Quote:
Originally Posted by TOfan
Depends on your definition of ‘tank’.
I think there’s a bit of selective memory involved when people talk about ‘tanking’. If you look at the 2016/17 Avalanche roster, I bet they went into that season intending to win and compete for a playoff spot. MacKinnon, Duschene, Landeskog, Iginla, Rantenin, Barrie, Zadorov, Varlomov. That doesn’t look like a historically bad line up to me.
Same/similar could be said for the 16/16 Oilers when they win the lottery and were gifted McDavid. They were trying to compete that year.
Intentionally tanking isn’t something that happens too often. NHL teams and players prioritize competitiveness. Guys who are either fighting to solidify their spot on NHL rosters simply wouldn’t accept being told to tank. What type of response do you think you would get from Matt Coronato or Justin Kirkland if you told them to lay off and maybe only give it 60% tonight? They would probably tell you to GFY, they’re competing for their livelihood and, presumably, their dream to play full time in the NHL.
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Tanking is a strategy employed by owners and GMs. Not coaches and players - they’re always trying to win. And yes, sometimes rebuilding teams land those top picks in a season when they planned to be pulling out of the bottom of the standings. There’s a lot of variance and unpredictability in hockey.