Quote:
Originally Posted by Skootenbeeten
Tavares can sign for whatever team he wants to when he becomes a FA, nice fake outrage though. If it was the flames grabbing those top picks I doubt you would be so vocal. You think Iginla ever dreamed of winning the stanley cup?
|
You're right, Tavares certainly can sign for any team he wants, when he is a FA, unfortunately for him, that won't be for a long time (since he re-signed a 6 year deal when his ELC expired).
My issue is that the rules really limit a young players movement, if they are drafted young, their ELC's are 3 years, then they are RFA, so really don't have much say in where they go (R'OR is a prime example), I believe the new CBA lowered the FA age to 25, or 7 accrued seasons.
So basically, the best young players get strapped down to bottom dwelling teams to a minimum of 3 years, more likely 7, unless they are traded. Not often you see a first overall pick traded in his early years.
And yes, if it were the Flames grabbing those top picks, and not becoming a better team with them (Oilers) I would feel just as bad for the players.
If a team gets a few high picks and turns it around, then the system has worked (Pittsburgh, Chicago). In the last 5 draft years, the team drafting 1st overall has made the playoffs once, Tampa Bay, in 2010-2011. Outside of that 1 season, the team that has drafted 1st overall has not significantly improved. Of the 3 teams to draft 1st in the last 5 years, Only Tampa has ranked higher than 21st overall in the league or 10th in their conference, and that happened once, since then, they have fallen back to the basement.
All my point is, is that being horrible shouldn't be rewarded, it obviously doesn't turn a team around to draft first overall, and as a player, it would suck to be tied to a losing team for the beginning of your career (3-7 years).
