Top 10 Best NHL Franchises of All Time
Yeah it's been a quarter century since our last cup but who the heck cares, we have the best fanbase in the league (sorry Hawks fans), and if we're referring to the past, hey 24 cups. And if the future comes up, yah no cups but 3 division titles in 5 years. And finally we've got Carey Price. People always talk about the Pens winning two straight cups twice, and the Hawks winning 3 in 5 years, we won 5 in a row, the all time record of consecutive Stanley cups won, and don't forget the much harder to pull off 70's dynasty. Montreal is the best team, no doubt. The Hawks fans will decrease after a few bad seasons, Habs fans will stay however long it takes to see lord Stanley return to Montreal. Go Habs Go!
How are the Canadiens not number 1? All these stupid bandwagon Blackhawks and Penguins fans take over. But the Montréal Canadiens are easily the best team in NHL history. 24 Stanley Cups doesn't lie people. Blackhawks are an Original Six team amd only have 6 Stanley Cups and only 3 in the Original Six era. What a joke the Hawks are. Then again you can make the same case with the Bruins and the Rangers. But Toronto and Detroit are also much more successful franchises than the Hawks and Pens. But come on people. How can you think the team with 11 more stanley cups than the 2nd place team is not the best team in the NHL. I can see if you think Detroit or Toronto. But if you think it's any other team besides Montréal, Detroit, or Toronto you are lying to yourself and you are a joke. And you don't know hockey.
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. They have won six Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926. Agreed! And far as the penguins being the best modern era... that's debatable... both teams have 3 cups over the last 10 years. It should come down to average of teams points over that course of time... and I believe the Hawks have them beat.
Kane, Toews, Keith Forget It! Their list of Hall of Fame players will stretch the length of the Bible! They are without a doubt the best NHL team. Winning 3 cups in 6 years is Literally unthinkable. And who did It? HAWKS.
The blackhawks are the best, they have some of the top 10 best NHL players right now. Anyways They are even better then the penguins and the capitals and the Canadians never mind they are the BEST TEAM EVER!
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League and are one of the Original Six teams of the league. Excuse me, but do the eleven cups mean anything to you? Or how about the 6 presidents trophies, or the winningest season ever, or the four cups in 13 years, or the fourth greatest player of all time, or the second greatest defenseman of all time, or the only coach in the triple gold club, not to mention more players in the triple gold club than anybody, and the greatest captain of all time. At the very LEAST they should be ranked number three behind the Canadiens and the Leafs, and not behind a team that hasn't even won a CUP!
How in the world are the blackhawks in the top list? How are the penguins? I understand the Canadians but when you have nearly double and triple these other teams and make record playoffs you're the best. Period.
Everyone said they couldn't beat the Blackhawks but they did. 3 times. And who knows about tonight! They have sold out their stadium over 94 times in a row! 11 Stanley cups! In my opinion the best team ever.
How are Pens second to Blackhawks? The Pittsburgh Penguins are THE dominant and most successful franchise of the modern era. Counting back from today, for another team to beat them with number of cups won, you have to go back before I was even born! Look at their playoff streak, it's twice the size of everyone else's. A bad season for the Pens is a good season for any other side.
There is no debate right now, Pens are the indisputable leading light of the NHL and will be for a few more years yet.
Not just the premier NHL team of today, but one of the best franchises in hockey. Although, the number of championships are fewer than others, no other franchise can boast the number of all-world stars Pittsburgh deployed. The most popular team in hockey, is certainly deserving to be recognized as one of the best. And probably could be better without all of the injuries they sustained. Lemeiux, Jagr, Francis, Barrasso, Pronovost, Crosby, Malkin, and now Fleury, and the list goes on... What a franchise. Hard to root against the Pens, unless you're from Washington or Philadelphia
The leafs are my favourite team and they have been since I was small. Last year they had a playoff spot for the first time since what, 2004. And I feel that they're getting better as being one of the top teams in the east. My most disliked team is the bruins, and I think that a lot of leafs fans are the same way.
I say only pay attention to canadian teams. And no I am not talking about how every hockey fan in the world should only pay attention to canadian teams but every canadian hockey fan in the world should only pay attention to the canadian franchises.
