The Kings got things done tonite, too bad the Great One wasn't in the Staples Center to watch in person, but man its great for one of the '67 Six to win it for the first time (I do think the Blues have the potential to compete in the next few years) - meaning the Maple Leafs fans will continue to suffer (have not won one since 67).
I never expected the Kings to win it, and I do agree the hiring of Darryl Sutter was the key turning point - plus NOT trading away Brown (WTF started those rumors!?
) and adding Carter to the mix. This team will be a strong Cup contender for years to come with the right management decisions (like the Red Wings was the top team in the West for over 10 years!).
As for the Devils, I do think they and the Red Wings will be heading in the rebuilding phase - no shame in this at all, considering both teams combined have won the Cup several times in the last 15 years; I do think Brodeur should rethink about retiring now - can he do this again next year with 60 starts and going through 3 tough rounds for the Cup? Plus the Devils are the oldest team in the NHL, they will need young blood ASAP, but I think got some blue-chip players in the mix.
As for Parise, he will be the hottest free agent this summer, IMO, more worth it for teams to sign than Brad Richards last summer (quite disappointing playoff performance, maybe Leaf fans are glad they didn't sign him with that deal!). And YES, I do want my Wild to sign him long-term (within a reasonable term to allow room for more players), but who knows where he will go and how much he wants.
With the Stanley Cup finals over, the next thing is the Draft and Free Agency, but I can't shake off the looming shadows of the CBA rift between the BoG and NHLPA - the league had lost one whole season, and cannot afford to do this again! But I do think it will get ratified soon enough for Free Agency.
As for the 'Yotes, I do hope NHL and the city of Glendale have a clear understand of the worst-case scenario - the housing market never fully recovers in AZ, Glendale does not see population growth overspill from Phoenix, cooperate sponsors dry out for Glendale... either the team stays in Glendale bleeding money, or at least try moving into Phoenix and share the area with the NBA Suns (with someone footing the bill to tear down Jobing.com arena).
And Seattle did have a team that was the first American-based team to win the Stanley Cup prior to the Original Six era:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Metropolitans
And there are several minor league teams within the Washington state - there was consideration for a NHL team in the 70's, but it never came to fruition. Since the city has lost its beloved NBA team (that now has the chance to be the champion!) due to old Key Arena, there are talks about building a new multi-function arena that
may include capacity for a NHL team, but they do need a guarantee there will be at least a NBA team in Seattle before funding can be approved. This with the approval in Quebec City for a new NHL-size arena have give rise to rumors that the NHL will settle for an expansion of at least two teams - one US team in the West and one Canadian team in the East to create four equal size divisions.
But that's just rumors, OK, let's wait for 2012 Draft at the Pit!
