NHL 2000-2010 Stanley Cup Tournament of Champions: Who Was the Decade's Best?
I've always been interested in debating the "Team of the Decade" in any sport.
In the NFL, the 1960's witnessed Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers; the 1970's saw the rise of Chuck Noll's famed Steel Curtain defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers; the 1980's had Bill Walsh and Joe Montana; the 1990's belonged to the Dallas Cowboys; and the 2000's held the emergence of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's New England Patriots.
The NHL, in the 1960's, watched as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens win a combined nine of 10 titles in the decade; the 1970's witnessed the Canadiens continue their dominance; the 1980's saw the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers each win four titles; the 1990's did not belong to any particular team, but did see the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings each win twice.
Interestingly enough, with the New Jersey Devils' sweep of the Red Wings in 1995, a pattern began that would see only the Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Red Wings, and Dallas Stars win the Cup from 1995-2003.
What I propose in this slideshow is an analysis of each cup winning from 2000-2010 (yes, I know 2010 technically belongs to this decade but since we lost a season due to the lockout, I've included them in this discussion; they also make for five teams pre-lockout and post-lockout). In the next slide, I examine one team from each group of five that did not make the final eight and provide my reasons for doing so.
Finally, I'll provide a familiar one through eight seeding of the champions and examine the match-ups round-by-round until only one is left standing. Feel free to offer criticisms and your opinions below!
The "Honorable Mentions" Pre-Lockout
1 of 10
As I mentioned in the previous slide, one team from the pre-lockout quintet of champions would not make the final eight. That team is the 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning. Several factors went into this decision.
For starters, as the number one overall seed that year (in the Eastern Conference), they had to play the eighth seeded New York Islanders. Now, it is my opinion that before the salary cap was introduced, the eighth seeds weren't necessarily as strong. In recent memory, we simply have to look back at last year's Montreal Canadiens, the 2009 Anaheim Ducks, and the 2006 Edmonton Oilers. So, the number one seed did not face as stiff competition as their post-lockout brethren had to.
Another factor that hurt the Lightning was the disputed goal in the third period of game six of the Finals that year. Martin Gelinas' shot appeared to cross the line (and would have given him his fourth series-winning goal that playoff year), but the play was not reviewed. The fact that the Lightning might not have actually won the series hurts their chances.
Lastly, the Lightning simply did not match up against the '00 and '03 New Jersey Devils, the '01 Colorado Avalanche, and the '02 Detroit Red Wings. As always, feel free to disagree.
The "Honorable Mentions" Post-Lockout
2 of 10
The 2006 Carolina Hurricanes were the easiest team to cut from the post-lockout list of champions. Simply put, they got lucky.
In the Conference Quaterfinals against the Montreal Canadiens, the 'Canes were down two games to zero in the series and heading back to Montreal for games three and four. The series turned in game three when Justin Williams ended Saku Koivu's playoffs with a high stick to the Montreal captain's eye. After Koivu's injury, Montreal would not win again. This would not be Williams' only infraction that playoff year.
In the Conference Semifinals and Finals, Williams, along with other 'Canes, made it a habit of running goaltenders Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller. In the semifinals against the Devils, Carolina scored a late miracle-goal in game two, and then Nic Wallin scored the winner while simultaneously running over Brodeur.
Against the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina faced a potent Buffalo lineup...with an AHL defense by game seven. The Sabres played their most important game of the year without Teppo Numminen, Jay Mckee, Henrik Talliner and Dmitri Kalinin on the blue line. They also were without Tim Connolly, their best playmaker that playoff year until his injury against the Ottawa Senators in game two of their semifinal series.
Finally, in the Finals, the 'Canes' Andrew Ladd ran into Dwayne Roloson and ended his remarkable playoff year.
The Seedings
3 of 10
Below is my seeding of the tournament of champions. The records and points for each time are given as well. The match-ups will be analyzed in the following slides.
