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We're Still The Best!

By Scott Reynolds Updated
Here's a guy who knows that he's the best.
Here's a guy who knows that he's the best.

The last time I put this most beautiful of all charts up, a Maple Leafs' fan complained that looking at playoff results since the lockout is completely arbitrary and instead suggested starting way back in 1993. Now, I can sort of understand the complaint that a post-lockout look is arbitrary, but given the state of the league today, I also think that it makes a lot of sense (certainly a lot more sense than 1993). First of all, the salary cap was instituted after the lockout, and I think that's changed the way that pretty much every team in the league does business. It seems reasonable to me to look at what teams have enjoyed success since that change. Furthermore, there have been thirty established NHL teams every year since the lockout, which provides a fair comparison for all of the franchises that are currently in the league, something that is definitely not the case if we look back further. But the real objection to starting with the 2005-06 season isn't that it's arbitrary; the real reason will become all-too-clear with one look at the chart, which details how each team has done in the playoffs since 2005-06.

Playoffs_medium

There's just so much to love in this chart:

  • The Edmonton Oilers have the best playoff winning percentage in the whole league, and by the time they get back to the playoffs, the team will be good again! This organization is run by geniuses!
  • The Oilers are also tied for 14th with the Rangers and Devils for the most playoff wins, which is a solid middle-of-the-pack ranking, and one of only ten teams with a winning record. Geniuses!
  • I point this out every time, but no team has played more playoff games or won more playoff games without winning a playoff series than the Calgary Flames. It's no wonder Ryan Smyth didn't want to play there!
  • Buffalo is the only team with a winning record that hasn't played in the Stanley Cup Finals (oddballs!), but San Jose has played way more games than any other team that hasn't played in the Stanley Cup Finals (chokers!), which I guess isn't all bad.
  • But Toronto is definitely bad. Not as bad as Florida though! No wins and stuck with Dale Tallon? You might just be cursed.