Top NHL teams by Decade

[GreatGonzo]

I decided to make a list of the top 5 teams in each decade from 1960-2010. I was curious about which teams were the most "elite" at their times and in different eras, so i put together a top 5 list for each decade. The list is based off of regular season and playoff performances. I would like to get feedback on what you guys think.

1960-1969
1. Montreal Canadiens
Division Titles: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969
1st In League/East: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969
-2nd: 1965, 1967
Stanley Cup Champs: 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969
-Finalist: 1967
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
1st in League/East: 1963
-2nd: 1960, 1961, 1962
Stanley Cup Champs: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967
-Finalist: 1960
3. Chicago Black Hawks
Division Titles: 1967
1st in Conference: 1968
Stanley Cup Champs: 1961
-Finalist: 1962, 1965
4. Detroit Red Wings
Division Titles: 1965
1st in League/West: 1965
Stanley Cup Finalist: 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966
5. St. Louis Blues
Division Titles: 1969
1st in League/West: 1969
1st In Conference: 1968
Stanley Cup Finalist: 1968, 1969

1970-1979
1. Montreal Canadiens
Division Titles: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
1st in East: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
-2nd: 1974
1st in Conference: 1971
Stanley Cup Champs: 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
2. Boston Bruins
Division Titles: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
1st in East: 1971, 1972, 1974
-2nd: 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
1st in Conference: 1970
Stanley Cup Champs: 1970, 1972
-Finalist: 1974, 1977, 1978
3. Philadelphia Flyers
Division Titles: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
1st in West: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
-2nd: 1973, 1978, 1979
Stanley Cup Champs: 1974, 1975
-Finalist: 1976
4. Chicago Black Hawks
Division Titles: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979
1st in West: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
-2nd: 1974
Stanley Cup Finals: 1971, 1973
5. New York Rangers
2nd in East: 1971, 1972, 1975
Conference Finalist: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979
Stanley Cup Finals: 1979

Honorably Mentioned: New York Islanders

1980-1989
1. Edmonton Oilers
Division Titles: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
President's Trophy: 1986, 1987
1st in West: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
-2nd: 1988
Stanley Cup Champs: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988
-Finalist: 1983

2. New York Islanders
Division Titles: 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988
1st in East: 1981, 1982
-2nd: 1980, 1984
Conference Finalist: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
Stanley Cup Champs: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
-Finalist: 1984

3. Montreal Canadiens
Division Titles: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1989
1st in East: 1981, 1988, 1989
-2nd: 1980, 1982, 1984
Conference Finalist: 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989
Stanley Cup Champs: 1986
-Finalist: 1989

4. Philadelphia Flyers
Division Titles: 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987
1st in East: 1980, 1985
-2nd: 1983, 1986, 1987
Conference Finalist: 1980, 1985, 1987, 1989
Stanley Cup Finalist: 1980, 1985, 1987

5. Calgary Flames
Division Titles: 1988, 1989
1st in West: 1988, 1989
-2nd: 1987
Conference Finalist: 1981, 1986, 1989
Stanley Cup Champs: 1989
-Finalist: 1986

Honorably Mentioned: Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks

1990-1999
1. Detroit Red Wings
Presidents Trophy: 1995, 1996
Division Titles: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
1st in West: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996
-2nd: 1998
Conference Finalist: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Stanley Cup Champs: 1997, 1998
-Finalist: 1995

2. Pittsburgh Penguins
Division Titles: 1991, 1993, 1996, 1998
Presidents Trophy: 1993
1st in East: 1993
-2nd: 1991, 1996, 1998
Conference Finalist: 1991, 1992, 1996
Stanley Cup Champs: 1991, 1992

3. Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche
Division Titles: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Presidents Trophy: 1997
1st in West: 1997
-2nd: 1996, 1998
1st in East: 1995
Conference Finalist: 1996, 1997, 1998
Stanley Cup Champs: 1996

4. New York Rangers
Division Titles: 1990, 1992, 1994
Presidents Trophy: 1992, 1994
1st in East: 1992, 1994
Conference Finalist: 1994, 1997
Stanley Cup Champs: 1994

5. Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars
Division Titles: 1997, 1998, 1999
Presidents Trophy: 1998, 1999
1st in West: 1998, 1999
-2nd: 1997
Conference Finalist: 1991, 1998, 1999
Stanley Cup Champs: 1999
-Finalist: 1991

Honorably Mentioned: New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks

2000-2010(This List was especially Hard)
1. Detroit Red Wings
Division Titles: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Presidents Trophy: 2002, 2006, 2008
1st in West: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
-2nd: 2001, 2003, 2009
Conference Finalist: 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009
Stanley Cup Champs: 2002, 2008
-Finalist: 2009

2. New Jersey Devils
Division Titles: 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
1st in East: 2001
-2nd: 2003, 2007
Conference Finalist: 2000, 2001, 2003
Stanley Cup Champs: 2000, 2003
-Finalist: 2001

3. Colorado Avalanche
Division Titles: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Presidents Trophy: 2001
1st in West: 2001
-2nd: 2002
Conference Finalist: 2000, 2001, 2002
Stanley Cup Champs: 2001

4. Dallas Stars
Division Titles: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006
1st in West: 2003
-2nd: 2000, 2006
Conference Finalist: 2000, 2008
Stanley Cup Finalist: 2000

5. Ottawa Senators
Division Titles: 2000, 2003, 2006
1st in East: 2003, 2006
-2nd: 2001
Conference Finalist: 2003, 2007
Stanley Cup Finalist: 2007

Honorably Mentioned: Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Duck, San Jose Sharks


This list is strictly my opinion but i would like to see what you guys have to say about it.

