Building through the draft is a strategy if you're good at it.
* Bryan Murray was good at setting us up. Thank goodness the Oilers screwed up the Perry trade b/c they were greedy!
*Burkie was abysmal at drafting. He kinda left us high and dry in cap crunching and no prospect depth.
*Bob Murray was good at it as he was able to not only build through the draft, but also use it as trade capital via draft picks, prospects, or prospects who developed.
Eaves was our last top-end acquisition, who eventually costs us a 2017 first round pick b/c we made it to the WCF. At the 2018-19 TDL was when Murray decided to go rebuild mode. He added an additional first round pick in 2019 and 2020.
To start this past season, the Ducks strategy of building through the draft looked like it was panning out well at the NHL level, top prospect level, and farm team levels. It's unfortunate what happened to Bob, which his tenure stopped in November of 2021. We both pined that the Ducks needed a better bottom pairing LHD and that Murray would have acquired one, who probably wouldn't cost valuable assets.
Just my opinion, but Murray would have probably kept and extended all the FA's Verbeek sold off. Murray is loyal to a fault. Des was protected from the Kraken expansion draft! With the 2021 class, Murray has collected enough assets to finally see depth developing. That implies Murray has tradeable assets in terms of prospects and picks. Murray already cited he loves the progress of his three college defensemen in Thrun, LaCombe, and Moore to where they could be trade capital.
You're conflating what Murray did with what Verbeek is doing now. Verbeek reset the team and left the NHL cupboard relatively empty. If Verbeek is in a hurry to make the team playoff contenders, then he's going to expend more assets in acquisition than he did when he traded off rentals. That doesn't make any sense b/c this team is lacking quality depth and that was before Verbeek traded away all four FA's.
I don't agree with what Verbeek did, but I'm onboard with this reset b/c I can't change teams to root for. Verbeek will end up where Murray was, but Verbeek is taking the scenic route. If Verbeek is true to his word of creating depth to be consistent Cup contenders, then he's doing a majority of it through the draft to either develop or trade off. Also, he can cycle an expensive player for a prospect to keep the cap space manageable.
Logistically, I don't see a big payoff if we overspend to grab assets now that affect our NHL level talent, AHL talent, junior talents, or draft picks. We're still trying to establish Zegras and Terry after their big year. Remember, Comtois also had a big year, but ghosted himself the followng season. Plus, we're going to be breaking in 19-year old McTavish at center at the NHL level.
What's funny about citing Zegras, Terry, and McTavish is that they are pillars for our future, which is that we're identifying building through the draft works. Of course, we should include Drysdale and Lundy to that mix.
We've got forwards Perreault and Tracey who are about a half-season or season away from becoming NHL regulars. In 2023-24, provided we sign our NCAA guys, we will have four defensive prospects going to the AHL in Thrun, LaCombe, Zellweger, and Hinds! We have RHD Andersson developing in the AHL and had rave reviews for his AHL play, except for being injured. But we have no idea who will pan out or when they will pan out. Terry took four pro seasons to look like he belongs. Steel looks lost after four pro seasons. Terry was a fifth round pick while Steel was a first round pick.
If many of the prospects pan out, then that's also a good thing b/c now we have trade capital.
Murray didn't like FA b/c you're competing to overpay players. He would rather make trades, usually during the season, and then extend those players that work out for him. Kesler, Rico, Eaves, and Deslauriers represent trade acquisitions who were extended. I think Verbeek will get there too in a couple of seasons or three.
