The boys at Second City Hockey have a pretty great piece piggybacking off Puck Daddy’s analysis of some GMs wanting to scrutinize the “lifetime” deals that are starting to pop up around the NHL. If the NHL is ever going to compete with the NFL, SamFels of SCH says we need to keep long-term deals to build great teams:
It’s better for the game if great teams stay together. The only team people will remember from this era, from the late 90’s on, are sadly, the Red Wings. But did they ever have a great rival? A Celtics to their Lakers? A Giants to their Niners? Maybe the Pens now, time will tell. But it’s those titans that draw interest to the game. A name everyone recognizes after years and seasons of success. Having a rotating cast of Finals teams doesn’t do anyone any good, and cheapens the accomplishment of winning the Cup. The public doesn’t get to know any of the players or coaches. It’s just another Swedish guy lifting the Cup. But even the casual fan, when he hears, “Detroit Red Wings” knows the style they play, the talent they put on the ice. There’s an instant connotation. When you hear 80’s Oilers, you think goals goals goals. When you hear 80’s Forty-Niners, you think Montana to Rice. When you hear 80’s Giants, you think LT and Mark Bavarro and Phil Simms. Now, what do you think when you hear 2004 Lightning? Yeah, not much.
