Be careful what you ask for!! I'd love to have a couple top five picks but would absolutely hate hate hate to be in a position where you have five or six in a row.

Blues are an example of a good team with one top five pick, Pietrangelo, in their lineup. That I could handle.
- LeftCoaster

Even Anahiem has had some down years. Boston is having theirs. It's really incredible how Detroit has done it.
If Van can pick up another 1st this year. I'm willing to bet that they are good for years again. Couple more presidents trophies.

Even Anahiem has had some down years. Boston is having theirs. It's really incredible how Detroit has done it.
If Van can pick up another 1st this year. I'm willing to bet that they are good for years again. Couple more presidents trophies.
- manvanfan

Anaheim has zero top five picks. Just solid solid drafting over the years.

Anaheim has zero top five picks. Just solid solid drafting over the years.
- LeftCoaster

Bobby Ryan

Traded him away but they had him last time they won the cup.

Bobby Ryan
- hillbillydeluxe

That wasn't from a bad year (lockout lottery) and he plays for Ottawa.

Bobby Ryan

Traded him away but they had him last time they won the cup.
- hillbillydeluxe

I dont think he was on the roster that won the cup

I dont think he was on the roster that won the cup
- SRam19

correct

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...anley_Cup_Finals#Game_one

Anaheim has zero top five picks. Just solid solid drafting over the years.
- LeftCoaster

No but they did miss the playoffs twice since they won the cup.

No but they did miss the playoffs twice since they won the cup.
- manvanfan

I wouldnt mind missing the playoffs after we win the cup

Those teams weren't tanking, they were just bad and they were bad for a prolonged period.

As far as I understand it, the tanking philosophy goes like this: move assets for draft picks and be God awful for 3-4 years. Draft high. Preform some kind of mysterious alchemy, win a cup.

I can't think of any teams that have been successful following this path. I know that Oiler fans are giddy right now because they won the lottery (pure luck, by the way), but I'll wait to see how they do next year before proclaiming them a success.
- CubanBuffet

Some it has worked for other not so much.

Pit 5,1,2,1,2 and won a cup and has been a contender

Chi 3,7,3,1 and has 2 cups and has been a contender

LA 13,11,11,11,4,2,5 and has 2 cups and has been a contender

CLB 4, 8, 1, 4, 8, 6, 6, 7, 6, 21, 4,--,2,14,16 since their inception and it hasn't done anything for them.

NYI has had 7 top 5 picks since we picked the sedins and 5 top 5 in the last 6 years. They have a franchise player and are doing better but still are not a contender.

Honestly I think that when you look at how many of the best teams in the league have needed these consecutive years of high picks to get where they are it makes it even more impressive what the Canucks, Sharks, Wings and Bruins have done over the period of time without the picks.

Of course only the Bruins have won and (frank) those guys.

Edit. Should add the rangers as a team that also has not had picks but has been consistently successful.

I wouldnt mind missing the playoffs after we win the cup

- SRam19

Good way to reload and go again in a couple of years. Second round picks that turn out are huge too. Good thing gillis kept trading Van away

Some it has worked for other not so much.

Pit 5,1,2,1,2 and won a cup and has been a contender

Chi 3,7,3,1 and has 2 cups and has been a contender

LA 13,11,11,11,4,2,5 and has 2 cups and has been a contender

CLB 4, 8, 1, 4, 8, 6, 6, 7, 6, 21, 4,--,2,14,16 since their inception and it hasn't done anything for them.

NYI has had 7 top 5 picks since we picked the sedins and 5 top 5 in the last 6 years. They have a franchise player and are doing better but still are not a contender.

Honestly I think that when you look at how many of the best teams in the league have needed these consecutive years of high picks to get where they are it makes it even more impressive what the Canucks, Sharks, Wings and Bruins have done over the period of time without the picks.

Of course only the Bruins have won and (frank) those guys.
- belcherbd

Always depends on who is in the draft and how they pan out but clearly you need some top 10 picks. Columbus seems to be just on the cusp. Injuries really hurt them last year.

