performance. Two identical rosters can have vastly different results. You're looking at the on-paper roster, I'm looking at what actually happened.

The Penguins were much better due to their experience despite the names that moved away during the off-season.

Detroit on paper was a better roster in 09 than 08, yet they did not play up to the same level. The 08 Detroit was better than the 09 Detroit when it came to how they actually played on the ice.

 

[Frozen Fiend]

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

Tell me, how does an enhanced roster give up 60 more goals? It is much much harder to repeat than simply win the Stanley Cup. I might add that the Wings had significant injuries... Lidstroms surgury, and Datsyuk being out 4 games made a huge difference.

I like the 97 Wings team. The Russian five was the second line. (if you can call it that lol)

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)

Solid list... I might move the 07 Ducks a bit higher, but I like your list a lot.

 

[Super Fadio Bro]

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

Because they won the cup compare to this year and the pens were better this year

 

[Professor Dangles]

Maybe I'm a bit biased but why isn't anyone showing the 07 Ducks any love?

Giguere and Bryz formed and amazing goaltending tandem. You had Scotty Neids, Chris Pronger, and Francois Beauchemin eating major minutes while the bottom 3 weren't too bad either. You had Macdonald Perry Selanne Getzlaf Penner up front as well as the lockdown line of Moen, Rob Neidermayer, and Pahlsson. George Parros ensured that the skiled players wouldnt be pushed around. I think that this is a VERY complete team and built for the playoffs.

 

[ContrarianGoaltender]

I think the 1989 Calgary Flames are getting majorly underrated. The Flames were always overshadowed by the Oilers, and had a tendency to choke in the first round, and as a result tend to get forgotten. But for one year Calgary really put it together. They were one of the top regular season teams of the decade, finishing first in the league, and then they went on a strong playoff run that culminated in the defeat of an outstanding 115 point Montreal team in the Final.

The '89 Flames had 117 points and a +128 goal differential. The best Edmonton Oilers team of the 1980s had 119 points and a +132 goal differential. Those are almost identical numbers. I imagine everybody would put any of those '80s Oiler teams at the top of the list, so why shouldn't Calgary be up near the top as well? I just don't see the logic for rating them behind a team like the '94 Rangers.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Maybe I'm a bit biased but why isn't anyone showing the 07 Ducks any love?

Giguere and Bryz formed and amazing goaltending tandem. You had Scotty Neids, Chris Pronger, and Francois Beauchemin eating major minutes while the bottom 3 weren't too bad either. You had Macdonald Perry Selanne Getzlaf Penner up front as well as the lockdown line of Moen, Rob Neidermayer, and Pahlsson. George Parros ensured that the skiled players wouldnt be pushed around. I think that this is a VERY complete team and built for the playoffs.

Their offense was pretty terrible for a Cup champion. Worst offense of any Cup winner since the 2003 Devils.

By the way, 1995 Devils > 2003 Devils. The 1995 team was basically the same team that took the Rangers to Game 7 OT in 1994, while being one of the highest scoring teams in the league. They had amazing depth in every position. They had a bit of a Cup run hangover to start the year, and Scott Stevens took about 20 games to get used to his new role. Basically, they slumped for the first 20 games of the season, which affected their seed more than it normally would have due to the lockout. Once they got into the playoffs, they went 16-4 and swept the finals. Compare to the 2003 team, full of over the hill players and lacking depth (Mike Rupp was filled in as first line center once Nieuwendyk got injured!), who faced incredibly weak competition in the first two rounds, before needing two Game 7s to win the last two rounds.

 

[jor]

as I mentioned, they were still up 2-0 in the Final & managed to choke.....& the injury card is way overplayed. Everyone is injured come playoff time....

The Pens played good and earned the win but to say injuries don't matter and that they choked is a bit off, imo.

Lidstrom- Surgery down there
Rafalski- Herniated Disk
Datsyuk- didn't even play the first 4 games
Zetterberg- wrist
Holmstrom- Hamstring and missed games in the Finals.
Ericsson- emergency appendectomy
Cleary- Pulled groin

Like I said, I'm not trying to take anything away from Pittsburgh since they won and it's over but to say the Wings choked is silly. I agree, every team has players playing with injuries and that's the way it goe and too bad. Most injuries like Zetterberg's wrist are common but herniated disks and emergency surgeries like Lidstrom's and Ericsson's are beyond that. Only Zetterberg would have still been playing if it were the regular season.

If Pittsburgh didn't have Malkin or Crosby for the 1st 4 games of the series and their 2 best dmen hurt as bad as they were and lost I would say too bad Wings won deal with it but I wouldn't say the Pens choked by any means. I would actually be impressed that the Pens took it to 7 games without one of the top players in the NHL and top 2 dman.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

I think the 1989 Calgary Flames are getting majorly underrated. The Flames were always overshadowed by the Oilers, and had a tendency to choke in the first round, and as a result tend to get forgotten. But for one year Calgary really put it together. They were one of the top regular season teams of the decade, finishing first in the league, and then they went on a strong playoff run that culminated in the defeat of an outstanding 115 point Montreal team in the Final.

