GMs to discuss changing Draft Lottery Odds

[nik-]

The funny thing is, if the Oilers had even been trying to make their team better, this likely doesn't happen ... twice.

The fact that pretty much all they did was rake these picks while making like one good trade to acquire a decent player in 4 years probably drove the GM's mad.

[N-E-B]

I think if you pick 1st, you shouldn't be able to pick 1st again the next year, but instead of making it super complicated, let them pick where they finish, but take them out of the lottery. Picking 1st then 2nd the next year would still be possible but it would keep things simple and still allow the weaker teams to build with high picks.

[FlamesAddiction]

Teams that are crappy for a long time are usually that way because they suck at developing talent, so it is a huge waste to constantly give them the best young talent to ruin.

Having said that, the relative parity from the cap and the standings parity from loser points made the draft lottery weighting system obsolete a while ago. As much as it sucks that now it should be our turn to reap the rewards, I think it would be best for the game in the long run if they try to spread the odds out better.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by DOOM

The bad teams are still gonna finish close to last. Even if people think they are "tanking"

All this will do is hurt rebuilding teams.

I hate rewarding teams for sucking, Flames are playing hard this year and putting in a decent effort for their fans and what will it get them? very low odds at picking number one.

I think all they are discussing is spreading the odds out a bit for non playoff teams. Bad teams will still get the picks but there won't be such an incentive to lose

[The Fonz]

30th - 14%
29th - 13%
28th - 12%
27th - 11%
26th - 10%
25th - 9%
24th - 8%
23rd - 7%
22nd - 6%
21st - 4%
20th - 2.5%
19th - 1.5%
18th - 1%
17th - 1%

Draw for each and every pick, not just the 1st overall.

[strombad]

Someone posted a circular graph of some sort that cycled teams through a 30 year period. You only got the 1st pick once per cycle, but you picked in the top 5-10 every 5 years or something.

It looked a lot better than I made it sound, but even something like that might be OK.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I hate rewarding teams for sucking, Flames are playing hard this year and putting in a decent effort for their fans and what will it get them? very low odds at picking number one.

I think all they are discussing is spreading the odds out a bit for non playoff teams. Bad teams will still get the picks but there won't be such an incentive to lose

The Flames will get screwed no matter what system is in place, so it doesn't really matter.

[The Fonz]

I hate the current draft lottery because it puts a fan in limbo.

Like the Flames, for example. As much as I love this 5 game winning streak, it stings because our draft choice likely just went from about 3rd to 5th.

A fan should never be put in a spot where a win can't be enjoyed, and the current draft lottery does just that, IMO.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by nik-

The funny thing is, if the Oilers had even been trying to make their team better, this likely doesn't happen ... twice.

The fact that pretty much all they did was rake these picks while making like one good trade to acquire a decent player in 4 years probably drove the GM's mad.

there is no doubt this whole debate is about the Oilers...who are doing nothing to improve their team and collecting top picks year after year

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I hate the current draft lottery because it puts a fan in limbo.

Like the Flames, for example. As much as I love this 5 game winning streak, it stings because our draft choice likely just went from about 3rd to 5th.

A fan should never be put in a spot where a win can't be enjoyed, and the current draft lottery does just that, IMO.

exactly, this is the best explanation

I have barely even watched the games this year when normally I don't miss one...its no fun when my team is better off losing

[nik-]

Originally Posted by dino7c

there is no doubt this whole debate is about the Oilers...who are doing nothing to improve their team and collecting top picks year after year

Yeah. It never came up after Pittsburgh and it never came up after Chicago. This is absolutely about the Oilers not even trying.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

They should go a bit further imo. The first 16 picks should be handed out in a lottery.

The first 14 picks, should be just non-playoff teams.

Make the first 14 picks into lottery picks and give them odds based on where they finish. The worst team may not pick until 5th or 6th, the 14th team can win the 1st overall but it would be an extreme long shot. Take away the incentive to tank. After the 1st round revert to order based on standings. Problem solved.

[Dion]

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

30th - 14%
29th - 13%
28th - 12%
27th - 11%
26th - 10%
25th - 9%
24th - 8%
23rd - 7%
22nd - 6%
21st - 4%
20th - 2.5%
19th - 1.5%
18th - 1%
17th - 1%

Draw for each and every pick, not just the 1st overall.

I like that...then you don't have games near the end of the season when both teams are better off losing.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I hate the current draft lottery because it puts a fan in limbo.

Like the Flames, for example. As much as I love this 5 game winning streak, it stings because our draft choice likely just went from about 3rd to 5th.

A fan should never be put in a spot where a win can't be enjoyed, and the current draft lottery does just that, IMO.

But it always will. Because only one will win, so in general the better you are the worse your draft position. They don't random draw the whole thing. Until the top players stop being in the top of the draft (ie: never) fans will always want a high draft pick for a poor team.

[Matty81]

Really not a fan of drafts as a means of bringing players into the league, but if you've gotta have one revamping the lottery is a must.

Other teams fans were making fun of us for years for actually trying to win - that should never be the case, the current system rewarding failure or ever worse, intentional losing, has to go.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by dino7c

so teams don't purposely tank...so people are not paying $100 to watch games when the home team is better off losing

For sure, and worse, paying $100 for a team not even trying to win. Driving people to not pay anymore.

What happens when losing is more popular, and potentially more profitable in the short term, than even trying to win? The nhl is staring that question in the face, especially with next years draft looking to be a good one.

I don't think the issue is who picks first, but whether losing should be a viable strategy. 3-5 teams doing it this year. Maybe 5-10 next year. That will crush league revenues, tv ratings, everything they are trying to build.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by nik-

But it always will. Because only one will win, so in general the better you are the worse your draft position. They don't random draw the whole thing. Until the top players stop being in the top of the draft (ie: never) fans will always want a high draft pick for a poor team.

if all picks are lottery and the odds are more spread out then you don't have to worry about a few wins here and there.

Flames won 5 in a row we should be ecstatic...I'm hearing people complain that "they can't even lose right"

Pretty sad when a 5 game win streak is a bad thing

[strombad]

Someone posted a circular graph of some sort that cycled teams through a 30 year period. You only got the 1st pick once per cycle, but you picked in the top 5-10 every 5 years or something.

It looked a lot better than I made it sound, but even something like that might be OK.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by dino7c

if all picks are lottery and the odds are more spread out then you don't have to worry about a few wins here and there.

Flames won 5 in a row we should be ecstatic...I'm hearing people complain that "they can't even lose right"

Pretty sad when a 5 game win streak is a bad thing

Well it's not bad, but in the grand scheme of things the wins are irrelevant. But again, If the odds are spread, your spot in the standings is still likely to be your spot or one pick lower than your spot, then you have the chance to move to 1, but likely that's your slot.

You're still going to have people hoping for losses because 2nd pick getting bumped to 3 is better than 6/7/8 and it always will be.