In the modern age of the NHL with 30 teams competing for 16
playoff spots, it is inconceivable that a team could win the Stanley Cup with a
losing record during the regular season. In the modern era, teams with a better
than .500 record often do not even make the playoffs.
Believe it or not, twice in the history of the National
Hockey League, teams with a losing record have not only made it to the Stanley
Cup final but have taken the Cup home as league champions. It happened once
during the ‘Original Six’ era and once even before that when there were eight
NHL teams split into two divisions of 4 teams.
Chicago Blackhawks – 1937-38
The first time this happened was during the 1937-38 season.
At the time, the teams in the league played just a 48 games schedule and long
lost teams, the New York Americans and Montreal Maroons were still going
strong. The Toronto Maple Leafs took the Canadian Division during the regular
season with a record of 24 wins, 15 losses and 9 ties. The Boston Bruins ran
away with the American Division with a record of 30 wins, 11 losses and 7 ties.
The Chicago Black Hawks finished third in the American
Division, just two points ahead of the Detroit Red Wings with a dismal record
of 14 wins, 25 losses and 9 ties. The only team worse was the Montreal Maroons
who were in their last year of existence. Yet, when all was said and done, the
Black Hawks were crowned Stanley Cup Champs.
Chicago was coached by Bill Stewart. Never a player in the
National Hockey League, it was the only year Stewart was a head coach in the league.
The Black Hawks were led offensively during the regular season by Paul
Thompson. Thompson scored 22 and assisted on 22 over 48 games. Two years later,
Paul was the head coach for Chicago. In the playoffs, it was Russian born
Johnny Gottselig that led the team with eight points.
Toronto Maple Leafs – 1948-49
The second time the situation arose was during the 1948-49
season. There were only six teams in the league and only the top four teams
competed in the post season playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings took first place
easily with 75 points over the 60 game season. Boston and Montreal were second
and third with 66 and 65 points and the Toronto Maple Leafs rounded out the top
four with 57 points on 22 wins, 25 losses and 13 ties.
Toronto went on to take their third straight Stanley Cup
despite the weak regular season showing. This was the last time the feat was
ever accomplished and probably will be the last time ever unless the league
downsizes or changes its playoff structure in the future. It should be noted
that most every season during the ‘Original Six’ era, the fourth place time had
a losing record during the regular season so almost every year the opportunity
was there for a severe underdog to take the Stanley Cup home.
The Hap Day coached Maple Leafs had Bill Barilko in the
lineup and were led offensively by Harry Watson during the regular season. In the
playoffs, it was Ted Kennedy leading the way with eight points. Turk Broda
played goal for all of Toronto’s regular season and playoff games.
