If we lose in the Finals, is '08-'09 season a failure?

[Herr Hockey 0]

I know some people are going to say no just to make it seem like there's less pressure. But really you're just setting lower expectations so they're easy to accomplish. Lets face it guys: When the Cup Champs do nothing but add the best forward on the market, it's repeat or bust. Period. If anyone can handle this kind of pressure though, its our Detroit Red Wings.

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

Failure is almost certainly measured on recent success in the realm of sports. For example, the blue jackets/coyotes/blues making the playoffs (even if they lose in RD. 1) would have to be viewed as a success, being that they have not made the playoffs in recent years. Where as the Wings/Sharks have enjoyed reg. season and playoff success for quite some time, and missing the playoffs/being bounced in Rd. 1 would be a disaster.

So, in most ways, the wings season will be deemed a "failure" if they don't win it all. They did it this year, then added one of the most dynamic players in the game. You'd be an idiot not to pick them as the favorite. Its a harsh reality. For me, as long as they put forth enough effort to win each game, i'll be satisfied. As long as they look like they're earning their money out there, i'm cool.

Its like the two siblings bringing home report cards. One kid always gets C's and brings home two B's---> he gets a party. The Kid who never fails to earn straight A's brings home two B's and the parents say "What the hell happened here?"

[octopusonice 0]

Not necessarily. I always bristle at these kinds of questions, because I don't think it's fair to the athletes.

This year is an Olympic year and those of us who watch the Games are probably going to see a handful of sports where an individual or team is heavily favored and that anything less than a gold medal is a failure. That's pure rubbish. There may be a few exceptions like the 1972 US basketball team, but outside of anything like that, anyone who wins a medal in the games should be honored.

No matter how good you are, no matter how hard you work or train, there are factors beyond your control that can keep you from getting the prize. Injuries, bad officiating, the yips or even an upstart competitor who catches lightning in a bottle or who may be the new king of the sport emerges. No one is guaranteed a championship.

On paper, there is no team better than the Wings right now. They have no significant player losses, plus they pretty much got what they wanted out of the offseason when they retained Stuart, signed Hossa and should have Flip signed by the end of the month.

The problem is, the game is not played on paper and the old saying, 'That's why they play the game' has never been more true. If any team knows what it's like to be better on paper, yet come up short between the lines it's the Wings. If we were to judge solely on predictions, the Wings should have at least three more Cups than they do now.

This team is poised to win a championship, but neither they nor the fans should treat it as a failure if they don't get the Cup. As long as they go deep into the playoffs and don't totally lay an egg if they were to be eliminated, then I would say it was a successful season.

If it is something like the times we got eliminated by Anaheim or the Kings back in 2001, then that would be a failure, IMO.

[Dabura 12,232]

Yes.

This team is built to win the Cup and settle for nothing less year in and year out.

It just won the Cup. It also added Marian Hossa, all the while looking like it will retain all of its key championship pieces (Flip pending).

Anything less than a repeat will be a big disappointment. However, I do agree with the poster who said a WCF loss would be easier to take than one in the SCF. There's not a single team in the EC that this team shouldn't outright abuse. But teams like Dallas and SJ...they could be scary.

[TheWestWing 71]

Oh yes by all means.

[OsGOD 3]

s*** i missed an entire season already... f***!

[tony 3]

it dosnt matter if your a fan of detroit toronto columbus san jose or tamba if they dont win the cup the year was a failure

Edited July 16, 2008 by tony

[Louisville 112]

Health and Heart

if we have both, there is no reason we should not repeat.

but those are two big "ifs"

[Majsheppard 203]

Just ask Hossa.

[RedFX 48]

Any team that does not win a Cup should consider their season a failure.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

There is one winner and 29 losers. Anything less than a Cup is a failure to ANY team.

[Guest Shoreline]

I have a mixed opinion. It depends on, if the Wings lose out, how they lost. It's a failure if they lose out and it's due to laziness. Another issue if it's due to the other team simply getting all the bounces, calls, etc.

Even then, there are too many factors to just say "it's a failure" or "success" without the season even starting yet. Just watch and enjoy the games. Our team just won the friggen cup and people are already getting their panties twisted about possibly losing this upcoming season?

Edited July 16, 2008 by Shoreline

[The Noodle 39 14]

There is one winner and 29 losers. Anything less than a Cup is a failure to ANY team.

Exactly and especially this team now with it's already stanley cup roster and adding Hossa? A complete and utter failure if we do not win the cup next year.

[wings5gal 0]

I have a mixed opinion. It depends on, if the Wings lose out, how they lost. It's a failure if they lose out and it's due to laziness. Another issue if it's due to the other team simply getting all the bounces, calls, etc.

Even then, there are too many factors to just say "it's a failure" or "success" without the season even starting yet. Just watch and enjoy the games. Our team just won the friggen cup and people are already getting their panties twisted about possibly losing this upcoming season?

Exactly. It's too soon to tell how this season it going to play out. Granted, where we stand on paper, we have an amazing team that is capable of winning again.