Why are the maple leafs so low. I know this site is dominated by Americans, but the Leafs have won more than all but the Canadians and have one of the most likeable teams, names, and logos
The Vancouver Canucks are an ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. Everyone says that this team has always done the worst, yet the Canucks they made it to the playoffs 4 times and nearly won! And its VERY HARD to make it to the playoffs in NHL. I am an Ontarian, but I like the Canucks for a long time now, and if you compare them to the Coyotes right now, their actually kicking ass
First of all, the Leafs need to be moved out of first (and this is a Leafs fan talking! ). However, they are still the best. They dominated the regular season and playoffs and, despite losing the final, were still the best overall.
The canucks had 117 points this season how could the pathetic maple leaves be ahead. Canucks rock leaves are horrible
The Oilers should always be remembered for the amazing decade they had in the '80's. An expansion team that were able to put a stop to the Islanders dynasty and build one of their own. Never again will a team be put together like that.
They were voted #1 team in the league and were awarded with this honour, so they should be higher. The Oilers have also has some great players, from Gretzky to Anderson, From Messier to Kurri, from Mcdavid to Nuge, they shouldn't be this low
The Oilers won 5 Stanley Cups with the greatest players in the 1980's with some of the greatest players of all time.
Probably will never see that magic ever again.
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden in the borough of Manhattan, an arena they share with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are one of three NHL teams... read more How are the leafs and bruins ahead of the rangers? The rangers have been to the conference final three times in the past 4 years. Love them, hate them, they're an awesome team. A rangers cup is bound to happen in the next 5 years. I'm willing to bet on it.
The New York Rangers is one of the best hockey teams. Throughout the 90 years in the league, they have become the best and have got in the playoffs almost every time.
The Rangers are a classic team and were the first American team to win the cup. We also have the coolest logo because it is very simple which is good.
Canadiens #1? The bruins are putting up historical numbers as a team this year. Whoever made this list is obviously a Canadiens fan. I'm a Canadiens fan. I hate the Bruins but there is no denying that they are the best team in the NHL. Canadiens are having a terrible year this year, almost worst in the NHL. Bruins are coming off of a Stanley Cup victory (they beat the Canadiens on the way there) and they look as strong as ever. Don't relly understand why people just can't be honest when they vote.
The bruins are the best team ever! They have had Bobby Orr, they were one of the original six, and who doesn't love them? Don't forget about their comeback it the first round of the 2011 playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leaves? They are a great team, and they will stay the best forever.
One of the original teams. Also the team of Bobby Orr. Also the team with super strong mascot a bruin (black bear). Also the team of the tallest hockey player (Chara). Also the team that has much more legendary stats and a team that is just plain legendary. #4? Hell no. #1? HELL YES!
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. Love seeing the Kings up this high-Number 8 and moving! It's about time- 226 straight sellouts-that's 5 straight years of sellouts-in a highly competitive market. The reason is clear-this team outworks whomever they play, and their hard work is appreciated by Kings fans throughout southern California and around the country. Closest thing to the Bruins 1970's teams that I can remember.
This is the only OLD SCHOOL NHL team. Easily the hardest hitting, hardest working and most defensive minded. The fact they have sold out every game-225 in a row -since 2012-shows that LA hockey fans, and unlike Laker fans, they're the blue collar variety, love the fact this team gives 100pct night in and night out. I would rather watch a Kings game that is 1-0 then some Penguins or Blackhawks no defense 6-5 game any day.
This is the hottest team in the league right now, and they don't even have Quick. Look out for the Kings. This is the team no one wants to meet in the first round of the playoffs.
The Ottawa Senators (French: Sénateurs d'Ottawa) are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The Senators play their home games at the 18,652-seat Canadian Tire Centre, which opened in 1996 as the Palladium. My jaw dropped when I saw this answer. How? HOW? The Sens are below the Leafs?! (Toronto doesn't even use proper grammar! ) This is just plain embarrassing, what is wrong with you people?!
The Sens are the best team ever. Unlike the maple leafs who haven't won a stanley cup in about 20 years. At least Ottawa has been to the cup finals. Maple leafs more like maple losers.
I can't belive that the leafs are number one. They suck so bad its been 8 years since they made the playoffs they have probly forgot what the playoffs are they suck Ottawas the best enough said.
