You Get Only One (Cup/Medal/Hart/HHoF)

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Also by winning a cup, you create a bond and friendships for life. Sharing stories with your fellow teammates post career sitting at the cottage drinking a cold one, that’s the true value right there. No money can buy those memories

Dude, this aint a disney movie. Take the cash.

 

[kevsh]

Dude, this aint a disney movie. Take the cash.

You do know that it's common for players to get bonuses in their contracts for winning the Cup, plus each player on this year's winning team got $284,000 in prize money.

So it's not like the "winning the Cup" option means you'll be broke and drinking bargain bin beer at an AirBnB cottage with your buds.

 

[JKG33]

This is a pretty unfair poll. I'll start by saying the Olympics don't really belong. A random tournament every 4 years where realistically only 2-3 teams have a shot at winning and some of the best players in the world arent even there? Yawn. Best on best my ass, the NHL is best on best. Full stop.

A cup without the other accolades means you probably were a mid-range top 6 forward at best, or a 15th forward at worst.

A Hart trophy without the rest is what.. a Jamie Benn/Taylor Hall type? Even those guys probably can make a case for the HOF.

And a HHOF inductee with an empty trophy is.. Patrick Marleau?

I dunno, I'd need more info from the OP but this poll doesn't make a lot of sense as is

 

[HanSolo]

It's been discussed to death but for me I think it depends on what kind of player I am. If it's between being a fourth liner and one time cup winner making near league minimum, even if I had a long career as a that kind of depth guy, I'd choose the hall of fame career. Now, second liner making some 5-6 million a year? Easy choice to take the cup and forego the HOF career.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Stanley Cup AINEC, it's why the game is played.

 

[rogking65]

Stanley Cup AINEC, it's why the game is played.

wrong. your answer is not even close. You take the choice that gives you the most career money which is a major award or a HOF career. Like someone said earlier real life is not a Disney or Hallmark movie

 

[Letsdothis]

Being part of a Cup winning team is fun I'm sure, but even besides the money I'd be wayyy more proud of an individual HoF career as an accomplishment than a Cup. I guarantee you guys like Pavel Bure and Jarome Iginla are way more highly regarded, both within the hockey bubble and outside of it based on their individual accomplishments than a random 4th liner with a Cup lol.

It's all about a Cup is just a romantic story line sold you by the NHL and media.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Stanley cup of course.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Bud Light Plus/Minus Award

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

I'm surprised how many say cup.

I'd rather have Marcel Dionne's career than Brad Lukowich.

I'll say HOF because it means you were truly elite (although there's some questionable exceptions lately) but means you were clearly very successful in your career and also means you almost certainly made a lot of money which matters a lot let's face it.

A HOF career without a cup really stings though, no doubt about it but I don't think Dionne or Sundin or Roenick trade their careers for John Madden.

Lukowich probably ended up making more than Dionne by the end of it, ironically.

John Madden absolutely did

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

it basically seals the deal on generational wealth and high level status, it means you will (lets be honest) have your pick of any kind of partner you could dream of.

You're at the top of the dating food chain, beautiful women will effectively be fighting to get your attention in every city you fly into. That's how it goes for pro sports athletes who are big ticket players and have the bank account to back it up. Any concerns you have about that area in life are basically taken care of for you as you have options the normal male could only dream of.

Again, you win the actual game of life, which is more important than any made up game.

You don't currently have babes fighting over you already? Bro.. you're doing something wrong

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

You don't currently have babes fighting over you already? Bro.. you're doing something wrong

He's a 4th liner in the NHL whos won the cup, he's never gettin laid bro

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

wrong. your answer is not even close. You take the choice that gives you the most career money which is a major award or a HOF career. Like someone said earlier real life is not a Disney or Hallmark movie

Bro ive lived poor and loaded and I’m still relatively young at 36. Don’t tell me how to think, money doesn’t solve life problems your means just change. I’d prefer to be immortalized on the Stanley cup and bring that home to my home town. We have different opinions. Wonder how many rich ex athletes get to the bottom of the bottle daily thinking of how they could of done things differently to see theirs life work end in a championship.

 

[Albatros]

I’d prefer to be immortalized on the Stanley cup

Only if you die young, otherwise you'll see the ring containing your name retired before you do.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Only if you die young, otherwise you'll see the ring containing your name retired before you do.

Just my opinion man, everyone has different life situations which def makes people to lean in different directions, irregardless, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Dying young would definitely suck, don’t wish that on anyone.

 

[Three On Zero]

If we’re talking 500k net, then yeah that’s not enough. 2M net would be plenty.

Keep in mind my dream is to own an off the grid farm in bumf*** nowhere.

All depends on lifestyle, I think about myself who’s made around that at just under 40 years old. No way could I live off of just a 2M career without working after. It’s not nearly enough, would need minimum 4-5M to have a comfortable life

 

[ScottyMascotty]

This is a pretty unfair poll. I'll start by saying the Olympics don't really belong. A random tournament every 4 years where realistically only 2-3 teams have a shot at winning and some of the best players in the world arent even there? Yawn. Best on best my ass, the NHL is best on best. Full stop.

