from Craig Custance of ESPN,

After the Detroit Red Wings clinched their 23rd consecutive playoff berth on Wednesday night, Detroit sports business reporter Bill Shea pointed out that Mike Ilitch bought the team from the Norris family in 1982 for $8 million. That's roughly what the Red Wings will earn with a few home playoff games this year. It's meant a handsome profit for the Ilitch family, but also three decades of stability for the franchise.

When you look around the league and see the New York Islanders struggling year after year under an owner looking to sell, or to Vancouver where ownership is believed to be part of the problem during a regime change, it's a reminder of what the best owners look like.

They are owners in for the long haul, willing to invest in their team and who know how to pick the right people to run it. Then they get out of the way and let them do their job. Credit GM Ken Holland, coach Mike Babcock and his young group for finding a way this season, but look a little higher up the food chain in Detroit to find the true reason for the long-term success.

read on for Burnside on the Blue Jackets, LeBrun on the Pacific Division and Strang on Kris Letang.