Did somebody say controversy?
This article will surely piss off five-sixths of all Canadian hockey fans. If you’re willing to bet that you may be the one sixth who ends up as happy as Cujo was to find another job, or you just enjoy the opportunity to complain, read on.
I will now break most of your hearts.
Stats, skates, and sweat, herein come together to finally answer the question that burns inside each hockey fan and player alike—what is the greatest Canadian hockey franchise of all time?
In six parts this series will examine how each of the active Canadian NHL franchises size up relative to one another in each of five categories, before finally declaring a winner.
The battle lines will be drawn around Stanley Cup Championships, Playoff Appearances, Season Play, Franchise “Greats,” and Fan Base.
I know what you’re thinking and no, the Nordiques didn't rank.
So once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. Onwards to study those things that divide us all, yet simultaneously unite us as hockey fans.
It begins:
Stanley Cup Championships (VALUE = 20 of 55)
Okay, okay, let's just go ahead and say it before the analysis even begins—of course Montreal takes this category, leaving the rest of us jealously wallowing in self-pity like Nick Lachey.
I guess I just tipped my hand. I am not a fan of Les Habitants, although I am a fan of Jessica Simpson—on mute of course. Despite this, I have a lot of respect for the accomplishments of the Canadians but alas, my heart is in Toronto. I'll do my best to shake my bias and stick to the facts.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Let’s see how everyone else sizes up to Montreal.
The following is a breakdown of Stanley Cups won in the modern era (that’d be from the '42-43 season on) divided by the number of years each team participated in the modern era NHL.
This ‘win percentage’ is then multiplied by 20 to get the final score for this section.
Calgary – 1/27 = Win Percentage of 0.037 = 0.74/20
Edmonton – 5/27 = Win Percentage of 0.185 = 3.7/20
Montreal – 20/64 = Win Percentage of 0.312 = 6.24/20
Ottawa – 0/15 = Win Percentage of 0.00 = 0.00/20
Toronto – 9/64 = Win Percentage of 0.141 = 2.82/20
Vancouver – 0/36 = Win Percentage of 0.00 = 0.00/20
Thank God I’m not a Vancouver fan. Ouch. They may not have the longest-running drought, but they’re certainly a team who thirsts to sip expensive champagne from hockey’s Holy Grail.
Representing almost half of all points available, the Championship category has significant weight, and Montreal pulls out to a strong early lead. Kinda reminds you of most of their playoff runs.
The Canadiens boast an impressive winning percentage, averaging a Cup every three seasons—a championship ratio unheard of in modern sports. To put it in perspective, the Habs have won at least four in a row twice and four in five years three times.
I believe the word is “dominant.”
Ottawa and Vancouver pull up the rear with a big fat zero, but if we were giving out Cups for effort—okay, they still wouldn’t have one. But Ottawa came close that one time, remember?
I know you do - Ottawa fans hold onto that run like Wacko Jacko dangling a baby over a railing. Dear Sen-nuts, keep a tight grip, 'cause I got bad news—it ain’t happening again anytime soon.
The dark horse of this category is definitely Edmonton, who wins respect with a strong average of almost one in five. I was a little surprised, actually—I guess the Gretzky years were better than I remember.
Montreal turns in a strong victory, and everyone else is left to wonder how in the world to catch-up. Damn you bleu, blanc, et rouge. J'admire vos victoires.
And that’s about as much praise the Habs will ever get from this Leaf fan.
So there we have it. Part One complete. Stay tuned—it only gets better as the competition heats up.
Until next time. TML forever (sorry, I couldn’t help it).
ASR
comments (15) write a comment »
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3 months ago
haha great job. this is gonna be a great series, i can tell!
3 months ago
Looking forward to the rest of the articles.
3 months ago
Awesome article
3 months ago
Thanks everyone... the Part 2 shuld be out tomorrow or sometime on the weekend.... stay tuned!!
3 months ago
Andrew great article. Looking forward to the remining segments.
3 months ago
Not that it would improve Ottawa's or Vancouver's numbers, but these totals should focus in on the amount of teams that were playing in the league when these teams won their cups, that might change your DARK HORSe to them...
from 3 months ago
Valid point but the dark horse would stand because Edmonton would still be winning while the league was expanding.... nevertheless, I think I'll take a look at those stats and include greater relativity in future parts.
I tried to account for exactly what you were talking about by dividing by the number of years played but I'll give you the point that it doesn't completely factor in league size. BUT, as you water down league talent with more teams the result is less great teams and more good teams...
...you could argue that winning cups in an era when teams were ALL GREAT and there was no sure wins any night was a more difficult feat.
from 3 months ago
In fairness to you... The article should say that Vancouver did win 3 games of the final one time... too bad the same can't be said for Ottawa... oh yeah!
3 months ago
A very good read, cant wait for the next article, cant wait to see how you will be able to rank the Maple Leafs above the Habs!
from 3 months ago
Between you and me (ok, and everyone else who has ever watched hockey) it may not be sniff... sniff... sniff... possible.
We shall see!!
from 3 months ago
That is as close as i ever seeing a Maple Leafs fan conceding defeat...
3 months ago
great read! awesome! my pick, definitely!
Miah :)
3 months ago
This should be an interesting read, I look forward to seeing how you make this competition even close for your Leafs because based on your criteria the Habs are clearly the winner.
Just curious, on what criteria did you base 42-43 as the beginning of the Modern Era?
from 3 months ago
The start of the original six and the modern era of the NHL as defined by hockey analysts and players alike!
3 months ago
second place baby! Oil are definitely the 2nd best Canadian team. I would say first but everyone knows the Habs have to be first or they will probably complain to the league and want to be emancipated from the NHL unless we all recognize them as number 1....
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