Edmonton is an example of both it working and not working IMO, and why luck is a big factor too.
If Edmonton just had Hall, Yakupov, and RNH they would be an example of a team with 3 1st overall picks never winning a Stanley Cup with that core.
But then they got a freebie when they won the lottery for McDavid. And got Draisaitl 3rd overall too.
And even with the Oilers being a "success" at this point, they are still a perfect example that picking early doesn't guarantee anything.
They had 11 top 10 picks in a 13 year stretch, that included 4 number 1 picks and 6 top 5 picks.
2007: 6 - Gagner
2009: 10 - Paajarvi
2010: 1 - Hall
2011: 1 - RNH
2012: 1 - Yakupov
2013: 7 - Nurse
2014: 3 - Draisatil
2015: 1 - McDavid
2016: 4 - Puljujarvi
2018: 10 - Bouchard
2019: 8 - Broberg
I still think it's actually embarassing this Oilers team hasn't won a cup, and even if they don't end up winning multiple cups it's still one of the biggest mis-managements of assets in NHL history.
No other team was given this level of assets in the draft to build a winner ever in NHL history IMO.
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