Succa, did you like the way Alfredsson played in game 7, which should be the game your captain makes his mark? That's all I'm saying. I think he's a great player, but he is not devoid of responsibility for the team's failure to win when it counted. It comes with being the captain.
What an ignorant comment. How is that different from any other team's fans, in any sport? Let's look at Toronto...should I bother bringing up Larry Murphy, Dmitri Khristich, Kerry Fraser, Curtis Joseph, Shayne Corson, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc? Hey, I'm not saying fans of other teams don't do this. However, the zeal with which Ottawa fans scapegoat individual players is nuts. They're like Red Sox fans or something. Ottawa sports radio is nothing more than a "PM" club (pissing and moaning). Admittedly, Montreal also seems to have a problem with this. I remember a story in the Montreal papers a few years ago where certain NHL players admitted they wouldn't want to play for the Habs --- since the fans' scrutiny in Montreal is so intense and irrational. However, unlike in Montreal, I think Ottawa fans are driven by denial. Rather than admit that the chips are stacked against the Sens (i.e. the economic structure of today's NHL), they prefer to live in their fantasy world where one or two players or coaches are dragging down the whole organization.
Succa, did you like the way Alfredsson played in game 7, which should be the game your captain makes his mark? Says who? A captain is not a swooping guardian angel who pulls his team out of the muck with his superhuman strength. He's an exemplar of the team's competitive spirit, and a leader to the dressing room. Nothing more. Alfie is the best player on the team in all these regards. He's taught a lot to the younger players on the team and everyone around the league respects him, and his teammates look up to him. Nobody ever said a captain had to be a saviour. And hey, at least Ottawa's captain played in the big game ;-). Altogether too much has been made of Alfredsson's "guarantees". The media goaded him into every single one. What's he supposed to say when someone asks him "Is your team gonna win?" Is he going to answer "No, of course not. We're going to lose!" It was a media spectacle, nothing more. Though you could argue that he was simply trying to provide some of the swagger that Martin failed to instill. However, unlike in Montreal, I think Ottawa fans are driven by denial. Rather than admit that the chips are stacked against the Sens (i.e. the economic structure of today's NHL), they prefer to live in their fantasy world where one or two players or coaches are dragging down the whole organization. Fair enough, but wouldn't you agree that a President's Trophy winning team that is positively drenched in talent, with arguably the best defensive group in the league, should be going deeper into the playoffs? I don't see how economics comes into this. Ottawa is an elite team regardless of their payroll.
And hey, at least Ottawa's captain played in the big game ;-). touche. though I guess we didn't need Sundin ; ) If you're comfortable with a leader who chokes when the chips are down, fine by me. I like the guy, respect him as a player, but he didn't even look 75% of the player he was 2 days prior during game 6. I'd like to credit that diminished play to the Leafs, but they can't take all the credit for his subpar performance in game 7. Ottawa is an elite team regardless of their payroll Agreed.
Fair enough, but wouldn't you agree that a President's Trophy winning team that is positively drenched in talent, with arguably the best defensive group in the league, should be going deeper into the playoffs? I don't see how economics comes into this. Ottawa is an elite team regardless of their payroll. (a) As the cliche goes, playoff hockey is like a "second season" that has very little to do with the regular season. I'm no hockey analyst, but according to them, some teams are "tuned" for playoff hockey, while others aren't. (b) Having a team of skilled young players who can grind it out in the regular season is one thing. In the playoffs, where every game matters, you also need star players who can take control of a game and swing the outcome. (c) Using this page, I've calculated the average payrolls for teams in this year's playoffs. Of the teams that won in the first round, the average payroll is about $51.5 million US. Losing teams, $46 million. (I don't know whether that difference is statistically significant... It would be interesting to see a longitudinal analysis.) Also: those payrolls seem to be taken from before the trade deadline, so they don't indicate which teams picked up some big guns for the playoffs, right?
I should also have asked whether Canadian teams are significantly disadvantaged by the exchange rate, higher income taxes on players' salaries, and fewer hand-outs on things like stadiums. I know various allowances are made for these differences, but they seem less than effective.
he didn't even look 75% of the player he was 2 days prior during game 6 Alfredsson didn't look 75% of the player he was in Game 6, Lalime didn't look 75% of the goaltender he was in Game 6, the offence and defence didn't look 75% of what they did in Game 6. The team as a whole looked a lot worse overall. The entire team choked when the chips were down, not just the captain. Sure, Alfy didn't play the game of his life, but the location of the C wasn't the problem in that game.
fair nuf. just suggesting a change based on my observation of the series I thought would help improve your squad for the future.
for what its worth, Quinn doesn't agree with the firing.
Neither does John Tortorella...he had a profanity-laden tirade on the firing last night on HNIC. Can't find a link.
Ottawa fans suck. They love to single someone out and blame everything on that guy. Boston is doin the same thing with Big Joe. Either the Herald or the Globe called him out during the Montreal series (can't find it right now), suggested he shouldn't be captain, even though the guy had two busted ribs. Hell, I nearly cried every time I coughed when my rib was messed up. Fans and the media are just like that, pretty much everywhere.
Oh, it was Kevin Paul Dupont in the Globe. Here's his rationale for doing so, as posted on Hockeyfuture.com. Okay, back to the discussion of teams that still have a shot of the cup.
