Holtz.. wanted Holtz since January.

Another comment ...

It took me a couple of years (after no-goal) to get over the whole hating of Bettman thing. All these years of fans throughout the league booing him at every occasion just sickened me. You're embarrassing yourself - grow up already. HOWEVER, this whole draft debacle is just effing ridiculous and that's on his watch. A playoff team will get the first overall pick ? There should be people calling for him to resign.

Holtz.. wanted Holtz since January.
- TheSabresTaco

Trade the pick. Package it up. Bring me a bonafide, real life, already seasoned, ready to go, 2c!

Or an aging vet that’s got 2 years of 2 c left in him....

In that case, take the pick and package it up for a bonafide, real life, already seasoned, ready to go, 2rw.

Anything outside of that is pure failure.

Of course I now accept pure failure from the worst run team in the league. Maybe any league...

My complaint is that the odds are out of whack. You have a higher chance of moving down than staying the same. That's incredibly stupid.
- Wetbandit1

That is true every year with the seven slot

When it came to the card flipping last night, was anyone as certain as me that our card would show up for 8 ? I said to my wife : "Watch, first card will be Buffalo". A second later, boom - it happened. I just laughed so hard ... Turned it off immediately after I saw the card - so disgusted that I didn't even care to see what happened next.
- kritter65

Wasnt that the most likely scenario? Really shouldnt be that big of a surprise.

Another comment ...

It took me a couple of years (after no-goal) to get over the whole hating of Bettman thing. All these years of fans throughout the league booing him at every occasion just sickened me. You're embarrassing yourself - grow up already. HOWEVER, this whole draft debacle is just effing ridiculous and that's on his watch. A playoff team will get the first overall pick ? There should be people calling for him to resign.
- kritter65

Technically it is not a playoff team getting 1st overall. If you lose the “end of regular season games” you could win it. Meaning the 16 teams making the official playoffs can’t win it.

So......let’s say Toronto loses in the qualifying round and gets the #1 pick. Will everyone here still think this draft scenario was fair? I’ll hang up and listen.
- Chris16

It would be the same as if FL passed them for third in the ATL, and they didn't qualify for a wild card spot, either. Toronto wasn't yet locked in to a playoff spot when play was halted. However unlikely one could argue it to have been, there was still a possibility that they could've missed the playoffs.

I'm hoping for this as well, however we all know what would happen : We'd drop down to 9, of course.
- kritter65

They're not redrawing as far as I know if the play-in and playoffs are cancelled. They're simply taking the teams that would have been 8 through 15 in a normal season and doing a second draw among those teams for the 1st overall.

Another comment ...

It took me a couple of years (after no-goal) to get over the whole hating of Bettman thing. All these years of fans throughout the league booing him at every occasion just sickened me. You're embarrassing yourself - grow up already. HOWEVER, this whole draft debacle is just effing ridiculous and that's on his watch. A playoff team will get the first overall pick ? There should be people calling for him to resign.
- kritter65

A playoff team wont be getting the 1st overall pick.

It would be the same as if FL passed them for third in the ATL, and they didn't qualify for a wild card spot, either. Toronto wasn't yet locked in to a playoff spot when play was halted. However unlikely one could argue it to have been, there was still a possibility that they could've missed the playoffs.
- Ratsreign

yup. people are butt hurt the 7 worst teams didnt get better odds compared to every other year.

Wasnt that the most likely scenario? Really shouldnt be that big of a surprise.
- Mentalorgasm5

I wanted to move up, I was hoping for it, but had that feeling we would drop back. The only thing I didn't care for was that any team ranked 5-8 had a shot at the 1st pick and that came to fruition.

Another comment ...

It took me a couple of years (after no-goal) to get over the whole hating of Bettman thing. All these years of fans throughout the league booing him at every occasion just sickened me. You're embarrassing yourself - grow up already. HOWEVER, this whole draft debacle is just effing ridiculous and that's on his watch. A playoff team will get the first overall pick ? There should be people calling for him to resign.
- kritter65

Technically, the Play-in Rou d is NOT considered playoffs.
Still, only 15 teams qualify for the Lottery, same as last few years.
If they did 15 teams ranked by points percentage and the 12th team advanced to number 1, would you be as critical...disappointed yes, but as critical of the process?

I hate the Lottery myself, always have. But this format is pretty fair...maybe down 1 ru g on the Fair ladder from just using g poi ts percentage Tage rather than drawing from Play-in round losers.

I get the frustration, but 8th or 9th was pretty likely result.

Technically it is not a playoff team getting 1st overall. If you lose the “end of regular season games” you could win it. Meaning the 16 teams making the official playoffs can’t win it.
- Lilroot9

The massive difference is teams like the Penguins, Hurricanes, Oilers, and Predators who never would have been in the running for a lottery pick now will be if they lose their play-in series.

Those 4 teams should be rewarded with the first overall pick due to losing to Montreal for example? Why?

The massive difference is teams like the Penguins, Hurricanes, Oilers, and Predators who never would have been in the running for a lottery pick now will be if they lose their play-in series.

