As for the NHL, the honor of best single-season team in NHL history goes to the 2001-02 DetroitRedWings, a team that racked up 116 points (51 wins, 12 ties or overtime losses) in a league that was more balanced than it was during the mini-dynasties of the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers that stretched from 1976 to 1990.
In the odd little world of the NHL these days, the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby, are the glamour team while the Boston Bruins, DetroitRedWings and Chicago Blackhawks are bigger draws than the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.