http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2008/05/05/commentary-on-the-quarterfinals/ gorillacrouch [at] gmail.com Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:37:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2008/05/05/commentary-on-the-quarterfinals/#comment-6094 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:39:50 +0000 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2008/05/05/commentary-on-the-quarterfinals/#comment-6094 [...] So if the guy is seen as being opportunistic, couldn’t the same thing be said about Atlanta and about Pittsburgh? Atlanta knew there was no chance he’d re-up with them. So they had to trade him and acquire as many assets as possible or lose him for nothing. Pretty opportunistic, right? Pittsburgh had the best mix of assets and acquired him via trade on February 26. Here was my take prior to the conference finals last season: The Pens made a smart calculated move to make the trade for Marian Hossa. There was no way they could afford the abundance of riches they had built up through the draft so they decided to trade some prospects for a guy who could help them immediately. By making the trade they correctly realized their window is right now and adding Hossa - who scored the series-clinching goal against the Rangers - has paid dividends as they have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. [...] […] So if the guy is seen as being opportunistic, couldn’t the same thing be said about Atlanta and about Pittsburgh? Atlanta knew there was no chance he’d re-up with them. So they had to trade him and acquire as many assets as possible or lose him for nothing. Pretty opportunistic, right? Pittsburgh had the best mix of assets and acquired him via trade on February 26. Here was my take prior to the conference finals last season: The Pens made a smart calculated move to make the trade for Marian Hossa. There was no way they could afford the abundance of riches they had built up through the draft so they decided to trade some prospects for a guy who could help them immediately. By making the trade they correctly realized their window is right now and adding Hossa - who scored the series-clinching goal against the Rangers - has paid dividends as they have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. […]

]]> http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2008/05/05/commentary-on-the-quarterfinals/#comment-5753 Sat, 10 May 2008 14:09:36 +0000 http://www.gorillacrouch.com/2008/05/05/commentary-on-the-quarterfinals/#comment-5753 [...] I suggested a couple days ago that I was developing the opinion that the team was going through a rebuild when Dave Lewis was coach and during Mike Babcock’s first year at the helm. Those ratings from FSN bear this out. Casual fans tuned out with Shanahan and Yzerman moving on before Hank Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk had become full-blown stars. They are tuning back in because this is an incredibly talented and successful team. And they are easy to like. Nik Kronwall hits like Vladdie used to and Johan Franzen is challenging records held by Mr. Hockey. That would be Gordie Howe, Mitch. [...] […] I suggested a couple days ago that I was developing the opinion that the team was going through a rebuild when Dave Lewis was coach and during Mike Babcock’s first year at the helm. Those ratings from FSN bear this out. Casual fans tuned out with Shanahan and Yzerman moving on before Hank Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk had become full-blown stars. They are tuning back in because this is an incredibly talented and successful team. And they are easy to like. Nik Kronwall hits like Vladdie used to and Johan Franzen is challenging records held by Mr. Hockey. That would be Gordie Howe, Mitch. […]

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