Graphic designed by Emma Dowsett
In the English Premier League there are six teams regarded as the Big 6. These are teams widely known across the world for their historical success. They are Manchester United, Chelsea FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Liverpool FC, and Arsenal FC.
Similarly the NHL has their original six teams, the ones that started the league. The Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs represent Canada, and the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, and Detroit Red Wings are the American teams. These teams also seem to be some of the most recognizable teams across the world.
I have made comparisons for each team and who I think would be their counterpart based on a multitude of factors.
Courtesy of Mark Blinch
Toronto Maple Leafs and Tottenham Hotspur
Both teams are widely known and supported by many across the world. Both teams are full of superstars, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, James Maddison, and Son Heung-min to name a few. Both teams should have great success stories. Both teams don’t. The Toronto Maple Leafs have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967 and Tottenham Hotspurs have not won a trophy since 2008, which was the Carling Cup (a knockout tournament for England men's Domestic Leagues, currently known as the Carabao Cup). Good teams with good players but nothing to show for it.
Montreal Canadiens and Manchester United
These two teams used to dominate, winning trophies left, right, and center. Nowadays they struggle to make it close to even running for a trophy. That being said, both United and the Canadiens have a bright future ahead. For Montreal the likes of Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský, Lane Hutson, and Kaiden Guhle to name a few. United has Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Joshua Zirkzee.
Courtesy of Getty Images
Detroit Red Wings and Arsenal FC
The Detroit Red Wings have won a total of 11 Stanley Cups, their last being in 2008. Arsenal has been league champions 13 times, with their last coming from an undefeated season in 2004. Both teams have not been able to cross the finish line, especially as of late, when they have highly talented teams. Last season, the Red Wings missed out on playoffs in the final game of the regular season because of a tie breaker between them and another team. Arsenal lost out on the league last season only because of a two point difference.
Courtesy of Rick Osentoski
Courtesy of Sam Navarro
New York Rangers and Manchester City
While the biggest difference is obvious, Manchester City has won five of the last six Premier League trophies and one Champions League trophy in the past six years, and the Rangers haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1994. That being said, they are giant teams just in different eras. City was not always this monster of a team they are today and the Rangers had some struggles in recent years but both are getting ruthless now. With another Premier League trophy under their belt from last season and a Presidents Trophy win as well as a semi-final appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs last year, both teams are looking forward to a hopefully successful year. Plus it probably helps that they both have some of the best goaltenders in recent years in Igor Shesterkin (Rangers) and Ederson (City).
Courtesy of Getty Images
Boston Bruins and Liverpool FC
Iconic cities with iconic teams who lately, just can’t get over the finish line. The Bruins, who won the Presidents Trophy in 2023, seem to be right on the cusp of something special but are missing something to take them all the way. Liverpool has been chasing number one for years now and have only come out on top once. Both teams are full of top end talent with players such as David Pastrnak, Jeremy Swayman, Elias Lindholm, and Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Allison Becker.
Chicago Blackhawks and Chelsea FC
Going through a rebuild albeit in different ways. The Blackhawks, who haven’t made the playoffs since the ‘19-20 season, have had a top 10 draft pick in five out of the last seven years and have drafted players such as Connor Bedard, Artyom Levshunov, and Kevin Korchinski. After winning the Champions League in 2021, Chelsea has lost a handful of key players, including 21 of the 23 named players for that Champions League final game. Since Chelsea’s new owner came in in 2022, an estimated £1.2 billion has been spent on bringing in new players to replace those who left. The Blackhawks may be a few years away from returning to playoff hockey but things could start to look up just like they are with Chelsea.
Courtesy of Mike Hewitt
Edited by Giana Robertaccio
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