RIO RANCHO, NM – In the last week or so, there have been several events in hockey that point to a problem (in my estimation) in the sport and in ourselves. The crux of the issues is focused on our seemingly insatiable appetite for immediate gratification. We no longer appear to be willing to wait for our teams to win as is the case now in the AHL. Nor are we able to savor “revenge” on the ice at a later date but rather exact our pound of flesh now and forego surprise; this was evident in a Flyers’ contest with the Islanders.
Tim McManus recently wrote a commentary in the Post Star (NY) focused on the AHL’s Rochester Americans terminating their affiliation agreement with the Florida Panthers in the NHL. The second event was the cross-checking penalty against the Philadelphia Flyers’ Daniel Briere who seemed unable or unwilling to wait for his retaliation at a later more opportune time.
On the face of it, both stories are disparate and only have hockey in common.
For
The Americans need to make money now. Removing the constraints placed on them and their roster by the Panthers would seemingly permit the club to pursue players they believe will help them win a Calder Cup.
Meanwhile, Briere was called for an aggressive crosscheck off the face-off in the offensive zone against the Islanders in
Replays of the infraction were clear and the NHL handed down a 3-game suspension to Briere for his actions. For Briere, there was seemingly no need to keep his powder dry and wait for an ideal situation later in the season. He wanted to exact revenge ‘now’ for something Nielsen did to him earlier in the contest.
In the 1993-94 NHL season, New York Rangers general manager Neil Smith mortgaged the club’s future for a Stanley Cup. The gamble paid off; the Rangers won over the Canucks and have struggled since to rebuild their system. Sixteen seasons later and the Rangers finally have a decent crop of youngsters.
Will Staals’ move mean fewer empty seats in
Briere will sit for three games but has his revenge been exacted?
The answers are maybe and no.
The Americans will pursue a Calder Cup with quality players who may have no future in the NHL and will be journeymen AHLers. The minor leagues are about developing talent for The Show. Fans want to root for winners and perennial losers are at the bottom of attendance figures and usually at the bottom of the tables. Staals is protecting his interests and investments and wants to see fewer empty seats.
Who can blame him? I would prefer to root for and watch a winner in the minors but am also realistic enough to understand the mission of the minors, especially the AHL. I want to see good, quality hockey and know that each player left everything on the ice.
What are the benefits of a Calder Cup trophy? Any player of credible talent would be gone the next season to another club or possibly the NHL. Leaving the winning club right where they were the previous year. The afterglow of a Cup win might keep the fans for another season but the fight would be repeated.
For Briere, the answer seems to be a resounding ‘no’. His actions were unnecessary at the time. As Dave Maloney said on a Versus broadcast, Gordie Howe would have waited. It is a long season and Nielsen would have paid a price when he was not expecting it. Instead, Briere sits three and Nielsen continues to play with little need to look over his shoulder for Briere. And perhaps Briere will be the one to feel a shadow later this season.
The question posed here then is: Would it not be prudent to educate the fans on the philosophy of the AHL and developmental leagues?
Team management can still be held accountable for on-ice quality but the emphasis on future stars would provide reason to watch the games.
The fans’ need for instant gratification has forced the Americans to rework their affiliation and drive for a Calder Cup ‘now’. And maybe a future Briere will learn to keep his powder dry in the minors and take those lessons to the NHL. 
Patience is a currency that gains interest with time. Run a quality organization and fans will come. Keep your patience in an 82-game season and your time will come.
But we all want our satisfaction now! Not later, not tomorrow or later this evening. NOW!
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com
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