However, it's July. We don't know what's going to happen come October. We don't know who we're going to be up against for the playoffs, how badly they're going to want it and just how badly they're going to fight for it (and how much they're going to literally fight for it). We don't know who's going to stay healthy.

At this point on paper, we're solid. But there's too many factors that go into it that only the season is going to be able to tell.

Although if we just lay down on the ice and let the other teams walk all over us with our roster and give up soft goals and all that, then yes, it will be a failure. But I believe that as long as you try and as long as you work hard for your goal and can honestly say you gave your all, then it wasn't a failure. We'll have to wait and see if they do that.

[jim3033 1]

The western conference finals will be the back breaker next season. San Jose and Dallas look like big threats (wouldn't be surprised if Anaheim is pretty good). Possible injuries will be a constant scare even more so this next season. Will it be a failure if they lose in the WCF? It's too soon to say. I'm looking forward to an exciting regular season.

[Guest LivingtheDream]

Let's say they win 50 some odd games again, way over 100pts. If not another President's trophy, they are right up there. Zatta, Dats, Hossa all get 40+ goals and close to 100pts each. The Wings make it to the finals and lose a tough 7 game series to (fill in Eastern Conf champion). If this scenario played out would you consider the entire 2008-09 season a failure?

I consider this thread a failure.

[Duck Guy 86]

anything short of the cup is a failure..

Edited July 16, 2008 by Duck Guy

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Absolutely, yes.

[Doggy 130]

I consider this thread a failure.

Yeah good post.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I don't like the season is a complete waste if you don't win the Cup mentality. Do you want to win the Cup every year? Of course, I'm not denying that. However, it is about setting realistic goals given various factors such as your roster, how you finished the year before, injuries throughout the season, and so forth. It is impossible to win the Cup every year.

What about a team like Columbus, for example, who never made the playoffs? Sure they'd like to win a Cup obviously, but more realistic benchmarks might be either making the playoffs or advancing to the 2nd round or something. Ultimate goal accomplished winning the Cup? No. But that doesn't make their season a total bust or failure. Not even close.

How about Chicago? They certainly improved last year, they got better in the offseason I think, they look to have a pretty competitive roster, but they haven't made the playoffs in a while. Is the season a failure if they just make a the playoffs or make a good playoff run but get smoked in the conference finals 4-0 or 4-1?

Now, in the Red Wings case this upcoming season? It depends. If they are able to stay fairly healthy, there's no reason with the assumed roster that they should at worst be in the conference finals as long as they play their game and take opponents seriously as everybody plays harder against a defending champion. Anything below the conference finals and I think the season would be a waste. If they just get steamrolled in the conference or Cup Finals if they make it that far and are not competitive, yes I think the season would be a waste. If the series just goes 6 or 7 games and the Wings and other team just slugging it out and the Wings go down competitively, no I don't think the season will be a total bust.

It's about setting realistic goals and if you lost, putting things in perspective in terms of effort, manpower (or lack thereof), how the other team(s) performed, and so forth.

[Doggy 130]

We're not Chicago or Columbus. A Cup is realistic SWF.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

We're not Chicago or Columbus. A Cup is realistic SWF.

I know it is, but you can't always win the Cup, I don't care if you are Detroit, Chicago, Columbus, Phoenix, or District-5. People here think that you have to win the Cup every year or you are inferior or you just flat out stink for whatever reason. That's not realistic. I'm not going to cry and throw a temper tantrum like a 4-year old though if the Wings lose fair and square giving an honest effort in the CF or SCF.

[norrisnick 1]

I know it is, but you can't always win the Cup, I don't care if you are Detroit, Chicago, Columbus, Phoenix, or District-5. People here think that you have to win the Cup every year or you are inferior or you just flat out stink for whatever reason. That's not realistic. I'm not going to cry and throw a temper tantrum like a 4-year old though if the Wings lose fair and square giving an honest effort in the CF or SCF.

If you ain't first, you're last!

Nut up and accept it. If you're going to be a Wings fan you need to be crushed by failure not "ho-hum I don't really care either way so long as we try our best." The District-5 comment speaks volumes. This isn't pee-wee. Anything but the Cup is a failure.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Nope, you're last if you're 5th in the division, 15th in the conference, or 30th in the entire league.

[chrisdetroit 189]

Let's say they win 50 some odd games again, way over 100pts. If not another President's trophy, they are right up there. Zatta, Dats, Hossa all get 40+ goals and close to 100pts each. The Wings make it to the finals and lose a tough 7 game series to (fill in Eastern Conf champion). If this scenario played out would you consider the entire 2008-09 season a failure?

Lose in the finals? Pleeeease. To whom? What's left of Pittsburgh? Montreal? Ottawa? Washington?

Not likely. It's much more likely that if we lose it would be to a Western Conference team like Dallas.

San Jose has lots of talent but being that they have a first year coach I'm not too woried about them

Dallas looks like our biggest challanger but Turco has to start being more consistant.

Anaheim is just a one year wonder who found out last year that you can't win anything if you are 28th in the league in scoring no matter how many goons you have.

Chicago could take a giant step...

So on paper we look like the best but anything can happen. But lose to an Eastern team, not likely.