Each NHL Team's Worst Moment

In the NHL, there are so many great moments that make the league what it is today. The NHL is filled with excitement, speed, intensity and hatred. This makes a sport worth watching, doesn't it?

Everyone remembers their favorite moment of their team winning the Cup or their favorite player scoring the overtime goal. Then there are the times that make us feel embarrassed to support your team or back up that athlete. Here are some of the worst moments for teams in the NHL.   

Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets Both Relocate

This one was pretty easy. This team had virtually no success. With only one playoff appearance and no playoff wins, it's easy to see why this team folded so fast.

Winnipeg Jets were wrongfully moved after the 1996 NHL Playoffs when losing to the Detroit Red Wings. Winnipeg natives can be happy once again with the team coming back, even though it's not from its natural roots (Phoenix Coyotes). 

Anaheim Ducks Lose 2003 Stanley Cup Finals

I think for most Ducks fans, the 2003 run was just as, if not more, memorable than the Stanley Cup win in 2007. I say that because in 2003 they were just your average seventh-seed who were going up against the defending Cup champs, Detroit Red Wings.

Anaheim surely showed that they were more than your average seven-seed by sweeping the Red Wings in the first round. People still didn't expect them to do much, but with J.S Giguere practically carrying the team they made it all the way to the finals—although, New Jersey seemed to be too much for them.  

Boston Bruins Blow 0-3 Series Lead to Flyers

The Bruins seemed to be on their way to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 1992. "On their way" doesn't mean it was done, though. They had a chance to bury the Flyers in Game 4 in Philadelphia when Mark Recchi tied the game up late.

However, Simon Gagne got the game-winning goal and the Flyers never slowed down from there. The Bruins even had a 3-0 lead in Game 7 and the Flyers scored four straight to win the series and game 4-3.

Buffalo Sabres Lose Cup on Foot in the Crease

The Sabres are one of the few teams that is usually consistently good and has never won a Cup. Buffalo had an awesome run in the 1999 playoffs as a seven-seed—sweeping heavily favored Ottawa in the first round, then beating Boston and Toronto to face Dallas in the finals.

Buffalo went onto lose the finals in six games. Although the real story is how Game 6 ended in Buffalo that night. The game was in its third overtime when Dallas' Brett Hull scored on a scramble in the crease. The big debate after that was whether his foot was in the crease (rule was changed next season). The play was never reviewed and the Stars went on to capture their first Stanley Cup. 

Calgary Flames Lose Game 7 to Canucks 1994

I do realize the Flames lost the Cup in seven games, but they were never expected to get there and lost to the heavily favored Lightning. Now that that's out of the way, I think that when you're one of the favorites to win the trophy and lose in the first round it always hurts more.

Especially when it's against another Canadian team like the hated Canucks. Calgary seemed like they would win the series but, as we have seen in so many playoffs before, that's not always the case. 

Carolina Hurricanes Finish Dead Last After Cup Run

In 2002, the Hurricanes had a magical run to the finals which no one expected them to do. Even as a three-seed, they seemed to not have what it takes to do much damage in that postseason. Carolina made their first appearance regardless.

They even won Game 1 of the finals in overtime in Detroit. After that though, it was all Red Wings as they would win the next four games to hoist the Stanley Cup. 

The Hurricanes went from 91 points and third spot in the East in 2002 to 61 points and 15th in the East in 2003—good enough to finish at the very bottom of the league. 

Chicago Blackhawks Make Playoffs One out of 10 Years

The Blackhawks from 1998 until 2008, made the playoffs only one year. For an original six franchise, that's not very common. Also, before that, they had made the playoffs 28 straight years. Even though they didn't have much success in those years they still were a force in the NHL. 

The Blackhawks now are obviously a great young talented team that has made the playoffs three straight years and I see them stretching that for another couple of years to come.

Colorado Avalanche After Lockout

The Colorado Avalanche before the lockout were one of the elite teams in all of the NHL. They had Hall of Famers like Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy and possibly Adam Foote and Milan Hejduk. Also great players like Chris Drury and Alex Tanguay filling the roster.

