Congrats Ducks fans

Congrats on your Cup win. I remember how awesome it was to cheer the Devs on to their first Cup vs Detroit in 1995. It is a very special feeling that I was fortunate enough to enjoy two more times since '95.
Enjoy the Stanley Cup celebration, t-shirts, video, coverage, etc.

Us suburban teams sure now how to win Cups rather than our big city media darlings (Kings, Rags).

Congrats on your Cup win. I remember how awesome it was to cheer the Devs on to their first Cup vs Detroit in 1995. It is a very special feeling that I was fortunate enough to enjoy two more times since '95.
Enjoy the Stanley Cup celebration, t-shirts, video, coverage, etc.

Us suburban teams sure now how to win Cups rather than our big city media darlings (Kings, Rags).

True that.

Yeah, listening to them count down the final minute just takes me back to 1995 and the shivers I get when I remember the Devils winning their first Cup.

And I think about Ottawa and their fans and feel very fortunate that I got to watch the Devils win two Cups before watching them lose in the Finals (which is an absolutely sucky feeling).

Congrats to the Ducks and their fans and to a great former Devil born and bread, Scott Niedermayer who lead them to the promise land.

We weren't given any compensation for Niedermayer were we.....or was that because we signed M&M? We would have gotten an early 2nd :/

I think they did away with the compensation for signing away big name players. I thought that was stupid anyways. Better this way.

Congrats to the Ducks and thier fans winning the cup this year...

AS the game ended last night, I remembered June 9th 2003. that was such a sweet year. That building literally shook for the first time.... I couldnt believe my eyes that night. What a wonderful feeling watching your team win the cup. I cant describe how great the night was tailgating at the old A-23 spot and at the "tunnel"... That run was so magical and unforgettable.

I think they did away with the compensation for signing away big name players. I thought that was stupid anyways. Better this way.

Group 1 free agency had nothing to do with how "big" the name was, but with the age of the free agent and how many years he spent with his team. Once that player was signed to a new team, his old team and new team would submit compensation packages and present their cases before an arbitrator. The arbitrator would then pick one of the packages.

Some example of Group 1 FAs and what the player's previous team got in return:

Rangers sign Adam Graves away from the Oilers...Oilers get Troy Mallette

Red Wings sign Troy Crowder away from the Devils...Devils ask for Bob Probert, but are awarded the Red Wings' package of Randy McKay and Dave Barr

Blues sign Petr Nedved...Canucks get Craig Janney

Lightning signs Rob Zamuner (he'd never played an NHL game to that point)...Rangers get a 3rd round pick

And, of course, Blues sign Brendan Shanahan, and offer Rob Brind'Amour, Curtis Joseph, and two draft picks. Lou, showing massive cojones, asks for Stevens. Lou presented a flawless case as to why the Devils should receive Stevens, not to mention that the NHL was clearly becoming perturbed with the maverick Blues and what they were doing to the NHL salary structure. But from all accounts, only a perfect presentation would have allowed to NHL to give the Blues the smackdown they wanted to.

Oh yeah...congrats to the Ducks. I can't even bring myself to watch Nieds hoist the Cup, but he and his teammates deserve it.