Steve Yzerman will get too much credit...

[Nasty_Magician]

I know I will be crucified for this, but I will play devil's advocate before the lovefest for this guys begins. If Tampa Bay wins the whole thing or gets to the finals it will be because of the core players that were here before Yzerman took the reigns. I'll give him credit for the head coach and bringing stability/eliminating negativity, but this isn't his team. It's like in college football when a new coach wins with the old coach's recruits. Don't know why I felt compelled to write this.

 

[dash]

Actually, I agree to some extent, because Jay Feaster got a lot of credit for the Tampa Bay win in 2004, but Rick Dudley built that team.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

I know I will be crucified for this,

YOU! Yeah, you!

Get on the cross!

 

[BlueandWhiteForever]

Sort of the same situation going on with the Canucks. Mike Gillis will get showered with praise, but most of that team is a result of the Brian Burke/Dave Nonis era. That gives me hope with what is going on with the Leafs slowly turning it around.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

That gives me hope with what is going on with the Leafs slowly turning it around.

If I had a nickel...





(I keeed, I keeed)

 

[BlueandWhiteForever]

If I had a nickel...





(I keeed, I keeed)

They are doing a pretty good job considering the crater Ferguson Jr. left them in. Ironically enough, our goalie of the future James Reimer was one of his draft picks

 

[dare2be]

but I will play devil's advocate

 

[Eddie_Shack]

To a point, you're right. Vinny, Stamkos, St. Louis, and Hedman were all there when Yzerman took over. But remember, he wouldn't be getting any praise at all if he didn't hire an all new coaching staff, purge half the team, bring in new upper management, and bring the team from near lottery to ECFs... IMO, if Yzerman didn't take over last summer, this team isn't even in the playoffs.

/take that with a grain of salt, you won't find a bigger blind Yzerman slurping fanboy anywhere else...

 

[The Q stache]

To a point, you're right. Vinny, Stamkos, St. Louis, and Hedman were all there when Yzerman took over. But remember, he wouldn't be getting any praise at all if he didn't hire an all new coaching staff, purge half the team, bring in new upper management, and bring the team from near lottery to ECFs... IMO, if Yzerman didn't take over last summer, this team isn't even in the playoffs.

/take that with a grain of salt, you won't find a bigger blind Yzerman slurping fanboy anywhere else...

Holy shit you're blind

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Holy shit you're blind

Yeah but I'm pretty Kane just popped me in the eye.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I think this (and in Vancouver for that matter) are a mixture of both.

Sure a lot of those pieces were there before Yzerzman (Gillis), but those pieces that were there weren't getting the job done.

Obviously we haven't seen yet if Tampa or Vancouver wins it all (or even gets to the Finals), but those guys deserve credit for making the moves that have (potentially) put their teams over the top.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Oh...and when I read the thread title, I had a flashback to the Swamp days and that guy (I'm sure somebody remembers his screen name) that was constantly saying that Detroit was gonna un-retire Yzerman's jersey.