Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester
Carle has worked out fine this year... whilst paired with Pronger. Wasn't a fan of his play last year... at all.
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I certainly know what you mean, but fact is, it's worked out fine at this point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jester
Nah, they have the entire tenure of Pronger's stay here to get it done... but the Pronger deal was ENTIRELY about putting this team over the hump. Not about reaching the finals, but winning a Cup.
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Ah, well I took your post as a suggestion that the trade was a win or loss based upon whether they come away with the Cup or not this year. If we're talking about the entire tenure, then yeah, putting it that way is fair.
But anyway, I've come around on Pronger. At the time of the trade, I thought it was great to get Pronger, but upset at what seemed like an overpayment, especially in consideration of the fact that Pronger only had 1-year left on his deal.
Since then though, Pronger's play and effect on this team has made it abundantly clear to me that he truly is a generational talent, even at this age and stage of his career. While I certainly would have liked to trade less in order to acquire him, it probably would have been worthwhile to trade even more. The guy is that good...one of a kind. I might like to have a couple less years on his extension, but at least he was extended...not to mention the insane cap hit he's about to shift down to. And if for the next few years he is able to play at a level anywhere near this year, those last few years of the deal won't be tough for me to swallow(that is, if his play even should wind up deteriorating significantly).
Also, I understand that view of the trade being a win or loss based upon whether a Cup is won or not...but I believe that there is virtually zero chance that any of the combined pieces that were moved to acquire Pronger could have come to help this team be as successful as just Pronger can, regardless of any potential Cup victories that may be in this team's future. And for all the talk you do of the play-offs being a total crapshoot, I'd think you'd also identify with that point of view.