Does moving around alot necessarily constitute that you are not that good?

Question

This is another one of my pet peeves. Alot of people here seem to think that if a guy is well travelled, it means that he can't be that good. False. In many cases, players move alot because they are good. Whether it be that one team outbids another in their FA period or that teams pick up certain guys for play-off runs.
The next time I hear someone post "yeah, he sucks, been with like 6 teams, no wonder nobody wants him" I am going to scream. That is 6 teams that wanted him. This is not always the case as some guys wear out their welcomes or need a change of scenery BUT in most cases-well travelled means much wanted.
Another pet peeve while I am at it. To the people who say that a player is better than other because "he has more cups" is out of their mind. Wendell Young is the only player to win the Stanley Cup, Calder Cup, Memorial Cup and whatever that ECHL cup is. Who, you say? Exactly.

Good point. Ryan Smyth this year. Did NYI pick him up because he sucked or because they wanted him to make a run at the play-offs and Edmonton couldn't get a deal done and were not going to make it to the play-offs??

Sorry, the other cup is the turner cup (IHL)

Zapcity- I am not exactly sure what you are saying. It sounds like a bunch of static. Yes, "he has more cups" is in reference to the highest level and then you qualify it by mentioning that indeed Young has 2 cups?? What is this particular value it has when comparing top lines? That you know that some crappy 4th liner has more cups than a particular star? You are lost.

Answer 1

I can't agree with you more. Now a days, it's not that the player is no good, it's the team doesn't have the money to afford him due to how good he is. How many times has a player, any player, said that he wanted to stay with a team, the team says the same, but they part ways cause they can't come to a deal on the money side of it? and fyi for ya: the echl cup name is the Kelly Cup.

Answer 2

Since I may be "Guilty as Charged" here, I will spend 5 minutes typing some stuff.

I hope I never said someone was worse ONLY because they played for more teams or won more Cups. With both, like everything else, they are factors that have to be considered.

It's not so much that someone played for a lot of teams, the better question is, IF he did, did a team that traded him get any worse, and did a team that acquired him get any better. With Paul Coffey, sure, Pittsburgh won a cup, but with the rest of the teams he played for after that, he was very much a non-factor and that has to be held against him.

Same with Stanley Cups, of course that in itself doesn't mean much of anything. But for people like Messier, Gretzky and Roy, 4+ cups has to be held in their favor. This sport is ABOUT winning the cup, that's the idea, and it's not an easy feat with 21+ teams and 3+ rounds, players like this have to be admired for doing it MULTIPLE times.

Same in reverse. For players like Dionne, Salming, Perreault, I wouldn't exactly sneeze at having them in my lineup, but when comparing playing the "who's better" game between SIMILARLY skilled players I would RATHER have the Guy with his name on the Cup, because he knows what it takes to get there and lifted his game as notch when it really mattered the most.

Answer 3

"He has more cups" is specifically in reference to victory at the highest level, not collecting hardware on the way to the show. Furthermore, it does mean something and the statement has particular value when you are comparing top line forwards, 1st unit d-men and starting goaltenders that have a body of work to be gauged against another.

Wendell Young was a utility goaltender who watched from the becnch as Barrasso won him 2 rings.

I do agree with you on the number of uniform changes, though. In today's game, 6 teams are probably the average. Afterall, even Wayne Gretzky played for 4 teams.

Answer 4

The ECHL goes for the Kelly Cup.

As long as a player can continue signing with a team, regardless of how many he has been on then it is obvious he has some talent or skill that that particular team needs at that time.

At first I thought you said Wendell Clarke and I thought to myself any die hard hockey fan knows who that is!! But it says Wendell Young and I must admit I don't know who he is or who he played with.

Answer 5

I said it about Stu Grimson last night. I stated that he was overated as a fighter and useless on skates as he was even outscored by Osgood one year. In the case of Stu Grimson I stand behind my statements.

I think Yanic Perrault is an outstanding 3rd line Center. He has been on 3 teams this year and that is because he is sought after.

It can be both.

Answer 6

Some of the most valuable players for playoff runs are dealt at the deadline. Teams looking to make a playoff run will consistently deal for these types to add character, grit or toughness to their playoff bound teams.

Answer 7

Yea thats true. MANY players who are awesome have moved around a lot. And i also agree with that cup thing..because maybe that guy who has more cups..didnt even contribute to winning them .