One thing I have always disliked about the draft system is the way it buries talent in hopeless franchises. It's just a huge waste forcing guys like Tavares and Hall to play for hopeless loser franchises like the current Oilers and Islanders. A guy like Barkov is not going to play a meaningful game of club hockey until maybe 2016, and most likely not even then.
The draft props up loser franchises so that they don't have to actually do anything to build a product that will draw a crowd. The Oilers are the perfect example. Their players are not developing, they haven't signed anyone of note since ever, but because the draft has served them well, they're in no hurry to change anything. The money keeps rolling in and reporters are falling over each other trying to make excuses for them.
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