Why was Detroit

[SportsPhan8]

so bad in the 1996-97 regular season? They went 38-26-18, almost a 30% reduction in points from the previous year, when they set the single-season record for wins (62). They went from a dominant team the year before to a barely-above-average team in '97. And all their stars were healthy, too (Shanahan= 79 GP, Yzerman= 81 GP, Federov= 74 GP, Lidstrom= 79 GP).

I know they went on to sweep the Flyers in the Finals, and broke a 54-year Cup drought, but I was jc if anyone had any thoughts on their lack of success for most of the year- for debate's sake.

Click to read more...

 

[Skip2myBordyloo]

That's not exactly barely above average team, they finished 3rd in the conference and were 9 points ahead on the 4th place team. They placed 5th in the league overall.

 

[SportsPhan8]

That's not exactly barely above average team, they finished 3rd in the conference and were 9 points ahead on the 4th place team. They placed 5th in the league overall.

I meant above average as in having over 82 points, which they did

 

[SportsPhan8]

And just because you finish 3rd in a conference doesn't make you a great team. A lot of teams, when the conferences introduced three divisions, won their division with a point amount in the mid '80s.

 

[JackSlater]

Two things -

1. Having watched most Detroit games that year, and the year before, there is no question that Detroit coasted a bit throughout the season compared to the previous year. Detroit had been in the finals (and lost) in 1995, then dominated the 1996 regular season and regressed in the playoffs. This was a team that really only cared about the playoffs at this point.

2. Despite the above, Detroit was not "barely above average". Had a +56 goal differential while playing in probably the toughest division that year. Only two teams had a better goal differential in the NHL. For instance, Dallas (same division) finished with a +54 goal differential, but had ten more wins and ten more points. Finishing with 18 ties probably disguised how good Detroit was, even while coasting.

 

[Coily]

Is it the off-season already?

 

[dechire]

This recent trend of incomplete thread titles is very annoying

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Next time, don't make us click on the thread to find out "Why was Detroit".

Closed.