Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
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Geography doesn't affect how healthy a player is. He had struggles recovering from a couple of fluke injuries, and if we had been patient with the recovery process, we'd likely still have him on the team now, back in peak form. We were impatient, and had a gigantic hole on the first line wing for years because of it. That alone was probably enough to cost us a couple of playoff appearances.
Geography is irrelevant. I stated he only played 12 more games the year he was traded and only 49 the following season in LA (because that's where he was, not because geography had anything to do with it). While there is no way we can say for sure, I disagree with the bolded and think that's a big stretch (saying he'd still be here). It's just as easily to assume that he wouldn't still be here. There are exactly 3 players currently on the Hurricanes that were on the 08/09 squad when Williams got traded. E. Staal, C. Ward (who were considered cornerstones of the franchise and have NTC's) and P. Dwyer (who only played 13 games that year)...that's it! As I said, Williams played only 49 games the next season and it wasn't until his final year of his contract 10/11 where he was finally healthy.
Assuming he'd have been re-signed (based on how little the Canes got from his prior contract) and still on the squad now is way too optimistic IMO. Again, no way to no for sure.