John Flyers Fan said:
Was it unfair when the Habs, Isles, Oilers, Flyers and Bruins dominated the years 1970-90. And their domination was a helluva lot more than what we've seen from the Stars, Avs, Wings, and Devils over the past decade ???
I never suggested that all teams should be equally
strong, only that they should have an equal chance at being strong.
In the old days, dynasties were built, partly by luck but largely through shrewd management. Nowadays, it (usually) suffices to be rich as it ensures a team can keep its homegrown talent base through its best years
and supplement it with whatever else may be required to build a winner through free agent signings and the acquisition of salary-dumped players.
This is not how the great Oiler, Bruins, Flyers and Habs teams of yesteryear were built. It is, however, precisely how Colorado, Detroit, Dallas and--yes--the Flyers currently maintain winning teams year-in-and-year-out without the benefit of top-ten draft picks.
Doesn't take much canny, Sam Pollockian manoevering. Just cash. And yes, it's unfair.