After the lockout, they seemed to not be able to deal with the cap issues and send everyone different ways. Forsberg, Drury and Foote were all dealt before the 2005-2006 season. Tanguay was dealt after that season to the Calgary Flames.

Even before that, Patrick Roy retired going into the final season before the lockout. Afterwards, Colorado had their fair share of goalies between the pipes and has yet to find a franchise goaltender.

Columbus Blue Jackets Get Swept in First Playoff Appearance

The Blue Jackets have not really made a dent in the NHL since joining in 2000. They have only made one playoff appearance and it didn't go too well as they would not win a game and get swept by the Red Wings in 2009.

With the Jackets' young talented players and Rick Nash and Jeff Carter leading the way, I can see this team being a consistent playoff performer in the next couple of years.

Dallas Stars Get Patrik Stefan and He Blows It

The Stars got Patrik Stefan in the 2006-2007 season, maybe seeing if he could spark up his career in Dallas. He was drafted in 1999 by the Atlanta Thrashers and was supposed to be the next big thing—he was anything but. 

Stefan will go down as one of the worst busts in NHL history, probably the worst No. 1 pick overall. When he was on Dallas though, he had probably the funniest NHL blooper in the history of the league.

He...just watch. 

Detroit Red Wings and the "Dead Wing Era"

The Red Wings today are seen as a model franchise, but from 1967-1983 they were anything but. They made the playoffs only twice in that era and winning only one playoff series. They also had 14 head coaches during that time (not even including interim coaches). 

The Red Wings seemed to get out of that era with the selection of Steve Yzerman in the 1983 draft (fourth overall). Even after that, for a little while they weren't all that great but showed great strides in improvement. 

Edmonton Oilers Trade Wayne Gretzky

The biggest trade in sports history lands as the Edmonton Oilers' worst moment. Some Oilers fans still cannot believe what happened that day and probably thought someone was pulling a prank on every news channel in town.

August 9, 1988 is a day for people in Edmonton that they remember where they were when they saw or heard of the trade that sent Gretzky to Los Angeles. Emotions ranged from crying hysterically to burning dummies that looked like Peter Pocklington. Can you blame them?

Florida Panthers Rat

The Florida Panthers made a surprising run to the 1996 Stanley Cup finals and faced off against the Colorado Avalanche. But at the home opener of the season, Scott Mellanby saw a rat scurrying across the locker room floor and he "one timered" it across the room, killing it.

That night he had two goals, which players were calling a rat trick. The rat was a starting trend with only 16 rats by the third game, but then over 2,000 at a time during the playoffs. In a way, it was Florida's octopus like Detroit throws for playoff games. 

The rat cost fans from throwing anything on the ice from there on out (besides hats). You can't throw an octopus in Detroit anymore without getting thrown out. In Nashville, you can't throw the catfish which caught on and still trends, or even throw a shark in San Jose. 

Los Angeles Kings Lose 1993 Stanley Cup

The Los Angeles Kings made the finals in the 1993 playoffs facing the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings, of course, then had Gretzky, Robitaille and McSorley and had an even matchup with Montreal. I'm sure most thought the Kings would win just because of Wayne Gretzky.

The Kings won Game 1 and put themselves in the drivers seat. After that, the Kings would go onto lose four straight to the Canadiens including overtime losses in Games 2, 3 and 4. The Canadiens actually had 11 playoff games that postseason, winning 10 of them!

That is an NHL record that still holds to this day and will be hard to touch. The Kings can look back at this series and see them winning it because three of the games were toss ups and anything can happen in overtime. The Kings could very well have one Stanley Cup in their franchise. 

Minnesota Wild Make Playoffs Three out 11 Years

Hockey returned to Minnesota in 2000 after the Minnesota North Stars left to become the Dallas Stars. Everyone from Minnesota was revived and ready to have an NHL team again. Everyone knew it would take some time to "rebuild" if you will, and get them to championship form. 

In 2003, the Wild upset the Avalanche and Canucks in back-to-back rounds to go to their first Western Conference appearance in their first playoff year. It seemed like the Wild would be a playoff contender after that and a force. Anything but that happened for the Wild, not making the postseason again until the 2007 season, again making it in 2008.

