having elite Centers is more important to winning than having elite Goalies
Not true. If the last few SC finals have showed us anything, it's that having elite goaltending is the important thing to get you there (Quick, Brodeur, Luongo, Thomas, etc.)
Not true. If the last few SC finals have showed us anything, it's that having elite goaltending is the important thing to get you there (Quick, Brodeur, Luongo, Thomas, etc.)
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Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
How long have you been watching hockey? Serious question.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhillyBluesFan
No it isn't not even close actually. The goalie is by far the most important position on the ice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AJMHABS
Not true. If the last few SC finals have showed us anything, it's that having elite goaltending is the important thing to get you there (Quick, Brodeur, Luongo, Thomas, etc.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by waldo17
noooooo
just look at all the cup winners since the lockout and their Goalies and Centers
2012:
Kopitar,Richards
Quick
2011:
Krejci,Bergeron
Thomas
2010:
Toews
Niemi
2009:
Crosby,Malkin
Fleury
2008:
Datsyuk/Zetterberg(they played together that year so only one but both are Centers)
Osgood
2007:
Getzlaf
Giguere
2006:
Staal
Ward
every team on that list except Boston had an elite Center and Boston had crazy depth and both Krejci and Bergeron playing extremely well
I wouldn't call half of the Goalies on that list elite
None of them played with elite goaltenders, proving that you don't need an elite goaltender to win a Stanley Cup. With amazing centers, your goaltending need only be "good enough". The opposite can also be true.
But I'd rather have Crosby+Howard than Lundqvist every day of the week.
And? That is not what he said originally, correct? Also, you'll likely notice that those Finals were AFTER the lockout, and AFTER they took out the redline, and tweaked the rules specifically for offense.
And guess what? It worked! For a few seasons at least. That is until teams figured out how to play defense against the rule changes. And guess what else? If they change the rules for offense again, they'll find another defensive scheme that will reduce scoring. And finally, you knew it was coming, guess what else, else? Your goalie is always going to be the key.
A great goalie can take a poor team A LOT farther than a great center can alone. You know why? There is only one goalie! It's a numbers game.
And? That is not what he said originally, correct? Also, you'll likely notice that those Finals were AFTER the lockout, and AFTER they took out the redline, and tweaked the rules specifically for offense.
And guess what? It worked! For a few seasons at least. That is until teams figured out how to play defense against the rule changes. And guess what else? If they change the rules for offense again, they'll find another defensive scheme that will reduce scoring. And finally, you knew it was coming, guess what else, else? Your goalie is always going to be the key.
A great goalie can take a poor team A LOT farther than a great center can alone. You know why? There is only one goalie! It's a numbers game.
It's not that teams suddenly discovered new defensive strategies, the refs became more lax in enforcing obstruction and teams in the past couple years have taken advantage of how the game is being called.
