Best Team to Never Win a Stanley Cup

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

2012-2013 Calgary Flames

I love it when people try hard to be funny and fail miserably.

[You Need a Thneed]

1997-2001 Calgary Flames - for obvious reasons.

[Enoch Root]

The Sabres of the 70s, led by Gilbert Perrault and the French connection line

[playmaker]

Flyers 95 - 98 without a doubt.

Lindros, Renberg, LeClair, Brind'Amour, Desjardins, Podein, Otto, Therien, Coffey, ...

Perhaps the only thing that stopped them from controlling the late 90s was the goalie (not sure about coaching either)

[bubbsy]

since the lockout, i'd have to say it's gotta be the sharks and the canucks. That year they won the president's trophy and went to the finals, they had an elite top line, strong secondary scoring, elite goaltending most of the time, and arguably a top 3 defence group. The lack of grit, pride and integrity eventually cost them in the finals which was fun to watch.

Also, just looking at the rosters on paper, gotta think the pens are a pretty disappointing group with the kind of roster core they had to build around. 3 top centers, 2 of which could be considered the best players in the league at any given time, with a relatively decent supporting cast, and only 1 cup (and one runner up) to show for it, yet plenty of playoff disappointment of late also.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

since the lockout, i'd have to say it's gotta be the sharks and the canucks. That year they won the president's trophy and went to the finals, they had an elite top line, strong secondary scoring, elite goaltending most of the time, and arguably a top 3 defence group. The lack of grit, pride and integrity eventually cost them in the finals which was fun to watch.

Also, just looking at the rosters on paper, gotta think the pens are a pretty disappointing group with the kind of roster core they had to build around. 3 top centers, 2 of which could be considered the best players in the league at any given time, with a relatively decent supporting cast, and only 1 cup (and one runner up) to show for it, yet plenty of playoff disappointment of late also.

If by 'fun' you mean one of the greatest things to witness as a Flames fan since our own run to the cup finals, albeit this time with a grand sense of joy to replace the terrible disappointment, then yeah, it sure was fun.

They really were one of the best teams in the last decade not to have a cup. They really pee'd the bed on that one. Loved every minute of it.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by strombad

If by 'fun' you mean one of the greatest things to witness as a Flames fan since our own run to the cup finals, albeit this time with a grand sense of joy to replace the terrible disappointment, then yeah, it sure was fun.

They really were one of the best teams in the last decade not to have a cup. They really pee'd the bed on that one. Loved every minute of it.

my avatar is dedicated to the joys of that stanley cup final result.

watching ur team's rival do well in the playoffs is painful to watch, but watching them lose in game 7 of the finals, more than makes up for it.

[troutman]

The Nordiques were very good just before they went to Denver, where they eventually did win the Cup.

[Canada 02]

Doug Gilmour led Leafs; specifically the '93 and '94 seasons

[transplant99]

The early 70's Blackhawks team broke my heart repeatedly as an avowed Montreal hater at the time.

Hull brothers, Mikita, Korroll, Angotti, Papin, Martin, Korab, Stapelton and of course Tony "O".

Just couldnt seal the deal when they got there though.

[CliffFletcher]

Keenan era Flyers (84'-87')

Points: 113, 110, 100.

Won division three years in a row.

Won conference twice.

Played in finals twice. Lost both times to one of the best teams ever to take the ice. Second finals appearance took Oilers to 7 games.

[Flashpoint]

The 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by playmaker

Flyers 95 - 98 without a doubt.

Lindros, Renberg, LeClair, Brind'Amour, Desjardins, Podein, Otto, Therien, Coffey, ...

Perhaps the only thing that stopped them from controlling the late 90s was the goalie (not sure about coaching either)

Only won their division once. Only won their Conference once. One finals appearance.

Not as good as 84'-87' Flyers.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Keenan era Flyers (84'-87')

Points: 113, 110, 100.

Won division three years in a row.

Won conference twice.

Played in finals twice. Lost both times to one of the best teams ever to take the ice. Second finals appearance took Oilers to 7 games.

Another very good team in pretty much the exact same time frame were the Washington Capitals. 3 straight 100+ point seasons too. Mike Gartner, Bobby Carpenter, Scott Stevens, Dave Christian...unfortunately they were in the same division as said Flyers, and the rest is history.

[powderjunkie]

The penguins since their last cup win...

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by devo22

one team I remember were the Flyers prior to the 2004 lockout. Recchi, Leclair, Desjardins, Primeau, Therien, Handzus, emerging youngsters like Gagne and Williams ... plus Lindros first and Roenick later. Lost twice in the Conference Finals, both in 7 games - they got really close in 04 vs Tampa ... I feel they should have fared better in the playoffs, especially when Hitchcock was behind the bench. Goaltending really wasn't that much of an issue at that time, Cechmanek and Esche were quite solid ... until they folded in the playoffs (at least Cechmanek did from what I remember).

Then the lockout came ... and with the new salary cap, they couldn't keep guys like Recchi, Roenick, Amonte and Leclair. They were still quite good though, with Forsberg and Knuble coming in.

Ugh, I was praying for them to beat TB in the '04 ECF, because of how crazy a Cgy/Phi Finals would've been. Both had a wild home atmosphere, both were tough as nails...would've been an absolute war. And I liked our odds against them better too. Such a shame..

[IamNotKenKing]

2004 Tampa Bay Lightning

Edit: Beaten to the punch. Should have read them all first...

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Another very good team in pretty much the exact same time frame were the Washington Capitals. 3 straight 100+ point seasons too. Mike Gartner, Bobby Carpenter, Scott Stevens, Dave Christian...unfortunately they were in the same division as said Flyers, and the rest is history.

Not to mention a young Larry Murphy, and Rod Langway coming off back-to-back Norris trophies. One of the best teams to never make the finals.

[Dion]

The 1970-71 Bruins... Upset in the first round by rookie Ken Dryden and the Canadiens.

They had a record of 57-14-7 and were the favourite to win the Cup that year. The team had 10 players with 20 or more goals with Phil Espositio setting a league record at the time with 76 goals in one season. Thier top 4 players had over a 100 points that season. They would rank as the best Bruins team ever assembled.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/l...000321971.html

[Cole436]

It's going to be unpopular, but the 2011 Canucks. They were one of the strongest teams I've ever seen watching hockey, from a 40 goal Kesler, Hart winning Sedins, to a Vezina caliber Luongo.
Watching that team fail was one of the happiest moments of my life.