The Devils are a great example of a loyal team though. Even when players leave, they often end up back there. But players don't leave as often. Players stay in NJ a long time when homegrown. I like Lou, think he's a great GM.
I just wanted to address this.
It's always sad to see a guy who's grown up through the system, like Gudas, go. A player we've all followed with a watchful eye from the moment he was drafted, to his time in the AHL, to him becoming a solid NHL player. I personally feel much more of an attachment to those players you home grow than older players you bring in through free agency. They feel like our players because they've only ever put on one jersey. But that's why I'd probably make a bad GM. I'm a fan, and I see it differently at times from Yzerman who looks at it as a GM. Yzerman first and foremost has to have winning and success as the top priority. He'd be doing all of us fans, the other 20 guys on the team, and everyone else in the world who care about this franchise a disservice if there was a move to make us better, a move to get us closer to a cup, and he didn't do it. He's got to do what's in the best interest for the team. That's where his true loyalty has to lie.
You hear players say it all the time: it's a business. And they use that too. You'd like to see Brewer show us some "loyalty" and not ask for a trade off the team and hurt our D depth. You'd like to see ______ take a hometown discount and take less money. You'd like to see ______ put our franchise above another on their list in free agency for the relationship we've had in the past. You'd like for Paul Ranger to allow Yzerman to get assets for him, instead of waiting for his rights to expire here. You'd like to see Mattias Ritola accept a demotion to the AHL when he played awful, but still had Yzerman to thank for saving is career. Etc.... so players aren't always using the loyal card either, (cough cough Marty) but it's well within their rights to do what they choose or see best for themselves and their families.
That's not to say Yzerman hasn't shown any loyalty. He's brought back past players, kept players who would otherwise be out of the NHL, he's as classy as they come, he treats players with the utmost respect, and he's always accommodating to their wishes. I could give plenty of examples here. And if you really want to see more players return, look no further to what Jay Feaster is doing with our alumni.
I don't think we'll have any worries though about our core pieces. I feel those top guys will be here for a while.
I live in NY trust me people here are more angry and are fickle bandwagon jumpers. Living up here in the ****** weather makes a lot more people *******s. What i would give to live in the sunshine state.
Absolutely. I live in the tri-state area so I see daily the love/hate relationship between New Yorkers and their sports teams. It's comical and sometimes just sad.
