Stanley Cup defense history since 1997-98

The Los Angeles Kings are venturing to become the first team to successfully defend its Stanley Cup title since the Detroit Red Wings won back-to-back Cups in 1997 and 1998. It is an endeavor that has grown increasingly complicated in the Salary Cap era, where only one team has advanced beyond the second round.

Notes
-Since Detroit’s back-to-back championships, the most common seed to begin the defense of a Stanley Cup is a two-seed. Five teams have opened the playoffs as two-seeds.
-The Kings are the first team to open the defense of their Cup as a five-seed in this time frame.
-Since the implementation of the salary cap, one team has lost in Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final (2009-Detroit), one team lost in Round 2 (2010-Pittsburgh), three teams have lost in Round 1 (2008-Anaheim, 2011-Chicago, 2012-Boston), and one team did not qualify for the playoffs (2007-Carolina)
-The two Stanley Cup winners prior to Los Angeles lost in overtime of Game 7 in the first round.

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