The lottery system set up as it does offers the potential for a team to be like the Rangers and luck their way into being a likely cup contender. They really didn't have many bad years, at least not bad like the Senators or the Red Wings, and then they have been able to get back to back top 2 picks in the draft. Combined with some good drafting at other positions and a defenseman who would only sign with them and they really have had better luck to propel them forward.
The Oilers/Sabres tanking and general awful play for a decade has really made it worse for truly bad teams to improve as their odds of getting a top pick have dropped as a result.
|