The '89 Flames had 117 points and a +128 goal differential. The best Edmonton Oilers team of the 1980s had 119 points and a +132 goal differential. Those are almost identical numbers. I imagine everybody would put any of those '80s Oiler teams at the top of the list, so why shouldn't Calgary be up near the top as well? I just don't see the logic for rating them behind a team like the '94 Rangers.

agreed. those flames were phenomenal. they were close to (but not quite as good as) the first two pittsburgh teams.

1. Colorado 2001 (maybe weren't as deep as some other teams, but unparalleled top end talent-- roy, sakic, forsberg, blake, bourque, foote, plus hejduk, drury, and tanguay)
2. Detroit 1997 (very close to the 2001 avs, but vernon's brilliance was overstated. superior top to bottom depth doesn't overcome the deficit in goal)
New Jersey 2000
Detroit 2002
Pittsburgh 1992
Colorado 1996
Pittsburgh 1991
Calgary 1989
Detroit 1998

big drop off here. i don't think any team below this line would stand much of a chance against the stacked teams above.

Montreal 1993 (without roy they would be at the bottom of the list, but without him they also don't come out of the first round)
NY Rangers 1994
Detroit 2008

another drop here. now we get into two elite guys, a hot goalie/secondary scorer, and grinders playing out of their minds territory.

Pittsburgh 2009 (crosby, malkin, hot fleury, depth players stepping up)
Edmonton 1990 (messier, very good kurri, hot ranford and simpson, loads of playoff experience, kid line)
New Jersey 1995 (stevens, brodeur, hot lemieux, great system and depth)
Anaheim 2007 (niedermayer, pronger, hot giguere, shut down line)
Dallas 1999 (modano, belfour, hot nieuwendyk, deep d and experienced defensive vets)

and another drop here. i doubt these teams make the final four in many years, but they benefited from seasons when talent was pretty evenly distributed and most top teams had flaws that were exposed.

New Jersey 2003 (niedermayer playing out of his mind, brodeur, grinders unexpectedly putting up points)
Tampa Bay 2004 (richards playing out of his mind, st. louis, hot khabi)
Carolina 2006 (i still don't know how this happened)

 

[CC Chiefs*]

agreed. those flames were phenomenal. they were close to (but not quite as good as) the first two pittsburgh teams.

1. Colorado 2001 (maybe weren't as deep as some other teams, but unparalleled top end talent-- roy, sakic, forsberg, blake, bourque, foote, plus hejduk, drury, and tanguay)
2. Detroit 1997 (very close to the 2001 avs, but vernon's brilliance was overstated. superior top to bottom depth doesn't overcome the deficit in goal)
New Jersey 2000
Detroit 2002
Pittsburgh 1992
Colorado 1996
Pittsburgh 1991
Calgary 1989
Detroit 1998

big drop off here. i don't think any team below this line would stand much of a chance against the stacked teams above.

Montreal 1993 (without roy they would be at the bottom of the list, but without him they also don't come out of the first round)
NY Rangers 1994
Detroit 2008

another drop here. now we get into two elite guys, a hot goalie/secondary scorer, and grinders playing out of their minds territory.

Pittsburgh 2009 (crosby, malkin, hot fleury, depth players stepping up)
Edmonton 1990 (messier, very good kurri, hot ranford and simpson, loads of playoff experience, kid line)
New Jersey 1995 (stevens, brodeur, hot lemieux, great system and depth)
Anaheim 2007 (niedermayer, pronger, hot giguere, shut down line)
Dallas 1999 (modano, belfour, hot nieuwendyk, deep d and experienced defensive vets)

and another drop here. i doubt these teams make the final four in many years, but they benefited from seasons when talent was pretty evenly distributed and most top teams had flaws that were exposed.

New Jersey 2003 (niedermayer playing out of his mind, brodeur, grinders unexpectedly putting up points)
Tampa Bay 2004 (richards playing out of his mind, st. louis, hot khabi)
Carolina 2006 (i still don't know how this happened)

Is that the same Mike Vernon who was awarded the Conn Smythe? In 1997 there were at least 4 or 5 players that Vernon beat out.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

It that the same Mike Vernon who was awarded the Conn Smythe? In 1997 there were at least 4 or 5 players that Vernon beat out.

yes, the conn smythe is what i mean by overstating his brilliance. not to denigrate vernon's post-season, but i think he got more credit than he deserved that spring. yeah he was good, but i would put feds, vlady, and yzerman ahead of him. and, for the record, by "deficit in goal," i only mean in comparison to the 2001 avs and roy.

