Best team to not win the Stanley Cup

[The90]

22-23 ottawa senators 100%

 

[innitfam]

1996 Wings and 1971 Bruins

For more modern era, 2011 Canucks, 2009 Sharks, 2006 Sens, 2019 Bolts

 

[Rodgerwilco]

From what I've heard the 1993 Penguins team was supposed to be even better than the '91 and '92 teams that won the b2b cups. They had significantly better records than each of the previous cup winning seasons (won the only President's trophy in team history) and reportedly much better rosters.

That was way before my time though

 

[The90]

Judging by how Leafs fans talked about their loss to Tampa, gotta be the 2021-22 Maple Leafs.

 

[Flair Hay]

The 2011 Canucks we're 1st in GF and 1st in GA. 1st in PP% and 1st in PK%. Three HHOFs plus a Selke winning 2nd line centre who could score 30 goals all in their primes.

They were screwed by the league and the referees.

They got damn close but it is what it is. Better off blaming injuries than the league or refs though lol

 

[CupofOil]

'86 Oilers, '96 Red Wings stand out to me.

 

[Lt Dan]

The 2011 Canucks we're 1st in GF and 1st in GA. 1st in PP% and 1st in PK%. Three HHOFs plus a Selke winning 2nd line centre who could score 30 goals all in their primes.

They were screwed by the league and the referees.

They lost to a better team... who went back to the SCF in 2013

 

[WarriorofTime]

My vote is the '96 Red Wings (right before they won back to back Cups). That one might have actually been their best iteration. They lost to a GREAT Avalanche team that swept Florida in the Finals.

 

[Hivemind]

1996 Wings and 1971 Bruins

For more modern Era, 2011 Canucks, 2009 Sharks, 2006 Sens, 2019 Bolts

2010 Capitals were better than either the 2009 Sharks or 2011 Canucks.

2009 Sharks - 117 Points +53 goal differential
2010 Capitals - 121 Points +85 goal differential
2011 Canucks - 111 Points +51 goal differential

Both Ovechkin and Backstrom were over 100 points, with Semin breaking 40 goals, and Mike Green over a point/game as a defenseman (and his Norris snubs paved the way for Karlsson's Norris wins later on). Seven different players with 20+ goals (and Green at 19goals).

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

The 2011 Canucks we're 1st in GF and 1st in GA. 1st in PP% and 1st in PK%. Three HHOFs plus a Selke winning 2nd line centre who could score 30 goals all in their primes.

They were screwed by the league and the referees.

...nope, they beat themselves as much as Boston beat them...

 

[sycamore]

1996 Wings and 1971 Bruins

For more modern Era, 2011 Canucks, 2009 Sharks, 2006 Sens, 2019 Bolts

The 1996 Wings are a good one. A well oiled machine that just got stone-walled by Martin Brodeur.

As a Caps fan, just thinking about the 2017 Capitals team gets me angry. They may have been all-star quality on paper, but they had the hearts of 85 year old grandmas. They couldn't beat a Penguins team without Kris Letang, without Matt Murray, and with Crosby day to day with concussion issues. Had the Caps not won in 2018, I might have rage-quit hockey for good after 2017.

 

[Josepho]

Probably the 2019 Lightning.

 

[Dread Clawz]

2011 Canucks
1990 Bruins
1987 Flyers
1984 Isles
1986 Oilers
1988 Flames

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

1986 Oilers

...imo, this is always the right answer...at least in the Modern Era...

 

[strattonius]

Christ 2 threads last 2 days where I have to re-live the horrors of 2011.

Let us rest in peace on it alright.

 

[innitfam]

2010 Capitals were better than either the 2009 Sharks or 2011 Canucks.

2009 Sharks - 117 Points +53 goal differential
2010 Capitals - 121 Points +85 goal differential
2011 Canucks - 111 Points +51 goal differential

Both Ovechkin and Backstrom were over 100 points, with Semin breaking 40 goals, and Mike Green over a point/game as a defenseman (and his Norris snubs paved the way for Karlsson's Norris wins later on). Seven different players with 20+ goals (and Green at 19goals).

Sure, throw the Caps in the mix too. I believe the 11 Canucks had 117 points though.

