A Dry Canadian Season
Whilst in the midst of a busy workday this saturday just gone, Mike pointed out a fact which is not only fascinating but deeply puzzling, he said "You know a Canadian team hasn't lifted the cup for 20 years?" This is a damn good point and one that ultimately leaves us baffled- but what is the reason for this current drought? Let's have a look in more detail,
Cast your mind back to the night of June 9th 1993 where the Montreal Canadiens swept aside a Wayne Gretzky inspired Los Angeles Kings by four games to ones to claim their 24th Stanley Cup win and as Habs Captain Guy Carbonneau hoisted the cup at the Montreal Forum, little did we know that this would the be the last time to date that a Canadian team would be engraved on the trophy!
Since then the cup has been an all American affair and in between these twenty years we have seen four deserved wins by Detroit Red Wings, three Scott Stevens inspired cup wins by the New Jersey Devils and two cup wins each by the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, there has also been some big surprise victors such as Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 and the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
In this time period there has only been six appearences by Canadian teams in the final (including two by the Vancouver Canucks in 1994 & 2011) and Montreal has never reach the final again beyond their 1993 win! After a trophy lined dynasty lasting over 50 years, the Habs recent lack of form has been a cause for concern to their loyal fans as they have progressed no further than the Quarter Finals since that joyous night, their fans remain steadfast but the winless 2000s ruined their proud record of a championship in each decade!
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fared little better and have last recorded their last Stanley Cup win back in 1966 and despite some impressive forward names such as Mats Sundin and Doug Gilmour, their best season to date was when they reached the Western Conference Final in 1993 where they were beaten in 7 games by LA. Also lest we forget the Edmonton Oilers who had by far the best offensive weapon in the 1980's with Gretzky, Mark Messier, Adam Graves and Marty McSorley and with the great combination of strength and skill, they recorded four cup wins between 1984 to 1990 who since then have only made one sole final appearence in 2006.
So what is the cause for the lack of trophies in Canada these past two decades? Well the utter dominance of teams such as Detroit and New Jersey hasnt helped, and the emergence of key players from Eastern Europe has helped US teams to be among the NHL elite to a stage where Canadian sides cannot compete, also according Nate Silver's article in the NY York Times in May 2013, the weakness of the Canadian dollar hasnt allowed them the capacity to spend large amounts like their US counterparts. Also clever draft picks of Canadian stars have played a key part in success such as Pittsburgh selection of Sidney Crosby and Chicago choosing Jonathan Toews- both of whom have become two of the best modern day players!
If you look closely at the Canadian Hockey team roster for the 2013 World Championships, only 6 out of 24 players actually turn out for a Canadian side, which tell us all we need to know about the modern state of hockey in Canada. I don't doubt that one day the glory days will return to this great country but for the time being teams will need to think long and hard about finding a strategy that will turn the odds on the house!
Cast your mind back to the night of June 9th 1993 where the Montreal Canadiens swept aside a Wayne Gretzky inspired Los Angeles Kings by four games to ones to claim their 24th Stanley Cup win and as Habs Captain Guy Carbonneau hoisted the cup at the Montreal Forum, little did we know that this would the be the last time to date that a Canadian team would be engraved on the trophy!
Since then the cup has been an all American affair and in between these twenty years we have seen four deserved wins by Detroit Red Wings, three Scott Stevens inspired cup wins by the New Jersey Devils and two cup wins each by the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, there has also been some big surprise victors such as Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 and the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
In this time period there has only been six appearences by Canadian teams in the final (including two by the Vancouver Canucks in 1994 & 2011) and Montreal has never reach the final again beyond their 1993 win! After a trophy lined dynasty lasting over 50 years, the Habs recent lack of form has been a cause for concern to their loyal fans as they have progressed no further than the Quarter Finals since that joyous night, their fans remain steadfast but the winless 2000s ruined their proud record of a championship in each decade!
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fared little better and have last recorded their last Stanley Cup win back in 1966 and despite some impressive forward names such as Mats Sundin and Doug Gilmour, their best season to date was when they reached the Western Conference Final in 1993 where they were beaten in 7 games by LA. Also lest we forget the Edmonton Oilers who had by far the best offensive weapon in the 1980's with Gretzky, Mark Messier, Adam Graves and Marty McSorley and with the great combination of strength and skill, they recorded four cup wins between 1984 to 1990 who since then have only made one sole final appearence in 2006.
So what is the cause for the lack of trophies in Canada these past two decades? Well the utter dominance of teams such as Detroit and New Jersey hasnt helped, and the emergence of key players from Eastern Europe has helped US teams to be among the NHL elite to a stage where Canadian sides cannot compete, also according Nate Silver's article in the NY York Times in May 2013, the weakness of the Canadian dollar hasnt allowed them the capacity to spend large amounts like their US counterparts. Also clever draft picks of Canadian stars have played a key part in success such as Pittsburgh selection of Sidney Crosby and Chicago choosing Jonathan Toews- both of whom have become two of the best modern day players!
If you look closely at the Canadian Hockey team roster for the 2013 World Championships, only 6 out of 24 players actually turn out for a Canadian side, which tell us all we need to know about the modern state of hockey in Canada. I don't doubt that one day the glory days will return to this great country but for the time being teams will need to think long and hard about finding a strategy that will turn the odds on the house!
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