 

[panorama01*]

The 2002 Red Wings were not that great. The HOFs mentioned were all around 35 years old or more. They traded away the excellent and younger Vyacheslav Kozlov to get Hasek and replaced Kozlov with Robitaille and Hull. The plan was to get the best goalie of all time, albeit an aging one, and add aging players to put this aging team over the top. I also think that the 1996 Avalanche were better than the 2001 model. The 1993 Canadiens are underrated. They had Schneider and Desjardins on defence. The reason why that team did nothing afterwards is because Muller and Bellows stopped scoring not long after, the young players that came up during that run disappointed, and they started making frenzied moves that took the team apart to compensate.

 

[DRL]

When comparing the 01 Avs and 02 Wings, the 02 Avs almost defeated the 02 Wings and the 02 Avs were no where near as good as the previous year.

Gone from 01 team: Bourque, Klemm, Dingman, Nieminen, Podein and Reid.
Replaced with: Kasparitis, Muir, Keane, Willsie, Vrbata and Larsen.

Losing that experience was huge and its probably a main reason that 02 team collapsed in games 6&7.

 

[Bougieman]

1. 1989 Flames
2. 2002 Detroit
3. 1992 Penguins
4. 2000 New Jersey
5. 1997 Detroit
6. 1991 Penguins
7. 1996 Avalanche
8. 1990 Oilers
9. 1994 Rangers
10. 1998 Detroit

 

[NewtJorden]

1-Red Wings 2002
2-Avalanche 2001
3-Penguins 1992
4-Rangers 1994
5-Penguins 1991
6-Red Wings 1997
7-Red Wings 1998
8-Devils 2000
9-Avalanche 1996
10-Flame 1989
11-Red Wings 2008
12-Stars 1999
13-Ducks 2007
14-Oilers 1990
15-Penguins 2009
16-Lightning 2004
17-Devils 1995
18-Devils 2003
19-Hurricanes 2006
20-Canadiens 1993

 

[Paul4587]

Their offense was pretty terrible for a Cup champion. Worst offense of any Cup winner since the 2003 Devils.

The Ducks offense scored 254 goals the year they won the cup, 9 more than Tampa the year they won, 2 more than Detroit scored in 2008 and 6 less than the Pens scored this year. That's Far from terrible, if anything it's the most underated offense to win the cup in recent history.

 

[solo16]

The 2002 Red Wings were not that great. The HOFs mentioned were all around 35 years old or more. They traded away the excellent and younger Vyacheslav Kozlov to get Hasek and replaced Kozlov with Robitaille and Hull. The plan was to get the best goalie of all time, albeit an aging one, and add aging players to put this aging team over the top. I also think that the 1996 Avalanche were better than the 2001 model. The 1993 Canadiens are underrated. They had Schneider and Desjardins on defence. The reason why that team did nothing afterwards is because Muller and Bellows stopped scoring not long after, the young players that came up during that run disappointed, and they started making frenzied moves that took the team apart to compensate.

I personally agree

2008 Red wings were imo a better team than 2002 redwings. 2002 Redwings only stood out to me on paper and in goal. 2008 was more complete and more consistent.

 

[Master_Of_Districts]

1. 1989 Flames

…

15. 1999 Stars
16. 2003 Devils
17. 2004 Lightning
18. 1990 Oilers
19. 1993 Canadiens
20. 2006 Hurricanes

There’s too little to choose between the other 13 teams, in my opinion.

 

[CC Chiefs*]

1. 1989 Flames
…

15. 1999 Stars
16. 2003 Devils
17. 2004 Lightning
18. 1990 Oilers
19. 1993 Canadiens
20. 2006 Hurricanes

There’s too little to choose between the other 13 teams, in my opinion.

Has to be a HOMER pick.

 

[ContrarianGoaltender]

I think a pretty good sign of dominance is how much a team outscores the opposition at even strength. It seems like many fans tend to remember great power plays because of their star power (e.g. '91 and '92 Penguins, '94 Rangers), but teams usually win or lose at 5 on 5 and that takes a full team effort at both ends of the ice.

Even Strength Goal Differential:

1. 1989 Flames: +103
2. 1996 Avalanche: +72
3. 2001 Avalanche: +57
4. 2008 Red Wings: +51
5. 1993 Canadiens: +49
6. 2003 Devils: +43
7. 2002 Red Wings: +37
8. 1995 Devils: +36*
9. 1998 Red Wings: +35
10. 1999 Stars: +35
11. 1997 Red Wings: +34
12. 2000 Devils: +32
13. 2009 Penguins: +29
13. 2004 Lightning: +29
15. 1994 Rangers: +24
16. 2007 Ducks: +22
17. 1991 Penguins: +21
18. 1992 Penguins: +18
19. 2006 Hurricanes: +16
20. 1990 Oilers: +14

(*-Pro-rated to 82 game schedule)

My own rankings would be fairly similar, I'd make some tweaks like move the '91 and '92 Penguins teams up a fair bit, but I'd say that's not too far off.