1.) 2001 Colorado Avalanche 52-16-10-4 118 points President's Trophy Winners
2.) 2002 Detroit Red Wings 51-17-10-4 116 points President's Trophy Winners
3.) 2008 Detroit Red Wings 54-21-7 115 points President's Trophy Winners
4.) 2010 Chicago Blackhawks 52-22-8 112 points
5.) 2007 Anaheim Ducks 48-20-14 110 points
6.) 2003 New Jersey Devils 46-20-10-6 108 points
7.) 2000 New Jersey Devils 45-24-8-5 103 points
8.) 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins 45-28-9 99 points
Quarterfinal No. 1: Colorado Vs. Pittsburgh
4 of 10
The 2001 Colorado Avalanche were a stacked team. The names just roll off the roster like an All-Star lineup: Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy, Ray Borque, Rob Blake, Adam Foote, Milan Hejduk, Alex Tanguay.
The 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Offense: Colorado and Pittsburgh both had two star centers that carried their high-powered offenses. Sakic against Crosby; Malkin against Forsberg. That would have been an exciting matchup over a seven-game series. Tanguay and Hejduk were excellent wingers, and I would be hard-pressed to say that Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz could rival their skills and production, but I find it difficult to say that Colorado outright had a better offense than the Penguins.
Edge: None
Defense: The Penguins boasted an impressive shutdown duo in Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi. The offensive duties fell to Sergei Gonchar most of the time. The Avs had Borque, Blake and Foote patrolling their backline.
While the Avs relied on mostly those three d-men to log heavy minutes and handle all responsibilities, the Penguins used a more balanced approach with Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik in the mix as well. At the end of the day, however, I think the Avs Big Three could get the job done in any situation.
Edge: Avs
Goaltending: Patrick Roy vs. Marc-Andre Fleury. 'nuff said.
Edge: Avs
Outcome: Crosby and Malkin keep the games close, and maybe even steal one or two, but I like the Avs in five.
Quarterfinal No. 2: '02 Detroit Red Wings Vs. '00 New Jersey Devils
5 of 10
I think this matchup is one of the best first round match-ups in this mythical tournament. Detroit's lineup was a "Who's who" of offense and experience: Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Sergei Fedorov, Brendan Shanahan, Luc Robitaille. The New Jersey Devils boasted some impressive talent themselves in the likes of the "A-Line" with Jason Arnott, Patrik Elias, and Petr Sykora, along with Alexander Mogilny, Claude Lemieux and rookies Scott Gomez and John Madden. Of course, the Devils players did not yet have the years of experience that their Detroit counterparts had.
Offense: As illustrated above in the opening to this matchup, Detroit had several sure Hall of Famers in that lineup, whereas the Devils could not match that feat.
Edge: Red Wings
Defense: Here is where things start to turn for the Devils. With the likes of Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, Vladimir Malakov, Scott Niedermayer and rookies Colin White and Brian Rafalski on their blue line, the Devils were in a different league than the Red Wings' defense corps—much in the same way that Detroit's offense was superior to New Jersey's. Yes, the Red Wings had Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Chelios, but failed to have the depth that Devils did.
Edge: Devils
Goaltending: Dominik Hasek vs. Martin Brodeur. The dream goaltending matchup that a Stanley Cup Final should provide. While Hasek is certainly the bigger name and has a more unorthodox style in goal, Brodeur is a consistent force, rarely seen out of position and has no need to flop around wildly like the "Dominator" so often did.
However, Hasek has that rare ability to elevate his game to shut down a team for an entire game, as Brodeur is known more for being a constant, reliable netminder. Of course, Brodeur's ability to play the puck helped to limit offensive chances by the other team. Coin flip in my opinion.
Edge: None
Outcome: So how does this one play out? The Red Wings offense against the Devils defense is what it boils down to, and I think the Devils effectively slow down the vaunted Red Wings attack enough to steal a few low-scoring, tight-checking games. The '00 Devils set a Stanley Cup Playoff record of 10 road wins, and I see them stealing a few in Detroit to pull off the first upset in this tournament. Devils in six.
Quarterfinal No. 3: '08 Detroit Red Wings Vs. '03 New Jersey Devils
6 of 10
It's Detroit and New Jersey again!
For the Devils, most of the pieces remain intact. Jason Arnott, Petr Sykora, Alexander Mogilny and Claude Lemieux are gone, yes, but capable veterans have taken their place in Jeff Friesen, Jamie Langenbrunner and Joe Nieuwendyk. The defense remains very much the same as it did in 2000, the lone difference being Oleg Tverdovsky and Tommy Albelin sharing that sixth defenseman role.
