What is it about the Red Rings of the last 11+ years that was different about them during their Cup drought???

Question

Before they won their first cup in 40+ years back in 1997 over the Flyers in 4 games the team hadn't won a cup since 1955 and when the Rangers won their first cup in 54 years in 1994 Detroit found themselves having the longest active Cup drought in the NHL(Chicago now has it(1961)).

I'm asking this question since I was wondering why a team like the Rangers couldn't win more cups since they won it in the 90's but Detroit was able to do it 3 other time after 97? Could the Rangers have a new curse? (Do you believe in curses)? Bad Management? Bad Chemistry? Combination of?

Droughts are common in all sports but what can other teams learn about from the Red Wings and Red Sox so they can not only win championships but also not fall into a drought?

Answer 1

The organisation, as a whole, is better.  

Better coaching- Scotty Bowman, now Mike Babcock.

GM- Ken Holland is, right now, the best GM in hockey.

Better scouting/drafting- Look at all the low-round picks that they've turned into quality players.  They have established a sense of "this is who we are, this is how we play".  

As the saying goes, the fish rots from the head.  

Answer 2

The Red Wings fortunes changed when Jimmy Develano joined the team. He was brought to the team by the new owner Mike Illitch. He was charged with the job of making this team into a winner. With Jimmy's hockey knowledge and Mike's money it happened. The formula that was used worked through the changes brought on through the new NHL, but the gild is off the lily. The Red Wings don't have the depth necessary in their farm to weather the next five years.

In 1994 some magic happened in New York, and lightning struck in a bottle. Whether it was the combination of Sather, Keenan, and Messier or the owners selling their soul to the devil. The Rangers won. Why is not explainable nor can it be recreated.

Chicago has had 50+ years of bad ownership. The recent hiring of Bowman and giving him a job like Develano's might give that team a chance but we'll see.

Answer 3

2 Words: Stevie Y

Answer 4

Goal tending and team defence and discipline.

When Stevie Y came to the wings and for his first few years he was an offencive power-house, but he was one dimensional.  Scotty Bowman turned him in to a complete player that could be effective in any situation.  Special teams, holding a lead, down a goal....any situation you could call on Stevie Y.  Even though he didn't put up the points that he got earlier in his career, he was a much more valuable player to his team.  His style of play and work ethic obviously rubbed off on the rest of the team, and with good signings and scouting the team has been able to remain the envy of the league even in the salary-cap era.  I always hated the Wings but because Steve Yzerman was the captain I hated them just a little bit less.

Answer 5

They have been cursed with signings and trades stabbing them in the back, and they also relied heavily on players past their prime getting top notch money, and they didnt do a good job of developing players, which they are starting to do, but it seems sather is getting a little careless, having both gomez and drury past 35 getting a 14 mil dollar cap hit, and redden and rosival will add another 11, so 25 mil on four players isnt good once dubinski, staal, girardi, and dawes start asking for big money