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irvine
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1315 Posts |
 Posted - 10/15/2009 : 17:34:12
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Poll Question:
If you had to choose just one player to start your new franchise, who would you pick and why?
(Please note: Age does NOT matter in this question, so just assume all players listed are of similar age.)
Irvine
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irvine
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1315 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2009 : 17:36:40
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I voted personally for Sidney Crosby. I don't believe he has any more talent than Malkin or Ovechkin (as a forward,) but I would want to start based on a player I believe can be a leader for the team and be a dominate Center. Something Ovechkin is not (a centerman.) and perhaps not the most notable leader either.
Defence and Goaltending are both HUGE factors in starting a strong team, however I decided to go with a strong skating centermen.
Irvine |
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sharksfan44
Rookie
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2009 : 19:26:40
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| i'm the exact same as u irvine. crosby is a leader on his team, scores tons of points and makes the other players around him better. ovechkin and malkin and all these other guys on this list have all the talent in the world and are good in their own ways, but out of all of them, crosby is the guy i would turn to if i wanted my team to win |
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Guest4250
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Posted - 10/16/2009 : 06:47:46
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how can you not say marty brodeaur? The guy is the best goalie of the last 15 years. If he was as young as the others (as stated in the poll question) it would be foolish not to say him. An all-star franchise solid netminder is hard to come by.
S Powers |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 08:30:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest4250
how can you not say marty brodeaur? The guy is the best goalie of the last 15 years. If he was as young as the others (as stated in the poll question) it would be foolish not to say him. An all-star franchise solid netminder is hard to come by.
S Powers
I'll answer that....AND, for those out there who feel Brodeur is superior to Luongo, fine. However, remember that most of the Brodeur / Luongo debate is regarding the Olympic team starter position coming up in 4 months. For the record, if both were 21 today, i'd choose Brodeur, if for no other reason than his track record. Luongo has his work cut out for him if he's ever to reach Brodeur's "status". Anyway, i'm straying from the question.....
What i was getting at was this....Luongo is considered one of the best goalies in the league and has been by most for the past 5 or so years, although he's played on some very mediocre teams. What did it get the Panthers? Or the Isles? Or the Canucks for his first year or so? It really didn't get them anywhere did it? So, you give me an expansion team, which is going to struggle defensively for the first few years, and i'll take a bonifide sniper or top end centerman anyday. A guy like Ovechkin would put people in the seats. A guy like Crosby would put people in the seats! A guy like Brodeur, keeping you close but losing many 4-2 and 3-1 games wouldn't do enough for the team. I think you could trade for a mid level goalie who on many nights would play well enough to keep you in a game where your superstar forward would win it for you. You could go the route Colorado has and pluck someone's backup who's dying to get a chance to start and possibly get a good one like they seem to have? Capable goalies are much easier to come by than a superstar!
My pick would prob be Crosby as i think he's far more marketable in a Canadian market (assuming that's where i'd have my team?). He also, imo, makes the guys around him better with his overall game. Not slighting Ovie, i love his game, i just think the overall package Crosby brings would suit a new team better...... |
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fat_elvis_rocked
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
902 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 11:51:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
My pick would prob be Crosby as i think he's far more marketable in a Canadian market (assuming that's where i'd have my team?). He also, imo, makes the guys around him better with his overall game. Not slighting Ovie, i love his game, i just think the overall package Crosby brings would suit a new team better......
I agree with this particular reasoning more than the skill, talent, playing ability, because it's not about the most talent when you start a franchise, it's also about selling the franchise to the fans, not only locally, but nationally,globally.
In Crosby you get the best of all worlds, as the owner of a new franchise, arguably the most skilled and talented player in the game, but more importantly as a franchise owner, a very marketable commodity.
I wouldn't take Ovechkin due to his exuberance, he's too over the top, not just on the ice, but off....100+ mile an hour joyrides..eek!!
Brodeur while being perhaps the best choice to build a team around, just falls short in the sellability, and really, if you owned the franchise, it will eventually become about the dollars... |
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phlyguy90
Rookie
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 12:02:30
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| mike richards or pavel datsyuk! leadership, points, defense=stanley cup!!! |
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margorp
Top Prospect
1 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 12:58:26
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quote:
Originally posted by irvine
If you had to choose just one player to start your new franchise, who would you pick and why?
(Please note: Age does NOT matter in this question, so just assume all players listed are of similar age.)
Irvine
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JOSHUACANADA
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
2308 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 14:43:30
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| Ovie. Why, who else has sold hockey in Washington as good as Ovie. Last year with a mediocre, team he got people talking about upsetting the Penguins for the finals. Its not just Ovie in washington but, he has got flash, highlight hits, a great goal celebration and talks trash. This guys is pure gold. I do think Ovie makes his teamates better, or at least takes the pressure off them by taking the opposition focus, which amplifies there stats. Crosby would be a close second, but I prefer the guy with more flash, regardless of stats. |
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50brent
Top Prospect
Canada
62 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 15:07:50
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| i had to go with crosby because he can put up points like ovie but he can play much better defense than ovie, crosby is really the full package and you cant go wrong with a player like him. |
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fanoleaf
Rookie
143 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 16:33:44
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| Crosby as stated by the many posters above. He is a better two way player than A.O. and does make the players around him better. This is not to say that he is far and away a better choice because I really do not think you could go wrong with either Crosby or A.O. to start your farnchise with. |
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irvine
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1315 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2009 : 17:25:36
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I do agree that finding a TOP goaltender is very hard to find, but as others have mentioned you can find competent ones that can win games for you, or atleast keep you in the game for your offense to win it.
That being said, if I was building a new club (ticket sales aside, even), I would want to build strong up the middle and have solid leadership. I'd want size, skill & leadership in a Centerman.
This being said, out of the selection, it leaves me with (2) Options.
1) Crosby
2) Malkin
Scoring went as follows:
Leadership: Crosby
Talent: Tied
Size: Malkin
so to the tie-breaker we go... Best at actual face-offs, Crosby. So, this is how I came to my conclusion. Don't get me wrong, I'd not be sad if I had to select Malkin, or even Ovechkin. But as mentioned, I want a leader and a skilled centerman first and foremost.
From there, you can build Wingers to fit that top tier star in the middle. And Defence, goaltending can also improve over time.
Irvine |
Edited by - irvine on 10/16/2009 17:26:09 |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2009 : 08:42:31
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The thing that makes this question tough is the age is the same part. By saying that, hindsight can't be used. If Brodeur was 20 years old, no one would know that his career would end up as good as it did.
That being said, today I would take Crosby. A few years ago, not a chance. But today, he has shown be a couple of things. Firstly, he has better vision that most any player today. He can see the ice as good as Gretzky could. The different between the two is that Crosby doesn't have that ability to be in the right place all the time. To fall out of the play and reappear in the dead right spot with the puck on his stick. But as far as vision and passing, Crosby is top shelf.
Secondly, and more importantly, Crosby is a winner. He wants to win and nothing else matters. He would go through a season with 20 points and be happy as long as he is contributing to his team and they win. Most other superstars are looking for their own. He is looking for the team.
That is huge and puts him ahead of any other players in the league today. Skill and desire to win. |
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Starting YOUR franchise 
