Ranking The 9 Red Wings Teams From The Past Decade

1. 2001-2002: 116 points, 1^st place in Central Division, 1^st place in the Western Conference, Stanley Cup Champions

-This team was full of Hall of Famers and was perhaps the best NHL team ever assembled.  With addition of the Salary Cap it is likely that we will not see a team this good again.

2. 2008-2009: 112 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 2^nd place in the Western Conference, lost to Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup final

-This team came within one game of back to back Stanley Cups and was better than the Cup winning team from the year before with the addition of Hossa.

3. 2007-2008: 115 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 1^st place in the Western Conference, Stanley Cup Champions

- The Red Wings proved that they could win a Cup in the salary cap era and answered any questions concerning the age of the Wings.  Also, Lidstrom became the first European captain to win the Stanley Cup.

4. 2004-2005: 114 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 3^rd place in the Western Conference, lost to  Toronto in the Stanley Cup final.

-The Wings fell just short to the Leafs, who won their first Cup since 1967 by beating the Wings in the forth overtime of game seven of the Stanley Cup finals in the game of the decade.

4. 2006-2007: 113 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 1^st place in the Western Conference, lost to Anaheim in the Western Conference final

-It looked like the Wings would win their first cup in 5 years, but they would have to wait one more year after losing to the Ducks for the second time in three seasons.

5. 2005-2006: 124 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 1^st place in the Western Conference, lost to Edmonton in the first round

-The Wings showed that they were still contenders even with a salary cap, but were upset by the Oilers who would go on to have one magical spring.

6. 2002-2003: 110 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 2^nd place in the Western Conference, lost to Anaheim in the first round

-A shocking playoff result for a team that one year earlier had won the Stanley Cup.

7. 2003-2004: 109 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 1^st place in the Western Conference, lost to Calgary in the second round

-For the second straight year a hot goalie knocks the Red Wings out of the playoffs.

8. 2000-2001: 111 points, 1^st place in the Central Division, 2^nd place in the Western Conference, lost to LA in the first round

-This embarrassing loss to the Kings lead to Red Wings management assembling one of the best teams ever for the next season.

9. 1999-2000: 108 points, 2^nd place in the Central Division, 4^th place in the Western Conference, lost to Colorado in the second round

-Yes, there was one year that the Red Wings did not win the Central.