What would you settle for to consider this year a success without the cup?
Obviously we all want the cup but the fact that this team is still so young and will only get younger with Tim and Chris hopefully coming up very soon. How far do they have to go before you consider that this was a successful year?
Personally I'd say make it to the ECF and this would be a very successful year. The only team I'm really afraid of is the Pens and there is a good chance we play them in the 2nd round if the same seedings hold.
If this team can make the ECF I would consider it a huge success. That would be a great experience and steppingstone for going forward. Our window is just opening, this year we are ahead of schedule.
I agree with what's been said. We haven't made it past the second round since 1997 so that would be a success. That was our goal before the season even started. Anything less IMO is failure.
Not winning the cup would be disappointing, but not a failure.
I would say that it all depends on how they look in the playoffs. For this team to take the next step they have to win a round. So I would say making it through the 1st round and playing a competitive 6 or 7 game series in the 2nd round would be a good step forward. I would obviously love to make the ECF but the team is just beginning to seriously compete.
I feel like this is such a weird question. It completely depends on circumstances. Any one of these options could be considered success under certain conditions. If we lose in the first because Gabby, Hank, Callahan, and Girardi all got injured and missed games, how could this year be considered a failure? What if we lose in the first round to the team that eventually wins the cup? What if we lose in the first round to a team that goes on to win the cup without losing another game at all in the playoffs, is that still failure?
As long as we're alive I'll be desperately hoping to see us keep going. But as long as we play our hard-nosed, grinding, effort style game I won't consider even a first round loss a failure of a season.
I don't consider any year without a Cup a "success."
I would be happy seeing us get to the ECF, but that's no "success" because there's no Cup.
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I have always felt that any season in which steps forward are taken can be considered positive, so... Past the first round. This year is already a huge success if you ask me.
I don't consider any year without a Cup a "success."
I would be happy seeing us get to the ECF, but that's no "success" because there's no Cup.
Splitting hairs.
I would be thrilled if this team made the ECF, because this team was not expected to get that far when training camp started. Overachieving is success in my book.
I feel like this is such a weird question. It completely depends on circumstances. Any one of these options could be considered success under certain conditions. If we lose in the first because Gabby, Hank, Callahan, and Girardi all got injured and missed games, how could this year be considered a failure? What if we lose in the first round to the team that eventually wins the cup? What if we lose in the first round to a team that goes on to win the cup without losing another game at all in the playoffs, is that still failure?
As long as we're alive I'll be desperately hoping to see us keep going. But as long as we play our hard-nosed, grinding, effort style game I won't consider even a first round loss a failure of a season.
One might say that injuries are the reason for a failure, but that doesn't change the fact of the failure itself. Either you succeed or you don't. Explanations are part of the game, but there has to be a bottom line.
As for the whole idea of losing to the team that eventually wins the Cup... I say that kind of thing all the time, but in jest. I also root for the Predators. In 2010, they were pretty much the only team to give the Blackhawks a tough series. The Preds still lost in the first round for the 5th straight time in the playoffs. It was a failure and the failure wasn't mitigated by the fact that no one else was able to beat the Blackhawks. If we lose in the first round for the 3rd straight playoff appearance, it's a failure. It doesn't matter what the team that beat us goes on to do.
I don't consider any year without a Cup a "success."
I would be happy seeing us get to the ECF, but that's no "success" because there's no Cup.
This... but I guess I could "settle" for making the ECF. Although, if the season ends with anything but the Cup I will be very upset. Just as I am every year. This year may hurt more considering all the success we've had this year. Henrik is having a career year (and that's saying something), Gaborik is scoring, Cally is playing great. Our D has stepped up beyond belief as I believe many of us were very worried when Staal was out to begin the year. Hagelin has come in and won us all over. The future is bright on Broadway, but that doesn't mean I don't want the Cup this year. Anything less, will not be a "success" as there is only one goal.
