In response to Eric's various comments:
- I absolutely believe in "windows", and for good reason, the salary cap. It is so difficult to manage a team where you will be competitive year in year out, although of course that's the goal and some teams may be lucky enough to be in a position to do so (Pittsburgh is an excellent example). Look at the Rangers, now they've made some trades which may very well make them a more consistent contender, with the number of young guys they have, but ask anyone who closely follows the Rangers and they will tell you the huge window for the Rangers to win is the 4-year or so period starting with last year, after which Lundqvist will likely be starting somewhat of a decline. In the Habs case, there will be a window where all of the core guys are signed (Price, Subban, Galchenyuk, etc.) and have played together for years, before they become UFAs, and that's when they'll have the best chance at winning a Cup, as difficult a task as that is. Windows exist.
- Size cannot be downplayed when it comes to playoff hockey. Look at the impact of size in the Hawks winning run,a nd how much they suffered when they lost the Brouwers and Byfugliens the next year. Look at Boston's winning run. Lots of it based on having big heavy hitters with skill.
- You can use the examples of Higgins, Kostitsyn, Komisarek, sure they're relevant examples of how even players who start off strong (not prospects) can somehow not pan out. But there is one big difference this time around, it's a new administration with personnel that, at least so far, seem to be much better placed to encourage (a) better scouting and evaluation of talent and drive (Bergevin, Dudley, Mellanby, Carriere, in addition to Timmins obviouslyl), both in terms of drafting amateurs but also trading for professionals, and (b) better development of players, both amateur and vets (Habs coaching staff, particularly guys like Jodoin and JJ Daigneault with the big squad and Lefebvre with the Bulldogs).
No guarantees, of course, but all good signs.
Last edited by ross10019; May 15, 2013 at 6:05 PM.
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."
Twitter: @ross10019
CBS Sportsline 14 team H2H keeper (21-man roster, 14 keepers)
Weekly lineup changes (start 9F (3/4C and 6/5W) 5D 2G)
G, A, PPP, SOG, BS, +/-, GAA, W, SV%
Angry Little Elves (formerly Montreal Maulers)
2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 League Champions
C: Tavares Hintz Larkin Jenner Seguin Schenn Backlund
W: Panarin Marchand Hyman Keller Forsberg Batherson Rust Moore Smith
D: Josi Hamilton Weegar Montour Ekholm Myers Parayko Pettersson Seeler
G: Vasilevskiy Swayman Kuemper