 

[WarriorofTime]

2010 Capitals were better than either the 2009 Sharks or 2011 Canucks.

2009 Sharks - 117 Points +53 goal differential
2010 Capitals - 121 Points +85 goal differential
2011 Canucks - 111 Points +51 goal differential

Both Ovechkin and Backstrom were over 100 points, with Semin breaking 40 goals, and Mike Green over a point/game as a defenseman (and his Norris snubs paved the way for Karlsson's Norris wins later on). Seven different players with 20+ goals (and Green at 19goals).

2010 Washington played in a really easy division though

 

[Bolduc of Hazzard]

From what I've heard the 1993 Penguins team was supposed to be even better than the '91 and '92 teams that won the b2b cups. They had significantly better records than each of the previous cup winning seasons (won the only President's cup in team history) and reportedly much better rosters.

That was way before my time though

So the 91 and 92 teams were great offensively but poor defensively. The 93 team was great at both. A big part of it was the 92 near deadline trade of Recchi, Benning, and a 1st for Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson, Wregget, and a 3rd. Also was Paul Coffey being sent to LA to play with Gretzky.

Adding defenceman Kjell Samuelsson and backup goalie Ken Wregget helped solidify the defence. Recchi was great but he was a defensive liability when he was young compared to Tocchet. Samuelsson replaced Paul Coffey in the lineup essentially and while he wasn't the offensive player Coffey was, he certainly didn't allow as many goals on the ice.

So yes, the 93 Penguins were a great team at both ends of the ice unlike the 91 and 92 teams. It felt like a forgone conclusion they were winning the Cup in 93. Then they ran into a New York Islanders without Pierre Turgeon for most of the series. Everyone bet against the Islanders. You will hear more hate than love for Darius Kasparaitis around here I'm sure but in that rookie season he played like every rookie should: fearless and refusing to bow to legends. I loved that series.

But anyway, yes. The Penguins in 93 were better rounded than the 91 and 92 teams.

 

[JianYang]

The 1996 Wings are a good one. A well oiled machine that just got stone-walled by Martin Brodeur.

As a Caps fan, just thinking about the 2017 Capitals team gets me angry. They may have been all-star quality on paper, but they had the hearts of 85 year old grandmas. They couldn't beat a Penguins team without Kris Letang, without Matt Murray, and with Crosby day to day with concussion issues. Had the Caps not won in 2018, I might have rage-quit hockey for good after 2017.

96 wings lost to the Avalanche.

You might be thinking of the 95 wings, but they weren't really close even though they made the finals. They got swept.

 

[Goon42]

2011 canucks ANIEC

 

[Thorton02]

2005-2006 Sabres. The following year they were more successful in the regular season, but that '05 team was a monster until they had to trot Jeff Jillson & Rory Fitzpatrick out there in game 7.

 

[Hivemind]

2010 Washington played in a really easy division though

They beat up on the entire league, though. The only teams they didn't have great records against were New Jersey and a couple Western Conference teams they played only once during the regular season. They were 3-1-0 against Buffalo (1st Northeast), 3-0-1 against Ottawa (2nd Northeast), 3-0-1 against Boston (3rd Northeast), 4-0 against Pittsburgh (2nd Atlantic), and 3-0-1 against Philadelphia (3rd Atlantic).

 

[JeffreyLFC]

What was the Colorado team with Kariya and Selanne?

 

[BLNY]

BarDown posted this on their socials and got me thinking



Who are some candidates for this title?

11 Canucks?
16 Capitals?
06 Sens ?
09 Sharks?
95 Redwings?

What say you?

EDIT: 95 Redwings, my bad ;0

1986 Oilers. Lead the league in points by 9. Gretzky set the record for points at 215. His 163 assists were more 22 more than Lemieux's point total in 2nd place. They really should have won 5 in a row from 84-88.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Either the 2014 or 2015 Rangers. Those teams were loaded, and Hank was playing out of his damn mind. Unfortunately, they ran into the inferno that was the LA Kings in '14, and just ran out of gas in the Final. The 2015 team should have beaten Tampa in the ECF, but crapped the bed in games 6 & 7. I'm convinced they would have beaten Chicago for the Cup that year had they advanced.

The 14 Rangers had like 96 points, iirc. They were not loaded, they overachieved and never were a threat to win the cup.