The Biggest Hockey Groups of All Time

The Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are knowledgeable ice hockey staff primarily based in Chicago, Illinois. They’re members of the Central Division of the Western Convention of the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL). The membership was based on September 25, 1926, as one of many Unique Six groups of the NHL and is without doubt one of the “Unique Six” groups nonetheless in existence in the present day. The staff has had success all through its historical past, successful six Stanley Cups—essentially the most in NHL historical past for a U.S.-based staff—in addition to making it to 13 Stanley Cup Finals.

The Blackhawks have been particularly profitable since their revival within the early Nineties; they’ve gained 5 championships between 2010 and 2015, together with three consecutive titles from 2013 to 2015, turning into solely the fourth staff in NHL historical past to take action. With their sixth Stanley Cup win in 2015, in addition they grew to become the primary staff to win a number of championships inside a four-year span because the Detroit Purple Wings did so between 1997 and 2002. Led by captain Jonathan Toews and celebrity Patrick Kane, each initially drafted by Chicago in 2006, they’re one of the crucial in style franchises in all of sports activities with a passionate fan base that often sells out United Heart.

The Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are knowledgeable ice hockey staff primarily based in Los Angeles, California. They’re members of the Pacific Division of the Western Convention of the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL). The Kings had been based on June 5, 1967, as one of many six inaugural groups within the league.

The Kings gained their first Stanley Cup championship in 2012, turning into the second NHL franchise to win all 4 main championships (the Montreal Canadiens being the primary). In 2014, they grew to become the quickest American-born staff to win three Stanley Cups, doing so in simply 9 years. As of 2019, the Kings have gained two extra Stanley Cups, for a complete of 5. The staff performs its house video games at Staples Heart, an enviornment shared with fellow NHL staff Anaheim Geese and NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.

The Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are knowledgeable hockey staff primarily based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The staff was based in 1967 as one of many first growth groups within the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL) and has performed its house video games on the Consol Vitality Heart since 2010. The Penguins are one of the crucial profitable franchises in NHL historical past, having gained 5 Stanley Cup championships (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, 2017).

The Penguins had been based as a part of the NHL’s first wave of growth groups in 1967. The franchise was awarded to Pittsburgh after a bunch led by Tony O’Neill unsuccessfully bid for an NHL franchise in Philadelphia. The Penguins made their debut on October 11, 1967, in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens and misplaced 7–1. They went on to complete their inaugural season with a document of 23-39-14 and didn’t make the playoffs.

The Penguins struggled throughout their early years and didn’t put up a successful document till 1976-77 after they completed with a 38-33-9 document underneath head coach Purple Kelly. In 1979-80, led by head coach Bob Johnson, the Penguins made their first look within the Stanley Cup Finals however had been swept by the New York Islanders. After Johnson’s loss of life from most cancers halfway via the 1991–92 season, Herb Brooks took over as head coach and led the staff to victory in Sport 6 of the Finals in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks to win their first Stanley Cup championship.

Since then, Mario Lemieux (the one participant to have his quantity retired by each Pittsburgh and Montreal), Sidney Crosby (the youngest captain ever to guide his staff to a Stanley Cup), Evgeni Malkin (a three-time winner of each Artwork Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy), Phil Kessel (an Olympic gold medalist) have all turn out to be synonymous with success for this storied franchise

The New York Islanders

The New York Islanders are knowledgeable ice hockey staff primarily based within the New York metropolitan space. The staff is a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Jap Convention of the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL). The franchise was based in 1972 as one of many league’s authentic groups and has performed at Barclays Heart since 2015.

The Islanders gained 4 consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980 to 1983, with gamers corresponding to Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, and Billy Smith. Al Arbour coached the staff to all 4 titles. After successful their fourth championship, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals once more in 1984 however misplaced to the Edmonton Oilers. They’d not make one other look within the Finals till 1993 after they misplaced to Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings.

The Islanders returned to prominence in 2015 after hiring head coach Jack Capuano and normal supervisor, Garth Snow. That 12 months, they made it to the second spherical of the playoffs for less than the second time since 1993 earlier than being eradicated by Washington Capitals. The next season, they gained their first division title since 1988 and superior to their first convention finals since 1993; nonetheless, they had been as soon as once more defeated by Washington.

The Icemen

The Icemen are knowledgeable hockey staff that competes within the NHL. The staff is predicated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was based in 1971. The staff gained the Stanley Cup twice, in 1978 and in 1990, and are a member of the Central Division of the Western Convention. Their most notable gamers are Charles Williams, Garet Hunt, and Jacob Panetta.

General, the best hockey groups of all time are vital as a result of they’ve set the usual for what is feasible within the sport. They’ve impressed different groups and gamers to succeed in new heights and have helped to form the sport into what it’s in the present day.