It used to be easier to define an NHL dynasty. If an organization won four or more Stanley Cups over a five to seven year span, or better yet, if they were able to win three or more consecutive championships, there was no debate. Based on that criteria, the Toronto Maple Leafs (40s & 60s), Detroit Red Wings (50s), Montreal Canadiens (50s & 70s), New York Islanders (80s), and Edmonton Oilers (80s) are five qualifying clubs.
However, times have changed.
Since the early 1990s, no clubs have been able to grab Stanley Cups at this rate. League-wide parity, free agency, the salary cap, and an increase in the number of teams have mothballed ‘old time’ dynasties. Applying some new criteria leads me to believe that yes, dynasties still do exist, just not in the way we have thought of them in the past.
New guidelines should see observers measure teams in the following way. Teams that win either combination of three titles in five to seven years, or four or more Stanley Cups in ten years should qualify as dynasties.
Using that basis, I would argue that the Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils qualify as dynasties s ...
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Article written by James Onusko
NHL Dynasties: Do They Exist Any Longer?
March 12th, 2013 by James Onusko Leave a reply »
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