Quote:
Originally Posted by Sabresfansince1980
Doan, or any other player, shouldn't have very much to do with a young player's development. That's for the coach and staff. Doan shouldn't have very much to do with a long-term attitude replacement for this team either. Grigs, Girgs, Armia, etc. will either have what it takes or not. A crusty vet is there to yell at them on the bench or in the locker room. That's good, but not worth an extra 2-3 mil spent on Doan.
Vanek, Pominville, and Miller are not and never were the problems with this team. All of them have played well in the playoffs but never had enough talent at C and D. This team will get better by drafting well with talent that has size that can also play a physical game. An extra 2-3 mil spent on Doan takes away from having another player like that in the line-up. And if the idea is to build a Cup winner in four years, why pay someone 7.5 mil for three seasons, then pay for a fourth when he's about shot as a productive forward and possibly getting in the way of a young gun? To say the cap hit doesn't matter prior to a new CBA is just putting blinders on. The intended rise in team success goes in the opposite direction of Doan's probable value, so really this massive contract only makes sense if Doan's wildly exagerrated leadership and mentoring skills somehow turns a group of rookies into SC winners. Talk about a pipe dream. These rookie will become winners if THEY have what it takes, not Doan. If Buffalo can develop the young talent they have they won't need Doan. There's already a "culture change" going on with Ott, Foligno, Regehr, and players like McNabb and Girgs coming along. If this team is still soft it's because of who's behind the bench, not on the ice.
|
So, you don't believe in mentorship? Leadership by example? Inspiration by example?
Nobody's saying that adding Doan is the key to turning a young team into a Cup team. It helps though.