I always keep my eye on teams that LOST the Finals in the previous year. Many times that team is on the upward swing and eventually gets thiers. Vancouver has just as good a shot as the others.
1983 LOSER = Oilers... Won Cups in 84, 85, 87, 88, 90
1986 LOSER = Flames... Won Cup in 89
1995 LOSER = Wings... Won Cups in 97, 98, 02, 08
2001 LOSER = NewJersey... Won Cup in 03
2002 LOSER = Carolina... Won Cup in 06
2003 LOSER = Ducks... Won Cup in 07
2008 LOSER = Penguins... Won Cup in 09
2011 LOSER = Canucks... ??? ??? ?? ??
NOTE: The L-5 teams to lose the Cup are currently in the playoffs... OTT-2007, PIT-2008, DET-2009, PHI-2010, VAN-2011
NOTE: Current Teams in Playoffs and thier L-trip to the Finals...
EASTERN CONFERENCE
NYR-1994(W) vs OTT-2007(L)
BOS-2011(W) vs WAS-1998(L)
FLA-1996(L) vs NJD-2003(W)
PIT-2009(W) vs PHI-2010(L)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
VAN-2011(L) vs LAK-1993(L)
STL-1970(L) vs SJS-NQ (Never Qualified)
PHX-NQ vs CHI-2010(W)
NAS-NQ vs DET-2009(L)
Current Playoff teams who have WON at least ONE SCFinals...
NYR, BOS, NJ, PIT, PHI, CHI, DET - NOTE: Each of these teams has won multiple SCFinals and only the NYR and CHI have not won multiple SCFinals since the 1967 NHL expansion.
NOTE : Only NJ, PIT and DET have won multiple SCFinals since 1990.
NOTE: Only NJ and DET have won multiple SCFinals since 2000.
NOTE: Since 2000 only NJ and DET have each been to three SCFinal and are both 2-1 in those Finals.
NOTE: Since the 1967 NHL expansion... Each BOS(70-72-11), PIT(91-92-09) and NJD(95-00-03) have had a different head coach in each of thier L-3 SCFinals Wins... Montreal has also done this(79-86-93) but obviously did not make the playoffs this season... and ONLY the NJD can win its 4th SCF with a 4th different HC THIS SEASON if they win the SCFinals.
NOTE: Head Coach Scotty Bowman won SCFinals with each of MON, PIT and DET... Only John Tortorella-NYR-(TB-04), Ken Hitchcock-STL-(DAL-99) and Peter Laviolette-PHI-(CAR-06) have an opportunity THIS SEASON to win a 2nd SCFinals with a different team.
Just some interesting notes to get into the playoff mode...
Good Luck To Your VaNucks