(no subject)
I love how Al Strachan says no one wants to play for the Devils. Every single UFA wants to come back. This is why I love the Devils - they're actually a team.
John Madden - "Absolutely, But I haven't figured out what needs to be done. I haven't talked to Lou (Lamoriello). I feel confident we'll get it worked out. I think you'll see the same core of guys back here."
Grant Marshall - "There is really only one place I want to play and that is here." [Of his season-ending fight, Marshall said: "I cried in the dressing room. I knew I was probably done. It was a stupid fight late in the season but I treat game 82 like every other. In some ways I felt I let the team down. In other ways I don't think I did. I hope they'd expect me to do it again."]
Stevenson, Kozlov, and Pandolfo want to return. Clemmensen gave out a "probably." And Albelin?
Albelin? Oh he is the man.
He says he's willing to return if he's needed. There has never been a Devil more dedicated to him. I know Dano played five gajillion games and whatever, but man... Albelin bleeds Lou's Kool-Aid*.
He goes to training camp without a contract. He busts his ass. He played 45 games this year - yep, a reserve defenseman. Did he complain? No. 37 last year, 5 with the AHL when they needed him. Did he complain? No. This year, his 45 games played... I mean, he's almost 40. You know how you hear about retired players who say they'd make a comeback but they're not in shape? Hockey game shape is incredible, and I mean incredible, these guys are on strict-as-hell workout regimes and nutritional plans for the off-season... and Albelin? Not even playing in the AHL this year. He kept in game-shape on his own. He signed that contract knowing he might not even play ONE game. But he knew he would work out every single day just in case the Devils needed him. I love Tommy Albelin.
And that's why I love the Devils. You get guys like Dano that would never think of playing anywhere else. Brodeur, Stevens, Dano, Albelin - franchise players. They don't even listen to offers from other teams. Both Stevens and Albelin have already requested jobs with the Devils after they retire (and they'll get them). Dano's already doing broadcast work and, if it weren't for Chico, you know he'd be alongside Doc immediately (man, that would be great).
Pure loyalty. Complete and utter loyalty.
Now, here's where I'm going to piss people off... other teams just don't have that. Yes, some do.
But let's see. Compare the 2003-2004 teams with the same team's 1999-2000 teams.
Maple Leafs - five guys on both rosters. Rangers - two guys on both rosters. Flyers - four guys on both rosters.
I remember showing up for my first day on the Capitals job and a co-worker, Marco who I later became more friendly with, asked me which team I liked. Before I could answer he cuts me off and says, "It doesn't matter, what with the trades and free agency nowadays."
The thing is - for the Devils - that's just not true. Our roster has ten of twenty from 2000, which does not count in the reserve-type guys (which were counted in for Leafs, Rangers, and Flyers). Our team, yes, has changed a lot since then. But I mean... that's not counting Stevens. That's not counting Albelin (who was in Calgary). When you put it in perspective, we really haven't changed that much.
So for me, and for the Devils... the logo on the sweater means more than just some logo. It's actual dedication. I know some other teams have it - but man, I would hate to like a team that didn't. It's the main reason I stick with the Devils - pure loyalty.
* explanation of term "Lou's Kool-Aid: When Mike Danton was on the Devils, he refused to do what Lou told him, saying he would not drink "Lou's Kool-Aid." This referred to a cult in the 70's that drank poisoned Kool-Aid and died together. The term is used by Devils fans to describe utter loyalty to the team.
The test was pretty bad but not as bad as I thought. I doubt I will fail the course but it's likely I will get a C. I'm trying to convince AU to covert my grades, or make a note that the system here is a little different. A D- here is still passing whereas AU cuts you off at C-. That means a C here is more like a B- or C+. They also give out A+'s, which I hope to get one of (that would be nifty).
Calgary Flames, you rule.
John Madden - "Absolutely, But I haven't figured out what needs to be done. I haven't talked to Lou (Lamoriello). I feel confident we'll get it worked out. I think you'll see the same core of guys back here."
Grant Marshall - "There is really only one place I want to play and that is here." [Of his season-ending fight, Marshall said: "I cried in the dressing room. I knew I was probably done. It was a stupid fight late in the season but I treat game 82 like every other. In some ways I felt I let the team down. In other ways I don't think I did. I hope they'd expect me to do it again."]
Stevenson, Kozlov, and Pandolfo want to return. Clemmensen gave out a "probably." And Albelin?
Albelin? Oh he is the man.
He says he's willing to return if he's needed. There has never been a Devil more dedicated to him. I know Dano played five gajillion games and whatever, but man... Albelin bleeds Lou's Kool-Aid*.
He goes to training camp without a contract. He busts his ass. He played 45 games this year - yep, a reserve defenseman. Did he complain? No. 37 last year, 5 with the AHL when they needed him. Did he complain? No. This year, his 45 games played... I mean, he's almost 40. You know how you hear about retired players who say they'd make a comeback but they're not in shape? Hockey game shape is incredible, and I mean incredible, these guys are on strict-as-hell workout regimes and nutritional plans for the off-season... and Albelin? Not even playing in the AHL this year. He kept in game-shape on his own. He signed that contract knowing he might not even play ONE game. But he knew he would work out every single day just in case the Devils needed him. I love Tommy Albelin.
And that's why I love the Devils. You get guys like Dano that would never think of playing anywhere else. Brodeur, Stevens, Dano, Albelin - franchise players. They don't even listen to offers from other teams. Both Stevens and Albelin have already requested jobs with the Devils after they retire (and they'll get them). Dano's already doing broadcast work and, if it weren't for Chico, you know he'd be alongside Doc immediately (man, that would be great).
Pure loyalty. Complete and utter loyalty.
Now, here's where I'm going to piss people off... other teams just don't have that. Yes, some do.
But let's see. Compare the 2003-2004 teams with the same team's 1999-2000 teams.
Maple Leafs - five guys on both rosters. Rangers - two guys on both rosters. Flyers - four guys on both rosters.
I remember showing up for my first day on the Capitals job and a co-worker, Marco who I later became more friendly with, asked me which team I liked. Before I could answer he cuts me off and says, "It doesn't matter, what with the trades and free agency nowadays."
The thing is - for the Devils - that's just not true. Our roster has ten of twenty from 2000, which does not count in the reserve-type guys (which were counted in for Leafs, Rangers, and Flyers). Our team, yes, has changed a lot since then. But I mean... that's not counting Stevens. That's not counting Albelin (who was in Calgary). When you put it in perspective, we really haven't changed that much.
So for me, and for the Devils... the logo on the sweater means more than just some logo. It's actual dedication. I know some other teams have it - but man, I would hate to like a team that didn't. It's the main reason I stick with the Devils - pure loyalty.
* explanation of term "Lou's Kool-Aid: When Mike Danton was on the Devils, he refused to do what Lou told him, saying he would not drink "Lou's Kool-Aid." This referred to a cult in the 70's that drank poisoned Kool-Aid and died together. The term is used by Devils fans to describe utter loyalty to the team.
The test was pretty bad but not as bad as I thought. I doubt I will fail the course but it's likely I will get a C. I'm trying to convince AU to covert my grades, or make a note that the system here is a little different. A D- here is still passing whereas AU cuts you off at C-. That means a C here is more like a B- or C+. They also give out A+'s, which I hope to get one of (that would be nifty).
Calgary Flames, you rule.