It's still a team sport, Crosby needs quality players around him to be able to shine, a few NHLers are not going to win you the league. Cardiff was described by Simms as buying the league, so yes budget wise on paper we have greatly improved signings.
For the team to be an upgrade you also need to use those players to the maximum, in training, in games etc etc.
Sheffield, Nottingham are not, many teams are having issues in periods, Cardiff included. It's been stated a few times that "Cardiff played badly, the sign of a great team is to still come out with a win" to a point that is true if the other team played well, not, as has been the case, that opposing team also played badly. That's just luck.
Improvements within the league compared to previous years can still easily mean that Cardiff is top of the league because the rest are crap in comparison to Cardiff. If the other teams are not exploiting there talent, didn't spend as much, have dressing room egos or just don't fit the teams style, they may be on paper better players, but still crap.
Take Ronaldo playing for Portugal as an example, in Madrid, major talented, world stage though complete waste of time.
Whilst the NHL is as we all know takes talent, but for me the EIHL requires a more rounded set of skills, I'd say some NHLers who have not shined in the UK or in Europe is because there skill is limited.
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