The best NHL team not to win the Stanley Cup (last 20 years)?

Question

Just wanna see different peoples opinions.
You can state a short reason or 2 if you want.
Thanks!

Answer 1

1993 Penguins. Coming off of back to back Cups, they rolled over the entire league regular season, including a record winning streak of 17 games that still stands. They won their only presidents trophy despite losing Badger Bob before the season and having Mario go through 2 months chemo for Hodgkins. If not for a horrific injury to Kevin Stevens and a terrible fluke goal, they would have won their 3rd cup in a row.

Answer 2

Let's go over the champs from the last twenty years shall we:
1986- Montreal Canadiens
1987- Edmonton Oilers
1988- Edmonton Oilers
1989- Calgary Flames
1990- Edmonton Oilers
1991- Pittsburgh Penguins
1992- Pittsburgh Penguins
1993- Montreal Canadiens
1994- New York Rangers
1995- New Jersey Devils
1996- Colorado Avalanche
1997- Detroit Red Wings
1998- Detroit Red Wings
1999- Dallas Stars
2000- New Jersey Devils
2001- Colorado Avalanche
2002- Detroit Red Wings
2003- New Jersey Devils
2004- Tampa Bay Lightning
2005- Not awarded (NHL lockout)
2006- Carolina Hurricanes
2007- Yet to be determined

Now, if you go by single season team that did not win the Stanley Cup, then it is the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings with 131 points, the second most all-time. However, overall, it is very difficult to say, since there aren't a lot of teams that really deserved to win the Cup who eventually didn't. I think that all of the teams that have won the Stanley Cup in the last 20 years have really deserved to win it. Maybe the argument could be made for the Buffalo Sabres not winning the Stanley Cup, especially in the years with Dominik Hasek as goalie. Last year, they had a great chance, missing the Finals by twenty minutes really, as they had the lead going into the third period against Carolina in Game 7. Also, in 1999, they all say that they got robbed by Brett Hull's skate in the crease goal in the third overtime of Game 6 against Dallas to give Dallas the Cup. So, in conclusion, probably the only team that didn't win the Cup in the last 10 to 20 years that maybe deserves to at some point is the Buffalo Sabres.

Answer 3

I don't think you can say just one team that is the best and hasen't won it all. Towards the top of the list, Buffalo. They have been in the playoffs 27 of the 36 years they've been in the league. Sure they have only made it to the finals twice, but let us not forget the 97-98 season where they were taken out by Washington on a missed icing call. The year after that you got the no goal by the Stars which cost the Sabres the Cup. The year after that, the goal throught the side of the net in Philly (and yes the puck went throught the side of the net!!) that lead to Buffalo losing the series. Right there it shows that Buffalo had three good years in a row, which is nothing compaired to what they did in the 70's and 80's. Yes they did have three bad years in a row (01/02 season through 03/04 season), but look how they have rebounded. Going from near last to near first. Some say it's due to the rule changes, but so what about the rule changes. Those rules apply to every team in the league, so you can't say they were made in favor of one team or the other. Buffalo is by far one of the best teams in the past 20 years to not win the cup, but that will all be changing this year.

Answer 4

i've got suggested it till now and that i will say it lower back: no participant, team, u . s ., etc. 'merits' or is entitled to the Stanley Cup. in case you have been to ask what team desires to win the Stanley Cup, then i might inform you it rather is a team that has never gained the Stanley Cup till now, with the communities that have been around the longest without Cup victories having the main necessity. That being suggested, i think of la desires to win the Cup the main on the grounds that they have been around on the grounds that 1967 and function never gained the Cup whilst quickly as. the closest they have ever come to triumphing the Cup replace into in 1993, which replace into the only time they have ever regarded in the Finals. Montreal gained that sequence 4 video games to a million.

Answer 5

The 1993 Toronto Maple Leafs. That team had it all, leadership, grit, goaltending and determination. They made it to the conference finals versus Gretzky and the Kings and the Leafs had it in the bag until a most unfortunate incident. Gretzky high sticks on of the leafs and busts him open, but of course Gretzky doesnt get a penalty, a minute later he comes down the ice and scores the goal that most likely eleiminated the leafs from the playoffs. If the leafs won that series, we would have definatly beat the Habs in the final. Leafs go screwed over big time!!!! That is why they are the best team in the past 20 years not to win the cup.

Answer 6

In chronological order

1987 Flyers
1992 Black Hawks
1993 Maple Leafs
1994 Devils
1997 Flyers, Stars
1999 Sabres
2002 Avalanche
2006 Red Wings

I think it's a tie between the '94 Devils and '06 Wings as to the best teams falling short of the prize.

BTW, if the question spanned one more year, the '86 Oilers would be the clear cut answer.

Answer 7

For me, it's a tossup between two teams. The 1996 Red Wings had 131 points in the regular season. Colorado, who defeated them in the Western Conference Finals, had the second-most points with 104. That team was probably even better than the teams that went on to win the Cup in '97 and '98.

The 1993 Penguins seemed like a lock to win the Cup for the third straight year. The Islanders shocked them in the second round.

Answer 8

the best NHL team to have won the cup in the last 20 years would have to be New Jersey Devils. They won 4 cups or something within the last 20 years. I honestly hate that team but I think they deserve it cause they seem to be a pretty good team.

Answer 9

1999-2000 St. Louis Blues....

They have 114 points during the regular season, but get stroked by 8th-seeded San Jose Sharks in 7 games during the first round of the playoffs.

The team was great, and after the season, Coach Quennville was named Coach of the Year. MacInnis was a Norris Trophy candidate, but lost to teammate Pronger, who also won the Hart trophy as the league's MVP. Even Pavol Demitra receives the Lady Byng Trophy as the league's highly skilled sportsman.

Unfortunately, they never got the trophy that counted.

Answer 10

Either the 96' Red Wings or the 93' Leafs. The year before the Wings won the Stanley cup, that was 97' they won.