[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

2007 Anaheim Ducks
2008 Detroit Red Wings
2009 Pittsburgh Penguins
2010 Chicago Blackhawks
2011 Boston Bruins
2012 Los Angeles Kings
2013 Chicago Blackhawks

Those are your elite teams of the last decade. Elite teams win Cups, good teams win games.

The Canucks while good, were only truly great in one season (2011). Then the playoff debacles the following two seasons prevented them from ever taking the step to being truly elite.

If you say the Canucks are elite, then you would also have to build a similar argument for the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres as elite. All have had decent playoff runs, Conference titles, and no cups since the lockout.

The Flames of the late 80s would have merited the designation of elite team even if they hadn't won the Cup in 89. I disagree you need to win a Cup to be elite. By those standards, there is only one elite team in the NHL in a given year, and the Pens have not been elite for the last four years. Which is nonsense.