Quote:
Originally Posted by N-E-B
I admire the way Calgary has tried to rebuild. I think it's honourable. But maybe you have to be shameless for a few years. Look at all the good teams in the NHL right now.
Washington - Ovechkin (1st), Backstrom (4th)
Pittsburgh - Crosby (1st), Malkin (2nd), Fleury (1st)
Chicago - Kane (1st), Toews (3rd)
Edmonton - McDavid (1st), Nugent-Hopkins (1st), Draisaitl (3rd)
Los Angeles - Doughty (2nd)
Tampa Bay - Stamkos (1st), Hedman (2nd), Droun (3rd)
Montreal - Price (5th), Galchenyuk (3rd)
Florida - Barkov (2nd), Ekblad (1st), Huberdeau (3rd)
Even the Leafs look totally different than last year with Matthews. Colorado is a wildcard but they've had a few good years with MacKinnon and Duchene. Same with the Islanders with Tavares. The reality is you don't get franchise players drafting 6th overall every year. You get good pieces, but it never gets you over the hump. Maybe the Flames need a few shameless years.
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Out of the 10 teams you've listed only 3 have had any type of playoff success (LA, Chicago and Pittsburgh). Washington and Tampa have been good regular season teams but haven't been able that extra push from their high first rounders to get a cup. Edmonton hasn't even had a playoff game in 10 years. The Panthers have only made the playoffs twice in five years. A number of high draft picks helps teams win but it's not the reason teams become contenders. Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and Chicago provided veteran support with their young stars to win the cup.
You need a good mix between youth and veterans to become a successful team not just high picks. And I think Treliving has done good in getting character veterans to mix with the team the past two off-seasons in Frolik and Brouwer. We need someone to play with Monahan and Gaudreau line and another winger for Bennett-Brouwer's line. Those are supposedly our top two lines but have 2 glaring holes in them. Unfortunately we don't have any players that can fit either of those positions until Tkachuk gets back. It might be worth trying him on Monahan and Gaudreau's line to see how things go when he gets healthy.