Those are their only playoff appearances and they have made one decent run in their 11 years in the league. Now it just seems like Minnesota is that team you never expect to make it—if they do make it, you only see them as an eight-seed. 

I guess we'll see if they can give the awesome, passionate hockey fans of Minnesota the team they deserve. 

Montreal Canadiens First Decade Without a Cup

Montreal, ever since becoming the Canadiens in 1917, have won a cup in every single decade. Every decade but 2000-2010, that is. Montreal is the huge leader in cups with the number at 24. The team has had so many great moments and memories and is no doubt one of the richest in tradition in all of sports.

If you're a fan of the Canadiens, not winning a cup in a decade is a shocker—although Montreal hasn't won or been to a Stanley Cup finals since 1993.

1910-1920 one Cup, 1921-1930 two Cups, 1931-1940 one Cup, 1941-1950 two Cups, 1951-1960 six Cups, 1961-1970 four Cups, 1971-1980 six Cups, 1981-1990 one Cup, 1991-2000 one Cup, 2000-2010 zero Cups. 

Nashville Predators Lose Game 5 in Overtime

The Nashville Predators have been a tough team to play in the NHL for the past couple of seasons. Especially this year, with them winning their first ever playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks. In 2010, the Predators faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs.

Nashville gave themselves a chance in Game 5 with the series being 2-2. They had a 4-3 lead in the last thirty seconds of the game and also had a five-minute power play from Marian Hossa's check from behind with one minute left.

The Blackhawks pulled the goalie to get it five-on-five, and tied the game with 13 seconds left. Then Nashville had four minutes to score in overtime to save themselves, but couldn't. 

Right after the penalty, Hossa, of all people, gets the overtime winner. Somewhat controversial because some thought Hossa should have been kicked out and suspended for the hit. 

New Jersey Devils 2010-2011 Season

The New Jersey Devils are known in the league and in sports to be a consistent playoff performer and a usual all around good team. Especially the year following their early playoff exit against the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers.

After that, they re-signed Kovalchuk to a long-term deal and the team seemed like they would be back and ready to compete for a Cup. With a roster filled with players like Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, Travis Zajac and legendary goalie Martin Brodeur, they wouldn't seem to be wrong. 

However, the Devils started out horrible with a 2-9-2 record. Also, with Zach Parise getting hurt in that 13th game, it was all down hill from there. Kovalchuk also wasn't helping the cause by not putting up the numbers he was used to and getting called out for it because of the salary he makes. Then with a botched shootout attempt it only made matters worse.

The Devils, however, did go on a surge towards the end of the season but it was too little too late as the Devils would miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

New York Islanders Hiring Mike Milbury as GM

In 1995, Mike Milbury was hired by the Islanders to become their new GM. Bad choice. It took him and the Islanders seven years to make the postseason after he became the GM. He is mostly known now for his "say anything" attitude and horrible suits. 

Back then though, he was known as a man who made terrible trades and decisions. He made the playoffs three straight years from 2002-2004, all of those coming as first-round losses. As if no playoff success wasn't enough when he left in 2006, he didn't exactly leave the team with much to build on from all his bad moves.

Example: Islanders obtain C Alexei Yashin from Ottawa for D Zdeno Chara, RW Bill Muckalt, and the second overall pick in the 2001 draft. Yashin spent five years with Isles, two of them being shortened seasons. We have all seen the elite player Chara has turned into with his recent Stanley Cup with the Bruins. Also, the second overall pick in the 2001 draft turned out to be Jason Spezza. What side of this deal would you want?

New York Rangers Sign Eric Lindros

In the 2001-2002 season, the New York Rangers traded for Eric Lindros. The Rangers spent many rebuilding players on this trade, with Jan Hlavac, Pavel Brendl, Kim Johnsson and a third-round draft pick going to the Flyers.

Lindros signed a four-year, $37 million deal with the Rangers that year. Lindros was now making $9.250 million a year with New York. Lindros played three of those seasons having a good first year but then finishing with mediocre numbers the following two years.

I don't know why they thought Lindros would be worth almost $10 million a year after having four concussions in a 27-month period, but they did. 

