[Gimp_Stick]

Let’s think about this this rationally. Perfect example coming up...

The Quebec Nordiques sucked for a long time. Yet they had a player they believed in and continued to struggle through drafts and trade deadline specials. They couldn’t even make the play-offs. It took that team many years to become a futile franchise in the NHL. The biggest movement was when they moved to Colorado.

Prior to the move the team was on the verge of being great, but they could not get over the hump. The Coloradniques turned into a formidable team virtually over night. That was based solely on the fact that they sucked ass for damn near a decade and they made good trades and picked up some stellar draft picks.

They took the time to rebuild correctly and wound up winning two Stanley Cups due to their fortitude.

I think we should all look at that Quebec situation and try to gather strength from it. Were the Quebec fans happy when their team sucked? Are we happy watching the Kings suck?

My general point is this; the Kings have a real good shot at being a cup contender in the near future. Obviously not this season and probably not next season either. But I feel that they are on their way to being a legitimate team in the near future if ownership does the right thing.

Seriously, the Kings can’t ditch Modry, Stuart and Preissing. Along with Armstrong, Calder and Nagy. It leaves the team too short handed. There may be plenty of guys in Manchester ready to step in, but throwing them in the mix and expecting the team to be better is a pipe dream. How can a ****-load of rookies flounder around aimlessly as we all expect a play-off team to emerge? No dice.

How could it be possible to have half your defense as rookies and your third and fourth lines in the same boat? It’s not going to work by any means. That is where the rebuild process comes in. Look at Ottawa or San Jose or Anaheim. It seems to me that those franchises realized that they had to get worse before they got better. We all know where those teams are now.

So compare it. Ottawa sucked and now they are good. Go back further and look at the Devils. They used to suck and then they got real good. And they continue to be formidable. Anaheim sucked and they pulled off the right deal. San Jose...same deal.

The Kings are on that same road. Strength through past weakness. Build from within and utilize assets.

Not everyone can be traded for “a pick” and as true fans we should not expect this team to turn into a Stanley Cup contender over night. It brings back my earlier point. It seems to me that it takes years of suffering to become a real contender. Whether you like it or not, this really is the first time the Kings have gone into rebuilding mode.

Detroit sucked for years. Quebec sucked for years. Anaheim wasn’t good and neither was Chicago. All sucked for different reasons. Take a look at what happened to those teams...

But my point is this; if we (Kings Fans) are patient and deal with the short comings of our beloved team in the near future and handle situations in the correct manner, this team could be a true contender.

I don’t know anything. I’m just a dumb ass. The “arm chair” quarter back. My attempted thoughts will be lost in the realm of “do-or-die” mentality regardless. Pleas pardon my waste of bandwidth.

Sincerely yours,

Gimp_Stick