Parity.
That one word was used countless times by the NHL to justify closing the league down for an entire year.
The cap imposed on all 30 teams at the beginning of the 2005-06 season was designed to lessen some teams' ability to spend wildly on free-agents and increase other teams' competitiveness as a result.
Five seasons into the cap era in the NHL, this has largely been achieved.
On any given night, against any given opponent, a team knows that coming out with a win is not going to be easy.
Now, some would say that this was always the case, that there has never been any "easy games" in the NHL, and every team is a tough opponent.
If one subscribes to this view, one would have to believe that in say, 2001-02, a team like the Detroit Red Wings would view a match against the Tampa Bay Lightning to be on par with taking on the Colorado Avalanche.
Nonsense.
Such a game back then was what it was, two points in the bank and an opportunity to put on a clinic and give your backup goalie some confidence.
Those days are gone.
The rags-to-riches stories being written earl ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Matt Hutter
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