2022, 1996, 2001
2001 is the team you always see on "greatest teams ever lists", but as constructed were insanely top heavy. The Sakic and Yelle lines were excellent, but the fourth line barely saw the ice. When Forsberg went down, the second like was Nieminen-Drury + Hinote/Reinprecht, with Hejduk shifting down at times to spread the wealth. On defense they were deeper with De Vries-Klemm on the third pair, but those guys didn't play a ton, nor did Skoula who averaged only 11 minutes in the playoffs despite playing with Blake. Meanwhile, Blake, Bourque, and Foote played ungodly minutes. It was all about the top end.
Then to compare 1996 and 2022, both teams were deep, with the glaring difference being '96 having the stud goalie in Roy and '22 having the stud D with Makar. However, I give an edge to 2022 because that team had to contend with the limitations of a salary cap, which neither of the other two teams did. And despite that they went 16-4, even with shaky goaltending that didn't cover up a lot of their mistakes.
One of my fav stats about the ‘22 team is that they won the cup with a SV% of .903 in the playoffs. The next lowest SV% in the last 10 years to win a cup was the kings in 2014 with a .912. Only 3 teams have won with a sub .920… Kuemper with one eye was all that was needed cause the rest of the team was such a wagon
Such a close called between 2001 and 2022 actually. 2001 is a beautiful and nostalgic dream team but the 2022 Avs were just unbelievably stacked. Our top 9 was just unfair and we wrecked teams. Mac, Landy, Rants, Val, Kadri, Lehky, Compher, Burky, Newhook? That and being motivated to death is what'll give you a 16-4 record. What a run.
I think 2022 takes the cake because it's in the cap era (and in a cap era that was extremely stagnant compared to other years)
so much talent on the Ice and the only thing that was definitely better about '96 or '01 is the goaltending
This is such a hard comparison the league played differently for all three cups, with the greatest difference for the 22 team. Put each team in the era of the other.
1996 - 96 loses to 01 beats 22
2001 - 01 beats 96 and 22
2022 - 22 beats 96 and 01
The 96 and 01 teams played a different ear of hockey that the 22 team, size mattered much more than speed. The 96 and 01 teams are the closest time wise as well as play style. The 01's depth would have defeated 96. The 22 team would run circles around both 96 and 01. The pure speed of the 22 team is the deciding factor.
I voted '01 because I am old and nostalgic for Sakic/Bourque handoff. Simply so iconic and burned into my brain as one of my favorite sports moments.
In terms of skill, '22. But then again, each era of hockey was different and '22 might not have thrived as much back then.
Also old enough to die on the hill that if Avs 1.0 were playing in today's game or a s 2.0 were playing back them 1.0 would absolutely still hold all the records
I can't in good conscience vote for the 2022 team over the 2001 or 1996 teams because of who was in net. Obviously Kuemper and Frankie did a good enough job to get it done, but Roy is the greatest playoff performer of all time. If we ignore goaltending, it's probably the 2022 team though.
The 2001 team included FIVE all stars. Granted it was in the North America vs. World format but that team was loaded in talent. AND could bust the neutral zone trap. And win two rounds without Forsberg.
2001 to 2022 is an unfair comparison, just in terms of the latter being done under a salary cap.
If we're looking purely at a collection of players relative to their era, it's hard for me to top 2001. Five Hall of Famers (Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, Bourque, Blake), plus guys like Hejduk, Foote, Tanguay, and Drury. I'm sure it wasn't always easy for Lacroix to attract and retain that kind of talent, but it wasn't the math problem that it is today. The fact that they overcame Forsberg's injury to beat a pretty good team in St. Louis and a great team in New Jersey is telling.
In terms of an accomplishment of squad building in the modern era, 2022 is \*soooo\* impressive. Some good fortune in terms of MacKinnon being an absolute stud on a very team-friendly contract gave them room to really fill in the lineup with that elite depth, but Sakic/MacFarland took advantage of it superbly, and basically the entire roster was clutch through the entire postseason.
All three Cup teams are incredibly special to me personally, but I can't decide between the 2001 and 2022 squads because their eras were just totally different from one another.
That 2022 club quite literally obliterated every opponent. No chance 96 or 01 beat that.
I think the 22 club beats most previous winners tbh
If they're playing with how they call the game now, 22 dominates. If they call the game like they were late-90's early 2000, it goes the other way.
