Between this thread and what I can only assume was what initiated it... the 2003 Team thread... I hope we can learn from this and understand Homer's tendency for keeping extra veteran D-men in the system to not again get caught short due to injuries... I believe Homer himself got burnt a couple/few PostSeasons back and had to rely on late season tryouts and young depth AHL call-ups in a dire pinch. Clarke's 2004 miscalculation on how being Mr. Nice Guy can come back to bite your arse was pre-Cap Era, but Homer is saying, 'Damn the Cap' as he not only has a high percentage tied up on D, but also insists on keeping some low Cap Veteran D-men in ice for emergencies... as witnessed with Gill and Gervais behind Gus as #8 and #9 rather than relying on the AHL unproven, while at times promising youngsters.