The Final Four - Last Four Cup Winners

[CalgaryFan1988]

First time in NHL history (I believe) that the 4 remaining teams are, in fact, the last 4 teams to win the cup.

LA - 2012
Boston - 2011
Chicago - 2010
Pittsburgh - 2009

So, what separates these teams from the rest of the pack? Drafting, management, coaching, luck?

I just think it shows how well these teams are put together, in a cap era.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

First time in NHL history (I believe) that the 4 remaining teams are, in fact, the last 4 teams to win the cup.

LA - 2012
Boston - 2011
Chicago - 2010
Pittsburgh - 2009

So, what separates these teams from the rest of the pack? Drafting, management, coaching, luck?

I just think it shows how well these teams are put together, in a cap era.

All the above.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by jar_e

All the above.

Agreed, except for maybe luck. Not much luck involved here, these four are clearly the best managed teams currently in the league imo.

They all deserve to be here, and we're in for a couple great series.

Unless of course you mean luck in the sense of Pittsburgh being able to draft Crosby; you could of course call that luck. The same with Chicago winning the Patrick Kane lottery (from the #5 spot), and the four being able to pick Doughty, Toews, Seguin, Malkin, etc for various reason. You could call that luck in a way as well I suppose.

[jayswin]

So how does this work, do we start at the bottom, so it's the Pens turn again? Or are they going to do it snake draft style and give the Kings back to back cups?

Man, the fans of these four teams are spoiled, expecially the Pens.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Agreed, except for maybe luck. Not much luck involved here, these four are clearly the best managed teams currently in the league imo.

They all deserve to be here, and we're in for a couple great series.

Unless of course you mean luck in the sense of Pittsburgh being able to draft Crosby; you could of course call that luck. The same with Chicago winning the Patrick Kane lottery (from the #5 spot), and the four being able to pick Doughty, Toews, Seguin, Malkin, etc for various reason. You could call that luck in a way as well I suppose.

I've just always believed that you need to be lucky to be good and good to be lucky. There's always an element out of control of any sort management or training, whether it be fate, or whatever you want to call it.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by jar_e

All the above.

I just find it strange though, that these teams can remain good, yet they are built so differently.

The "new NHL" is supposed to be about speed and offence. LA and Boston are bigger and all about defense, while Pittsburgh and Chicago are more the way the "new NHL" is supposed to be.

Yet they still seem to be here year after year. This should make for the best Conference finals in years.

[GirlySports]

It might be the first time this has ever happened in any sport anywhere.

Plus weren't these the 4 teams on Iggy's list? He must have known something

And finally, if the US can't get good ratings for the remainder of these playoffs, they should just pull the plug, Americans will never watch hockey if they can't watch this.

It has everything, best player in the world, the world champions, the presidents cup winners and the big bad bruins. 4 legitimate hockey markets. It'll be wild!

[zamler]

My money is still on LA, they have the ability to find ways to win better than any other team.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Plus weren't these the 4 teams on Iggy's list? He must have known something

So...Penguins are winning the Cup?

[dammage79]

I still think the Wings have the best system in the league, followed by these four teams.

[Erick Estrada]

Well it appears we are in for a treat as the last three series feature the best of the best which should make for some excellent hockey. Nice to see no underdog teams for once.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

I just find it strange though, that these teams can remain good, yet they are built so differently.

The "new NHL" is supposed to be about speed and offence. LA and Boston are bigger and all about defense, while Pittsburgh and Chicago are more the way the "new NHL" is supposed to be.

Yet they still seem to be here year after year. This should make for the best Conference finals in years.

I think the style of play is more a reflection of their coaches as all four of these teams are supremely talented top to bottom.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well it appears we are in for a treat as the last three series feature the best of the best which should make for some excellent hockey. Nice to see no underdog teams for once.

I think this is the first time in a long time there's no clear cut favorite going into the conference finals and its realistic all three rounds remaining go seven games.

[WCW Nitro]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

First time in NHL history (I believe) that the 4 remaining teams are, in fact, the last 4 teams to win the cup.

LA - 2012
Boston - 2011
Chicago - 2010
Pittsburgh - 2009

So, what separates these teams from the rest of the pack? Drafting, management, coaching, luck?

I just think it shows how well these teams are put together, in a cap era.

Crosby,Malkin, Kane, Toews, Doughty,Seguin-all relatively recent top 3 picks in the draft. Not saying that's all there is to building a winner, but it's a heck of a place to start.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by jar_e

I've just always believed that you need to be lucky to be good and good to be lucky. There's always an element out of control of any sort management or training, whether it be fate, or whatever you want to call it.

Unless you're one of those who believe the fix was in, luck played a huge part in a bottom feeder Pittsburgh winning the lottery to draft the player that almost everyone believed would be the best player in the game.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think the style of play is more a reflection of their coaches as all four of these teams are supremely talented top to bottom.

Definitely, I agree all 4 coaches match the team perfectly and vice-versa. Allows them to play to their strengths.

Very pumped that all these teams get to meet. Should make for 2 great series.

[GirlySports]

I do find it amusing we all like parity but having these 4 teams in the semifinals is a treat

[Ice]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well it appears we are in for a treat as the last three series feature the best of the best which should make for some excellent hockey. Nice to see no underdog teams for once.

Interesting, but weren't the Kings an underdog team last year? As long as there's good hockey being played I don't really care what the regular season standings looked like.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Ice

Interesting, but weren't the Kings an underdog team last year? As long as there's good hockey being played I don't really care what the regular season standings looked like.

MMM, I'd say the Kings were more of a trojan horse last year.

[moon]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Agreed, except for maybe luck. Not much luck involved here, these four are clearly the best managed teams currently in the league imo.

Well 3 of the 4 teams win 1 goal games in Game 7 to get here (2 in OT) so luck does have something to do with it but obviously drafting and smart management much bigger parts.

I think these 4 have the best combo of elite talent and depth.in all the arguments of 3 picks vs. MacKinnon it seems really both are needed to win.

All 4 also rely on lower drafted guys to be key parts which involves some luck as well.

Finally the 4th line on each team can okay against any line in the NHL without being totally screwed which helps big time and wouldn't be the case with Jackman-Begin-McGratton.