This discussion has been derailing different threads, so I thought I'd start a new one in hopes of keeping it mostly here.
Something similar to this graph was posted in a thread somewhere but I couldn't find it, did a google search and found this.
That....is not good. It's actually terrible. Abysmal. Pathetic. Embarrassing.
No wonder many Flames fans are so bitter, as post lock out the Iginla core didn't result in any playoff success, so we rebuilt and that was just fine and dandy. However, the rebuild has been going backwards for 2.5 seasons now and resulted in a missed playoffs this season.
The biggest key for me, is that in order to have playoff success and drastically increase your odds at winning a Cup, you first must build a contender.
Most of the teams that won a Cup were legit contenders at one point, and eventually broke through. The only one that didn't was San Jose.
Trying to push a bubble team into the playoffs and hoping for a miracle run is not smart. It may result in a cinderella run at some point, or even a series win or two here and there. But it is no way to conduct your business if the ultimate goal is to win a Cup.
Couple other points..
1. Oilers would be down there with us too, but their lucky run happened to come the 1st season after the lock out. Only one playoff series win since then.
2. Vegas already having as much as or more success than 14 NHL teams in just 4 seasons is pretty pathetic IMO. I get not wanting your expansion team to be a complete dumpster fire, but they shouldn't be a contender right of the bat either. Every other team has to build primarily through the entry draft, and it takes time. It should take time. I know some people don't agree with me on this, but it's my opinion.
3. LOL @ the Leafs. Sucks to be them in a division with Boston and TB all the time, but the one year they get away from that nightmare they blow a 3-1 series lead to a cinderella team anyways.