I love when we have new champs in any sport (not that I really like any other sport). A changing of the guard is good for the game. Dynasties like the Lakers, Celtics, Canadiens, and Patriots are great when looking back at the record books, but they are pretty freakin' boring while they are going on. (Plus, I hate Tom Brady for being better looking and more athletic than me. He also dates hotter girls.)
Detroit, of course, was the last team to repeat as champs. Their bid to 3-peat ended to the Avalanche in the 2nd round in 1999. Dallas made 2 straight Finals appearances, winning in '99 and losing in '00 to Jersey. The Devils were the last team to make 2 straight appearances in the Finals as they lost to Colorado in 2001.
The Avalanche lost in the 3rd round to Detroit in 2002. Then it gets dicey.
The year after the Red Wings won the Cup, they got swept by Anaheim in the first round. The Devils won the Cup in 2003 then lost to Philadelphia the next year in the first round. However, the teams they beat, Carolina and Anaheim, didn't even make the playoffs after making the Finals the season before.
Stats are skewed with the Tampa Bay Lightning because of the lockout, but they did make the playoffs in the first two seasons after winning the Cup, bouncing in the first round each.
Carolina and Edmonton both made the Finals in 05-06, and both haven't seen the postseason since. Last season, Anaheim and Ottawa battled into June. Both teams might battle this year (cliche alert!) for tee times in May.
What is my point? None, really. I was just excited to have a new champion this year and decided to write about how the teams who have made the Finals (and won the Cup, as well) have been doing poorly the next season. On the radio, they make it out to be because they are drained from the long journey to the Finals, which may be true. I think it's not so much the journey, it's the fact that there are only 70-some-odd days to rest up before training camp and the next season as opposed to an extra month or two that some other teams enjoy having.
Could just be random events conspiring. With the Ducks, they had a magical run. J.S. Giguere wasn't as incredible the next season as he was in the '03 playoffs. Paul Kariya left for Colorado (failed). They needed time, but they eventually got their prize. So did Carolina. Maybe Ottawa will next year (probably not). New Jersey lost their core. Scott Stevens played less than half the next season, including no playoff games. Ken Daneyko retired after listing the Cup a 3rd time, Joe Nieuwendy left, Jeff Friesen realized he was awful, Fatso was human, and Jamie Langenbrunner got hurt. They, however, haven't been the same since that season.
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In any event, let's hope you all are rooting for Boston to win tomorrow night over Montreal, in the first Game 7 since Dallas beat Vancouver in last year's first round. I'm actually shocked that this is the game Versus is featuring since they have an apparent love affair with the Capitals.
We should also hope Philadelphia loses Game 6 to Washington then wins in Game 7, thus giving Jagr, Shanahan, and Straka more time to heal (as well as Gomez, Staal, Mara, Orr, Rozsival, and Lundqvist), all while cementing me eating cheesesteaks next week.
It's 3:30 a.m., give me a break!
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The Rangers portion of The Rivalry wholeheartedly endorses Forgetting Sarah Marshall, gratuitous penis scenes and all.
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