Click to read more...

 

[Killion]

Statistically accurate & interesting to see it laid out like that.. How come nothing earlier (50-59, 40-49 etc)?....

 

[JaymzB]

Good list, though I'd probably have Calgary above Boston in the 80's

 

[plusandminus]

... Lots of interesting...

Just having written about Forsberg's "main career" being 1995-2004, and of course also otherwise, I think the decade thing is so dependent on which year things started and ended. Your list is good. If you get the time, you are welcome to do a list for all 10 year periods too, like:
2002-2011, 2001-2010, 2000-2009, 1999-2008 and so on.
Then you could rank them again to see which team had the best 10 year period ever.
Then continue with 9 year periods, 8, 7, ..., 3, 11, 12...
I think it would be interesting. I have actually thought of doing it for players, regarding pts, goals, assists, +/-.


Edit: It would have been interesting to also see the teams regular season finishes overal. Like 1/28, 4/30, 3/30, etc..


This post is not meant to criticize you in any way. Talking decades is natural.

 

[Hoser]

Pretty hard to take a list of the best teams in the '80s seriously when the Bruins (who were conference finalists twice, made it to the finals once, and lost) make the top 5 and the Flames (who were conference finalists three times, made it to the finals twice, and won) don't.

 

[reckoning]

1970-1979
1. Montreal Canadiens
Division Titles: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
1st in East: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
-2nd: 1974
1st in Conference: 1971
Stanley Cup Champs: 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
2. Boston Bruins
Division Titles: 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
1st in East: 1971, 1972, 1974
-2nd: 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
1st in Conference: 1970
Stanley Cup Champs: 1970, 1972
-Finalist: 1974, 1977, 1978
3. Philadelphia Flyers
Division Titles: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
1st in West: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
-2nd: 1973, 1978, 1979
Stanley Cup Champs: 1974, 1975
-Finalist: 1976
4. Chicago Black Hawks
Division Titles: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979
1st in West: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
-2nd: 1974
Stanley Cup Finals: 1971, 1973
5. New York Rangers
2nd in East: 1971, 1972, 1975
Conference Finalist: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979
Stanley Cup Finals: 1979

Honorably Mentioned: St. Louis Blues

Interesting list, but I don't understand why St. Louis gets an honourable mention. They made the Final in 1970, but that was the joke playoff system where all the expansion teams played each other so one of them was guaranteed a spot in the Final. For the other nine years in the decade, they only won one playoff series and were over .500 in the regular season just twice.

Buffalo or the Islanders would've been better choices. While all their success was concentrated in the last half of the decade, it still outnumbers what the Blues accomplished. I'd argue that Toronto, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh were also better than St. Louis in the 70s.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

I decided to make a list of the top 5 teams in each decade from 1960-2010. I was curious about which teams were the most "elite" at their times and in different eras, so i put together a top 5 list for each decade. The list is based off of regular season and playoff performances. I would like to get feedback on what you guys think.

1960-1969
1. Montreal Canadiens
Division Titles: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969
1st In League/East: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969
-2nd: 1965, 1967
Stanley Cup Champs: 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969
-Finalist: 1967
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
1st in League/East: 1963
-2nd: 1960, 1961, 1962
Stanley Cup Champs: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967
-Finalist: 1960
3. Chicago Black Hawks
Division Titles: 1967
1st in Conference: 1968
Stanley Cup Champs: 1961
-Finalist: 1962, 1965
4. Detroit Red Wings
Division Titles: 1965
1st in League/West: 1965
Stanley Cup Finalist: 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966
5. St. Louis Blues
Division Titles: 1969
1st in League/West: 1969
1st In Conference: 1968
Stanley Cup Finalist: 1968, 1969

The St. Louis Blues didn't enter the NHL until the 1967-1968 season. IMO you can't call them the 5th best team of the decade if they only played two seasons. Also, the only reason they made the Finals is because they put all the expansion teams in the same Conference, they were no where close to the 2nd best team those years.

 

[Killion]

^ Exactly. But when one basis his assertions on statistics alone thats where you wind up. Vulcan logic my friend.

 

[Zil]

The Rangers made the finals in 1972 as well as 1979.