Anaheim has zero top five picks. Just solid solid drafting over the years.
- LeftCoaster

Yep.

I hope we narrowly miss playoffs next yr and win lottery. Draft either Mathews or our franchise D man. Jacob Chycerun

Always depends on who is in the draft and how they pan out but clearly you need some top 10 picks. Columbus seems to be just on the cusp. Injuries really hurt them last year.
- manvanfan

I think proper devopment is almost more important. Why is every (frank)ing player Detroit picks or young cast off turn out to be a great player?

except 50M doesnt count against the cap, therefore is irrelevant, especially when you factor in its from the franchise that is worth over a billion dollars.
- sensnucksnocups

Do you really want us to pull out the list of useless Leaf players being payed millions more than what they are worth. I better book two weeks off if I am going to write that list

Do you really want us to pull out the list of useless Leaf players being payed millions more than what they are worth. I better book two weeks off if I am going to write that list
- VANTEL

Honestly, at this point Toronto is nudging Edmonton for the title of "Worst Managed Franchise In The NHL". It's bizarre that they'd be willing to pay that much and for that long for a coach when it's clear that they're going to have to make significant changes to their roster to compete in the near future. Even if they manage to remove some of the dead weight on their roster (Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Kadri, Bozak, etc.), it still will only net them prospects and picks and maybe some roster players who are not upgrades.

Oh good. A feature on Kesler.

Edit:
PJ Stock gushing over Kesler, even better.

Honestly, at this point Toronto is nudging Edmonton for the title of "Worst Managed Franchise In The NHL". It's bizarre that they'd be willing to pay that much and for that long for a coach when it's clear that they're going to have to make significant changes to their roster to compete in the near future. Even if they manage to remove some of the dead weight on their roster (Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Kadri, Bozak, etc.), it still will only net them prospects and picks and maybe some roster players who are not upgrades.
- DariusKnight

I wouldn't mind having Kadri TBH. Bonino and Bieksa for Kadri and a pick?

I wouldn't mind having Kadri TBH. Bonino and Bieksa for Kadri and a pick?
- Gullzy

They have to decide if Shannahan or Babcock gets the "kind of gm, but not really" title first. No one's answering the phones right now.

They have to decide if Shannahan or Babcock gets the "kind of gm, but not really" title first. No one's answering the phones right now.
- CubanBuffet

I hope they hire someone that values flexibility, because that deal offers it to them. Might be underselling on a top 4 defenceman, but Kadri should be better than what he's showed in Toronto.

I wouldn't mind having Kadri TBH. Bonino and Bieksa for Kadri and a pick?
- Gullzy

You need to watch kadri some more. He's Robbie Schremp crossed with Zack Kassian.

I hope they hire someone that values flexibility, because that deal offers it to them. Might be underselling on a top 4 defenceman, but Kadri should be better than what he's showed in Toronto.
- Gullzy

His attitude stinks. All we have ever heard from kadri is how nothing is his fault

I hope they hire someone that values flexibility, because that deal offers it to them. Might be underselling on a top 4 defenceman, but Kadri should be better than what he's showed in Toronto.
- Gullzy

He'll like it if they tell him to like it. Their entire management staff is already in place, minus the gm. What they're really looking for is basically a receptionist.

Honestly, at this point Toronto is nudging Edmonton for the title of "Worst Managed Franchise In The NHL". It's bizarre that they'd be willing to pay that much and for that long for a coach when it's clear that they're going to have to make significant changes to their roster to compete in the near future. Even if they manage to remove some of the dead weight on their roster (Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Kadri, Bozak, etc.), it still will only net them prospects and picks and maybe some roster players who are not upgrades.
- DariusKnight

I love how the media is trying to spin it like shanahan really wooed him. They offered him 25 mill for then any other team
And how Babcock(who I believe is a good coach) was the main reason for Detroit's auccess

He'll like it if they tell him to like it. Their entire management staff is already in place, minus the gm. What they're really looking for is basically a receptionist.
- CubanBuffet

A fall guy

So what happens if Oceanic beats Ramparts?