What is this best way to create a successful hockey team? This is a difficult question to answer, and one that takes some thinking. What I am talking about is the on ice product. If I were to start choosing players to create a team, at which position would I start?
There are many different strategies and ways of going about it. I've always believed that building a team from the net out is the best way, simply because your goaltender is the most important player on your team. It's just like in football, where the quarterback is the most important. Comparing the NFL to the NHL probably isn't the best option, but all I'm trying to say is that I find a great goaltender imperative to the success of a team.
What I have found out is that not every team that is successful has an elite goaltender. We've seen teams win the Stanley Cup simply because they rode a hot goaltender or had a powerful offense.
Now, I've said this plenty of times, but the Sabres have always had a good goaltender. Whether it be Miller, Hasek, Edwards or Barrasso, Buffalo has had their share of solid netminders. All that being said, the Sabres have yet to win a Stanley Cup in over 40 years of hockey. That's a long time, and it's embarrassing.
In my mind, the Sabres have always had the right thinking process when it comes to goaltenders, but it's never paid off. Maybe starting in goal isn't the way to go. Would Buffalo be better off building the team around a star forward, or even a defensemen?
Building from the net out doesn't just mean that you can obtain an elite goalie, throw him in goal, and expect the team to start winning. It has happened, and it results in the goaltender carrying the team, just like Hasek did in 1999. It almost worked, but not completely.
If the Sabres are going to continue to build around the goalie, it needs to be done right. It's more than just having a great netminder. It's starting with him, followed by acquiring the right defensemen that can play. We've seen how many times the defense has left Miller out to dry. Start by getting a good goaltender, and then obtaining defensemen that can actually play the position.
That would lead to more of a defensive team that might have trouble scoring, but at least the backend would keep the team in games. Offense sells tickets, defense wins Championships - I've heard it over and over.
As much as I love offense and scoring, it is the defense that is more important, isn't it?
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