We like to make up awards around here. Over the years, we’ve introduced the Carson (for best sophomore season), the Bourque (for best final season), and of course the Conned Smythe (for making the trade that decided a championship). Is it kind of dumb? Sure, but no dumber than the Mark Messier Leadership Award, so off we go.
This time around, I want to introduce a team award, which will be presented to the NHL team that has the worst and most painful playoff performance in any given year.
In theory, that would mean a first-round exit, preferably in as few games as possible. But it’s not just about whoever had the shortest run, because not all sweeps are created equal. We’re looking past the cold hard numbers here, and instead trying to find the true pain. And often, that means getting a team’s hopes up before crushing them. In theory, you could even win a round or two before crashing and burning in such spectacular fashion that you never want to speak of it again.
Expectations matter. Opponents matter. And of course, there’s plenty of room for artistic impression. We can even use the benefit of hindsight to find the especially painful special circumstances. The point is that anyone can lose, and 15 teams do every year. But which losses really leave a mark? Which ones brutalize a fan base, scarring them for generations?
This sounds fun.
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