Which NHL Dynasty is the Best All-Time?
There was a time in the NHL when the best teams in the league met in the Stanley Cup finals each season. It wasn’t uncommon to see one hockey club win three or four Stanley Cups in a row, or at the very least, several trophies over the course of a few seasons.
Since 1990, the concept of an NHL dynasty has changed as stringing together cup wins over the course a several years replaced the previous idea of a consistent year after year winner. NHL fans are anticipating the return of the league and the Stanley Cup playoffs. Fans can get a bet bonus from this offer to wager on the Stanley Cup playoffs when the puck drops.
So, which NHL dynasty is the best of all-time? It is a difficult question to answer as there were so many great team dynasties over the years.
5. Detroit Red Wings – 1996-2002
NHL fans are split on whether it was more difficult to build a dynasty before or after 1990. Expansion certainly diluted the talent pool that existed in the 1980s as teams have struggled to put together long-term super power teams due to the salary cap. The Detroit Red Wings of the late 1990s and early 2000s were the closest any team has come to a strong dynasty in recent years. The Red Wings won three cups in six years and fought against archrival (of the time) the Colorado Avalanche each season to in the cup. NHL fans hope the NHL Stanley Cup 2020 finals will be as exciting as last season’s seven-game series. Hockey fans can visit this website to get a Stanley Cup bet bonus before wagering on the games.
4. Montreal Canadiens – 1952-1960
The Montreal Canadiens of the 1950s dominated the Original Six. Due to there being just six teams in the league, the level of quality teams competed against each night was incredibly high. Although the playoffs were two rounds, the Canadiens of the 1950s had to overcome talented teams in the semifinals and finals to lift the cup. The Habs’ dynasty is even more impressive when considering they appeared in the Stanley Cup finals two seasons in a row prior to their 1953 cup win.
3. New York Islanders – 1980-1983
The New York Islanders entered the NHL in 1972 and lived in the New York Rangers’ shadow until the early 1980s when they secured four Stanley Cups in a row. They passed the torch to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 Stanley Cup finals which ended their 19 straight playoff series wins. Since those salad days, the Islanders have failed to replicate that success.
2. Edmonton Oilers – 1983-1990
The Edmonton Oilers team of the 1980s is considered the last great dynasty in the NHL. Due to expansion, rule changes, and other tweaks, the league would change in the early 1990s making it difficult for teams to retain the cup. Led by Wayne Gretzky and surrounded by greats such as Mark Messier and Grant Fuhr, the Oilers won five Stanley Cups in seven seasons with an incredible amount of star power on the ice.
1. Montreal Canadiens – 1970-1979
The Montreal Canadiens of the 1970s have been cited as the greatest hockey team in the history of the NHL. Between 1970 and 1979, the Canadiens won six Stanley Cups. The Habs won four of those cups in a row from 1976 to 1979 as they showed an incredible level of dominance. Montreal had a number of dynasties over the years that won multiple Stanley Cups, but the team of the 1970s was the best of them all.