Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
What Tampa did was draft Hedman and Stamkos really high in 08/09, then muddle around in the "mushy middle" for a couple years (in which they managed to make a couple fantastic mid first and 2nd round picks), get a 3OA in 2013 which they blew on Drouin, go back to the middle of the draft and get Point in the 3rd round in 2014 (after taking guys like D'Angelo earlier) and the futz around for 5 more years until they won the cup. They keys to their cup win were, in order, Vasilevskiy, Kucherov, Point, Hedman and Stamkos, and the depth. The first three were not acquired with high picks.
I don't think they fit your pattern.
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And come to think of it, Florida isn't exactly an example either:
Drafted high in 2010/11 for players no longer with the team. Went to the middle, then back fairly high for Barkov and Ekblad in 13/14. Then back to out of the POs or first round exits (but no high draft picks to show for it) for 8 years. Make a blockbuster trade and get to the 2nd round. Then they were good.
Their championship was based on non drafted players, outside of Barkov. Ekblad was not a key compared to other Dmen. You could argue Tkachuk was there because they traded a high drafted player. But it was actually Huberdeau and Weegar and a 1st that got Tkachuk.