"In the 2006/2007 season when the salary cap was at $44 million, the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup with 39% of their cap space dedicated to three players: Scott Niedermayer ($6.75 million), Chris Pronger ($6.25 million) and Jean-Sebastian Giguere ($3.99 million). Add Teemu Selanne ($3.75 million) and Andy Macdonald ($3.3 million) and that’s 55% of their cap space dedicated to five players. The other Stanley Cup finalist that year, the Ottawa Senators, had 36% of their cap space to three playes: Wade Redden ($6.5 million), Daniel Alfredsson ($4.677 million) and Dany Heatley ($4.5 million). Include Jason Spezza ($4.5 million) and Martin Gerber ($3.7 million) and that’s 54% of their cap space dedicated to five players."
I look at those salaries and laugh...Andy Macdonald @ $3.3 million, Wade Redden @$6.5 million, and Martin Gerber @ $3.7 million. Then I think about this as the year the Ducks stole the Cup from us in the conference finals and my laughs turn to cries. And I also start wishing Lilja's head to start hurting again (just a little bit).
"In the 2007/2008 season when the salary cap was at $50.3 million, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup with 40% of their cap space dedicated to three players: Nicklas Lidstrom ($7.6 million), Pavel Datsyuk ($6.7 million) and Brian Rafalski ($6 million). Add Dominik Hasek ($4.05 million) and Nicklas Kronwall ($3 million) and that’s 48% of their cap space dedicated to five players."I can't believe we were paying Hasek that much. The dude did help us win the Jennings, but my god, $4.05 million to that sociopath? Like his crappy clothing line doesn't earn him enough money. All's well that ends well, I guess.
"Likewise, when the salary cap was at $56.6 million last season, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup with 33% of their cap space dedicated to three players: Sidney Crosby ($8.7 million), Sergei Gonchar ($5 million) and Marc-Andre Fleury ($5 million). Add Evgeni Malkin ($3.834 million) and Brooks Orpik ($3.75 million) and that’s 46% of their cap space dedicated to five players. The finalists, the Detroit Red Wings, had 38% dedicated to three players: Lidstrom ($7.45 million), Marian Hossa ($7.45 million) and Datsyuk ($6.7 million). Add Rafalski ($6 million) and that’s 49% dedicated to four players."
We could have easily just saved that $7.45 million on Mercinary Maryanne Hossa, and traded him at the deadline for someone who was going to score in more than 3 games in the post-season...but I'm not bitter. Wait, yes I am. Also, I've heard people start groaning a bit over Rafalski's Cap hit. Don't. Stats alone compared to others, he's a steal.
"If you haven’t noticed yet, the three previous Stanley Cup winners and finalists all committed big money to a select few players."
Choose, but choose wisely.
