Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
Err… I think you just demonstrated that you don't require an elite winger to win the Stanley Cup.
I agree that it makes things a hell of a lot easier if you've got one, of course. And easier still if you've got more than one.
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If you have a generational Center an a 2nd top in the league Center you don’t need an elite winger, or if you only have 1 top 10 Center in the league you need an elite winger. A GM can’t go out and acquire one of those generational players therefore acquiring and elite winger should be on the list. And let’s not forget that Crosby only one Cup without an elite winger and didn’t win another until they acquired a motivated Kessel.
The Blackhawks first Cup they needed two elite wingers which made up for goaltending.
It’s the overall mix of a teams above average talent that’s required to win. If this was a statement of who should teams draft I would agree that a top Center and top D because they are much harder to acquire should be the focus of the draft over wings but in terms of actually building a cup winner 2 of 3 1st line players and your first D pair need to be elite, you need a line shut down the opponents top line, you need secondary scoring from the fourth line up.
All of these things need to come together to Actually win. The teams that have won the cup recently are all very solid top to bottom. The biggest trait might be having 2nd players who would be 1st line players on bubble playoff teams.