Detroit is vastly different this time around. Domnik Hasek started the season in goal, but Chris Osgood turned back the clock and was the starter in the playoffs for a majority of the games. Lidstrom and Chelios are still around, but they have better supporting cast this time around with Brad Stuart, Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski (playing at both ends of the ice in this matchup).
Offense: The Detroit offense has had a major makeover since 2002. It is deeper, but not as top-heavy as before. Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Mikael Samulsson and Pavel Datsyuk drive the engine for team from Hockey Town. The Devils added veterans in Langebrunner and Nieuwendyk, but don't have that dominant line to rely on as they did when the "A-Line" was together.
Edge: Red Wings
Defense: I've mentioned that Detroit's defense is deeper with Stuart, Kronwall and Rafalski, but the Devils have virtually the same defense as the team that upset the 2002 Red Wings. It will be a cold day in hell before I say a Scott Stevens-led defense is not the best on the ice.
Edge: Devils
Goaltending: While the Red Wings have both Hasek and Osgood to choose from—a reliable and impressive tandem indeed—the Devils have the old standby in Martin Brodeur. In 2003, Brodeur set a record for shutouts in the playoffs with seven, breaking Hasek's mark of six.
Edge: Devils
Outcome: Can the Devils pull off another upset of the Red Wings? I think they are certainly good, if not for Detroit's depth this time around. Both their offense and defense are impressive, and it's hard to find anyone to fault. A tough, physical series plays out with the Red Wings enjoying game seven at home. Red Wings in seven.
Quarterfinal No. 4: '10 Chicago Blackhawks Vs. '07 Anaheim Ducks
7 of 10
Anaheim and Chicago. The only matchup to feature two post-lockout teams. A deep defense and one of the best checking lines in the history of the playoffs against a young and high-scoring team with a rich history.
Offense: Chicago's offense is deep and talented. Everywhere you look, there is skill mixed with toughness: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien, Tomas Kopecky, Patrick Sharp, Andrew Ladd and Dave Bolland. An impressive collection of offense as Chicago rolled four lines that could score and check at will.
Anaheim went a more more traditional route with their lineup: two scoring lines, a checking line, and a line that just wreaked havoc on its opponents. Their top two were impressive as they boasted the likes of Teemu Selanne, Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan, Dustin Penner and Andy McDonald.
But the Ducks won the Stanley Cup because of the yeoman work of Travis Moen, Samuel Pahlsson, and Rob Niedermayer. Anaheim regularly deployed tough guys Brad May, Shawn Thorton and George Parros to punish the opposition.
Edge: While the Blackhawks may be deeper in terms of skill, the Ducks' checking line levels the playing field. None.
Defense: Chicago's defense of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Sopel are reliable and move the puck well but were somewhat exposed by the deep lines that the Flyers rolled out. Anaheim had Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Francois Beauchemin and Sean O'Donnell. The Ducks were not as deep as the Blackhawks, but they were just as punishing. Not to mention the offense that Niedermayer and Pronger would bring.
Edge: Another tough call, but I have to side with the physicality and experience of the Ducks.
Goaltending: Chicago rode a relative unknown in Antii Niemi, while the Ducks had two goalies that could have started on many other playoff teams that year in J.S. Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov. Pretty one-sided in my opinion.
Edge: Ducks
Outcome: In the final quarterfinal series, Anaheim's experience in goal proves to be the difference. Ducks in six.
Semifinal No. 1: '01 Colorado Vs. '00 New Jersey
8 of 10
In a near rematch from 2001, the Avs and Devils skate out for another epic playoff series in this tournament of champions. While the Devils did lose in seven games to the Avs in 2001, their lineup in 2000 may have been better than the following year. Claude Lemieux added much depth and timely scoring for the Devils in his playoff years with the team—something that was notably absent in 2001. However, the 2001 Avs are the 2001 Avs.
Offense: Unlike their matchup with the 2009 Penguins, the 2001 Avalanche could not simply steamroll the Devils in this semifinal. The Devils could roll out two scoring lines that could go toe-to-toe with the Avs. Also, John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, Bobby Holik and Randy Mckay were gritty checkers that could chip in with the occasional goal.
Joe Sakic and Co. eventually prevailed in 2001, but they did face elimination after going down three to two. The likes of Chris Drury, Dan Hinote and Villie Nieminen gave Colorado much needed depth when facing the Devils. Would their offense be able to keep up with a deeper, more talented offense in the Devils of 2000?