Ottawa Senators 1992-1993 Season

The Ottawa Senators came into the league in 1992-1993 and put up a horrendous record of 10-70-4! The team only accumulated 24 points that season. The Prince of Whales Conference leader that year was Pittsburgh with 119. That's 95 more points than the Senators had. The Penguins could have given the Senators 32 points that season and still made the playoffs...the Senators would have still missed the playoffs by 31 points.

The Sharks also only had 24 points in their also first year that season but they had 11 wins. So that gives Ottawa the worst season for any team in NHL history.

Philadelphia Flyers Trade for Eric Lindros

In 1991, the Quebec Nordiques drafted Eric Lindros with the first overall pick. Everyone knew it was coming. In 1992 the Flyers started what is considered by many people to be the worst trade in NHL history.

The trade was Eric Lindros to Flyers for Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Peter Forsberg, Chris Simon, first-round picks in 1993 and 1994 and $15 million dollars to the Nordiques.

Pretty ridiculous, right? After all that he was a Flyer. He actually put up very good numbers early with the Flyers. But with four concussions in 27 months, it slowed him down tremendously and caused him to miss 20-30 games on average a year.

Then he and Bobby Clarke feuded around the 1999-2000 season. Lindros demanded too much of Clarke until he finally offered him a trade. Lindros would constantly change his mind about what team he wanted to end up on going from teams like Toronto to New York. He finally landed in New York heading into the 2001-2002 season. He only went on to play five more seasons after leaving the Flyers. 

Phoenix Coyotes Ownership

The Phoenix Coyotes began when the Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona in 1996. The team has not had much success while not winning one playoff series while in the desert. Also, with the help of not so talented teams, the attendance began to fall off and hasn't been great the last 10 or so years.

On May 5, 2009, then-owner of the Coyotes Jerry Moyes filed the team for bankruptcy hours before NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman put in an offer for the team. After that, the NHL now owns the team. The Phoenix Coyotes have lost $389 million since 2004! Teams in the league have given them some extra money so they could stay a franchise.

You do have to give it to the players, though. The season following all this, Dave Tippett led the Coyotes to their first 50-win season in franchise history making the four-seed in the playoffs. Though they lost to the Red Wings in seven games. They also made the playoffs again this year but it was another first-round loss to the Red Wings in a four-game sweep.  

Pittsburgh Penguins' Mario Lemiuex Forced to Retire After Lymphoma Diagnosis

Mario Lemieux is considered by some to be the greatest player ever and many say he would have broken Gretzky's records if not for his health. In early 1993, Lemieux made the announcement of having Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was on pace at the time to break Gretzky's goal-scoring record in a single season of 92. 

Lemieux went through energy-draining radiation treatments leaving his career up in the air.  He was out for two months for treatment and on the last day of his radiation treatment he actually flew to Philadelphia to play the Flyers. He got a standing ovation from a Philly crowd.

He put up a goal and an assist in a 5-4 loss.  Great to see he fought the disease and came back healthy to the game of hockey. 

San Jose Sharks Lose in Fourth Overtime

The San Jose Sharks in 2008 were a two-seed in the West and the second best team in the NHL. San Jose had a bit of a scare in the opening round against the Calgary Flames. It was a tight series that the Sharks ended in seven. 

The Sharks would go on to play the Dallas Stars in the second round. The Stars jumped out to a 3-0 series lead and it seemed like most times it happens the Sharks were done. But the Sharks came back to win two straight and force a Game 6 in Dallas.

If the Sharks win that one you have to think all momentum is in favor of the Sharks going back to San Jose. They could easily win another Game 7 at home. The Sharks and Stars headed into overtime tied 1-1. No one would score in the first three. 

Brad Richards of the Stars had a chance to end it early in the first overtime with a glorious chance, but Nabokov said no. In triple overtime, the Sharks thought they had won for a second when Ryan Clowe shoved a shot into the feet of Turco. Turco made the stop however, and the game continued. 

Then in the fourth overtime, Brenden Morrow scored on the power play tipping it past Nabokov. The Stars would advance to the Western Conference finals, where the Sharks would still be seen as underachievers.

St Louis Blues Lose Stanley Cup in Overtime

The St Louis Blues have always been one of those great franchises that have just never gotten the job done. That job being a Stanley Cup. They have had their chances however, losing three straight Stanley Cup finals from 1968-1970.

