Quote:
Originally Posted by InternationalVillager
Also - ever wondered why a Canadian team hasn't won the cup for almost 30 years?
It's because a US team can absolutely suck for a long time without major repercussions. It likely wouldn't even make front page news. Because in most of those markets, there are other things to keep the population occupied. This allows the front office with enough patience to stumble upon or accumulate generational talent or elite players which turn the franchises around and lead them to championships.
Where were the Penguins before Crosby/Malkin arrived?
Bruins?
Hawks?
Kings?
Bruins/Hawks are important teams where Hockey is loved but those cities also had the Red Sox, Patriots, Bears, Cubs etc.
It's because the fan pressure/media scrutiny in Canada is so intense that it forces front offices into making bad decisions which end up in disastrous cycles of sucking.
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You're right about there being a reason American teams build properly, while Canadian teams don't, and it's why there hasn't been one that has won the cup in recent memory, but I don't believe it's due to fan pressure. It's self inflected damage by short sighted greediness and rushing the process of rebuilding.
The owners/management of Canadian franchise typically don't have the patience to see a rebuild pan out for several seasons, and make transactions to rush the process when they aren't in their contender window yet with the roster they've assembled. As a result, this is why Canadian teams are seldom in making it to the conference finals, let alone Stanley Cup Final. It's how you get what the Calgary Flames are today since the same damn thing has happened here with Treliving as GM.
But Toronto does have a strong enough roster, and had done well with their picks that they may finally be the team that actually is a contender for a few seasons, and finally make it back to the cup final, which has been over a half century for them.
It's kinda ironic that Canadian teams don't get this, since they ultimately are leaving money on the table from the possible multiple cup runs they've lost out on as a result.