Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinordi
So if the top line has an off night or can't carry the mail it's basically a guarantee that the Oil lose.
If you look at other successful teams around the league they actually draft alot of their role players and then make strategic UFA signings or trades with those assets where they're weak.
Look at some of the best teams: Canucks, they have a crap load of drafted or developed guys on their lower lines providing valuable production.
LA traded alot of their drafted players for key depth pieces, they also basically drafted their entire D-core which is the one the best in the league. They did that with solid later round drafting.
Pittsburg gets alot of credit for their skill players in drafting but look at their depth guys. Kennedy, Talbot, Armstrong, Letang (drafted 3rd round), Goligoski, Despres. Those guys were/are key contributors or where dealt for other great assets.
You need a deluge of young guys coming in beyond your top end skill to build a roster.
Oilers have just been horribly bad at doing that. Kevin Lowe may know a thing or two about winning but he knows sweet FA about drafting.
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Of the 8 guys that have played D for the Kings this season...3 of them are King draft choices.
But your point remains...drafting/acquiring the support guys can be as important as getting that home run pick. Many ways to accomplish that though.