Those 4 teams should be rewarded with the first overall pick due to losing to Montreal for example? Why?
- kingcong39

So youre getting mad about things that literally might not happen. Sounds like a lot of wasted energy.

Technically, the Play-in Rou d is NOT considered playoffs.
Still, only 15 teams qualify for the Lottery, same as last few years.
If they did 15 teams ranked by points percentage and the 12th team advanced to number 1, would you be as critical...disappointed yes, but as critical of the process?

I hate the Lottery myself, always have. But this format is pretty fair...maybe down 1 ru g on the Fair ladder from just using g poi ts percentage Tage rather than drawing from Play-in round losers.

I get the frustration, but 8th or 9th was pretty likely result.
- IonSabres

It's the possibilty that a team sitting 7th overall in the league in points could be rewarded for losing a play-in round series with the first overall pick. That's a problem.

So youre getting mad about things that literally might not happen. Sounds like a lot of wasted energy.
- Mentalorgasm5

If you can't see the inequity in the design, I can't help you.

All they had to do was make a tweak and nobody would be calling it unfair.

I dont know who is who, i have heard its a strong draft at the top? I havent followed closely this year but

What has changed from last year in terms of assets to aquire a 2c? Or impact player of any kind for that matter. Unless you are banking on Adams actually pulling the trigger on a deal and simply getting better by the change

Also, time appears to be ticking for eichel and even more so than last year its time to stop looking 2 or 3 years ahead
- ieetbred

This blog showed you're not getting a quality Center by moving the 8th overall. You have to use other assets.

If you can't see the inequity in the design, I can't help you.

All they had to do was make a tweak and nobody would be calling it unfair.
- kingcong39

Yes there would people calling it unfair. The teams that should have been in the lottery, teams 8-15, who are removed because of the tweak.

Just because something isnt changed to benefit you, doesnt mean it is unfair. Honestly you sound like child. This much wasted energy and female doging, by not just you, but so many on the board is absolutely ridiculous.

Yes there would people calling it unfair. The teams that should have been in the lottery, teams 8-15, who are removed because of the tweak.

Just because something isnt changed to benefit you, doesnt mean it is unfair. Honestly you sound like child. This much wasted energy and female doging, by not just you, but so many on the board is absolutely ridiculous.
- Mentalorgasm5

So if Pittsburgh loses the play-in round to Montreal cause Price gets hot for a few games, it's fair for Pittsburgh to be able to get the 1st pick. Buffalo had a crap shoot anyway, but there is a flaw there.

This blog showed you're not getting a quality Center by moving the 8th overall. You have to use other assets.
- kingcong39

I just wonder if Detroit would look at Larkin for the 8th pick.

Hell I'd like the Ducks to try and trade the 6th for Larkin...

Technically, the Play-in Rou d is NOT considered playoffs.
Still, only 15 teams qualify for the Lottery, same as last few years.
If they did 15 teams ranked by points percentage and the 12th team advanced to number 1, would you be as critical...disappointed yes, but as critical of the process?

I hate the Lottery myself, always have. But this format is pretty fair...maybe down 1 ru g on the Fair ladder from just using g poi ts percentage Tage rather than drawing from Play-in round losers.

I get the frustration, but 8th or 9th was pretty likely result.
- IonSabres

Alright, thanks to you (and Mentalorgasm) for talking me off the ledge. I appreciate that. I as well hate the lottery. How about just ditch it ? The last place team should get the first overall pick, like the NFL. Teams tank again ? So what - let them. I'm perfectly fine with that. It's better then this stupid lottery crap.

Yes there would people calling it unfair. The teams that should have been in the lottery, teams 8-15, who are removed because of the tweak.

Just because something isnt changed to benefit you, doesnt mean it is unfair. Honestly you sound like child. This much wasted energy and female doging, by not just you, but so many on the board is absolutely ridiculous.
- Mentalorgasm5

And you sound like a total buffoon.

All they had to do is the following to make it fair:

Only teams seeded 8-11 in each conference, should they lose in the play-in round, will be eligible for the 2nd drawing.

If any of the teams seeded 5 through 7 lose in the play-in round, they will automatically be receiving a higher pick anyway than they would if this were a normal season.

I don't care about how this effects Buffalo. I feel worse for the Red Wings and Senators.

I just wonder if Detroit would look at Larkin for the 8th pick.

Hell I'd like the Ducks to try and trade the 6th for Larkin...
- dozerD10

No shot in hell are the Wings trading Larkin for the 6th or 8th overall.

So if Pittsburgh loses the play-in round to Montreal cause Price gets hot for a few games, it's fair for Pittsburgh to be able to get the 1st pick. Buffalo had a crap shoot anyway, but there is a flaw there.
- Buff36

🤔 Montreal is gonna take their whoopin' and go wait for lafreniere to be delivered.

Alright, thanks to you (and Mentalorgasm) for talking me off the ledge. I appreciate that. I as well hate the lottery. How about just ditch it ? The last place team should get the first overall pick, like the NFL. Teams tank again ? So what - let them. I'm perfectly fine with that. It's better then this stupid lottery crap.
- kritter65

The league wants intrigue and tries to deter tanking, yet they did ZERO promotion of the draft lottery leading up to last night.