Quote:
Originally Posted by ComixZone
Look at Toronto...
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Yes, let's look at Toronto.
Between 2008–12 they finished 24th, 24th, 29th, 22nd, and 26th. They somehow made the playoffs in 2013, but then followed up in 2014 by finishes of 23rd, 27th, and then finally 30th in the Auston Matthews sweepstakes year. Even though 2008–13 were not "rebuilding" years, they were technically drafting in lottery positions for nearly a decade before 2016—5th, 7th, 2nd (traded to Boston), 9th (traded to Boston), 5th; high enough to add core pieces Nazem Kadri and Morgan Reilly.
Brendan Shannahan was hired in 2014, and finally now, seven years later, they look like a team that can win a playoff round and compete for the Stanley Cup. Seven years later, after winning a draft lottery and signing a UFA top-line centre (those only come around once in a decade), and they just now look like they are ready. The only reason their "rebuild" looks like it took a few years is because they already had a few core pieces that they had drafted in the top-ten in the system, and because they were able to add the most highly sought centre to hit the UFA market in recent memory.