Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
I agree.
But the sad thing is, I actually do think McDavid will be good enough in a couple of seasons to be the type of player that can guide a team to the Stanley Cup on his shoulders. Whether it will happen is anyone's guess, but the hockey gods never cease to kick us in the nuts and enable that arrogant fan base.
Not being from Calgary and living in what was basically an NHL no-man's land, it is the reason why I gravitated towards the Flames back in the 1980s. Thirty years later and after 11 years of the Oilers losing, you would think that they would become humbled a little, but nope.
|
This used to be true but isn't necessarily so anymore, due to the salary cap (the great equalizer).
Back in the day, when you got a generational player, you had a huge advantage - you just had to build around him and you automatically had the best team. And other players wanted to come and play there.
Now, you are limited by the cap. More money on this player means less money for that player. So instead of an accumulation of talent (like the old days), now it is an optimization exercise. Teams must find pieces that fit together. And must get as many
value pieces as possible.
McDavid is an awesome player. But it is not a foregone conclusion that he will lead them to anything. You have to be able to draft and develop players so that you always have people contributing that are on cheap contracts.
The Oilers have not shown an ability to that in any way shape or form. The only thing they have going for them is a pile of high draft picks due to a decade of inconcieveable ineptitude.
Going forward, they are going to have to develop players without the benefit of drafting top 3. We shall see if they can do that. But one thing is for sure, McDavid can't do it himself.