The 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings have bolstered their roster this off-season, in large part due to the acquisition of Marian "Benedict Arnold" Hossa.
Early predictions have the Red Wings slated to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.
I will not argue that, on paper, the Red Wings probably have the most impressive roster from first line through fourth and from center to goaltender.
However, recent history is working against the Red Wings' hopes of a repeat.
No team since the 2001 Colorado Avalanche has managed to make it out of the first round of the playoffs the following season, let alone repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.
Here's the breakdown of Stanley Cup Champions since 2001, and how they fared the following season.
(Format: Championship Year: Championship Team- Following Year: Defending Champion Teams' Outcome {Team that Eliminated Defending Champions})
2001 Champions: Colorado Avalanche—2002: Eliminated in Conference Finals {Detroit Red Wings}
2002 Champions: Detroit Red Wings—2003: Eliminated in Conference Quarter Finals {Anaheim Ducks}
2003 Champions: New Jersey Devils—2004: Eliminated in Conference Quarter Finals {Philadelphia Flyers}
2004 Champions: Tampa Bay Lightning—2005: NHL Lockout Season {No Stanley Cup Awarded}
2006: 2004 Champion Lightning Eliminated in Conference Quarter Finals {Ottawa Senators}
2006 Champions: Carolina Hurricanes—2007: Did Not Make Playoffs
2007 Champions: Anaheim Ducks—2008: Eliminated in Conference Quarter Finals {Dallas Stars}
So, as you can see, Benedict Hossa and the boys in Hockeytown may have the talent working for them, but recent history is most certainly working against them.
Before you start taking off work to attend another Stanley Cup Championship parade in downtown Detroit next June, consider that history may have other intentions for the 2008 Red Wings.
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3 months ago
good article, eric. unfortunately, the runner up also has a bad history recently. no runner up has returned to the finals since the Dallas Stars in 1999 and 2000. i think the pens may be able to break that drought, though. they have a great team, and have added a lot of good players this offseason
3 months ago
If not for the weakness of the East, I wouldn't give the Pens a chance to make it back with the guys they've lost. However, they don't exactly have a lot of competition.
3 months ago
As for the Wings, I agree it's very difficult to repeat, though that's often because the defending champion has a big target on their back. But Detroit has had that target on them for a while, so they may well be able to do it.
3 months ago
Good article. It is always harder to have that drive having achieved your goal the year before.
Also - It was the Dallas Stars who put out the Ducks this year, not the Wings. Wings put out the Preds, Avs, Stars and eventually the Pens.
Go Wings Go
3 months ago
History can't have intentions. Else it wouldn't be history. I agree that it is terribly difficult to repeat as NHL champion, but if any team has the where-with-all to do it, it's this particular group of Wings. Who knows if they can continue the level of play that they showed this year, but by the way they dominated they playoffs, I'd say they have a pretty good shot.
3 months ago
History is just that, history. Gordie Howe's scoring records were history, and Wayne Gretzky broke those. The Pittsburgh Penguins record for most points in a regular season was broken by the Detroit Red Wings in 1995-'96. Mike Bossy's rookie goal record was broken by Teemu Selanne. History is history. Name for me the last team that won back to back Stanley Cups...
Eerie how that plays out, huh?
3 months ago
Chris- thanks for the catch, I'll fix that.
I just want to clarify-- I'm not saying that the Wings can't, or even won't, repeat as Cup champs, I was simply pointing out that recent history is working against them.
Thanks to everyone for the comments, it seems like everyone is pretty level-headed about this topic.
I'm not one for predictions, but I personally feel that neither the Wings nor the Pens will win the Cup next season...
...But I guess that's why they play the games.
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