Post by CrazyJoeDavola on Oct 25, 2007 8:25:32 GMT -4
mikeb said:
doublesnipers said:
Im not sour but tell me then if your using the excuse that you were built from nothing, why then was St John's able to find players and at least compete to some degree in all seasons yet the Dogs tanked. Now You are loaded with first round talent but had to endure terrible seasons prior. What is the difference between the two teams, you were both created at the same time??Were you not a frustrated fan that your expansion sister was able to compete while you continually lost, I would be, but now of course you are full of great players, however it cost you the first couple seasons when you were trying to develop a fan base and a market.
It just brings a thought to the back of my mind everytime I see these two teams. It seems one was willing to do the work, find some immediate help and compete at a relatively normal level year after year, while the other teams management or whomever said why put in the work, if we stink we select the first overall pick. I will work once the talent comes to me, I wont go find the talent.
Just my thoughts after watching these two, seriously not trying to offend you.
One team decided that a team that would squeak into the playoffs and be such a team for 3 years and more is more desirable than biting the bullet for 2 years and then have a team that will be very competitive for several years. I'd take the Sea Dog approach any day.
I don't think this is the case at all actually. I think both teams tried to be competitive and make the playoffs. It was important to both teams and their new fanbase to ice competitive teams. Most people said Saint John, out of the expansion draft, were better than the goon-filled Fog Devils, and were wrong. Saint John went with a 20 year old goaltender in year one even (Churchill). Saint John just sucked... and therefore missed playoffs and had a high draft pick. Last year Saint John again tried to be better, but werent. St Johns continued to get quality hockey from the guys who were supposed to be leaders, and due to their home ice advantage which they take advantage of, they were better than the sea dogs.
Now this season, the dogs looked to have some of that youth playing better... and under pressure to make the playoffs, management added Picard and Howes. Now the whole team is feeding off this and is playing very well. The Fog Devils have good players too, but due to being better than the Sea Dogs for two years, dont have as much high end/draft talent.
People keep saying the Sea Dogs built the right way, the Fog Devils are now paying for it.... but I dont see it that way at all really. Both teams tried to win, the Sea Dogs just struggled (and therefore benefitted at the draft). And without Picard and Howes, I dont think the Sea Dogs are much better than the Devils really. It was those TRADES that put them above the Devils IMO.
I am well aware that Saint John had an AHL team. Just to clarify, what I meant was that maybe the AHL fans in St. John's were more pissed at losing their AHL team than the AHL fans in Saint John losing theirs. St. John's had just lost their AHL team the year before and the wounds were fresh. Saint John lost theirs in 2003, so after a couple years without hockey, although I'm sure that there were a few naysayers of major junior, there were alot of people that just wanted to get back to the rink and watch hockey.