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. How are the Edmonton Oilers ahead of the Calgary Flames in this list? The Calgary Flames beat the Edmonton Oilers more times than them beating the Calgary Flames. Plus the Calgary Flames have the best hockey player in the world, Johnny Gaudreau!
Honestly how are the Flames 15th they should be in the top ten. The only reason they are not that good is because of the lack of experienced players. This list dissapoints me...
Flames suck, franchise- only one Stanley cup, Oilers have 5, players suck and they win of luck. Flames stink.
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. They are one of the best teams. They make it to the playoffs every single year and this year they were so close to winning the Stanley cup.
The name of it is good and the logo of it is fascinating! They almost won the Stanley Cup every year. I love this team.
Amazing team, they work really hard and they have really great players. Love this team! Go Sharks!
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. The club was founded as the Kansas City Scouts in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1974. The Scouts moved to Denver, Colorado in 1976 and became the Colorado Rockies. In 1982, they moved to East Rutherford,... read more Ok, so they haven't been good in a decade, but they did make it to the finals in 2012 which was the tail end of a 18ish year run of absolute domination. 3 cups, 25 won playoff series, you younger fans might not remember it, but there was a time where it was just assumed that this team was going to make it deep into the playoffs. Older fans remember how absolutely dominant their trap was with brick walls like Daneyko and Niedermeyer and the freight train that is Scott Stevens, only to be backstopped by arguably the best goalie of all time, Martin Brodeur. You just did not score on these guys.
How are the Rangers ahead of the Devils. They haven't won the cup since 1994 and before that 1940. Sure the Devils have struggled as of late but the Devils have been around for only 30 years and the rags have been around for 90 years and only 4 stanley cups. New Jersey won three stanley cups in the thirty years they've been around and they are still going to win stanley cups from years to come!
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. The Avalanche and Coyotes are the only two teams in their division not based in the Central Time Zone; the teams are situated in the Mountain Time Zone. In one year they have gone from 29-30th in the league to being a force to be reckoned with, like they were in the first bunch of seasons after moving to Colorado. Patrick Roy forever!
Really like them. They got young guns and they maybe, if they can make it work, could be the most dominating NHL team. If they can make it work.
How is this not top 5 and the freaking red wings, the current worst team in nhl, are in the top 3? Or the senators above them. The senators can't score any goals
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. We all Bleed Blue! The Blues may not have the best chance at winning the cups, but they still have some of the best players around, with one of the best chances at getting into the playoffs, and being ranked high in the Stanley cup playoffs. Look at their first three years, I mean, Rookie team making it into the playoffs every single year like that? A feat no severed Indian head wearer will understand.
The Blues goal horn; One of the best in the league. It is easily the most diverse and underappreciated goal horn out there. The organs, which, unlike the rest, are just that; Organs. There is no singing (Could be, but there isn't), while the other teams, Blackhawks, Panthers, Stars, etc, all have singing and the most generic goal horn out there. It is amazing when you get those three blasts and then the Blues supporting organs.
The Players; We have had many people, including Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, and Bernie Ferderko. Some of the best players (And one that is the best) around. And look at us now, a feared name; Vladimir Tarasenko. We also have the Goalie, with a better SV % Than Crawford, Brian Elliott (MOOSE! ). Center and Captain, David Backes, Alex Pietrangelo, Jake Allen, and the list continues.
In conclusion; They might not have a cup, but they sure do have a good team. A very underappreciated team, especially for how good they are. (At least we don't have many bandwagoners... *Cough* Blackhawks *Cough*)
I was born in Tampa, so was my brother and other lightning fans I know. We aren't fake fans, and we are in love with the game of hockey. I've been a fan since I was a baby. Hockey is big in Tampa. Unless you live in Tampa you wouldn't know. The lightning are a great team and we have a lot potential to win the cup years to come. We are one of the better teams and this list is bull. Flames are trash so not sure why they are ahead of us. We beat them in 2004 and we make to the playoffs. They don't. How's that for Florida?
I hate this team and the panthers also. The ligtning and panthers can kiss my ass. they both have fake fans. I bet 99.9% of the fans came from canada or the northern states. if your lucky to find maybe 1 or 2 fans were born in florida. Either then that 98 to 99% are from different places. And also how many people in florida have even heard of hockey? you guessed it none. None have heard of the game. They are more into the NFL MLB and NBA. But they don't care if bettman locks out the NHL. And another thing the people in florida caring about ice hockey is so small that it's not even 1%.
