Baggins

5-4 Nuckers Beau

Not me. I laughed when so many here were saying Shinkaruk was our future top line winger and Corrado our future top 4 d-man. I really laughed when some were in a panic over Gaunce not being protected in the expansion draft. The only one I was high on was Horvat. I was optimistic with Hutton when he arrived. But once he got his raise and showed up to camp way overweight that optimism vanished.

Myers won't be moved until after his July 1st bonus is paid out. I'd even be willing to add Hoglander or Rathbone to get him moved this summer. But I am still hopeful Boeser gets moved by tomorrow or at the draft.

And they got a 1st a year away that's top 10 protected and a 4th two years away. So they "might" have something in 4 to 6 years.

When a team isn't very good "imapct players" tend to go straight to the main team. We certainly have more "in the system" now than when Benning took over. Where those players cap out is still to be determined. But it's a hell of a lot better on the farm now than when all our hopes were on Shinkaruk, Gaunce, Jensen, and Corrado. I think most would be absolutely thrilled with drafting a Hronek with that Islander 1st mid round. The 2nd eliminated the will he/won't he pan out and the waiting several years for him to get there through development. At 25 he's still a young player that could easily remain a core player for the next 8 years.

You absolutely need to score hits in the draft. But you absolutely cannot depend entirely on the draft. Even top three picks can fail. There is no foolproof way to become a contender. The biggest key imo is when you get top end talent you need to build around them as quickly as possible to maximize a window. Even then you still need to score hits in the draft. Becoming a contender depends on far more than just drafting top 3 or 5. The Oilers drafted the best player in the world 8 years ago and still aren't viewed as contenders. And they had three 1st overall picks plus a 3rd, 7th, and 10th overall the six years before landing McD, plus a 4th overall the year after. So tell me again how draft picks guarantee a quick path to contention.

Or we could use Arizona, Buffalo, and Ottawa. Perenial rebuilders that never seem to get there before starting over again. For every team you name that tanking worked I can name one that it just led to a repeat rebuild because they didn't manage to build around their high picks. Misguided is the notion draft picks guarantees a positive result. You absolutely need to score on some draft picks regardless of round. But you cannot depend entirely on the draft. After the expansion draft McCann was Seattle's top C. They didn't get much in the way of top talent. They got Cole Lind from us.

A few players out and a few players in to go from 3rd worst to playoff contender in one season. Do you want to waste 4-5 years of Pettersson, Hughes, and Demko waiting on hopes and dreams or do you want to build around them quickly to give them a real window to work with?

They didn't get to start with a Pettersson, Hughes and Demko. Yet they went from being an easy win to a playoff contender from one season to the next with just a few good moves. Again, how long do you want to be bad? When you have some good talent you need to build around it quickly. That's how you get a longer window to contend. Depending entirely on hopes and dreams (draft picks) is how you get a small window or no window at all. Draft picks come with no guarantees. How long do you think guys like Pettersson, Hughes, and Demko are willing to wait just to make the playoffs? We added a bonifide top pair RH D that is 25 years old. That's like getting a unicorn in the draft without the development waiting with fingers crossed. You're damn right I'm happy they are building around our top talent.

Seattle went from 3rd worst in the league last season to 3 wins behind the Pacific leader this season. Amazing what a few good moves can do for a team. Again, Hronek can be a core player here for the next 8 years. How long do you want to be bad?

It's not like we were "buyers" trading for a guy that walks at the end of the season...

You seem to be thinking typical deadline/playoff push buyer. Those are typically rentals on expiring contracts. This was a standard hockey trade to address a team need. We traded for a 25 yr old top 4 RH d-man signed for another year and RFA after that. Were he 30+ you might have a point. But Hronek could be part of the core for the next 8 years. This isn't a "win now" move. It's a "build around our best players now" move. I have no problem with that.

If the Isles make the playoffs this season the pick is for this June.

5-3 Minny Boldy

I think you mean two time loser. But the '82 run was actually the Flying V monstrosity.

Team tank after the trade...

Like Juolevi?

5-3 Wild Boldy

I have to admit, I'm rather surprised we got a 6' 2' 19 yr winger putting up over a ppg in the OHL straight up for Stillman.

6 - 2 Stars Hintz

You don't think Seattle wouldn't have just snagged the one that wasn't protected? It was obvious one of the two was gone after that season.

Oh good yet another "let's whine about >insert player we don't want<" thread for the umteenth time.

If you miss training camp, and/or preseason, you held out.

5 - 2 Bruins DeBrusk