You know, people keep saying there'll never be another dynasty after whatever financial or labor calamity befalls any league, but someone always adapts to the new system faster than everyone else, and teams keep reeling off championships. Every dynasty I've ever seen has been "the last dynasty we'll ever see," and yet they keep coming, in every sport. Frankly, I'm tired of betting against it. (Weedy, you have filled my dreams for next year with hope and bunnies. I knew the Leafs were going to get some cap room, and they had an eye on some younger talent, but if they actually maybe might just kindasorta have a plan in place, that's a bonus. Now, all they have to do is send Mikael Tellqvist down to the crossroads to make that deal with the devil I've read so much about, and the Leafs might even have a shot next year.)
Most major news publications picked the Wings to be the team hardest hit by the cap, & to fall from the top of the Western conference. As we have seen this did not happen & many of the "new" players have contributed more than projected. When you factor in the ability of the Wings to mine talent from Europe & get more from players they bring in via free agency this organization will flourish as long as the front office is kept together, mainly Ken Holland, who learned his trade from Jimmy D (Architect of the Islanders dynasty) who is still with the team & Scotty Bowman, who has a role in gauging future talent. The older core talent is still there & they have brought up future core stars. This team will be great form many years to come.
I think that the cap will still cause some thinning out of the talent pool since most teams will only be able to afford one or two "superstars" and stay under the limit. The Wings have been great at bringing young talent along and that means they still have some depth. Still I think the days of them (or anyone else) being able to put 4 or 5 future Hall of Famers on the ice at the same time are past.
I think that the cap will still cause some thinning out of the talent pool since most teams will only be able to afford one or two "superstars" and stay under the limit. That makes no sense. Where are the just-below superstar players going to go? Yes it will mean less superstars on a given team, but it doesn't mean the league's talent will be altered.
Im also very happy to see Manny Legace getting a shot to be #1 that should of happen 2 years ago I couldn't agree more. In my mind he is one of the most under-rated goalies in the NHL right now and has been unfairly overshadowed for too long.
Where are the just-below superstar players going to go? Europe. Many teams over there will start mining the NHL for talent if the teams here can't pay as well.
The Red Wings obviously have a great scouting team, which guarantees them a certain level of success in the future. However, and I'm not certain if that's what's being said here, the Wings are not, and have not been since the 50s, a dynasty. A dynasty has to win the Cup on a very regular basis for a good amount of years. I'll let the debate open as to how many wins in how many years is acceptable, but for me it's clear that the Edmonton Oilers of the second half of the 80s are the last dynasty in the NHL. So we've been without a dynasty for 15 years, way before the new CBA. Also, it's an interesting discussion and all, but the linked article has nothing to do with it. It's just a game preview.
Also, it's an interesting discussion and all, but the linked article has nothing to do with it. It's just a game preview. Actually there is a line in it about their penalty killing being a tribute to their depth, which is what got me to wondering if they can still be a deep team with a cap.
How close are European salaries to the NHL average? What is the NHL average and minimum? I'd assume if players were being siphoned to Europe the NHL would simply raise the salary cap. If the league can't claim the best players in the world, they'd have an even larger draw problem.
If the league can't claim the best players in the world, they'd have an even larger draw problem. Excellent point.
Actually there is a line in it about their penalty killing being a tribute to their depth You're right. And it's not a game preview, the comparative stats at the bottom fooled me. My bad, move along.
The only competition in terms of players' salaries in the NHL is the Russian Super League - by way of becoming a defacto plaything for the oil oligarchs out that way. If I remember correctly, one team had a payroll approaching $40 million US last year and was offering substantially more money to players than the salary capped NHL. Jagr and Ovechkin were among the players who left behind substantial offers from these teams to return to the NHL. Ovechkin stood to make over $1.5 million more than he currently makes now ($2.3 millon compared to his existing $900,000). But whatever. If you're not playing for the Stanley Cup, you're in a tier two league and the whole world knows it.
"Jagr and Ovechkin were among the players who left behind substantial offers from these teams to return to the NHL." Let us not forget that Datsyuk was in the same situation. Thank the hockey gods that he came back.
If you're not playing for the Stanley Cup, you're in a tier two league and the whole world knows it. Right, but the second that even comes into question, the NHL is shit outta luck in terms of revenue. So they have a large incentive to keep things that way.
I'm hoping the league will be smart enough to raise the cap if the money gets to be too attractive overseas, still they haven't shown much in the way of brainpower the past few years. As for Datsyuk I almost lit a candle of thanks in church when he came back. He's the Wings next Stevie Y for sure! Here's hoping he stays as long as Stevie did!
he said... "Redwings"... hahahaha
