One of the things people misunderstood about those Shero-Flyers teams is that they could play hockey. Oh sure they were there to knock you into next week, but even the role players could skate, fight and forecheck.This is Don Saleski. Born in Moose Jaw, played for the Pats in junior and scored over 100 NHL goals (over 20 in 3 different seasons). He wasn't a star in junior (Flyers picked him in the 6th round in the 1969 draft and in fact he was on waivers in junior a few months after being drafted) but he was a very effective, physical winger.
Shero's teams had short shifts, gave max effort and were known for playing at the very edge of the rules (and beyond).
The Ducks seem to have a similar rep right now. There's an article up on tsn about the other NHL clubs trying to duplicate their success by going with big, strong and skilled.
I think there's two problems with the article. #1, duh. EVERYONE wants big, strong and skilled players on their team, it's actually getting them that is the problem. #2, it overlooks some of the real keys to Anaheim's success:
- A top 3D that no other team can offer
- Tremendous goaltending
- An ageless Selanne
- A genuine checking line
- A young trio of forwards who killed during the soft parade
The Ducks were physical and did make the skill players from Ottawa tentative, but that's only part of it. As was the case with the Flyers 30 years ago, the impact players for the Cup winners did what they were expected to do from the first to final whistle.
Make no mistake: When the Flyers skated off the ice with the Stanley, the names Parent, Clarke, MacLeish and Leach were front and center, with the names Saleski, Kelly, Schultz and Dupont a solid but supporting cast.
And today it is not different. Niedermayer, Pronger, Selanne, Getzlaf, those are the names to be remembered. Rob Niedermayer led the playoffs in penalties and was a tremendous asset, but he was a complimentary player. Brad May played 18 games this spring but we know the icetime totals, and George Parros was not a factor.
The Devils took their quality young forwards and put them in a position to succeed, asked their checkers to do the heavy lifting, and got some help from the hockey Gods with Selanne looking like he was a Jet again. Throw in some solid line matching, 2 elite level Dmen in their prime and a goalie who blocked out the sun and you've got the formula.
The other 29 GMs can copy Anaheim all they want, and start talking about "big, strong and skilled" players coming in until the cows come home. But hockey teaches us that (save injuries and conditioning) this season's impact players will also be next season's impact players, and if you have none you are screwed.
L,
ReplyDeleteSome of us actually saw the BSB's play.
And the list of players was deep. Dornhofer, Goodenough, Lonsberry....
I don't see the Ducks as that ilk, although Pronger was very dirty in the playoffs.
George: I don't know, that Flyers team had some fine players but so does Anaheim. I'd give Parent the edge over any goalie I've seen save Hasek, but the Ducks blueline is superior to the Flyers 74-75. So then it comes down to the forwards, and I think Anaheim has the edge.
ReplyDeleteFlyers had top end talent like Clarke, Leach, Barber, MacLeish, and they had role players like Dornhoefer, Saleski, Clement and Lonsberry.
However, Kindrachuk, Kelly and Schultz were role players (Crisp was a terrific PK man and FO guy as you know) that every good team has in abundance.
Anaheim had their top end talents in Selanne, Getzlaf, Perry and Andy McDonald which isn't as good a list as the Flyers but three of those guys are kids and may end up being as famous as Leach or MacLeish. Selanne is certainly as famous as Clarke although not a similar player in style.
Anaheim has a ton of Dornhoefers/Lonsberries, in fact probably more and better. Niedermayer, Pahlsson, Marchant, Moen was terrific.
If they met in the SCF I suspect it would go the distance and I'd bet Parent but it isn't a crazy bet the other way either.
Parent's G vs. Anaheim's D with Clarke and that kid line fighting it out. Great series.
Plus Shero>>>Carlisle.
ReplyDeleteCarlyle is a hell of a coach though.
