Historical NHL Season
Introduction to the Original Six
The Original Six teams based in the United States have a rich history, combining to hoist the Stanley Cup 27 times.
And now, they share an unwanted distinction.
Detroit, Boston, Chicago and the New York Rangers will all miss the playoffs in the same year for the first time in NHL history.
The Red Wings have 11 Stanley Cups, trailing the totals won by the Canadian-based Original Six teams. Montreal has won 23 Cups and Toronto has 13. The Maple Leafs have earned a spot in the playoffs that start Saturday. The Canadiens are in the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot and can clinch a berth with a win over Chicago on Monday night.
Underperformance of US-Based Teams
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit was slowly improving under general manager Steve Yzerman until this year. The Hall of Fame player was hired away from Tampa Bay in 2019 and the patience he asked for is running thin.
A year after losing a tiebreaker for the last spot in the Eastern Conference, the Red Wings took a step back this season and were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Saturday.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are the last-place team in the Central Division for the third straight year and will finish ahead of only San Jose in the NHL. Earlier this century, they were a league power with three Cups from 2010-15 to give the franchise a total of six.
New York Rangers and Boston Bruins
While no one in the Motor City or Windy City was shocked by another lackluster season on the ice, the Rangers and Bruins were expected to be playoff teams.
A year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy with an NHL-high 114 points and reaching the Eastern Conference final, the Rangers were hoping to possibly hoist the Cup for the first time in more than three decades and fifth time in franchise history. Peter Laviolette’s second season behind the bench in New York simply didn’t pan out, guiding a team that was hovering around .500 and out of contention during the last week of the regular season.
Boston started the season with high hopes and will finish it with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The rebuilding franchise traded captain Brad Marchand last month at the trade deadline, dealing the last remaining member of its sixth championship team in 2011.
Conclusion
The elimination of all US-based Original Six teams from the playoffs marks a historic moment in NHL history, highlighting the challenges these teams have faced in recent years. As the league moves forward, it will be interesting to see how these teams regroup and work towards returning to their former glory.
FAQs
Q: Which teams are the Original Six based in the United States?
A: The Original Six teams based in the United States are the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers.
Q: How many Stanley Cups have the US-based Original Six teams won in total?
A: The US-based Original Six teams have won a total of 27 Stanley Cups.
Q: Which Canadian-based Original Six teams have won the most Stanley Cups?
A: The Montreal Canadiens have won 23 Stanley Cups, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cups.
Q: Where can I find more information about the NHL?
A: You can find more information about the NHL at https://apnews.com/hub/NHL.
