Surely, you'll find no dispute with our ranking of the 10 best single seasons by a team in NHL history.
The NHL has seen some incredible teams throughout its history, each leaving a lasting legacy on the sport. In this article, we will rank the greatest single-season NHL teams of all time, exploring their achievements, key players and memorable moments. By understanding what made these teams exceptional, you can deepen your appreciation for hockey while gaining insights that may sharpen your fantasy hockey acumen.
The Best NHL Teams of All Time: Hockey Teams Ranked
Hockey is the ultimate team sport. While some of the other major sports leagues can have a team carried by one player, hockey relies on the whole team coming together in order to find success.
There have been countless great seasons in the history of the NHL. But in this article we're taking a swing at ranking the very best of them all. Here is the Sleeper top 10 best NHL single seasons of all time.
Top 10 Greatest NHL Teams of All Time
1. Montreal Canadiens (1976-77)
Let's get the suspense out of the way. The Montreal Canadiens are one of the NHL’s original dynasties and have quite the history. Perhaps their best season came in the 1976-77 campaign when the Habs became the first team in NHL history to win 60 games in the regular season.
They were led by Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt who had 56 and 60 goals, respectively, with Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque splitting duties between the pipes.
The 1976-77 Canadiens team is still the only team to lose fewer than 10 games in a season.
They had 60 wins, eight losses, and 12 ties. In fact, they went on to win the Stanley Cup with just two losses in their three postseason series.
The Canadiens’ Stanley Cup victory in 1977 was one of four in a row they won from 1975 to 1979.
2. Detroit Red Wings (1996-97)
The Detroit Red Wings became the second team to win at least 60 games in a season when they went 62-13-7 during the 1996-97 campaign. It’s worth noting that the regular season was 82 games long by this point; two more than the 80-game season when the Canadiens got to 60 wins.
Still, you can’t deny Detroit’s dominance that year. The Red Wings lost four games in their four series en route to their first of two straight Stanley Cups, including a sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Final.
Brendan Shanahan, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom are just a few of the great players who shined for the Red Wings during that run.
3. New York Islanders (1980-81)
After the Canadiens’ dynastic run to end the 1970s, it was the New York Islanders’ turn at the beginning of the 1980s. The Isles won four straight Stanley Cups and only lost three games in the Stanley Cup Final during those years.
Those early ‘80s Islanders teams had legends like Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, John Tonelli and Denis Potvin.
The Islanders are the only team besides the Canadiens to win four straight Stanley Cups in NHL history. Only the Canadiens, Islanders and Maple Leafs have won at least three straight Cups.
4. Chicago Blackhawks (2012-13)
The Chicago Blackhawks had a dynasty of their own in the early 2010s. They won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015, but this 2012-13 team was the best of the bunch.
Although it was a shortened season due to the lockout, the Blackhawks put up an impressive 36-7-5 record to finish first in their division.
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews were both in their prime during this season and averaged over a point per game. They also had role players like Marian Hossa, Brandon Saad and Duncan Keith on the blueline.
5. Colorado Avalanche (2000-01)
The Colorado Avalanche found success right away as a franchise after relocating from Quebec. They won the Stanley Cup in their inaugural season (1995-96) but were even better a few years later in the 2000-01 season.
The Avs went 52-16-10 that year and took down the mighty New Jersey Devils in a hard-fought seven-game series in the Stanley Cup Final.
Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduck and Alex Tanguay headlined a forward group that helped veteran defenseman Ray Bourque finally win a Stanley Cup.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-92)
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1991 and followed that up with an even better 1991-92 season. They swept the Boston Bruins in the conference final as well as the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final.
It’s no wonder that this Penguins team was so good when you look at their roster.
All-time great Mario Lemieux paced the Pens with 131 points in just 64 games and Kevin Stevens had 123 points in 80 contests. A young Jaromir Jagr added 69 points in 70 games as the team’s sixth-leading scorer.
7. Edmonton Oilers (1984-85)
The Edmonton Oilers put together a nearly unstoppable super team in the 1980s.
Wayne Gretzky put up an insane 208 points (73 goals, 135 assists) in the 80-game season with Jari Kurry scoring 71 goals (135 points) himself. Add in a defenseman like Paul Coffey and it was game over.
The Oilers won their second straight Stanley Cup in the 1984-85 season and went on to win three more in 1987, 1988 and 1990.
8. Boston Bruins (1969-70)
The Boston Bruins are one of the league’s original teams, and they had their time in the spotlight in the 1970s. They won three Stanley Cups in the early days of the league but had a drought from 1941 until this 1969-70 season.
The 1969-70 Bruins had legends such as Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, John McKenzie and John Bucyk playing in front of Gerry Cheevers in net.
This Bruins team put Boston back on the map. And then they won the Stanley Cup again in 1972.
9. Philadelphia Flyers (1974-75)
You’ve probably heard the Philadelphia Flyers referred to as the Broad Street Bullies and this 1974-75 team is why. The Flyers won their first Stanley Cup in 1974 and followed it up with another one in 1975.
Flyers captain Bobby Clarke led the way on the ice with his scoring and snarl. He was supported by guys like Rick MacLeish, Reggie Leach and Bill Barber. Of course, the Flyers couldn’t have done it without Bernie Parent who had 12 shutouts that season.
10. Calgary Flames (1988-89)
The Calgary Flames have won the Stanley Cup just once in their franchise history and that came during this remarkable 1988-89 season.
The Flames had some formidable players at both forward and on defense in the form of Joe Mullen, Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk and Al MacInnis. Mike Vernon was stellar between the pipes as well for the Flames’ Stanley Cup dream to come to fruition.
Honorable Mentions
New Jersey Devils (1994-95)
The New Jersey Devils played a very defensive style of hockey in the 1990s and 2000s in front of goaltender Martin Brodeur which made them nearly impossible to beat during stretches.
The Devils won their first Stanley Cup in 1995 with a sweep over the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final. They went on to win the Cup again in 2000 and 2003.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2003-04)
The Tampa Bay Lightning were the final team to win the Stanley Cup prior to the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
They put together a team of veterans and youngsters that included Martin St. Louis, Cory Stillman, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier.
Los Angeles Kings (2011-12)
The Los Angeles Kings had a dynasty of their own in the 2010s. They won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in 2012 with just four losses in their four playoff series.
Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown, Mike Richards and Drew Doughty are some of the most memorable players from the Kings’ run to the Stanley Cup that year.
How Do NHL Rankings Impact Fantasy Hockey?
It’s important to know which teams in the NHL are at the top and which are in the basement. Drafting and adding players from teams who are at the top of the league should help you in your fantasy hockey leagues.
Successful franchises often produce some of the most valuable fantasy assets even if they don’t play on the top line or top defensive pairing.
Sleeper helps empower fantasy hockey players to capitalize on this information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best NHL team in history?
The Montreal Canadiens became the first team to win 60 games in the 1976-77 season. That squad is often regarded as the best single season team in NHL history.
Who is the most successful NHL team ever?
The 2022-23 Boston Bruins hold the record for most wins in a regular season with 65.
Who is the least successful NHL franchise?
The Columbus Blue Jackets have the worst point percentage in NHL history as a franchise and have never won the Stanley Cup.
Who is the all-time winningest NHL franchise?
The Montreal Canadiens have the most wins in NHL history with over 3,550.
Ready to Take Fantasy Hockey to the Next Level? Try Sleeper!
You should now have a good understanding of some of the best NHL teams of all time.
Make sure you join Sleeper by signing up on the website or downloading the app where you can track players, monitor team matchups, and stay updated on the latest news around the NHL.
