NHL All Decade teams 2000-2009

The 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche:

They probably had one of the most jaw-dropping rosters ever. Joe Sakic=league MVP. He was on their first line with Hejduk and Drury. Just think about having a second line with Forsberg, Tanguay, and Deadmarsh. They got even better after trading Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller to the Kings for Rob Blake and Steven Reinprecht. Blake, Adam Foote, and Ray Bourque anchored an extremely solid blueline. Bourque finally won it all. Blake was one of the most dominant players on the ice. Stefan Yelle was also a key component who helped shut down the opposing forwards. They also had Greg De Vries and Jon Klemm, who were two of the best defensive stalwarts at the time. And Patrick Roy, the greatest goalie of all-time. What more is there to say...

2001-02 Detroit Red Wings:

Nicklas Lidstrom wasn't even their captain back then... Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille all scored 30+ goals. Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper were both in their prime as the league's top checking forwards, while they had a great 4th line with Igor Larionov. Chelios was still contributing at both ends of the ice, and Datsyuk was just starting to crack the NHL. And then you have Dominik Hasek.

Honourable Mention: 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks.

Brian Burke did a really good job here. He brought back Selanne and got good performances out of Andy McDonald and Chris Kunitz on the 1st line. The kids were leading the way on the 2nd line: Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Dustin Penner, a line full of power, grit, youth, and skill. They got the best out of their checking line, as Rob Niedermayer, Travis Moen, and Samuel Pahlsson played key roles in the cup win. I haven't even gotten to their defence yet... "The Big Three" of Scott Niedermayer, Francois Beauchemin, and Chris Pronger. Pronger didn't even play on the 1st pairing most of the time. That really says something. Giguere once again turned in a great postseason performance.

After adding Bertuzzi and Schneider the next season they were expected to repeat as champions, but then everything began to unravel.

 

Best of the decade? 2005 champions. Book it.

 

I don't think that can be argued, absolutely dominant.

 

The best team of 2005, if it were still together, would have won at least a couple of Stanley Cups by now.



As it is, a good chunk of the most dominant junior hockey team ever assembled - seven players, including all three of the guys pictured above (Bergeron, Crosby and Perry) - will be playing for another international gold medal this month in Vancouver.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=509842

 

Did you read the title? NHL All Decade Teams, Team Canada doesn't play in the NHL.

 

The NHL didn't play in the NHL in 2005 either.

 

You would stick the 2007 Ducks ahead of the 2008 Red Wings and the 2009 Penguins?

Offensively the Ducks don't compare favourably. Their defence was the backbone with Pronger, Neidermeyer and Beauchemin, along with Giguere in net who was flat out rediculous.

But the Red Wings defence was arguably as good on the top end with Lidstrom and Rafalski and far deeper. They just played a different style altogether. Comparing their defence is apples and oranges.

The Pens also had a solid defence, not as dominating as the Ducks, but their offence was better especially the top end, the goaltending was a wash. Giguere was lights out, so was Fleury.

 

Is Ditka driving the bus?

 

Da Bears, they don't make it, the plane is delayed.. and the only one who shows up is Ditka. Ditka vs. Da Giants. Okay, score, gentlemen.

 

Thanks, Veronica.