2022, 1996, 2001 2001 is the team you always see on "greatest teams ever lists", but as constructed were insanely top heavy. The Sakic and Yelle lines were excellent, but the fourth line barely saw the ice. When Forsberg went down, the second like was Nieminen-Drury + Hinote/Reinprecht, with Hejduk shifting down at times to spread the wealth. On defense they were deeper with De Vries-Klemm on the third pair, but those guys didn't play a ton, nor did Skoula who averaged only 11 minutes in the playoffs despite playing with Blake. Meanwhile, Blake, Bourque, and Foote played ungodly minutes. It was all about the top end. Then to compare 1996 and 2022, both teams were deep, with the glaring difference being '96 having the stud goalie in Roy and '22 having the stud D with Makar. However, I give an edge to 2022 because that team had to contend with the limitations of a salary cap, which neither of the other two teams did. And despite that they went 16-4, even with shaky goaltending that didn't cover up a lot of their mistakes.
One of my fav stats about the ‘22 team is that they won the cup with a SV% of .903 in the playoffs. The next lowest SV% in the last 10 years to win a cup was the kings in 2014 with a .912. Only 3 teams have won with a sub .920… Kuemper with one eye was all that was needed cause the rest of the team was such a wagon
Such a close called between 2001 and 2022 actually. 2001 is a beautiful and nostalgic dream team but the 2022 Avs were just unbelievably stacked. Our top 9 was just unfair and we wrecked teams. Mac, Landy, Rants, Val, Kadri, Lehky, Compher, Burky, Newhook? That and being motivated to death is what'll give you a 16-4 record. What a run.
The Makar-Toews pairing was godlike as well
I agree, but I call you with de Vries and Blake and raise you with Foote and Bourque. Just for sporting sake.
Keep in mind you're comparing it against Bourque - Blake (or Bourque - Foote), which was pretty f-in good too.
I think 2022 takes the cake because it's in the cap era (and in a cap era that was extremely stagnant compared to other years) so much talent on the Ice and the only thing that was definitely better about '96 or '01 is the goaltending
Recency bias aside, 16-4 vs. 16-7 and 16-6. Icing on the cake was dismantling the repeat cup champs and erasing the three-peat/dynasty conversation.
This is such a hard comparison the league played differently for all three cups, with the greatest difference for the 22 team. Put each team in the era of the other. 1996 - 96 loses to 01 beats 22 2001 - 01 beats 96 and 22 2022 - 22 beats 96 and 01 The 96 and 01 teams played a different ear of hockey that the 22 team, size mattered much more than speed. The 96 and 01 teams are the closest time wise as well as play style. The 01's depth would have defeated 96. The 22 team would run circles around both 96 and 01. The pure speed of the 22 team is the deciding factor.
I voted '01 because I am old and nostalgic for Sakic/Bourque handoff. Simply so iconic and burned into my brain as one of my favorite sports moments. In terms of skill, '22. But then again, each era of hockey was different and '22 might not have thrived as much back then.
Also old enough to die on the hill that if Avs 1.0 were playing in today's game or a s 2.0 were playing back them 1.0 would absolutely still hold all the records
I can't in good conscience vote for the 2022 team over the 2001 or 1996 teams because of who was in net. Obviously Kuemper and Frankie did a good enough job to get it done, but Roy is the greatest playoff performer of all time. If we ignore goaltending, it's probably the 2022 team though.
The 2001 team included FIVE all stars. Granted it was in the North America vs. World format but that team was loaded in talent. AND could bust the neutral zone trap. And win two rounds without Forsberg.
2001 to 2022 is an unfair comparison, just in terms of the latter being done under a salary cap. If we're looking purely at a collection of players relative to their era, it's hard for me to top 2001. Five Hall of Famers (Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, Bourque, Blake), plus guys like Hejduk, Foote, Tanguay, and Drury. I'm sure it wasn't always easy for Lacroix to attract and retain that kind of talent, but it wasn't the math problem that it is today. The fact that they overcame Forsberg's injury to beat a pretty good team in St. Louis and a great team in New Jersey is telling. In terms of an accomplishment of squad building in the modern era, 2022 is \*soooo\* impressive. Some good fortune in terms of MacKinnon being an absolute stud on a very team-friendly contract gave them room to really fill in the lineup with that elite depth, but Sakic/MacFarland took advantage of it superbly, and basically the entire roster was clutch through the entire postseason. All three Cup teams are incredibly special to me personally, but I can't decide between the 2001 and 2022 squads because their eras were just totally different from one another.