 

[pappyline]

The St. Louis Blues didn't enter the NHL until the 1967-1968 season. IMO you can't call them the 5th best team of the decade if they only played two seasons. Also, the only reason they made the Finals is because they put all the expansion teams in the same Conference, they were no where close to the 2nd best team those years.

Agree. St. louis does not belong here. Number 5 would probably be a tie between Rangers & Bruins. Maybe better to leave it at 4 as it was a 6 team league for most of the 60's.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Ok so, i get St. Louis shouldnt be up there, no need to be a broken record and repeat it over and over. Sorry, but i dont have the ability to edit my post so i cannot change it.

 

[Hardyvan123]

Good list, though I'd probably have Calgary above Boston in the 80's

That was my 1st thought as well.

Even though they had 2 losing seasons in the 1st 3 seasons of the decade the fact that they were up against the Oilers all the time is the only thing that kept this team from more than 1 Cup in the 80's

 

[plong123]

Ok so, i get St. Louis shouldnt be up there, no need to be a broken record and repeat it over and over. Sorry, but i dont have the ability to edit my post so i cannot change it.

Hey, relax! We appreciate your hard work. You've put together a wholly encompassing and comprehensive list. As you stated, these were your opinions. Others have their own. That's what we're here for, to talk this all over. The point of any thread like this is to learn something, and I certainly have.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Hey, relax! We appreciate your hard work. You've put together a wholly encompassing and comprehensive list. As you stated, these were your opinions. Others have their own. That's what we're here for, to talk this all over. The point of any thread like this is to learn something, and I certainly have.

Well i do appreciate that, i just do see how Calgary should be up their in the 80's and St. Louis as an HM. I seriously dont see why they arent top 5 and St. Louis is HM when i look back on it But i cant change it, so it gets a bit frustrated to see it said over and over.

 

[rocsfeather]

No homer but what do the Canes or the Sharks have over the Ducks with a division title and two cup finals appearances (losing in 7 and winning in 5)?

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

1928-1940 NY Rangers

Cup Finalists: 28, 29, 32, 33, 37, 40

Cup Champions: 28, 33, 40

 

[Infinite Vision*]

Just having written about Forsberg's "main career" being 1995-2004, and of course also otherwise, I think the decade thing is so dependent on which year things started and ended. Your list is good. If you get the time, you are welcome to do a list for all 10 year periods too, like:
2002-2011, 2001-2010, 2000-2009, 1999-2008 and so on.
Then you could rank them again to see which team had the best 10 year period ever.
Then continue with 9 year periods, 8, 7, ..., 3, 11, 12...
I think it would be interesting. I have actually thought of doing it for players, regarding pts, goals, assists, +/-.


Edit: It would have been interesting to also see the teams regular season finishes overal. Like 1/28, 4/30, 3/30, etc..


This post is not meant to criticize you in any way. Talking decades is natural.

I'd be interested in seeing that.

 

[GreatGonzo]

No homer but what do the Canes or the Sharks have over the Ducks with a division title and two cup finals appearances (losing in 7 and winning in 5)?

2000-2010 was an extremely hard list to make, especially for the Ducks case. But I do agree that the Ducks should be over the Canes, But looking at this and doing more research, i realize that Ottawa should actually be named up there rather than the Canes.

Ducks
2000: Division: 5/5, West: 9/13
2001: Division: 5/5, West: 15/15
2002: Division: 5/5, West: 13/15
2003: Division: 2/5, West: 7/15, Stanley Cup Finalist
2004: Division: 4/5, West: 12/15
2006: Division: 3/5, West: 6/15, Conference Finalist
2007: Division: 1/5, West: 2/15, Stanley Cup Champs
2008: Division: 2/5, West: 4/15, Lost 1st round
2009: Division: 2/5, West: 8/13, Lost 2nd round
2010: Division: 4/5, West: 11/15

Hurricanes
2000: Division: 3/5, East: 9/15
2001: Division: 2/5, East: 8/15, Lost in 1st round
2002: Division: 1/5, East: 3/15, Stanley Cup Finalist
2003: Division: 5/5, East: 15/15
2004: Division: 3/5, East: 11/15
2006: Division: 1/5, East: 2/15, Stanley Cup Champs
2007: Division: 3/5, East: 11/15
2008: Division: 2/5, East: 9/15
2009: Division: 2/5, East: 6/15, Lost in Conference Finals
2010: Division: 3/5, East: 11/15

Senators
2000: Division: 2/5, East: 6/15, Lost 1st round
2001: Division: 1/5, East: 2/15, Lost 1st round
2002: Division: 3/5, East: 7/15, Lost in 2nd round
2003: Division: 1/5, East: 1/15, President's Trophy, Lost in Conference Finals
2004: Division: 3/5, East: 5/15, Lost in 2nd round
2006: Division: 1/5, East: 1/15, Lost in 2nd round
2007: Division: 2/5, East: 4/15, Stanley Cup Finalist
2008: Division: 2/5, East: 7/15, Lost in 1st round
2009: Division: 4/5, East: 11/15
2010: Division: 2/5, East: 5/15, Lost in 1st round