He built a team he thought could win, they still sucked. He cost himself draft positioning yet still ended up with impact players. I'd saying that's defying the odds.
- golfingsince

I don’t know if he’s defied any odds, Pettersson and Hughes were great picks but they were selected around where they were ranked. He was lucky they were still there and the hockey world couldn’t see how good they really were.

Despite moving back in the draft from second and third last he still managed to get top three players, maybe he did defy the odds?

He was joking
- VANTEL

Don’t think so. Pumps other teams tires but goes back to his go to Canuck bashing.

Aside from a year here and there TB has been there since we were. They also won a cup in 2004. It's really not even close.
- golfingsince

Tampa Bay is a model franchise when it comes to building through the draft.

Tampa Bay is a model franchise when it comes to building through the draft.
- LeftCoaster

But it’s luck & other teams didn’t see EP & Hughes as elite talent. Yup fickle lives on

In an argumentative mood can you all tell? Lol

But it’s luck & other teams didn’t see EP & Hughes as elite talent. Yup fickle lives on
- Nighthawk

Yes of course it was. In 2008 and 2009 the draft lottery was much different than it is now, your odds of retaining your position was much greater back then than it is now.

This year Tampa’s top seven scorers and their Vezina winning goaltender were all drafted by them. That’s some great drafting. And yes there’s always some luck involved.

I’ll give you 2004. After that they squandered away opportunity like a champ lol
- Nighthawk

Dude, the Canucks have made the semi-finals 3 times in their history. Tampa Bay has done that 3 times since we last have done it, winning once and losing to the eventual champs twice in 7 games.

If you were a homer Tampa Bay fan instead of a homer Canucks fan you and the entire thread would be laughing at me for suggesting the Canucks were remotely as successful.

The other thing is you say the Canucks are well on their way to being there again. That's really debatable. I mean the Canucks took great strides this year but they were trending away from the playoffs when the season was suspended. The future is bright but hard to project a league wide top team when they've yet to make the playoffs.

I don’t know if he’s defied any odds, Pettersson and Hughes were great picks but they were selected around where they were ranked. He was lucky they were still there and the hockey world couldn’t see how good they really were.

Despite moving back in the draft from second and third last he still managed to get top three players, maybe he did defy the odds?
- LeftCoaster

That's right.

That's right.
- golfingsince

ok I’ve convinced myself he did.

Dude, the Canucks have made the semi-finals 3 times in their history. Tampa Bay has done that 3 times since we last have done it, winning once and losing to the eventual champs twice in 7 games.

If you were a homer Tampa Bay fan instead of a homer Canucks fan you and the entire thread would be laughing at me for suggesting the Canucks were remotely as successful.

The other thing is you say the Canucks are well on their way to being there again. That's really debatable. I mean the Canucks took great strides this year but they were trending away from the playoffs when the season was suspended. The future is bright but hard to project a league wide top team when they've yet to make the playoffs.
- golfingsince

TB is on another level higher than most. Different circumstances are in their favour.

ok I’ve convinced myself he did.
- LeftCoaster

TB is on another level higher than most. Different circumstances are in their favour.
- Nighthawk

It’s ok to say they’ve drafted really well and built and strong team because of it. Jim Benning’s drafted well as well, not the same results yet but they’re starting to trend in the right direction.

It’s ok to say they’ve drafted really well and built and strong team because of it. Jim Benning’s drafted well as well, not the same results yet but they’re starting to trend in the right direction.
- LeftCoaster

Yes indeed & in a rather short time. Drafting has been problematic throughout our history save a few gems.

It’s ok to say they’ve drafted really well and built and strong team because of it. Jim Benning’s drafted well as well, not the same results yet but they’re starting to trend in the right direction.
- LeftCoaster

Again, where would they be had they drafted Jones instead of Drouin?

It was a dumb pick at the time, looked OK for a few years. Now, dreadful.

Again, where would they be had they drafted Jones instead of Drouin?

It was a dumb pick at the time, looked OK for a few years. Now, dreadful.
- golfingsince

Other than Kucherov nothing was impressive.
Said it then that Drouin was a stupid pick.

- golfingsince

Nine times out of ten the best players are usually top three in the draft but when you can get a 90 point second line center in the third round or the Art Ross & Hart Trophy winner in the second round you’re doing something right.

Both Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are top three in their draft classes so Benning’s done really well in those two drafts.

All good talent that dropped eg Point fell to TB. Not luck just lousy other GM’s. You make your own luck or let others force it on you.

Nine times out of ten the best players are usually top three in the draft but when you can get a 90 point second line center in the third round or the Art Ross & Hart Trophy winner in the second round you’re doing something right.

Both Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are top three in their draft classes so Benning’s done really well in those two drafts.
- LeftCoaster

It’s his other picks that will define how well he really did. Rathbone Lind Hoagie etc

Again, where would they be had they drafted Jones instead of Drouin?

It was a dumb pick at the time, looked OK for a few years. Now, dreadful.
- golfingsince

I don’t know, they turned him into Sergachev who’s a really good young defenseman. At only 21 he’s already a 40 point dman.

The next season & the one after are critical for JB. His drafting & moves MUST pay off. I like how we project but the kids gotta impact in a big way. Contracts gotta be moved to round out the formula.

I don’t know, they turned him into Sergachev who’s a really good young defenseman. At only 21 he’s already a 40 point dman.
- LeftCoaster

On a stacked team I’ll add

I don’t know, they turned him into Sergachev who’s a really good young defenseman. At only 21 he’s already a 40 point dman.
- LeftCoaster

Like Juolevi

Other than Kucherov nothing was impressive.
Said it then that Drouin was a stupid pick.
- Nighthawk

Vasilevskiy is a top goalie. Point was a 3rd round pick that scored 41 goals. For reference, Kesler did that once and was taken 23rd overall in one of the deepest drafts ever.


Nobody from their recent drafts have even played, but there's an awful lot of good players....many with nearly 500 games played an most are sure to eclipse it. They've also had one top 15 pick in the past 6 years, 2 in the top 20.

I don’t know, they turned him into Sergachev who’s a really good young defenseman. At only 21 he’s already a 40 point dman.
- LeftCoaster

They've been a top 5 team for how many years now? Do you want possibly the top 2 dmen in the league playing 25-30 minutes a night together or do you want the young guy that's improving and will likely never amount to either?

Win now mode, that's a no brainer to me.

I'll go as far as to say that bypassing him in favour of Drouin has already cost them at least 1 cup, likely more.

Joke of the day.

A man walks into a bar.