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The turn around can happen fast


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Good drafting and development AND having patience is the key to success. It's great to have a Kane and Toews but Chicago would be nowhere without their supporting cast. Keith was drafted in 2002, Seabrook was drafted in 2003 and they waited for them to develop. The 2015 Blackhawks team had one player that they drafted in every draft from 2002-2012 (except for 2008). The 2008 draft still contributed because they traded Ben Smith (2008 pick) for Andrew Dejardins who turned out to be a pretty good fourth liner in their cup run.

That's what you call good drafting and development. Good drafting isn't about tanking and taking the highest rank player (e.g. Crosby, Kane, Stamkos, Tavares, etc.). It's about drafting well outside of the top picks. After you find the guy you have to give them time to develop. Most players don't come out of the draft as top NHL players. The Blackhawks know this and that's why they are able to have a good team in the salary cap world year after year. They can afford signing a top free agent in Hossa because they know that they'll have young guys on their ELC's stepping up to play key roles on the team.

Mike Gillis gets a lot of hate around here but he had two decent drafts in 2011 and 2012 and ended his career with the Canucks with a really strong 2013 draft. Those players along with our 2014 and 2015 picks will be the key to the Canucks retool. They might not all be stepping into the NHL this season (or even next season). But in 3-4 years time our young guys in addition to our current core will be able to do some damage.

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I know the team is laden with star talent, but coaching really made an impact in Chicago.

Joel Quenneville collected a ton of experience coaching star players in Colorado and St. Louis, having been involved with guys like Sakic, Roy and Pronger just to name a few.

If you look at Quenneville's St. Louis teams and his Colorado teams, he coached an effective style, but didn't quite have the roster that he has now.

I think it's the perfect combination of a team that has the talent and leadership to succeed meshed with a coach who knows how to motivate his players to play hard in big games.

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The only thing the Canucks need to do is outscore the opponent in more games next year. Then once the playoffs start they just need to beat each opposing team 4 times only. Come on, lets not complicate things here... :picard:

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The only thing the Canucks need to do is outscore the opponent in more games next year. Then once the playoffs start they just need to beat each opposing team 4 times only. Come on, lets not complicate things here... :picard:

It's so easy, right?

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It's so easy, right?

Definetely. If I was running that team we'd be swimming in stanley cup trophies.... I'm not 100% sure what that means but we'd be #1. I would have drafted Shea Weber, Kopitar, Kassian, Benn, etc...

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Definetely. If I was running that team we'd be swimming in stanley cup trophies.... I'm not 100% sure what that means but we'd be #1. I would have drafted Shea Weber, Kopitar, Kassian, Benn, etc...

I thought Kopitar was a slam dunk for the Canucks in 2005. The Kings were shocked as hell when the Canucks didn't take him.

Nothing against Bourdon (RIP), but even back then my friends and I all agreed that Kopitar was the sleeper pick in the 1st round.

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I thought Kopitar was a slam dunk for the Canucks in 2005. The Kings were shocked as hell when the Canucks didn't take him.

Nothing against Bourdon (RIP), but even back then my friends and I all agreed that Kopitar was the sleeper pick in the 1st round.

Yeah, it surprised everybody. Hindsight's 20/20 though. The Canucks already had Kes and the Twins developing at the time, and we needed a D man badly, and Luc Bourdon had the makings of something this team has never had. A #1 Dman. A franchise Dman even. Such a tragedy. The Kid nearly made it at 18, and then was starting to turn into something really special. One of the best prospects the Canucks ever had, especially for defense. I think if Luc hadn't died, everybody else would be singing a different tune on the Kopitar thing. RIP Bourdon.

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I thought Kopitar was a slam dunk for the Canucks in 2005. The Kings were shocked as hell when the Canucks didn't take him.

Nothing against Bourdon (RIP), but even back then my friends and I all agreed that Kopitar was the sleeper pick in the 1st round.

Bourdon would likely have been the defenceman everybody is crying for right now. I'd take that over Kopitar if given a choice.

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This article was published in 2005: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=johnson/060417_blackhawks

Blackhawks have won three cups since, and could realistically win another 3 more

Up until 2007 Blackhawks homegames were not even televised.

Food for thought.

I don't know how you can call that a fast turnaround. Chicago's ineptitude of a decade ago rivals Edmonton right now. They were abysmal for ages.

I guess it just shows how short the memories of hockey fans are.

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