Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
The "Detroit model" (actually originated by the Canadiens) depends on enough quality draft picks coming in to replace the aging veterans going out. The Wings are losing skill faster than they are currently acquiring it, thus the problem. A couple decades of terrible drafting forced the Oilers and Flames into full rebuilds for the same reason - the dearth of talent coming in completely overwhelmed the teams' ability to compete.
Vancouver's problem is that they are far closer to Calgary and Edmonton than they are the 90s Red Wings and 70s Canadiens. They struck-out completely in the 2007 draft. The only player from 2008 (Hodgson) they traded for magic beans. 2009 didn't turn into much (Schroeder, Connaughton). 2010 was a bust, and I have little reason to expect that any top end talent will be found from their 2011 and 2012 picks. So the Canucks are desperately hoping that Horvat, Shinkaruk and Virtanen turn into something, but these guys are probably 2-3 years away from being terribly useful NHL players.
Since we love the comparisons to the Flames in this thread, I would probably line Vancouver's 2013 draft with our 2011. They really want Horvat and Shinkaruk to step up and be great players. For us, having Granlund, Wotherspoon and Baertschi step into the NHL as players of quality would move our team forward in a hurry. Problem for Vancouver is they are behind us on the development timeline and I'm not seeing those guys as the types to make quantum leaps like Monahan did.
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Yeah there's simply no escaping poor drafting no matter who you are. Even teams that are loaded with top end talent can get away with it for only a period of time but just look at the Penguins and you can see that the years of not drafting solid NHL players is beginning to take a toll as they may be forced to take a step back from cup contender to just playoff team. Middling teams like the Flames and Canucks that rode aging core without supplementing through the draft are on collision courses with a full scale rebuild.
There's a prevailing theory in Vancouver that the fanbase there isn't strong enough to endure a full scorched rebuild and that's what's preventing the inevitable. Kind of funny given the Flames ownership postponed the rebuild here for the same reasons in that they were terrified of seeing the Dome revert to pre-2003 attendance levels. Sometimes you have to give your fans the benefit of the doubt and be honest with them rather than try and carry on a charade that you are trying to win now when everyone including the fans know the team is simply treading water in hopes of keeping bums in seats and not truly eyeing the prize.