In a timely and well written piece posted to this site, Mr. Donahue suggests what the league needs now is Sid, Sweet Sid.
There’s certainly some merit to the belief that the NHL would like young Mr. Crosby to seize the position of “face of the league” through a seventh game victory. But, is that truly what the league and its fans need now? Or would the league be better off with a victory by the Red Wings and a restatement of the value of dynasties, be they real or perceived?
For many years, the various pro sports have followed the marketing lure by ordaining individual players as the face of their respective leagues. We moved away from the days of the “Big Bad Bruins” or the “Broad Street Bullies” and into the days of “The Great One” during Gretzky’s tenure in the NHL. Gretzky was bigger than the game and brought the league attention that crossed prior boundaries. Since that success, the NHL has always pined for the next big star that it can anoint and recapture the glory of Gretzky. (Eric Lindros was going to be that guy, wasn’t he? ) Now, in Crosby, the NHL believes it has that next transition star. Since even before his arrival, the league has touted him as the next big thing.
It’s my belief that the NHL (and all the other leagues, for that matter) would do well to return to the days of giving the teams the top of the marquee and giving the players the second slot. While people recognize Gretzky as the unquestioned star of that time, most fans refer to the dominance of the Oilers of that period. Remember, they won without Wayne, too. In the same way, people remember the dynasties of the Islanders and the Canadiens more than they focus on the great accomplishments of Mike Bossy or Clark Gillies or whichever really annoying French guy was skating for Montreal at the time.
What the league needs now is a classic hero/anti-hero confrontation. It needs a strong dynastic force like a Champion Red Wing team. Even better, they need that team to deny St. Sidney from the Cup. The celebration when we see someone reaches the top of the mountain is often far less interesting than watching the climb to get there. While there would be a great amount of celebration if Crosby hoisted the Cup, isn’t it better for the NHL if the drama of St. Sid winning his first plays out a little longer? Better still if the Red Wings oblige and play the unmovable force against which he has to play?
The NHL shouldn’t focus on signature moments, because moments are too fleeting. The NHL should focus on signature events. Events like the high quality Stanley Cup Finals being played between two good teams who happen to have several great players. The events may not have the “where were you when” panache of a signature moment, but they have staying power that outlasts the individual accomplishment.
Mr. Crosby’s got many great days ahead of him (unless the NHL’s New York based PR machine decides to anoint John Tavares next year and Sid gets pushed to second fiddle). The league needs an iconic championship team against which its many subplots can play out. It needs a Red Wings championship.
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