A journey through time to celebrate the legendary achievements of these iconic NHL franchises
The National Hockey League (NHL) has a long history with many famous teams that have changed the sport of ice hockey for good. Through the years, some NHL teams have become legendary, having unmatched success and becoming associated with the sport of its own.
Many people think that the Montreal Canadiens of 1976–1977 were one of the best NHL teams ever. They set a record for most wins in a single season with 60 wins and only 8 losses during the regular season, led by coach Scotty Bowman. They won the Stanley Cup, which was the cherry on top of a great season led by stars like Guy Lafleur and Ken Dryden.
The Edmonton Oilers
A lot of people think that Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers were one of the best teams in NHL history from 1983 to 1984. Gretzky, who was known as "The Great One," scored 205 points, which was the most in the league.
The Islanders of New York
Under coach Al Arbour, the 1981–1982 New York Islanders won their third straight Stanley Cup, making them the very first American team to do so. Players like Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin led this era. They were very good at working as a team and playing defence, which was a big part of their success.
The Red Wings of Detroit
In the early 2000s, the Detroit Red Wings, led by coach Scotty Bowman, were one of the best teams in the NHL. Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, and Nicklas Lidstrom were some of the best players on the team. In the normal season, they scored 116 points and only lost twice in the playoffs. They then went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The Maple Leafs of Toronto
The 1946–1947 Toronto Maple Leafs, led by coach Hap Day, made an amazing comeback in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Maple Leafs came back from being down 3-0 in the series to beat the Detroit Red Wings and win the title.
The Boston Bruins
The 1970–1971 Boston Bruins, coached by Tom Johnson, had a great team with stars like Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, and Johnny Bucyk. Orr had a great season as a defender. He won the scoring title and is the only defenseman in NHL history to do so.
Avalanche in Colorado
Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Patrick Roy were all on the amazing 1995–1996 Colorado Avalanche team, which was coached by Marc Crawford.
The Blackhawks of Chicago
Rudy Pilous managed the Chicago Blackhawks from 1960–1961, which had Hall of Famers like Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. During this season, Hull scored 50 goals in 50 games, which is a record.
The New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils of the 1999–2000 season, taught by Larry Robinson, were known for their tough defence, which was led by goalie Martin Brodeur. With 111 points at the end of the regular season, the team won the Stanley Cup.
The Penguins of Pittsburgh
The 1990–1991 Pittsburgh Penguins had a great season, thanks in large part to famous players like Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. Lemieux, who had cancer during the season, came back to play and won the scoring title.
There have been many famous teams in the NHL, and each one did something special to become great. These 10 teams are the best in NHL history. They have made the sport more interesting through great comebacks, dominant regular seasons, and dynastic runs.
