worst NHL franchise of all time?

[OregonDucks]

Which NHL franchise is the worst overall? Just historically bad.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Well, it could be the Panthers since they have really struggled since coming into the league(and they did get to the Finals, but that was a while back), but I guess you could probably say Atlanta/Winnipeg - they've done literally nothing since the franchise came into the league

 

[raptorlife4]

Florida and it isnt close

 

[4thstreet]

All time

I'd have to put Toronto in there.Most of their cups were in the 6 team league.Since 1967,they have sucked royally.O Cups,shitload of missed playoff years,and constant changes in GM's and coaches.

 

[esls79]

New York Americans
KC Scouts/Colorado Rockies/Mickey Mouse
Califonia Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Montreal Wanderers, didn't even last a full NHL season.

 

[DragonfromTO]

All time

I'd have to put Toronto in there.Most of their cups were in the 6 team league.Since 1967,they have sucked royally.O Cups,shitload of missed playoff years,and constant changes in GM's and coaches.

The Leafs won more cups consecutively than 23 current NHL teams have won in their entire existence.

Yeah, the team with the 2nd most Stanley Cup wins is the worst all-time. Good lord.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

How about the Blues? They have a Cup drought as long as the Leafs but unlike the Leafs they don't have anything before that to fall back on.

 

[SLY]

The Whalers were pretty bad... But I loved 'em.

 

[Comeds]

Columbus, Atlanta, or Florida

 

[forty_three]

How about the Blues? They have a Cup drought as long as the Leafs but unlike the Leafs they don't have anything before that to fall back on.

If you're gonna say that, you have to say Caps and Canucks too. Came in the league around the same time and were DISMAL at first.

esls answer is the right one though. Califonia Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons Failures in every sense of the word.

 

[Comeds]

The Thrashers / Jets are on a pretty good streak. 14 years, 1 playoffs made, 0 playoff games won.

 

[puckhead]

Cleveland Barons is your answer.

lasted 2 seasons, last in their division both years (missed playoffs of course)
only lasting memory is that Randy Holt is still in the record books.

sweet logo, though.

also, they rose from the ashes of the California Golden Seals, which is just.... i mean... white skates

 

[mattola]

you cant really base failure off of not winning a cup. Canucks are actually one of the most successful franchises financially. Toronto is incredibly successful financially regardless of their blunders in management. by going worst overall you have to look at the lifetime of the franchise how its done financially, its fanbase interest and of course its on ice success. I say Canucks are very strong in that regard even with no cup. toronto as well (mid 90s that team was pretty darn good) but to add for all the others together?


Phoenix may be the worst of all with its one (ONE) conference final appearance going back to the Jets) and very few first round wins, its constant struggling with management/ownership/fans. Its an abysmal failure.

Florida speaks for itself even with that Final sweep

The teams that have folded obviously are the utmost failures but Phoenix just takes the cake for going so long without playoff performance, fans and ownership problems. They should have folded or moved 5 years ago

oh and this

and this

 

[forty_three]

you cant really base failure off of not winning a cup. Canucks are actually one of the most successful franchises financially. Toronto is incredibly successful financially regardless of their blunders in management. by going worst overall you have to look at the lifetime of the franchise how its done financially, its fanbase interest and of course its on ice success. I say Canucks are very strong in that regard even with no cup. toronto as well (mid 90s that team was pretty darn good) but to add for all the others together?


Phoenix may be the worst of all with its one (ONE) conference final appearance going back to the Jets) and very few first round wins, its constant struggling with management/ownership/fans. Its an abysmal failure.

Florida speaks for itself even with that Final sweep

The teams that have folded obviously are the utmost failures but Phoenix just takes the cake for going so long without playoff performance, fans and ownership problems. They should have folded or moved 5 years ago

I wasn't picking on the 'Nucks or Caps. They are both successful, but took a long time to get there. And the Blues went 20 some straight years in the playoffs.

Points about Phoenix are right on. It is worse because the league kept propping the failure up.

So top 3:
California/Cleveland
Atlanta (and hopefully Winnipeg can fix that)
Phoenix

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

If you're gonna say that, you have to say Caps and Canucks too. Came in the league around the same time and were DISMAL at first.

esls answer is the right one though. Califonia Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons Failures in every sense of the word.

Only team from the Expansion of '67 to never win a Cup tho. At least the Seals/Barons merged with the North Stars & sort of won a Cup in '99.

 

[mattola]

I wasn't picking on the 'Nucks or Caps. They are both successful, but took a long time to get there. And the Blues went 20 some straight years in the playoffs.

Points about Phoenix are right on. It is worse because the league kept propping the failure up.

So top 3:
California/Cleveland
Atlanta (and hopefully Winnipeg can fix that)
Phoenix

yeah I know what you mean I just think that with the topic so vague as to what constitutes a worst franchise tag I used that to add into it as it helped me make my point.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

I wasn't picking on the 'Nucks or Caps. They are both successful, but took a long time to get there. And the Blues went 20 some straight years in the playoffs.

Points about Phoenix are right on. It is worse because the league kept propping the failure up.

So top 3:
California/Cleveland
Atlanta (and hopefully Winnipeg can fix that)
Phoenix

Don't forget the Montreal Wanderers.

 

[forty_three]

Just found. Relevant.

 

[Comeds]

Montreal Wanderers, didn't even last a full NHL season.

Don't forget the Montreal Wanderers.

The Doobster posted this twice, he really wants to make this argument.

There could be an argument for them as one of the worst NHL teams I guess. Still, it was in the first year of the league when it wasnt really on solid ground itself. Since the question is "NHL" team I guess one could ignore the sucess the Wanderers had before the league creation.

Either way, no team folding in the inagural season of a sports league would get my vote.