The Original Six teams based in the United States have a rich history, combining to hoist the Stanley Cup 27 times.
And now, they share an unwanted distinction.
Detroit, Boston, Chicago and the New York Rangers will all miss the playoffs in the same year for the first time in NHL history.
The Red Wings have 11 Stanley Cups, trailing the totals won by the Canadian-based Original Six teams. Montreal has won 23 Cups and Toronto has 13. The Maple Leafs have earned a spot in the playoffs that start Saturday. The Canadiens are in the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot and can clinch a berth with a win over Chicago on Monday night.
Detroit was slowly improving under general manager Steve Yzerman until this year. The Hall of Fame player was hired away from Tampa Bay in 2019 and the patience he asked for is running thin.
A year after losing a tiebreaker for the last spot in the Eastern Conference, the Red Wings took a step back this season and were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Saturday.
The Blackhawks are the last-place team in the Central Division for the third straight year and will finish ahead of only San Jose in the NHL. Earlier this century, they were a league power with three Cups from 2010-15 to give the franchise a total of six.
While no one in the Motor City or Windy City was shocked by another lackluster season on the ice, the Rangers and Bruins were expected to be playoff teams.
