Which is more honorable?

Question

Staying with a bad team that you have been with for years, and you are the "face" of the team, or jumping ship to a contender for one season for a last chance to get the Cup?

Answer 1

I think as a player it is only instinctive to want to win. If a player similar to Sundin is stuck on a franchise that has done well, that is not his fault at all, for the management is for the most part to blame as far as deals are concerned with acquiring the correct players and dealing with them properly. I think that it is important for a player to have a sense of pride in their life long team if they are to be in the situation that they play on one team for the majority of their career as Sundin has with the Maple Leafs, but I think that it is honorable to chase one's dreams(in this case for the stanley cup) with reckless abandon. I think that, though no team that wants Sundin right now is a great contender for the cup, there is still honor in an attempt to win, and that no honor is lost with leaving a broken franchise. GO FLYERS!

Answer 2

Obviously staying with a bad team that you have been with for years is more honorable, but he owes nothing to the Leafs, and his years are winding down, it's like Linden, majority of his career with Vancouver, I would've liked to see him go somewhere and win the Cup, just because they're world class players who deserve it....I just don't want to see him go from Toronto to Montreal though, that would be really, really dishonorable.

Answer 3

I think that staying with the team is more honorable, but I believe that the fans, if they cared, would want him to get his name on the cup. A good example is Ray Bourque, all the years he played for Boston, and the fans supported his cup win in Colorado.

Answer 4

People tend to forget that winning a stanley cup for a hockey player is a dream come true. This is what they strive for, this is the reason they join the NHL (that and money of course). otherwise they would just keep playing on the frozen pond.

As much as I dislike him (only because I have had to my whole life....nords and To... couldn't be worst for a Habs fan lol) I feel really bad for the guy..what a situation to be put into...pretty sad.  He's doomed either way.

Answer 5

Sundin should stay.

Answer 6

Staying w/the ship is honorable, but nobody would blame anyone for leaving for one last chance.

Lucky Luc did it and then went back to the Kings.

Answer 7

It would be more honorable to stick with your team, especially if you are the face of the franchise. Although it seems as if honor is losing its luster to players because all they can think about is winning or scoring the big money deal.

Answer 8

Well, you must be talking about Sundin and Hossa. Sundin needs to get a break. He's a good player being held down. I just think it's funny how Hossa goes from a playoff zero to a playoff hero.

Answer 9

Loyalty is great but who can blame any player for wanting to win a Cup? That should be the aspiration of every player that ever laces up the skates in the NHL.....too often we see guys who would rather cash bigger checks. In todays salary cap world I think loyalty will become something we can look back on as we remember "the good ole days" because economics simply will force not only players but teams to make some harsh choices. Bourque was brought up by someone else....a perfect example. Being a Wings fan I completely hated the Avs at that time but I watched the finals and while I hated every moment of rooting for the Avs I did so just because my respect level for Ray Bourque (and Sakic). I know every fan in Boston must have been so proud of him, I had a big lump in my throat watching him lift that Cup. Sundin isnt as revered in Toronto as Bourque was in Boston (he isnt Canadien after all) so I am all for seeing him make the decision to try and win a Cup. Plus the Leafs need to move on and start developing some of their young kids to get back to respectability, they cant do that with Sundin logging 20+ per night. I guess it depends on each situation and whether the player is a superstar or a local cult hero type but most of the time I personally like seeing guys get rewarded with at least one Cup run when they have given so much to the game. Sundin and the Leafs need to divorce and wish each other well.

Answer 10

The leafs aren't bad but, I think they will do better with Ron Wilson coaching. He should give it another shot.

Answer 11

Ur obviously talking about Sundin if he signs with the Rangers or Canucks he will NOTwin the cup. The cup is going back to Motown whether he likes it or not

Answer 12

You might want to ask Ray Bourque this question. . It seemed to fulfill his life long dream and most Boston fans don't quibble with it. They are Happy for him.

Answer 13

A good example I would like to use is Joe Sakic, the Nordiques were the joke of the league his first few years, but thanks to players like him, Sundin and all they got in L'affaire Lindros (including Forsberg and 15$ million) they eventually won several Stanley Cups and remains one of the best players in the league to this day

Answer 14

Too bad for you guys Sundin is a habs next season... I say like sgold!

Answer 15

staying with the team (Sundin right?). But its bad what Hossa did, leaving to go to the team that the Pens just lost to in the FINALS!

Answer 16

Who would run Bourque down? He was the face of the Bruins and wanted, and got, traded at the end of his career to be on a contender. Yet almost every hockey fan was so happy for him that he got a Cup. So to anyone who wants to say something against a player wanting the Cup better ask themselves what they thought of that one. Sure it is great to remain the face and show that loyalty, but come on every player wants at least one run at the Cup. They all play to get their name on it.

Answer 17

Love your pic, LETS GO FLYERS!!!!!

Stay loyal to the team. You never know.

Answer 18

the former

Like Trevor Linden

Answer 19

I always feel like that scenario is kind of tainted... but I can understand why a aging veteran does that.  But it never feels right for me.

Answer 20

i would rather just stay with the team i have been with for years. the fans and organization love me so i would just stay. if i couldnt win one there then maybe it wasnt ment to be.

BOOM

Answer 21

It is 2008.  There is no longer anything honorable in staying with a team unless there is a history of success with that team.  Sports equals business, plain and simple.  Dollars count more than talent in all of sports now including baseball, the final sport to operate without a salary cap.

The best current example of this is Mats Sundin.  In his time with the Maple Leafs they have never given him a legitimate opportunity to win a Stanley Cup.  He has played 12 seasons with the Leafs, during which time 15 different teams have appeared in the finals.  Toronto has not been one of those teams.  It has been 42 years since Toronto made their last  appearance in a final.  Sundin's job was to go out and perform to the top of his ability and he was paid handsomely for doing so.  He also represented the Leafs very well off of the ice.  The team on the other hand has failed to put enough around him to field a championship caliber team and did everything they could to trade him at the deadline.

The counter to that statement is a guy like Steve Yzerman.  It took the Wings 11 years before Yzerman reached the finals and his first trip to the finals with Stevie Y was 30 years after their last trip.  While it took them a while to get it together, they eventually got their act together and provided him a legitimate contender which led to his winning a cup.

My point, if a team has held up their end of the deal, the player owes loyalty to a team.  If they have not, the player has every right to shop his wares around to win himself a cup whether it is for a single season or longer.

Answer 22

Staying on one team of course. Had hope.

Answer 23

Sundin??

stay loyal

Answer 24

I guess your talking about Sundin... with him i guess it would be honorable if he stays with the team but he is really deserving of a cup. And to go to a contending team to get one well i guess we really can,t blame him!