The '93 Habs and the '03 Devils were two underrated teams that had strong two-way forwards and were great at 5 on 5.

 

[Rob Nieds work ethic]

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)

Great list. I like it alot.

 

[JaymzB]

Has to be a HOMER pick.

No way. I’d pit that TEAM against any others here. Let’s not forget that team played in a very tough division (the Smythe probably had 3 of the top 4 teams that year), and dominated the regular season. After a big scare against Vancouver, they walked over LA and Chicago. Then defeated an excellent Habs team in the finals.

While they may not have had quite the star power of others, this team was easily the deepest in the last 20 years. I’d argue they had the best forward group of this entire field.

 

[CC Chiefs*]

I think a pretty good sign of dominance is how much a team outscores the opposition at even strength. It seems like many fans tend to remember great power plays because of their star power (e.g. '91 and '92 Penguins, '94 Rangers), but teams usually win or lose at 5 on 5 and that takes a full team effort at both ends of the ice.

Even Strength Goal Differential:

1. 1989 Flames: +103
2. 1996 Avalanche: +72
3. 2001 Avalanche: +57
4. 2008 Red Wings: +51
5. 1993 Canadiens: +49
6. 2003 Devils: +43
7. 2002 Red Wings: +37
8. 1995 Devils: +36*
9. 1998 Red Wings: +35
10. 1999 Stars: +35
11. 1997 Red Wings: +34
12. 2000 Devils: +32
13. 2009 Penguins: +29
13. 2004 Lightning: +29
15. 1994 Rangers: +24
16. 2007 Ducks: +22
17. 1991 Penguins: +21
18. 1992 Penguins: +18
19. 2006 Hurricanes: +16
20. 1990 Oilers: +14

(*-Pro-rated to 82 game schedule)

My own rankings would be fairly similar, I'd make some tweaks like move the '91 and '92 Penguins teams up a fair bit, but I'd say that's not too far off.

The '93 Habs and the '03 Devils were two underrated teams that had strong two-way forwards and were great at 5 on 5.

I think winning % is more important if you're going to use stats and may be a better look:

1. 1997 Red Wings: 16-4 .800
2. 1993 Canadiens: 16-4 .800
3. 1995 Devils: 16-4 .800

4. 2007 Ducks: 16-5 .761

5. 1996 Avalanche: 16-6 .727
6. 2008 Red Wings: 16-6 .727
7. 1998 Red Wings: 16-6 .727
8. 1992 Penguins: 16-6 .727

9. 1989 Flames: 16-7 .695
10. 2002 Red Wings: 16-7 .695
11. 2000 Devils: 16-7 .695
12. 1994 Rangers: 16-7 .695
13. 2001 Avalanche: 16-7 .695
14. 1999 Stars: 16-7 .695
15. 2004 Lightning: 16-7 .695
16. 1990 Oilers: 16-7 .695

17. 2003 Devils: 16-8 .667
18. 1991 Penguins: 16-8 .667
19. 2009 Penguins: 16-8 .667

20. Hurricanes: 16-9 .640

 

[member 51464]

I think a pretty good sign of dominance is how much a team outscores the opposition at even strength. It seems like many fans tend to remember great power plays because of their star power (e.g. '91 and '92 Penguins, '94 Rangers), but teams usually win or lose at 5 on 5 and that takes a full team effort at both ends of the ice.

Even Strength Goal Differential:

1. 1989 Flames: +103
2. 1996 Avalanche: +72
3. 2001 Avalanche: +57
4. 2008 Red Wings: +51
5. 1993 Canadiens: +49
6. 2003 Devils: +43
7. 2002 Red Wings: +37
8. 1995 Devils: +36*
9. 1998 Red Wings: +35
10. 1999 Stars: +35
11. 1997 Red Wings: +34
12. 2000 Devils: +32
13. 2009 Penguins: +29
13. 2004 Lightning: +29
15. 1994 Rangers: +24
16. 2007 Ducks: +22
17. 1991 Penguins: +21
18. 1992 Penguins: +18
19. 2006 Hurricanes: +16
20. 1990 Oilers: +14

(*-Pro-rated to 82 game schedule)

My own rankings would be fairly similar, I'd make some tweaks like move the '91 and '92 Penguins teams up a fair bit, but I'd say that's not too far off.

The '93 Habs and the '03 Devils were two underrated teams that had strong two-way forwards and were great at 5 on 5.

Do you also have their +/- just over the course of the playoffs?