[prz]

It seems like a step in the right direction, but it also seems like it's against Ottawa's philosophy, building a strong, young team from the ground up. I'd have to agree with Lance, maybe not to such an extreme though. Assuming there is a full season of hockey (What with the grueling division the Sens are in) and then the playoffs, I'd doubt he can make it through a full year then bring his A game to the playoffs. Here's hoping they do though-I've been a Toronto fan for quite some time, and I'll go on record, the Leafs deserve to lose. Every playoffs, by winning one series, the Leafs brass feels that they just need that one missing piece of the puzzle, whatever 36 year old is hot at that moment. The Sens play good hockey, and I'm tired of seeing a city from Ontario other than Toronto get crapped on every spring.

Here, Here.

As for the "young philosophy" bit, our sports gusy were telling me that part of the reason Hasek was brought in was to impart on the many young European players just what it's like, and how important it is, to go all the way in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

There was a lot of stuff in the media here about how European players just don't "desire" the Stanley Cup like their NA counterparts. They didn't grow up with it, so they don't get up for it, or strive for it as they would a championship for their country or the World Cup for instance.

I personally don't buy that argument, and I think millions of dollars is all the incentive anyone should need to give their all, but apparently part of the Hasek deal was to have him appeal and educate the young guys in the room towards going after Stanley.

Well, I think there are some Euros who do care. But the fact of the matter is, a European captain has never won the cup, and minus 2002 when Lidstrom won the con smyth (even though Yzerman should have, playing on one knee) no other Euro has won it. I think that speaks volumes.