Those were their only three finals appearances as well. The Blues, despite not winning a cup, have had some very good teams. Just not good results.

The worst result of them all was losing the Stanley Cup in overtime of the 1970 finals. Some say it is the greatest goal ever scored in hockey. We all know it as the infamous Bobby Orr "Flying" goal. 

Tampa Bay Lightning 2008-2009 Season

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been a pretty decent franchise since coming into the league in the 1992-1993 season, including a coveted Stanley Cup in their franchise in 2004. Even bouncing back now with an Eastern Conference finals appearance this year but losing to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins in seven games. 

Although the team from 2008-2010 wasn't their proudest moments. They still had decent teams but couldn't seem to ever get the wheels rolling. Before the 2008-2009 season, the Lightning decided to hire Barry Melrose as their new head coach. He was suppose to revitalize the franchise back to the 2004 era.

The planned backfired as the team started out 4-5-1 and Melrose only coaching 16 games. With a roster filled with players like Martin St.Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, Mark Recchi, Ryan Malone and Vinny Prospal you can't expect to keep your job.

Rick Tocchet took over as interim coach for the remainder of the season and even got the job for the next season too.  

Toronto Maple Leafs No Cup Since 1967

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the original six teams in the NHL. They are second behind Montreal in Stanley Cups with 13. That's a more than respectable amount of championships. But when you have had so many great teams like they have had you think they would have as many if not more than Montreal. 

The Maple Leafs haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1967. They currently hold the longest stretch without a Cup in the NHL at 44 years, being tied with the St. Louis Blues ( Blues have no Cups since joining league in 1967). 

The Leafs haven't even made a Finals since 1967. Which makes you wonder, how do those awesome passionate fans in Toronto keep coming back? They have had their fair share of chances, losing many Eastern Conference Finals in the process. Also, having many teams that were just horrible. 

The Maple Leafs have not made the playoffs since 2004. With the team still in somewhat of a turn around phase, I don't see them winning one anytime soon. 

Vancouver Canucks Lose Game 7 of Finals/Post Game Riots

The Vancouver Canucks are once again a great franchise without any Stanley Cups. They have been to three Stanley Cup finals in their history, losing all of them. Those years were 1982, 1994 and, of course, 2011. 

The Canucks won the Presidents Trophy this year as having the best regular season record. It looked like Vancouver would win the series against the Bruins as they took a 2-0 series lead. But when they headed back to Boston, the Canucks got man-handled in two games with the scores being 8-1 and 4-0. 

Going back to Vancouver, the Canucks took the series lead again by beating Boston in a tight 1-0 game—the series was now 3-2. Now all the odds were in their favor. Though, like the first two games in Boston, Game 6 would be no different. The Canucks went on to lose by a score of 5-2. The score makes it seem closer than it actually was. The Bruins set an NHL record in that Game 6 by scoring four goals in four minutes and 14 seconds.

Then, of course, there was Game 7. Everyone thought the Canucks would keep home ice alive in the series. That didn't happen. The Canucks played flat and uninspired as the Bruins took advantage of that. The Bruins went on to win 4-0 and take the series and the Stanley Cup. 

After the game there was plenty of partying in downtown Vancouver—all for the wrong reasons. Fans rioted in the city and broke into stores and started looting. Also, people were seen jumping on cars and even burning them—even people being stabbed. What a horrible way to end a great season for Vancouver.  

Washington Capitals Lose Game 7 to Pittsburgh

Game 7—Crosby and Ovechkin. Does it get better than that? Apparently it does. Washington and Pittsburgh played each other in the Eastern semifinals in 2009. The series, like it was expected to, went to seven games. 

The game was hyped to be maybe the best game of the playoffs. It was anything but that. The Penguins had scored two goals in the first to make it 2-0 at the end of the first period. Then Pittsburgh added three in the second to make it 5-0. Although, Ovechkin would score late to make it 5-1 going into the third. 

Then the true dagger came when hated Crosby came down on a breakaway, short-handed and scored five hole on Semyon Varlamov. The Penguins would end up winning the game 6-2 and also the series.