Edge: None
Defense: Ray Borque, Rob Blake, Adam Foote, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer. This matchup might have the best and deepest collection of defenders in the modern era of the NHL. Although, as they always are, the Devils have a deeper pool of talent to draw from with the likes of Brian Rafalski, Colin White and Vladimir Malakov, which helps the rotation and keeps the top guys like Stevens and Niedermayer better rested than their counterparts.
Edge: Devils
Goaltending: After out-dueling the "Dominator," Martin Brodeur faces off against "St. Patrick". Patrick Roy is capable, as was Hasek, of elevating his game at times to unprecedented levels to dominate entire games. He is also capable of epic meltdowns and gaffes (see the 2002 Western Conference Finals against Detroit). Brodeur is, again, the steady rock that the Devils are built on. Though, at this point in there careers, Roy was more likely to raise his game to that elite level than Brodeur was.
Edge: Avalanche
Outcome: This is a tough matchup to pick. Can the Devils deep offensive lines wear down the Big Three of the Avs? Will Roy steal a game? Two? Can Brodeur come up with that one big save he needs to in order to match Roy? I think he does. Devils in seven.
Semifinal No. 2: '08 Detroit Red Wings Vs. '07 Anaheim Ducks
9 of 10
Another rematch!
On their way to the Stanley Cup, the 2007 Anaheim Ducks received their biggest test from the Detroit Red Wings. One year later, the Red Wings would claim Hockey's biggest domestic prize. A year later, could the 2008 Red Wings defeat their nemesis from the year before?
Offense: The Ducks and Red Wings both have deep rosters and eliminated stiff competition in the Quarterfinal round. The Ducks' defense will face another team that would roll four lines and attempt to wear them down. The Red Wings will have to out-chess the Ducks and make the most of the moments when Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are free from the tenacious checking of Anaheim's Moen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer line.
Edge: None
Defense: Anaheim's duo of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger remain the best pairing in this series, but not by much. Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski were just as solid. Moreover, the Red Wings had a deeper blue line that regularly could contribute on the score sheet as well.
Edge: Red Wings
Goaltending: Two great goaltending tandems on display in this series. J.S. Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov at one end, and Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek at the other. The Red Wings duo is a little past their prime, so I may have to side with the Anaheim two-some.
Edge: Ducks
Outcome: A largely physical and gritty series that sees the Red Wings come out on top due to their depth both on offense and on the blue line. The Anaheim goaltending keeps the Ducks alive, but the Red Wings enjoy home ice in a game seven for the second straight series. Red Wings in seven.
Tournament of Champions: Stanley Cup Final
10 of 10
Yet another Detroit-New Jersey matchup!
Before we get into the actual series, it is worth noting that a tournament of Stanley Cup champions to decide the "Team of the Decade" should come down to these two franchises. Both won two championships while losing another in heartbreaking game sevens. One could argue that the Devils faced the better opponent in the 2001 Colorado Avalanche; however, the Red Wings won championships both pre and post-lockout—the only team in this tournament to do that. Who will prevail?
Offense: There are no surprises at this point. Both teams are deep, skilled, and physical.
Edge: None.
Defense: Again, New Jersey's defense is second to none, especially at this stage of the tournament.
Edge: Devils
Goaltending: Detroit's goaltending is still an impressive duo, but the bona fide number one is still Martin Brodeur—though Dominik Hasek might take issue with that statement.
Edge: None
Outcome: On paper, this looks like it should be the Devils' series. Their defense is better, and they don't give anything away to the Red Wings in terms of offense and goaltending. But they don't play the game on paper. I see Detroit solidifying its position as the team of the decade due to its ability to win both pre and post-lockout, and remain competitive even when not challenging for a championship. Additionally, their two President's Trophies to New Jersey's none carries some weight.
New Jersey runs out of road wins and the Red Wings enjoy home ice yet again. Red Wings in seven.
Now, please feel free to comment, critique, criticize, and condemn anything you see here. In a salary cap-era it is difficult to identify one team from ten that could be considered "Team of the Decade", but I think this is a fair assessment.
Your thoughts?
.jpg?w=600 "Vrabel Seeking Counseling")
