Quote:
Originally Posted by Groot
The amount of things that had to go just right to get the Panthers here is absurd.
A 35-year of Bobrovsky finds his game again at an elite level
One of the best waiver pickups ever in Forsling
A 12th overall pick turns into a >0.70 PPG in the playoffs by his 3rd season in Lundell
Not one, but THREE buy low trade candidates that then took their game to another level after arriving in Florida. Bennett, Reinhart, Jones.
Picking up a young, 24-year old former Cup Winner that becomes a playoff stud, because a team leaves them unqualified because of cap constraints in Verhaege.
A GM screws up and let's an elite player force his way to RFA or be traded, have that player choose the Panthers and have their former team like the Panthers offer the best in Tkachuk.
And finally their top 1 and 2 picks a decade ago actually turned into elite players, unlike dozens of others selected in the same spots, with Barkov and Ekblad.
All very fortuitous and I'm happy for the Panthers, especially if all the above is what causes McDavid to leave Edmonton without any Cups.
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What this demonstrates is that, in a 32 team league with a hard cap, a LOT of things have to go right in order to win. Note how little of that is about drafting or tanking. There is no 'path' to the cup, you have to stick to the plan, manage assets well, and then hope that the hockey Gods shine on you.
Not saying they haven't earned it, they most certainly have. Just saying that you have to earn it, AND you have to be very fortunate.