Having the ability or the potential to win a Stanley Cup in the NHL is such a fragile thing. There are just so many things standing in the way.
The obvious one is that there are 29 (soon to be 30) other teams trying to do the exact same thing. Ever see 30 piranhas go after a piece of meat in the water? Well don’t look it up, it’s terrifying.
Then you’ve got added factors, some forced by the league and some forced by the laws of nature. Injuries happen every season and many times crucial players are forced out of the lineup.