Quote:
Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!
In which case every team would have to expose either a top-6 forward, or their best forward prospect.
Likewise, every team would have to expose either a top-4 blueliner, or their top defence prospect.
So the expansion teams would consist of nothing but top-6 forwards, top-4 defencemen, and blue-chip prospects.
Plus a 1st or 2nd overall pick.
You wouldn't be handing them the Stanley Cup on a platter exactly, but if a GM can't parley that into a championship you'd have to seriously question his ability to tie his shoes.
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Which players exactly are you expecting the team to pick up with those constraints?
Chicago would be able to protect Kane, Toews, Panarin, Teravainen, Anisimov and someone like Hossa/Shaw/top prospect. I mean they might 'have' to expose Hossa to the draft but is the team really jumping with joy at the prospect of drafting a 38/39 year old Hossa by that time? Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson and van Riemsdyk/whatever top prospect get protected.
Look at Calgary, currently they would be able to protect Giordano, Brodie, Hamilton, and whoever you think is the best defensive prospect. Wideman, Engelland, Smid? Not exactly lip-licking assets and Calgary is one of the better defensive depth teams.
Look at Edmonton, they would protect McDavid, Hall, RNH, Draisaitl, Eberle, and even Yakupov if they wanted. Purcell or Pouliot are fine complimentary players but not going to win you championships if relied on as top line players.
Not to mention that the teams would be strategically trading so they aren't unnecessarily exposing good players to the draft and protecting crappy ones. So maybe Edmonton does finally move that forward for a defender.
You can call them "top 6" and "top 4" players, but really you're looking at making a team of fourth defenseman and sixth forwards. It's not the recipe for a championship.