Gone are the days of watching a team grow together, let alone get the chance to become a dynasty.
I remember back in 1994 when I was with the N.Y. Rangers, then-NHLPA boss Bob Goodenow took time at a meeting to best explain how a salary cap works: He tossed a bag of candy right on the ground and asked us if we would divide it up. He said some players would walk away with lots of candy, some much less and the rest would have to fight for what's left.
Now, 15 years later and with the cap in full bloom, we are seeing its full impact on general managers, players and most importantly, you the fans.
With that in mind, a great player like Patrick Sharp must be wondering how many days he has left in a Blackhawks uniform. With the ‘Hawks salary cap already at the max this year, it is crystal clear there is not enough “candy” to go around for the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith to re-sign. The Blackhawks, who are considered to be the best up-and-coming team, perhaps will get one final crack at a Stanley Cup before core players will have to be dumped.
Talk about pressure on the young guns. So who's it going to be, boys? You, Patrick Sharp? You, Dustin Byfuglien? Maybe you, Kris Versteeg? Are any of you ready to pack your bags after this season? Make no mistake, two or three of those names will have to go and what a shame it is. This appears to be a group that could have been fun to watch for the next five years.
Unfortunately gone are the days of watching a team grow together, let alone get the chance to become a dynasty. The Pittsburgh Penguins have their core forwards tied up, but newfound money will be needed for Sergei Gonchar, Mark Eaton and Kris Letang this summer as well.
Need more proof? Look no further than Phil Kessel and the Boston Bruins. While the Boston fans chuckle at the thought of landing Toronto's first-overall pick, fans painfully watched their Cup-contending team lose its sniper for nothing in return for this season. And Toronto fans, just think of all those saps in Boston who ran out this summer and bought Kessel jerseys only to find a week into training camp they're now obsolete.
In this new era everyone, including coaches, have to get used to players coming and going like a revolving door. Kessel, Scott Gomez, Marian Hossa, Martin Havlat, Chris Pronger are all talented players that local fans would have loved to see stay with their respective clubs, yet they still got squeezed out.
If Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin jerseys aren't your thing, it’s best you purchase the emblem-only jersey without any names on the back. I wonder if it’s not too late to cancel the Dave Bolland Blackhawks jersey I just ordered?