ReplyDeletehere is another thing LT - what is Scott Niedermeyer doesn't score that goal with 30 seconds left in game 5 of the WCF? the Ducks might still win that series but then again they might not
then you have two very similar teams in the finals in Detroit and Ottawa (imo Carolina was of that ilk as well)
The worst matchup for the Sens were the Ducks I think - an excellent checking line to neutralize Spezza and the Getzlaf and Selanne lines to outscore the lesser lights from the Sens - no team in the East had that formula
I think you have hit it on the head - the Ducks are plain and simple a terrific team with talent all through their roster. They are big, sure, and play a physical style, but this whole idea of them being the second coming of the Charleston Chiefs is a little overblown I think.
LT, yup, it's like when Lindros was dominating the league and everybody wanted a huge skilled centreman, or a few years ago everybody wanted a playmaking defenceman.
ReplyDeleteEverybody always wants those guys. They're always worth their weight in gold and they're always rarer than hen's teeth. (TWO cliches in one sentence, somebody nominate me for the Ryan Smyth award!) Given a choice between a guy who's 5'9" 175lb, can skate like the wind and make and take passes at top speed, and a guy who's 6'4" 220lb, can skate like the wind and yadda, I'll take the big guy every time.
sorry, this is a little off topic;
ReplyDeleteThe Sun has an article today regarding Howson's bid to be GM of Columbus. The article stated many of Howson's responibilities with the Oilers right now including almost all of the contract negotiations!!!
First off, can we assume Howson actually is the guy who does ALL contract negotiations or is this more shoddy journalism/Lowe pointing fingers for the future?
No doubt Howson is an intelligent guy (Lawyer, strong understanding of the salary cap, former AHLer, etc...) but if he really is the guy reponsible for may of the Oilers inflated contracts could losing him actually end up being a good thing for the organization?
T
I think it's been a relatively well-known matter that Howson performs all of the actual sit-down contract negotiations. As General Manager Lowe's role revolves around management of the club as a whole, including personnel, budget, and assets. Given that Howson has a legal background and is supposedly a cap wizard of sorts, it makes sense that he does all the contract work. That's not to say we should blame him for some of our poorer contracts though, Lowe still sets the bottom line for him.
ReplyDeleteThat's not to say we should blame him for some of our poorer contracts though, Lowe still sets the bottom line for him.
ReplyDeleteYes, why blame anyone but Kevin Lowe. It can't possibly be that anyone else in the entire organization has any responsibility.
I think the Ducks will just remind everyone that come playoff time, conditioning, determination and heart play a more significant role. If you have big guys, they can take and give a pounding. Canadians, or at least guys who have adopted the Canadian game (see Paulson, Holmstrom) seem to have a deeper well of emotion to draw on (thanks World Camps coach) and seem to be the guys that have significant impacts in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, character matters. Some guys are taught it by their parents, most learn thru many years as professionals, some will never have it.
From what I can tell, Lowe has put an emphasis on this character issue in the last few drafts with some increased success.
Of the current group of Oilers and prpespects I wonder about Lupal, Shremp and maybe Nillson. If you accept that the majority of NHL players learn character during their tenure as professionals, we will not know the answer to the question of whether these guys "have it" for a few more years.
I expect most of you will already have decided that Lupal has no character but it is that fair based on one year? Isn't his bad year likely to part of increasing his learning process?
If you don't accept Lupal can learn character and will never be of much use, then the question has to be asked of why everyone wants Pitkanen so badly (other than Philly seems to want to trade him). Is he really someone you can count on character wise? If so, why does Philly want to dump him?
Anaheim was never really tested with Minnesota and Vancouver. Both 1 and marginally 2 lines of offence each. Relatively easy walks, with Anaheim even playing a little sloppy through.
ReplyDeleteThe Detroit series was the real test, and the Ducks managed to win a game they shouldn't have (#1) and then managed to wake-up, fine-tune their game and it was never in doubt after game 4.
Good comparison, especially with Giguere challenging Parent's record this year.
ReplyDeleteYou're just worried about the Oilers drafting more coke machines aren't you?
ReplyDelete