I never said it had to be a forward.
- buffalofan19

And you still haven't named the Wings elite top picks since Boston is the only exception.

And you still haven't named the Wings elite top picks since Boston is the only exception.
- sbroads24

Boston had 2.

Seguin and Horton.

But LA's top 6 scorers were all 1st rd picks with two of them being drafted in the top 3. One was traded to get Carter.

In all they had 9 players that were drafted in the 1st rd play on that team.


Boston had a guy by the name of Nathan Horton play on their cup team who happened to be drafted in the top 3.
- dadeadhead

The Horton that got knocked out, and then Boston turned the series around?

Boston had 2.

Seguin and Horton.
- dadeadhead

Yet neither were factors in them winning

I agree with the overall point. The decade comment was just plain silly though

I just don't see how if we fall out of the top 5 that we are doomed for at least a decade. IMO that's ridiculous.

We have enough assets to go out and get great players by any means possible

We have cap space, draft picks, and a ton of prospects. We are in a great place
- sbroads24

Doomed is perhaps a strong word, but I'd like our odds a lot better if we could get one.

Having the assets to acquire such talent is only half the battle, the players who can really carry a franchise like Doughty rarely become available via trade.

The Horton that got knocked out, and then Boston turned the series around?
- sbroads24

17 points in 21 games.


I'd say he was an integral part of that teams success over the season and playoffs.

The only exception is Detroit which lets face it 3 of their 4 recent cup wins were led by Stevie Y who was drafted 4th overall and a huge reason why players like Zetterberg, Dats, Lidstrom, and so on matured the way they did.


You need elite talent to win the cup no matter where the draft position.

Doomed is perhaps a strong word, but I'd like our odds a lot better if we could get one.

Having the assets to acquire such talent is only half the battle, the players who can really carry a franchise like Doughty rarely become available via trade.
- Sabresfan-365

As great as Doughty is, Anze Kopitar is just as important to that team.

Just like Duncan Keith you can argue is just as important as Kane.

You need a well built team. Yes you need great players I agree 100%, and you mostly find them at the top of the draft, but the decade comment is what I completely and utterly disagree with

Yet neither were factors in them winning

I agree with the overall point. The decade comment was just plain silly though
- sbroads24

Yet you just said Horton the guy that got knocked out and Boston turned it around.


I'd take that to mean he was "THE" reason..........

17 points in 21 games.


I'd say he was an integral part of that teams success over the season and playoffs.

The only exception is Detroit which lets face it 3 of they 4 recent cup wins were led by Stevie Y who was drafted 4th overall and a huge reason why players like Zetterberg, Dats, Lidstrom, and so on matured the way they did.


You need elite talent to win the cup no matter where the draft position.
- dadeadhead

Whether he was important or not, it wouldn't have set the Bruins back to not have him as they proved in the cup finals.

My point is your last sentence, you need elite talent no matter where you draft.

IMO Ristolainen could end up better than Lindolm drafted 5th or even Barkov drafted 2nd. Just an example but you need guys like him to pan out

Yet you just said Horton the guy that got knocked out and Boston turned it around.


I'd take that to mean he was "THE" reason..........


- dadeadhead

All I'm saying is we aren't screwed if we don't draft top 3-5. Maybe we won't compete that year, but I think in a decade we will hopefully be annual contenders

All I'm saying is we aren't screwed if we don't draft top 3-5. Maybe we won't compete that year, but I think in a decade we will hopefully be annual contenders
- sbroads24

People will lose their minds if they don't draft top 2. What do you think they'll do if their 1st pick is outside the top 5?

Michael Pachla: Four questions after reading the NHL.com Sabres preview
- Michael Pachla

stop giving this site credibility

You need elite talent to win the cup no matter where the draft position.
- dadeadhead

Gringo had top 3 talent and fell at the draft

if he gets his head out of his ass, like it looks like he is doing, how does that fit into the equation?

