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Building a Modern Dynasty: The Formula

This is the eighth and final article in a series of articles looking at and analyzing the success of the last five teams to raise the Stanley Cup.  Be sure to read the first three articles in the series “Where Have all the Dynasties Gone?”Detroit: Setting the Parameters of a Modern Day Dynasty”, “Detroit: End of an Era?” , “Pittsburgh – Needed to hit Rock Bottom before Rising Up”, “Chicago – Fresh Replacements is the Key“, “Building the Boston Bruins: Having a Philosophy and Sticking to It Pays Off. and “Los Angeles – Harnessing the Potential”.  The objective of this series is to search for the new magic formula to create a champion and whether that champion would be built to stand the test of time.

Today, we conclude the series by summarizing the key characteristics each team reviewed in the series have managed to excel at on the road to winning the Stanley Cup. 

Draft Smartly

From Detroit to Los Angeles, the draft has been a foundation to creating a championship team. Each team, (except Detroit) covered in this series has been benefited from drafting at least one player in the top 3 picks in a recent draft prior to winning their most recent Stanley Cup. Each club has been able to not only select good players in the first round but also to be able to draft support and assets in the later rounds.

A key to each of Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh’s and Los Angeles drafting success has been to hit rock bottom. At one stage in its storied franchises recent past the club has sucked it up and started a rebuild. Although Boston did not officially hit rock bottom during this current era, it was able to convert roster assets into the top picks that have had the equivalent effect on the Bruins roster.

The draft has also assisted each of these clubs in replacing the ranks either directly or providing the respective general manager with assets to trade. This point cannot be minimized, without replacements a team will not last long at the top.

 

Dealing with the Cap

No team in the NHL can hide from the Cap, and the new generation of general managers will have to be able to manage the Cap in order to be successful. What each of the 5 teams discussed in this series have been able to do is assess its roster, sign key cornerstone players to long term deals, keep the system full of future support players and trade other current roster players for picks and prospects for the future.

Clubs are sometime faced with tough decisions. Like the Bruins were faced with Phil Kessel. In the end it decided to trade away a young 30-goal scorer to help fill the cupboard with picks. Making the decision to move players, whether it is a character player like Troy Brouwer or a 30 goal scorer like Kessel must be made in order to keep the system working and each of these clubs have been able to do this.

 

Leadership

Each team to have won the Stanley Cup over the past five seasons have had a recognizable leader. It is imperative to the success of an organization that its leadership be strong at all levels. From my analysis of these 5 franchises it is clear why I have more trouble seeing the Los Angeles Kings becoming a dynasty than any of the other 4 teams at this point.

When looking at the one club I do believe is at least the closest team to being considered a dynasty to this generation of fans, the Detroit Red Wing, leadership is the cornerstone of the franchise. From Ken Holland, to Mike Babcook to a chain of Captains that runs from Steve Yzerman to Nicklas Lidstrom to current Captain Henrik Zetterberg it is harder to find a team that has stronger leadership than the Wings do.

 

A Place Players want to Play

An ingredient that usually comes after a club has done all the previous things correctly is creating a place players want to play. Detroit has done this very well in the past. By creating an environment players want to go and play you can help manage the Cap. Although some free agents are only focused on the numbers of the deal, many will consider what team is offering a deal over the highest dollar figure.

Add success to the mix and a clear franchise direction and general managers will also find it easier to re-sign home grown talent with possible hometown discounts. The ability to keep a team together and replace players that leave is an integral ingredient to creating a long-term successful team.

The question as to whether Detroit can maintain its high level of play with the current roster, and whether Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles are all experiencing the start of something special will only be answered with time. The one sure thing is that one of Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston or Los Angeles will accomplish something no other team has done over the past 9 seasons, won a second Stanley Cup following the first.

Having a second Stanley Cup win in as long as a 5-season span, and as short as back to back Cup wins is not in itself a dynasty creation, however it is certainly a good start. And as all of the 4 conference finalists still boast young rosters, there is plenty of time to add to those Cup win numbers.

 

Thanks for reading – as always feel free to leave comments below and follow me our hockey department on twitter @IswearGaa. @lastwordBKerr@BigMick99, and @LastWordOnNHL, and follow the site @lastwordonsport.

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photo credit: michaelrighi via photopin cc

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