Eklund: The Ten Factors a Team Must Possess to Win a Cup. Who has them?

Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames
- latorrem1

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Sabres
- ChetManly

Florida Panthers

a lower seed knocking out a true contender in an early round?

a lower seed knocking out a true contender in an early round?
- Popcorn Kid

Like what unfortunately didn't happen for you this year?

So how the heck did the Hawks win last season? The PP was a step or two beyond
Bad.

Atlanta Thrashers

i look at this list and all i think of is montreal, but what the (frank) happened to them? out 1st rd

they had horrible seasons, they have a coach that turned them around, a good GM, carey price is capable of stealing games, they have depth on defense, they have a mix of young and old vets who work hard they have briere now who is clutch when it comes down to crunch time ,...

im not saying theyre winning the cup, i just think of them when i see this list...but yet they have struggled to prove they are true contendors, the potential is there but idk

i also think of boston bruins when it comes to key clutch performers in playoff time (kreji)

So how the heck did the Hawks win last season? The PP was a step or two beyond
Bad.
- Beaver-Warrior

You had the superhuman Bickell.

i look at this list and all i think of is montreal, but what the (frank) happened to them? out 1st rd

they had horrible seasons, they have a coach that turned them around, a good GM, carey price is capable of stealing games, they have depth on defense, they have a mix of young and old vets who work hard they have briere now who is clutch when it comes down to crunch time ,...

im not saying theyre winning the cup, i just think of them when i see this list...but yet they have struggled to prove they are true contendors, the potential is there but idk
- RileyB77

Reading the questions, Edmonton is about 50%. It's promising finally!

I think the idea of having former Cup winners on your team can be overrated. I also think that having a 4th line that can contribute points and minutes isn't very important... right up until you have a game go past the 1st OT and then it is downright essential. I also think having a steady-to-hot goalie is more important than the one that makes the one big save at the crucial moment. Sometimes the biggest "saves" are the ones you don't make, not the ones you do.

You mentioned depth on defense, but I think depth at forward is almost as important. You need secondary scoring and teams who have 1 or 2 superstars carrying the load in the playoffs tend to fizzle out early when their opponent figures out how to shut them down and make the rest of the team try to beat them.

Calgary Flames
- latorrem1

LOL! Good one.

Well the Canucks have nine of those, we're a shoe-in for the Cup.

"ex-facors"
Oh man...

So how the heck did the Hawks win last season? The PP was a step or two beyond
Bad.
- Beaver-Warrior

Because they answered about 8/10 of those other qualities in spades!!!

Eklund: The Ten Factors a Team Must Possess to Win a Cup. Who has them?
- Eklund

A team has to make the playoffs and after that anything can happen. If it was as simple as making a list of 10 things a team has to have then every team would do those things.

Players capable of driving strong percentages (SH%/SV%). Players capable of driving strong possession #s at ES. Luck.

That's about it.

i look at this list and all i think of is montreal, but what the (frank) happened to them? out 1st rd

they had horrible seasons, they have a coach that turned them around, a good GM, carey price is capable of stealing games, they have depth on defense, they have a mix of young and old vets who work hard they have briere now who is clutch when it comes down to crunch time ,...

im not saying theyre winning the cup, i just think of them when i see this list...but yet they have struggled to prove they are true contendors, the potential is there but idk

i also think of boston bruins when it comes to key clutch performers in playoff time (kreji)
- RileyB77

They got beat like a red, white, and blue headed step child

You had the superhuman Bickell.
- ChetManly

He was, wasn't he? Playing on one leg and with one functional thumb.

Players capable of driving strong percentages (SH%/SV%). Players capable of driving strong possession #s at ES. Luck.

That's about it.
- Travis Yost

Add health and you nailed it.

Add health and you nailed it.
- Beaver-Warrior

I think that falls into the luck category.

Players capable of driving strong percentages (SH%/SV%). Players capable of driving strong possession #s at ES. Luck.

That's about it.
- Travis Yost

You forgot excellent goaltending. Unless in Yost language "player capable of driving strong SV%" means excellent goaltending

A team has to make the playoffs and after that anything can happen. If it was as simple as making a list of 10 things a team has to have then every team would do those things.
- woopstash

That's not entirely true at all. History shows, the majority of the time, one of the top three teams in either the Western Conf or the Eastern Conf win the Cup on a regular basis. Simply making the playoffs is a valid argument, but if you look at the actual percentages, it's gotta be > 90% of the time one of the top three teams wins.

L.A. is the only team in the present playoff format that has ever won a Stanley Cup.

They got beat like a red, white, and blue headed step child
- forbetterorWORSE

lmao, i see what you did there