A cup without the other accolades means you probably were a mid-range top 6 forward at best, or a 15th forward at worst.

A Hart trophy without the rest is what.. a Jamie Benn/Taylor Hall type? Even those guys probably can make a case for the HOF.

And a HHOF inductee with an empty trophy is.. Patrick Marleau?

I dunno, I'd need more info from the OP but this poll doesn't make a lot of sense as is

There is certain number of players who should be considered better than "mid-range top-6 forward" at their primes but nowhere near Hart/HHOF conversation.

 

[HFpapi]

Lukowich probably ended up making more than Dionne by the end of it, ironically.

John Madden absolutely did

Ok but Erik Gudbranson earns more than prime Gretzky did in the 80's. That's an era/inflation thing.

If your starting your career today and you can have Dionne's career or Lukowich, who is going to make more money?

 

[Crow]

Yes I would, my life with $2M would be exactly the same as $100M.

So if you had 100M you would keep it all yourself and not help friends, family, various causes? My life would be much richer because I’d know my loved ones would be taken care of and the world a slightly better place.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

Cup ring for sure.
As an Ottawa fan, we were close 2-3 times and the finals loss was gut-wrenching.
I'd easily take a Cup in Ottawa over any other stuff. Just for the exultation but also because...The Cup means you are right.

 

[Miro4Norris]

Saying Cup ring over HHoF is BS and childish. After ur career, You'd rather to be Antti Niemi over Henrik Lundqvist/ Pekka Rinne?

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Saying Cup ring over HHoF is BS and childish. After ur career, You'd rather to be Antti Niemi over Henrik Lundqvist/ Pekka Rinne?

Still a millionaire and no one recognizes you, so yes, can live rich and be normal. How many days do Lundqvist and Rinne wonder what it woulda been like top hoist lord stanley's cup, and never could quite do it, a life's work to never reach the pinnacle. It comes down to what you value, and what you prioritize in life, clearly for a lot of people here it's money over everything.

 

[Miro4Norris]

Still a millionaire and no one recognizes you, so yes, can live rich and be normal. How many days do Lundqvist and Rinne wonder what it woulda been like top hoist lord stanley's cup, and never could quite do it, a life's work to never reach the pinnacle. It comes down to what you value, and what you prioritize in life, clearly for a lot of people here it's money over everything.

It's not only Money with Lundqvist/Rinne(HHOF) option. It's the ultimate respect for them inside of the community they love and the cities they played for the rest of their lives, their ability to influence to the community and other people, and of course the possiblity to complete at the highest level of their #1 passion for 15 years, instead of being a average cup winner and being out of the league after like 7 years.

Of course money is also important, not only for them but it'll give a security on their lives for all of their family; childrens, grandchildrens, parents.. Of course if players are even relatively equal, I will take the one with the cup. But HHOF career is way more valuable in so many ways than Tom Kuhnhackl career, despite him winning not only 1 but 2 cups in his 5 NHL seasons

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

It's not only Money with Lundqvist/Rinne(HHOF) option. It's the ultimate respect for them inside of the community they love and the cities they played for the rest of their lives, their ability to influence to the community and other people, and of course the possiblity to complete at the highest level of their #1 passion for 15 years, instead of being a average cup winner and being out of the league after like 7 years.

Of course money is also important, not only for them but it'll give a security on their lives for all of their family; childrens, grandchildrens, parents.. Of course if players are even relatively equal, I will take the one with the cup. But HHOF career is way more valuable in so many ways than Tom Kuhnhackl career, despite him winning not only 1 but 2 cups in his 5 NHL seasons

I see your point but could you imagine being at the absolute top of the league, one of the best players, dedicating your life to a craft and never reaching the highest level. Legit one of the worst feelings imaginable, surely. Being great and winning a championship is a cherry on top. How many times do you think Lundqvist hears, yeah you were great, but when it mattered you didn't win, it's a team sport I know but still. lol

 

[Soundwave]

I think fans if they actually knew how what percentage of players actually don't care *that* much about winning a Cup or not would be shocked. Shocked.

Because fans have a romanticized view of the game that they've stuck to as children, but NHL players aren't children, they know what goes on behind the curtain and have an unromanticized view on it in many cases.

There's a million things going on with these guys off the ice too, investments, mistresses, parties, family and friends non-stop hitting them up for "favors" (which is basically "I need money, can you lend me some"), individual goals, getting the biggest contract, lifestyle, proximity to wider family, what club you're going to hit up after the game, getting coach off your ass, being on a team where you have buddies you can go hang out with after the game, etc. etc. etc.

I'd say honestly maybe 35% of NHL players really want a Cup *that* bad. A lot of them are more in the "I'd like to have one sure" camp, not in the "I have to have one or my life won't be complete" camp. And honestly that 35% number might be being generous.