[Rex]

Which team was better that advanced to at least the conference finals? Obviously they made it to the Stanley Cup in '97, but didn't win a game, so it's fair discussion. Lets look at the paths.

1997
ESQF: W 4-1 Pittsburgh
ECSF: W 4-1 Buffalo
ECF: W 4-1 Rangers
SCF: L 0-4 Detroit

2000:
ECQF: W 4-1 Buffalo
ECSF: W 4-2 Pittsburgh
ECF: L 3-4 New Jersey

2004:
ECQF: W 4-1 New Jersey
ECSF: W 4-2 Toronto
ECF: L 3-4 Tampa Bay

2007:
ECQF: W 4-3 Washington
ECSF: W 4-1 Montreal
ECF: Pittsburgh

Starting Goaltenders:
1997: Ron Hextall
2000: Brian Boucher
2004: Robert Esche
2008: Martin Biron

Please post more information, and rank each team in order of talent, heart, competitiveness, ect.

[Best_in_74]

Not to discredit any of the teams there but I feel as if the 2004 team was probably the best. They took Tampa Bay to 7 games whereas Tampa swept their first two series if I remember right.

To this day I still think that if there hadn't been so many injuries to our defenseman I think we could have won the cup that year.

[Skeeter]

I think we would have had a good chance to win a pair of Stanley Cups in both 2000 and 2004. Both New Jersey and Tampa went on to win the Cup and we were one game away from playing for it. Both years injuries impacted our game, either way it was disappointing to go to game seven and then see the team that beat us go on to win the cup.

Overall, it is all about winning and the team that played Detroit was able to make it to the cup finals so my vote is for 97. They were able to win 12 games while the other two only one 11. The book is out on this year but it does feel good.

[Ryan20]

Legion of Doom in their prime? Pretty tough to beat that.