Even though this Stanley cup is a nightmare scenario for Flames fans, I'm hoping it helps them finally pick the right direction for this team.
Florida had 4 top 3 picks in a 5 year stretch with 1 bad selection and 3 franchise changing picks
Huberdeau
Barkov
Ekblad
2 are still young and a huge part of this team success and the 3rd was a key piece to acquire their other superstar.
Oilers as we all know have had many 1st OV picks, but Florida is a prime example of a team that didn't get overly lucky in the lottery and has built a Stanley cup contending team with a 5 year stretch at the bottom.
After drafting Ekblad 1st OV, the following season they were over .500 point percent and even though they missed the playoffs 4 out of 5 years after the rebuild was over they were a good young hockey team. 1 year they had .585 point percent and missed the playoffs as the East has been dominant for years now.
The last 5 years, they are 1 of the best teams in the NHL and there is no reason it ends after this year.
There was a stat a couple years ago, only 1 player selected top 3 from 2010 draft on has a cup and it was Seguin when he was 19 in 2011 hardly playing. Now:
Landeskog
MacKinnon
Eichel
These 3 have won and the following could win:
Oiler Cup:
McDavid
Drasaitl
Nuge
Panthers Cup:
Reinhart
Barkov
Ekblad
The 2013-2015 top 3 OV are all over the cup now. Seems like it takes 10 years since you take a player top 3 to get there, but it's looking pretty consistent that you eventually get there.
Oilers have made mistake after mistake since getting McDavid yet they are playing for the cup right now. We need our franchise players, and the next 2 drafts look good for top end superstars.
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