stuart5035
Registered User
- Apr 9, 2017
- 328
- 338
I had nothing but respect for Brendan Shanahan as a player; honest, hard working, tough with integrity. What a wonderful day when he was appointed president, with the kind of class of a Yzerman and the pedigree of the wildly successful Wing organization behind him. And a disciplined build from within plan, keying on the draft, on character. Already we are reaping the benefits, look at our depth, our talent, how revealing that there was no need to chase a rental at the deadline. I read somewhere that he only wants “class” players (they are willing to go to the tough spots, but not goons, and contribute to a great dressing room). And we fans can know that all the young talent will be “babysat” properly (yes Dermott spent a lot of time in the AHL; yes Johnsson the same and hopefully Liljegren the same), we know he has the plan and it’s the right one.
It gets better, he hires the shrewd wily veteran GM in Lou Lamoriello. First class, protects the players privacy, no emotional undermining outbursts (see Ottawa for what effect this kind of immaturity can have). I knew he would stick with the plan, I didn’t have to fear he’d bring in an Evander Kane to possibly disrupt a great dressing room at the deadline or pay for some veteran at the start of his declining years. Patrick Marleau? How much more class could you add to a dressing room full of “kids”. Over the hill? Far from it, speed to burn. And Plekanec? Perfect. Notice how players are protected from the media hounds, how sometimes it’s days before they are allowed to be interviewed.
Then comes Mike Babcock, acknowledged as the best coach in the entire league. Same class (I’ve never heard him disparage a player in public). Wily, always calculating in his moves. Many complain of the veterans, Polak, Komarov etc., but he knows a thing or two-I couldn’t see all our talented youth getting too far without them, to me it would be like “throwing Boys to the wolves”. He knows that, listen to his press conferences, he knows exactly what he’s doing. Stubborn and proud, of course, part of the DNA needed in Leaf land. Punished the youth with 4th line demotions, favours the Vets? Look at how Marner has responded to that, look at Nylander now. Please spare me the “arm chair vicariously living know it alls”, do you really think you know better than Mike Babcock? So what if Komarov gets a bit of overtime or pp, maybe it’s a reward for hard work and the young bucks take notice, maybe it creates the dressing room Mike Babcock knows it takes. So what if Polak gets some minutes, maybe the players respect his good heart and willingness to go to war for them. Leave Kapanen on the third or fourth line, he needs time (don’t you think Mike, Lou and Brendan know that a sure way to destroy his confidence is to see him fail on the first or second line; too much to quick).
Yes I am hopelessly biased and hopelessly addicted. How could I not be after watching the last 5 minutes of the Dallas game, at how mesmerizing we were. It’s “poetry in motion”, it’s watching Marner’s magician work, Nylander barrelling down the ice, Matthews spinning and shooting, Rielly dancing all over the ice, Gardner with his pin point passing, Dermott’s maneuvering, Kadri’s ice smarts etc.
The critic could say we lucked out and sped things up getting Matthews, or that it was pure luck that we went and got Anderson and how he’s turned out. But I can see the template, the incredible depth, the minor leaguers that are NHL ready, the refusal to be seduced by the free agents, because it’s all about replenishing the cupboard with succinct choices.
Now I am in Calgary and love the Flames, but when I watch them, a solid team, there is just no comparison.
What a first class organization now (did I already mention that). Who knows how far we’ll go this year, or next, but I get this treat for many years to come. The best organizations are all about long term excellence.
Now if my wife will forgive me as I glue to the TV for a month and hopefully longer (I bought the NHL Centre Ice package, I don’t have to miss a game)
It gets better, he hires the shrewd wily veteran GM in Lou Lamoriello. First class, protects the players privacy, no emotional undermining outbursts (see Ottawa for what effect this kind of immaturity can have). I knew he would stick with the plan, I didn’t have to fear he’d bring in an Evander Kane to possibly disrupt a great dressing room at the deadline or pay for some veteran at the start of his declining years. Patrick Marleau? How much more class could you add to a dressing room full of “kids”. Over the hill? Far from it, speed to burn. And Plekanec? Perfect. Notice how players are protected from the media hounds, how sometimes it’s days before they are allowed to be interviewed.
Then comes Mike Babcock, acknowledged as the best coach in the entire league. Same class (I’ve never heard him disparage a player in public). Wily, always calculating in his moves. Many complain of the veterans, Polak, Komarov etc., but he knows a thing or two-I couldn’t see all our talented youth getting too far without them, to me it would be like “throwing Boys to the wolves”. He knows that, listen to his press conferences, he knows exactly what he’s doing. Stubborn and proud, of course, part of the DNA needed in Leaf land. Punished the youth with 4th line demotions, favours the Vets? Look at how Marner has responded to that, look at Nylander now. Please spare me the “arm chair vicariously living know it alls”, do you really think you know better than Mike Babcock? So what if Komarov gets a bit of overtime or pp, maybe it’s a reward for hard work and the young bucks take notice, maybe it creates the dressing room Mike Babcock knows it takes. So what if Polak gets some minutes, maybe the players respect his good heart and willingness to go to war for them. Leave Kapanen on the third or fourth line, he needs time (don’t you think Mike, Lou and Brendan know that a sure way to destroy his confidence is to see him fail on the first or second line; too much to quick).
Yes I am hopelessly biased and hopelessly addicted. How could I not be after watching the last 5 minutes of the Dallas game, at how mesmerizing we were. It’s “poetry in motion”, it’s watching Marner’s magician work, Nylander barrelling down the ice, Matthews spinning and shooting, Rielly dancing all over the ice, Gardner with his pin point passing, Dermott’s maneuvering, Kadri’s ice smarts etc.
The critic could say we lucked out and sped things up getting Matthews, or that it was pure luck that we went and got Anderson and how he’s turned out. But I can see the template, the incredible depth, the minor leaguers that are NHL ready, the refusal to be seduced by the free agents, because it’s all about replenishing the cupboard with succinct choices.
Now I am in Calgary and love the Flames, but when I watch them, a solid team, there is just no comparison.
What a first class organization now (did I already mention that). Who knows how far we’ll go this year, or next, but I get this treat for many years to come. The best organizations are all about long term excellence.
Now if my wife will forgive me as I glue to the TV for a month and hopefully longer (I bought the NHL Centre Ice package, I don’t have to miss a game)
