Seems they signed enough free agents to get it done. I hate the fact one team is allowed to pick and choose the cream of the crop. I feel the exact same way about the New York Yankees.
Sure I'm bitter, but you can bet I'd feel a little better knowing they were beaten by a team that was grown together.
Here's hoping for next season...but I'm not banking on this magic being recaptured.
Congratulations Detroit, the better and much higher paid team won.
I won't say I like it that Detroit won, but it's more because they were just too good. They're not dynasty material or anything, but I don't think it was merely the acquisitions of this past offseason that brought them the Cup. Sealed the deal? Sure. But they have the greatest coach in hockey history, a smart front office who's built a solid team from back to front, and some of the best players in the league. It was theirs to lose, really.
They won't be back to the dance next year, with Bowman gone (and probably Hasek and possibly others).
That said, the Rangers and the Flyers have been bleeding cash too, with far different results. I think suggesting it's all about the money sells a talented team waaaay short.
Meanwhile, we've got the strongest bunch of Canadian teams in years to look forward to next year. None of them has a huge budget, but I think they'll all contend in 2002/03.
They're all young (except Toronto), they're all hungry (especially Toronto), and they're all fun to watch.
This wasn't the greatest year of regular-season play, what with the Olympics and all. Detroit winning makes sense, it was well-earned if not compelling, and it brings next season that much closer.
/tarnish... I'm a disturbed and bitter herb, like salt water and parsley... -- Prince Paul
Originally posted by cfgbSeems they signed enough free agents to get it done. I hate the fact one team is allowed to pick and choose the cream of the crop. I feel the exact same way about the New York Yankees.
Sure I'm bitter, but you can bet I'd feel a little better knowing they were beaten by a team that was grown together.
Here's hoping for next season...but I'm not banking on this magic being recaptured.
Congratulations Detroit, the better and much higher paid team won.
so i guess the rest of the league had absolutely no shot once the wings singed hull and robitaille and traded for hasek? i don't know what vancouver or colorado was thinking.
the same as the Yankees? sorry, but the wings didn't sign one single free agent in the prime of his career or to a huge deal. yeah, signing hull and robitaille put them over the hump, but these are players who are in detroit for 2-3 years at the most. not quite like mussina and giambi at all. the yankees wealth also gives them a tremendous upperhand at scouting in foreign countries...something that is not nearly at the same level in hockey.
go ahead and be bitter, but contributions from guys like mccarty, draper, maltby, datsyuk, and devereaux were just as important and timely as yzerman, shanahan, hull, and robitaille. as for your "homegrown" theory, how about yzerman, datsyuk, federov, holmstrom, mccarty, dandenault, fischer, and lidstrom all being "homegrown"?
how about a team like colorado who has traded for roy, blake, and bourque/kasparaitis and then re-signed roy and blake this past season and possibly darius after this year?
(edited by quagmire on 14.6.02 0136) Marge: Mr. Scorpio, this house is almost too good for us. I keep expecting to get the bums rush. Scorpio: We don't have bums in our town, Marge, and if we did, they wouldn't rush, they'd be allowed to go at their own pace.
Originally posted by cfgbSeems they signed enough free agents to get it done. I hate the fact one team is allowed to pick and choose the cream of the crop. I feel the exact same way about the New York Yankees.
Sure I'm bitter, but you can bet I'd feel a little better knowing they were beaten by a team that was grown together.
Here's hoping for next season...but I'm not banking on this magic being recaptured.
Congratulations Detroit, the better and much higher paid team won.
You want bitter? My Flyers had a $50+ million dollar payroll, were Stanley Cup contenders, ended the regular season with 97 points, and scored exactly 2 goals in 5 games during the playoffs. We tried to buy a cup and look where it got us. Hats off to Detroit.
Prime evil of Kaiju Big Battel is very mysterious and expensive doctor.
Originally posted by cfgbSeems they signed enough free agents to get it done. I hate the fact one team is allowed to pick and choose the cream of the crop. I feel the exact same way about the New York Yankees.
Sure I'm bitter, but you can bet I'd feel a little better knowing they were beaten by a team that was grown together.
Here's hoping for next season...but I'm not banking on this magic being recaptured.
Congratulations Detroit, the better and much higher paid team won.
You mean to tell me Montreal, Edmonton, Toronto did not do this way back in the day?
That's the frustrating thing about being a Toronto fan. They DO have the financial resources to pursue top-notch free agents, but they seemingly refuse to do so. Instead, they spend their money on washed-up role players like Robert Reichel.
I was born in a manger, like that other guy. You know, he wore a hat?
CajunMan, you may need to edit your post and remove Montreal. They didn't buy their dynasty.
The Habs built their dynasty through the use of the draft. They traded established players to lesser teams for their draft picks, and it paid off in HUGE dividends.
The onslaught of time is constent, as is the yield of Expiation's Harvest
I find it hilarious that the team with a payroll almost forty million less than Detroit's...THE CALGARY FLAMES...were the only team to win their season series against Detroit. WE NEVER LOST. SUCK ON THAT, DETROIT. Next year, we're coming for our cup.
Bart: Hey, immigrants! Beat it! Country's full! Sailor: OK people, you heard the lady. Back into the hold. We'll try Canada. [the immigrants moan] -- "The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson"
TSN.ca The Flames were reportedly offering $1.4M as a lowball arbitration offer, while Kiprusoff's agent wanted $4M. I'd say this is fair, definately not Giguere money ($4.5M annually) and definately a good investment.