Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watdcsu.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS]) Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: Re: how to build a contender Message-ID: <1163@watdcsu.UUCP> Date: Mon, 25-Mar-85 20:19:41 EST Article-I.D.: watdcsu.1163 Posted: Mon Mar 25 20:19:41 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 26-Mar-85 03:39:57 EST References: <1466@dciem.UUCP> <4468@ucla-cs.ARPA> Reply-To: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS]) Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 45 In article <4468@ucla-cs.ARPA> rick@ucla-cs.UUCP (Rick Gillespie) writes: >In article <1466@dciem.UUCP> jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) writes: >>2. Great teams are built in the second round of the draft and later, not >> in the first round. That's where players like the Flyers' young forwards >> are found, but since they have some quality that's difficult to detect >> at junior age (it certainly doesn't show up on paper), it takes a great >> scouting staff to separate these players from the bulk of players from >> these rounds who will never make the NHL. I agree with Jeff here. You can't build a team on first-round choices; you only get one each year and you can't expect them to play for another 19 years... >In their first year the Isles set a new standard for inept play. The >players began to wonder where the town "Hapless" was because they were >often referred to (when they visited other towns) as the Hapless Islanders. >To be frank, they stunk. Even I didn't like them then. A true fan will stick with his team through thick and thin. I've seen some pretty bad years in Montreal (although good ones have been in the majority) but I've never considered switching loyalties. >The current system >(underage draft) hurts the weaker teams because a high draft choice is >a real gamble, while the stronger teams can afford to let players >continue to mature in junior without force-feeding them in big leagues. This is quite true. Look at what the Maple Laughs have had to do --- bring up from the juniors every single player who can stand up on his skates without giving them time to hone their skills. >Of course it helps if you are friends with Nelson Skalbania so he will >hand you Gretzky on a platter :-). It would help even more to be friends with Peter "Puck" Pocklington! \tom haapanen watmath!watdcsu!haapanen Don't cry, don't do anything No lies, back in the government No tears, party time is here again President Gas is up for president (c) Psychedelic Furs, 1982