Polemic Hockey

Vitali Vishnevski arrived in Anaheim after being selected in the first round promoted as the savior of the franchise.  He was supposed to be the Duck Scott Stevens, Konstantinov, and Bourque all roled into one.  
Vishnevski learned how to check like Stevens, but never without getting himself wildly out of position in a way that stood out even on the miserable pre-Murray Ducks.  The expression on his face was always a combination of witless and looking over his shoulder to make sure no one caught him doing whatever it was he was doing.
When Brian Burke cast him off after a comical arbitration award, it was just another of the subtle yet powerful moves that resulted in the Ducks Stanley Cup win.
Though in some people's eyes, Burke may be turning into the Darth Vader of the NHL instead of the Luke Skywalker, there is no doubt that, one way or the other, he has grown more powerful than Yoda Lamoriello in the Cap era.  It is well documented that Burke spent time learning how to work in the cap system from studying other cap leagues.  The result was a Cup.
Lamoriello on the other hand, had only ever had to deal with owners' budgets.  Going into the cap era, though, it seemed that no one was more ready than he to deal with the cap.  No one seemed to let more talent walk away in their UFA year than Lou, and never suffer the consequences.
Sure, Lou has made some bumbling mistakes.  Like failing to invoke the clauses in John Madden and Brian Rafalski's contracts that would have prevented them from becoming UFA after their first pro contracts; like allowing Bobby Holik to stand as a #1 center for two seasons; like even offering Bobby Holik a near-Ranger sized contract to stay; like not knowing Scott Niedermayer enough to know that he might walk out to play with his brother.
But none of those mistakes prevented a three cup dynasty--a dynasty whose essential element was always Martin Brodeur, who has perhaps 5 strong years left.  But unless something changes, there is no cup on the horizon in that time, because the cogs and spare parts like Vishnevski and Zubrus that are coming to fill the Devils ranks lack the spark of genius they are trying to replace.