Good series, Devil, and congratulations on advancing. I can't say I'm surprised at the result. Nalyd and I wanted to try building a team the opposite way from what has previously been successful in the ATD (ie. top goalie, no top defensemen), and it turned out to be pretty difficult. Appropriate, I suppose, that we went down to the team with perhaps the greatest 1st pairing in ATD history.
For my part, I really felt my interest waning this time around, which is a shame because I'd have liked to have been more a part of the process with all the new blood that showed up for ATD#12. On the other hand I no longer have the time I once had for it, so my apathy is probably for the best.
Good luck, Devil.
I'll admit that I did read your thread on past ATD champions before putting together my team. As I saw you start your team with Esposito and then not pick a dman until the 4th round, I thought you were purposely taking on a greater challenge. And you almost made it work - a loss in a razor-thin 7 game series.
By the way, I had no idea that posting a link to the Contrarian Goaltender's "study" would result in such a thorough smackdown of him, but I did enjoy it.
I'll admit that I did read your thread on past ATD champions before putting together my team. As I saw you start your team with Esposito and then not pick a dman until the 4th round, I thought you were purposely taking on a greater challenge. And you almost made it work - a loss in a razor-thin 7 game series.
By the way, I had no idea that posting a link to the Contrarian Goaltender's "study" would result in such a thorough smackdown of him, but I did enjoy it.
When it comes to analysis, I dislike extremes. TCG represents the hyper-rational side of the coin, which to me is no better than the anti-rational. As a sort of economist, I have a good deal of experience with statistics and how they apply to human behavior, and I know overambitious analysis when I see it. Only a utopian or a fool approaches a statistical analysis of human behavior with any assumption other than that it is highly irrational, unpredictable and multi-faceted. TCG is really not so bad, but he could use a dose of humility.
Noon EST on Thursday will be the deadline for conference final votes. If an extension is needed, it will be posted here. Five votes have already been received. PMs are in the process of being sent.
The deadline for votes has now elapsed. We had 20 GMs vote, which is probably one of the highest totals ever for the division finals, the conference finals or the ATD final. Thank you to all who votes.
Here are the results:
Red Fisher Conference Final: The Tidewater Sharks vs. the New Jersey Swamp Devils: Tidewater in 7.
Three stars:
1. Bobby Orr
2. Chris Chelios
3. Jaromir Jagr
Jim Coleman Conference Final: The Detroit Falcons vs. the Kimberley Dynamiters: Detroit in 6.
Three stars:
1. Milt Schmidt
2. Terry Sawchuk
3. Joe Sakic
Congratulations to EB's Detroit Falcons on returning to the Milt Dunnell Cup Final. And congratulations to Hedberg's Tidewater Sharks for reaching the final for the very first time.
Also congrats to Mr. Bugg's Kimberley Dynamiters and TheDevilMadeMe's New Jersey Swamp Devils for getting this far in the draft.
The Detroit Falcons defeat the Tidewater Sharks in seven games in the Milt Dunnell Cup Final.
Three stars:
1. Jaromir Jagr/Terry Sawchuk (tied)
3. Milt Schmidt
Congratulations to Detroit for winning their first title, and to the Sharks for reaching the final and building an excellent team.
Congrats to both the finalists. Both were fantastic teams and deserve all the accolades they got.
Jaromir Jagr tying for first star though - I guess others (a lot of others) have a higher opinion of his playoff performances than I do.
I guess the "you can't win by making a goalie your first pick" was proven false.
...and thank God it was. I hate hearing that, more than almost anything. People love to say it's the most important position in the game. But don't pick your goalie first. That makes no sense. Guys like Roy, Plante, Hasek - they didn't get ranked from 10-16 on the two revisions of the HOH top-100 just because we had to put goalies there. It's because we determined through our discussions and debates and stats and everything else, that they contributed about as much value as a Mikita, Bourque, or Morenz. (and getting Plante at 23rd between Lidstrom and Robinson? fuhgettaboutit) For your goalie to suddenly not be as important in an ATD setting would be rather troublesome.
Congrats to EB and both finalists; two excellent teams. Every team in the draft really came to play; it was a ton of close matchups and teams and a lot of great ones. Great job all-around guys.
Quote:
Originally Posted by seventieslord
...and thank God it was. I hate hearing that, more than almost anything. People love to say it's the most important position in the game. But don't pick your goalie first. That makes no sense. Guys like Roy, Plante, Hasek - they didn't get ranked from 10-16 on the two revisions of the HOH top-100 just because we had to put goalies there. It's because we determined through our discussions and debates and stats and everything else, that they contributed about as much value as a Mikita, Bourque, or Morenz. (and getting Plante at 23rd between Lidstrom and Robinson? fuhgettaboutit) For your goalie to suddenly not be as important in an ATD setting would be rather troublesome.
Agreed. I too, was happy to see the "Great goalie, not so good #1 D-man" kind of tewam win out. I suppose it has to do with the best goaltenders not beign as dominant as the best forwards and defenceman, but it's still an important position and should be well valued, probably, as mentioned, more than any other singular position. That's not to say we should all go goaltenders first (again, dominance difference), but still.
This has had the 2nd best possible result. The best being Portland winning.
With Jagr getting mad props, Esposito backing a team to the finals and Dionne going to the semi's, we've seen a lot of former pariahs get fair treatment. This needs to continue.
And Detroit with a checking 1st line, no top d-man, a non 1st pairing guy on the 1st pairing and an elite goaltender, showed that a team with a non-traditional build can win. This is important to prevent formulas taking over.
So, yeah, I would love to win sometime. But the game has changed a bit this time. Formula's are gone. Let creativity reign supreme.
