PecaFan said:
Who's to say it would have been a one time thing? Making the playoffs earns them millions of dollars, so they can afford to sign some of their guys instead of watching them leave, it gives everyone valuable playoff experience and confidence for next year, so they're more likely to make the playoffs next year as well, etc.
IMHO, it was a short term strategy designed to try and make the playoffs
last year... I don't think Nedved was acquired as part of any long term plan...
Making the playoffs is a very good thing - in terms of money and valuable playoff team experience and confidence... But who's to say that EDM wouldn't have just barely missed the playoffs even without Nedved?
Yes, perhaps Nedved gave EDM a higher probability to make the playoffs... But acquiring Nedved didn't
guarantee EDM additional success... It was a gamble - one that just happened not to pay off... IF EDM paid a lot of money for this gamble, IMO, it was a bad move (given that they don't have a lot of money to begin with)... IF EDM didn't pay a lot of money, then IMO, it was a good, smart move...
Given EDM's position, extra money should be conserved to keep their 'core' (i.e. to 'pay their bills')... not to go to Vegas and gamble the paycheck away... not if they are complaining that they can't afford to 'pay their bills'...
PecaFan said:
Official deal was Nedved and Markkanen for Helminen, Valiquette, and their 2nd round compensation pick. That's a guy who was picked 244th overall, and a career minor league goalie they had to give up. 2nd round pick is worth a bit, but they got their backup goalie for that.
I'd say they gave up nothing, with a great shot at getting excellent return. Didn't quite work out, but still, a great move.
I'm talking from a $ point of view... If they spent a lot of money on Nedved, it was a shortsighted gamble, IMO (because my understanding is that EDM doesn't have a lot of money to begin with)... If they spent nothing, I agree that it was a great move...
PecaFan said:
Yes, but you have to pick your battles carefully (especially when you have limited resources)... You don't need to win
every battle to win the war...