bobholly39
Registered User
- Mar 10, 2013
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6 teams make up the Stanley Cup finalists of the past 5 years (I left out Montreal from 2021, since they're not exactly a contender today).
All 6 teams are currently in "win now" mode - and you could argue among these 6 teams are some of the absolute top cup contenders heading into next season. And in some cases - you might argue their window is going to last a few years still.
Poll Question is - over the next 5 years - which of these 6 teams win at least 1 Stanley Cup?
Tampa Bay - In my opinion, strongest team/core of the cap era. Only team to make the finals 3x in a row, and also won back to back cups....but have since lost in round 1 2x in a row. Despite that - they're definitely still in "win now" mode - and have actually made some significant changes to team so far this off-season. Kucherov just had his best season yet - one of the best overall individual seasons of the cap era. Stamkos/Sergachev gone, Guentzel in, etc. Does Tampa Bay win at least 1 more cup in the next 5 years?
Florida Panthers - Current champions, and one of very few teams to make back to back finals in the cap era. They came very close to being the laughing stock of the league and get reverse swept in finals - but to their credit they won game 7 and are champions. Great team, built for playoffs. A lot of changes this off-season already though. Can this team win at least 1 more cup in the next 5 years?
Colorado Avalanche - MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanen...which team in the NHL boasts a better top 3? Maybe 1 or 2 if you try really hard, or maybe none. It's a hell of a core. All still young enough too. Maybe you think the team needs a bit more depth, maybe a better goalie...but with that core do they have what it takes to win at least 1 more cup in next 5 years?
Las Vegas Golden Knights - Oddly quiet at draft/UFA day. They lost in round 1 of playoffs this year - very disappointing for a cup champion, but Dallas is quite strong themselves. Las Vegas always seems to pull off amazing moves, be it trades, at TDL, or UFA signings, or 'creative LTIR usage', etc. Great team - with a hell of a playoff track record over past few years, including 1 cup. Do they have 1 more cup win in them in next 5 years?
Dallas Stars - One of 2 teams listed who hasn't won one yet with this core. A lot of people had them as favorites in the West this season. Super deep team, with lots of talent. They had a great playoff run this year, seemed to run out of steam a bit in round 3 vs Edmonton. I suspect a lot of people expect them to be among top contenders again going into next year. Do the Dallas Stars manage to win at least 1 Stanley cup in the next 5 years?
Edmonton Oilers - Connor McDavid had a hell of a playoff run, with 42 points and a conn smythe and breaking records. Bouchard had a hell of a playoff run, breaking records himself. Draisaitl started out great, he did slow down towards end - he was injured, how much of it was due to injury vs just being 'off' is anyone's guess. But that's one hell of a trio. They added some good players as UFA's too, seem primed to contend again. But Drai has 1 year left before UFA, and McDavid right behind him, so lots of question marks. Do the Oilers manage to win at least 1 cup in next 5 years?
All 6 teams are currently in "win now" mode - and you could argue among these 6 teams are some of the absolute top cup contenders heading into next season. And in some cases - you might argue their window is going to last a few years still.
Poll Question is - over the next 5 years - which of these 6 teams win at least 1 Stanley Cup?
Tampa Bay - In my opinion, strongest team/core of the cap era. Only team to make the finals 3x in a row, and also won back to back cups....but have since lost in round 1 2x in a row. Despite that - they're definitely still in "win now" mode - and have actually made some significant changes to team so far this off-season. Kucherov just had his best season yet - one of the best overall individual seasons of the cap era. Stamkos/Sergachev gone, Guentzel in, etc. Does Tampa Bay win at least 1 more cup in the next 5 years?
Florida Panthers - Current champions, and one of very few teams to make back to back finals in the cap era. They came very close to being the laughing stock of the league and get reverse swept in finals - but to their credit they won game 7 and are champions. Great team, built for playoffs. A lot of changes this off-season already though. Can this team win at least 1 more cup in the next 5 years?
Colorado Avalanche - MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanen...which team in the NHL boasts a better top 3? Maybe 1 or 2 if you try really hard, or maybe none. It's a hell of a core. All still young enough too. Maybe you think the team needs a bit more depth, maybe a better goalie...but with that core do they have what it takes to win at least 1 more cup in next 5 years?
Las Vegas Golden Knights - Oddly quiet at draft/UFA day. They lost in round 1 of playoffs this year - very disappointing for a cup champion, but Dallas is quite strong themselves. Las Vegas always seems to pull off amazing moves, be it trades, at TDL, or UFA signings, or 'creative LTIR usage', etc. Great team - with a hell of a playoff track record over past few years, including 1 cup. Do they have 1 more cup win in them in next 5 years?
Dallas Stars - One of 2 teams listed who hasn't won one yet with this core. A lot of people had them as favorites in the West this season. Super deep team, with lots of talent. They had a great playoff run this year, seemed to run out of steam a bit in round 3 vs Edmonton. I suspect a lot of people expect them to be among top contenders again going into next year. Do the Dallas Stars manage to win at least 1 Stanley cup in the next 5 years?
Edmonton Oilers - Connor McDavid had a hell of a playoff run, with 42 points and a conn smythe and breaking records. Bouchard had a hell of a playoff run, breaking records himself. Draisaitl started out great, he did slow down towards end - he was injured, how much of it was due to injury vs just being 'off' is anyone's guess. But that's one hell of a trio. They added some good players as UFA's too, seem primed to contend again. But Drai has 1 year left before UFA, and McDavid right behind him, so lots of question marks. Do the Oilers manage to win at least 1 cup in next 5 years?