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York metropolitan area. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Islanders are amazing, they should be in the top 5 at least! Rangers suck, they didn't even get in the 2nd round of the playoffs this year, they should be replacing the Islanders in 20th place! islanders on the other hand beat an amazing panthers team in the best of 7 series in the first round of the playoffs so they are going into the second round unlike Rangers!
The 82-83 New York Islanders team was one of the greatest NHL teams ever to hit the ice. It was a team that reached the pinnacle of one of hockey's greatest dynasties, featuring future Hall of Famers Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Billy Smith, and Clark Gillies. The team was coached by Hall of Famer Al Arbour (the third all-time winningest coach) and managed by another Hall of Famer, Bill Torrey.
Their Cup win was legendary. They swept an Oilers team that included Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Anderson, and Coffey. This Oilers team had scored a record 424 goals during the regular season and averaged over 6 goals per game in their playoff run leading up to the finals. In four games, the Oilers scored a total of 6 goals against Billy Smith, with none coming from Gretzky. The series concluded with Mike Bossy scoring the game-winning goal, his second Stanley Cup-winning goal, at 12:39 in the first period.
Anyway, yeah. LGI!
This list must be old. Capitals #23?! They currently have one of the best records in the league. And the team is filled with All stars. Ovechkin, Oshie, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Holtby, Wilson, Orlav. The list goes on. They have the number one power play kill and they're number two in power play goals. Not to mention one of the best shootout lineups/records in the league. Best team in the league.
Go Caps! They are rising up through the ranks in the NHL very quickly, and are a huge contender for the Stanley Cup. With Ovechkin and Backstrom, they can dominate the NHL, which they already are.
I'm a caps fan, and they play some of the beat hockey in the league and they are the best team to gollow. All the fans are true to the team and haven't left even though we do not have a cup. By the way: leafs suck so bad, I'm shocked they won more then 3 face offs this year
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Since their inception, the Ducks have played their home games at the Honda Center. The only reason Hab's are #2 is that they started earlier than any team, which is the reason that they have cups. Now, the entire California Fanbase and Organization is mostly Dumbass LA fans. Ducks fans are much more loyal, and they're "Smarter" in terms of hockey IQ.
Ducks have the best fanbase of any NHL team that wasn't apart of the original 6. They deserve to move up on this list.
Screw the ducks and screw anyone that does not like canadian teams.
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. Minnesota is the largest producer of American NHL players. Hockey is to Minnesota what football is to Texas. The 1980 Miracle on Ice, 70% Minnesota born players. Minnesota is long overdue to host a cup. Look at the roster of your favorite team, chances are that more than one of the key players is a Minnesota native. Those who have grown up in the State of Minnesota understand why it IS the State of Hockey. We were robbed of our heritage when the North Stars were moved to Texas and won the cup shortly after. Our time is coming, and we can all shed a tear of joy when we finally get the much deserved banner hosted into the Xcel Enegy Center in St. Paul.
Yo I'm from MN so I was born a Wild fan, but you've gotta admit, there pretty awesome!
Because they are good
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. Shea Weber is an amazing CAPTAIN because he hits awesome and scores awesome!
I'm picking them to win this year(2017) I think we should start voting for them a bit!
This list is off #stupid
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. You only say that this team is better than the flames because you are jealous that the flames are hockey country. Besides if you think this team is better than the flames than screw you. You don't know what you are talking about. unless you live in texas than I would understand why you like this team more than flames.
Stars are amazing, they have Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza and Tyler Seguin. They had an amazing 2016 regular season record and started off doing AWESOME in the beggining of the playoffs. This is why the Dallas Stars should be #1!
They have a cup unlike the team at number 5.
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League. How many teams loose their no1 center and in their first 5 games since scheiffle was hurt gain 9 out of a possible 10 points! Depth on this team is the best we have seen yet! A Jets fan and friend of Bobby Hull for 45 yrs.
An incredible team, should be in the top 10. Very great players and fans! Surprised they aren't higher!
I hate predators
At least they won the cup (2004). Unlike other teams that are lower here. This from a ranger fan.
Great team. Great players. Eric Staal is a great captain. Jordan Staal a good alternate.
Eric Went To The Rangers they didn't make it to 2016 playoffs but they worked hard for it