Post-Game Talk: #17 - 11/10/18 | RANGERS @ blue jackets | 7:00 - MSG

[nyr__1994]

In the last 10 years there has been one team to win the Stanley Cup without a prominent player who was drafted in the top 2.

When people say it's possible to win without high draft picks, technically they're right. But this is the much harder route to take and requires extreme luck and skill in drafts, FA and trades. Acting as if a rebuild/tank is a terrible idea because other teams have had failures does not negate the clear trend that picking in the top 2 gives you a chance to land a generational player that is nearly impossible through any other aspects.

This isn't the 1980's when star players get traded or hit FA in their primes. The Tavares situation was insane and a rarity, which seemed to happen under really specific circumstances. Players of his caliber just don't become available any other way but through drafts.

Just to play Devils Advocate here - Those 10 years of cup winners were 3 teams. So was it because of the top 2 draft picks or simply that those three organizations were able to build really good teams centered around really good players? Also, now it requires luck just to draft in the Top 2. Look at Colorado, they had one of the worst seasons in NHL history and came away with the 4th pick...

I don't think there is any right way to build a Cup Winner other than having great players that play well together, along with great depth, staying healthy and getting great goal tending. A lot of that is the stars aligning...I just like to enjoy the ride. It gets too stressful when you have the cup or bust mentality.

 

[nyr__1994]

Personally, I'm not as focused on picking 1-2, so much as I want to be in a position to actually get the Kellers and Petterssons and not talking about almost getting them.

I agree 100% @Edge

And the more ammo you have the better you can position yourself to get them...At this point in this process what would your thoughts be on a hypothetical trade of the #'s 7, 27 (Hayes) 29 (Zucc) and 31 (Tampa) to go up to 1 for Hughes. Would that even be a possibility?

 

[Edge]

I think it's more about odds, than certainties.

The odds say that you need elite talent to win championships.

Likewise the odds say you are more likely to land an elite talent earlier in the draft than later.

In the case of the Rangers, I personally think they've been one of the better teams in the league over the last 13 years or so at identifying talent in the draft.

So my desire for them to pick higher isn't just for the sake of picking higher, it's because I think they'd have a good shot at identifying and taking an elite talent, something they haven't really been in situations to do, AND combine that with their ability to find talent with lower picks.

So yeah, after seeing what they've essentially done with the 2016, 2017 and 2018 drafts, yeah I want 2019 to be that cherry on top.

 

[Edge]

I agree 100% @Edge

And the more ammo you have the better you can position yourself to get them...At this point in this process what would your thoughts be on a hypothetical trade of the #'s 7, 27 (Hayes) 29 (Zucc) and 31 (Tampa) to go up to 1 for Hughes. Would that even be a possibility?

Truth be told, I honestly don't know.

And in the scenario, for as much as I love Hughes, I think I might be a little hesitant.

I'd almost rather come away with a top talent at 7, and trade up to land a pick around 15 or so and go that route.

I mean, can I get Podkolzin at 7 and maybe someone like Newhook or Turcotte at 15? Depending on the context, my opinion might change.

 

[aufheben]

Next game: https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/18-11-12-18-canucks-rangers-7-00-msg.2567555/