People will lose their minds if they don't draft top 2. What do you think they'll do if their 1st pick is outside the top 5?
- dadeadhead

IMO we pick 3-5.

I don't think people will go nuts if guys like Risto, Myers, Girgensons and Reinhart show that they are going to be serious contributors to this team.

I also think it's a huge year in Rochester for Grigo and Armia

I would be even more excited than I am if those two got on a roll and looked line promising NHL'ers

Gringo had top 3 talent and fell at the draft

if he gets his head out of his ass, like it looks like he is doing, how does that fit into the equation?
- homiedclown

Disagree, he may have been ranked #3 for a little while, but his skating abilities (or lack thereof) keep him from being part of that equation.

All I'm saying is we aren't screwed if we don't draft top 3-5. Maybe we won't compete that year, but I think in a decade we will hopefully be annual contenders
- sbroads24

it better come a hell of a lot quicker then that

2016 should be knocking on the door for the playoffs
2017 should be advancing to second rd
2018 on should be competing for the cup

People will lose their minds if they don't draft top 2. What do you think they'll do if their 1st pick is outside the top 5?
- dadeadhead

Highly unlikely but with three picks I wouldn't be too worried as TM's got three picks to work with to try and move up (although if you're sitting at say 6th you're still getting an incredibly talented to player).

They'd have to end up somewhere around 11th overall in the draft for me to play the "we screwed up" card

it better come a hell of a lot quicker then that

2016 should be knocking on the door for the playoffs
2017 should be advancing to second rd
2018 on should be competing for the cup
- homiedclown

Agreed.

I was disagreeing with the decade comment. In 10 years we will be what Pitt/Boston is now. Hopefully a cup deep and contending every year

But LA's top 6 scorers were all 1st rd picks with two of them being drafted in the top 3. One was traded to get Carter.

In all they had 9 players that were drafted in the 1st rd play on that team.


Boston had a guy by the name of Nathan Horton play on their cup team who happened to be drafted in the top 3.
- dadeadhead

imo, too much attention was paid to the "Pittsburgh model" and not enough to how the kings were built

imo, too much attention was paid to the "Pittsburgh model" and not enough to how the kings were built
- Michael Pachla

IMO...we'll be seriously contending in the 3-5yr range...and with the right luck we'll all be getting Stanley Cup tatts!

imo, too much attention was paid to the "Pittsburgh model" and not enough to how the kings were built
- Michael Pachla

Lombardi did an amazing job poaching Richards and Carter to complement his home grown core...not to mention getting Gaborik this year. I'm tempted to raise a collusion alarm between Philly/Columbus/LA...but that would just be crazy talk, right?

imo, too much attention was paid to the "Pittsburgh model" and not enough to how the kings were built
- Michael Pachla

The Kings are a very solid all around team.

And will be for a while with the way they have structured their contracts throughout the lineup. IMO they will be around longer than the Hawks as far as competing annually for the cup.

Crawford at 6.0 for 7 years compared to Quick at 5.8 for 8 years is just one example of the edge they have on them

stop giving this site credibility


- homiedclown

promise you'll wear pants

Lombardi did an amazing job poaching Richards and Carter to complement his home grown core...not to mention getting Gaborik this year. I'm tempted to raise a collusion alarm between Philly/Columbus/LA...but that would just be crazy talk, right?

- Jackwagon11

the 2003 draft class is considered the second best of all-time behind the 1979 class...the kings ended up with three first-rounders from that class when they landed carter and richards

The Kings are a very solid all around team.

And will be for a while with the way they have structured their contracts throughout the lineup. IMO they will be around longer than the Hawks as far as competing annually for the cup.

Crawford at 6.0 for 7 years compared to Quick at 5.8 for 8 years is just one example of the edge they have on them
- sbroads24

They lose that edge paying Brown 5.875 per year though. I think both teams have done a good job with their contracts.

Keith at under 5.5 and Hjalmarsson at 4 mil are pretty good deals.