Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
This season is long, and injuries will happen, I agree 100%.
But I do think if you're going to lay out a slogan every chance you get you had better be careful to make sure you live by it.
If every vet makes the team, and only Gaudreau starts the season, then say something about it. Warn veterans that they didn't have a good camp and they are on alert. The culture in Calgary is huge right now, its bigger than any player. They have to protect it.
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I get what you are saying and for the most part I agree with the consensus here that it would be great to see a few veterans waived in favour of some of the outstanding prospects from camp.
Having said that, your statement is not altogether as simple as the false dichotomy that appears in then poll. Calgary4Life delivered a fantastic post to set the situation in a more realistic context, and I basically agree with everything that he said there. Fans are best served to reserve judgment of the franchise based on the shape of the opening night roster.
But I also think that there is something else very important to consider here. Management and coaches have been trotting out the mantra in the media, "always earned, never given," very much as part of a PR strategy. I believe the slogan is real. However, I also believe that it probably means something a little different inside the dressing room than it does to the general public when they hear the coaches and players use it, or when they see it in print. So yes, I agree with you that the team needs to take care to live by the slogan, but insofar as the mantra is used and understood by the team and the players.
I won't vote in the poll because I'm not fond of how the two choices are offered, but I will say that I expect the team to walk the walk, although I am not convinced that we will know exactly what that means based on who is on or not on the opening night roster.