Why do Anaheim and San Jose have such good teams?

Question

Lets look at the 8 teams still in the playoffs: 2 are Canadian (Ottawa and Vancouver), 3 are in the Northeast US (Buffalo, NY, NJ), which gets plenty of snow, 1 is Detroit aka Hockey Town...

And the other two are from cities that don't get any snow on an average year. San Jose and Anaheim are two places that, really, have no right to have a hockey team at all (and this is speaking as a California native), and while the franchises are new and all, San Jose seems to have embraced their team with open arms (unsure about Anaheim).

So, why? I mean, is there any reason other than this is just a fluke year for the two teams?

Answer 1

Hockey is a team game and if you find the perfect players to compliment each other, you have a solid team. Throw in a hot goaltender and the outcomes are usually very positive.

THis is definitely not a fluke year for either team. Both teams have solid goaltending as Nabby and Giguere have really played well. The Sharks added the much needed leadership and experience to a young blueline while the Ducks have 2 of the best defensemens anchoring theirs in Pronger and Neidermeyer (is that even legal?). The Sharks are solid on the PP, PK, and even strength as they have a ridiculous 4 lines of solid talent. You got the stars ( Thornton, Marleau, Cheechoo) and you got the experience ( Guerin, Grier, Brown) and you got the youth ( Michalek, Clowe, Pavelski). The Ducks on the other hand have Selanne as the superstar, BUT has all the right players to surround Selanne who know their role and play their role well. McDonald is a great passer, Kunitz is all around, and Getzlaf has really found his niche during the powerplay.

These weren't teams built over night. Both clubs have developed within and along the way, signed and traded for the right free agents to make such solid teams. I wouldn't be surprised if one of these teams happen to be our Stanley Cup Champion this year.

Answer 2

In all honesty, where a team is from no longer has any real bearing on how they do. Teams from colder cities have more of a home ice advantage I would think, but other than that, being from the north is not going to make a team better or worse.

Great players that are groomer in hockey-rich cities are going to find their NHL homes wherever they may. With the salary cap the way it is, players could end up anywhere. Whoever wants to dish out the money.

For example, the Ducks have more Canadian players on its roster than anyone left in the playoffs. They are from Anaheim, but they get players from north of the border.

The Ducks are terrific defensively. They have two of the top three dfensemen in Niedermayer and Pronger. They also have great depth in goal (Giguere and Bryzgalov).

San Jose has tons of young talent. Their top line I think is Michalek-Thornton-Cheechoo. They are very young and are going to be good for a lot of years.

By the way, a Canadian team has not won the Cup since 1993, but I am 99.4% sure that there are more Canadian players on the Stanley Cup than any other nationality.

Answer 3

Clearly you're somewhat clueless about hockey.

Where the team is located has no real impact on how good or bad they are. It's all about the players, the coaching, and overall ability to win.

San Jose and Anaheim are not new teams. Young, yes, but not new. San Jose began in 1991 and Anaheim began two years later in 1993. San Jose fans are loud, boisterous, and incredibly loyal to their team. Anaheim, pretty damn close to San Jose.

Both offer great offense, defense, power play, penalty kill, and some kick butt players with excellent line-ups to boot. As much as I hate Anaheim, I wouldn't be too disappointed if they brought the cup to California. I'd say it's way past time the Western Conference Pacific Division to bring it home -- preferably in San Jose of course.

Answer 4

In professional sports, where a team is located has nothing to do with how good they may or may not be. Location can be considered to a greater extent in youth sports where weather, regional interest, space, and resources may have tremendous impact on a particular sport. Hockey is no exception.

The reason that teams like San Jose and Anaheim have become such great teams is that their organizations have good solid hockey foundations. This means that their management teams have experience and knowledge that allows them to hire the right people to do their respective jobs. Their GMs draft and trade well. Their scouts understand what their teams need in order to be successful. Their coaches understand team dynamic and motivation. And of course, the players of their organizations believe in the 'systems' that their organizations have created.

Great teams are not necessarily the teams with the best players (see Rangers circa 2000). Great teams are formed when the right mix of people and skillsets come together at the right time and place with the same goals and the willingness to work together to achieve those goals. Leadership is key here.

As for California teams, players love to play here because of various conditions, including weather, economy, and a generally laid back attitude. Players don't feel under the pressure to win every single game or be perfect like they do in other places (mmmhmmm, Montreal). This allows them to better develop their games and other skills. Also, players aren't as likely to be continually harassed by fans and media outside of the rink, allowing some level of privacy for them and their families. Being that the state has the ability to attract players because of these living conditions, we have seen many trades and free agent acquisitions for key veteran players such as Pronger, Niedermayer, Guerin, Rivet, Brown, and Grier.

Hope this helps give you some insight into the sport and team dynamic!

Answer 5

Coaching and key players. San Jose has Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo, meanwhile Anaheim has Teemu Selanne, Chris Pronger, and Scott Niedermayer.

Answer 6

Its not a fluke, but i dont see it happening next year.
If you look at Anahiem especially, they have a great team but
Pronger (getting old)
Niedermeyer (getting old)
Selanne (Getting old)

They are key players that most people thouhgt would do nothing this year and have managed to show that they arent finished. THis happening next year is quite unprobable. I think they will do well but not as well as this year. They do have some great rookies, but it will be a while for them to fill the void that could be left by Selanne Pronger Niedermeyer.

San Jose on the other hand.
They were able to get Joe thorton who has been a great asset this year and will be in the future especially the way he has changed his game. They have a good young defenseman in Matt Carle, and with marlaeu and michalek and nabakov they could have a good next season

Answer 7

Not sure the weather has much to do with it ... lol. Same with the fans.
Toronto has cold weather over the past 40 years and very loyal fans but have not won a Stanley Cup in ages.
Those teams are good because of trades and draft choices. They bring in good general managers, from Canada, and they build those teams up.
When those two teams came into the league ... I hope you did not blame the loosing seasons on warm weather.

Answer 8

First you have to have good people to asses the talent and get it. Then the coach has to be someone the players will work with.
Both clubs have these pieces in abundance.
It's still gotta be weird for all those guys from Canada to go play hockey when it's 80 degrees outside.

Answer 9

Good Canadian players who give that 2nd effort. Niedermayer, Pronger, Giguére, McDonald, Thornton, CheeChoo, Marleau and Selanne(oops).

Answer 10

So your saying that they should kick out San Jose, Anaheim , LA and old oakland?