Look at the 20-21 Wings, Adam Erne was tied for most goals, they still were only 5th worst. They didn't quit, the guys they picked started to show up and make a impact. The next year Raymond and Seider joined.
Edmonton did that and that's why they came up with this gimmick draft lottery. Detroit got absolutely f**ked and dropped 5 years in a row, then the dumbass league updated the odds for their dumb gimmick draft and we stopped dropping until this most recent draft where we dropped again so Utah in their second season could move up 10 spots. Who the f**k would willingly sign up for this idiocy?
What is the reason you don't like the AHL vs do like College?
College hockey has some programs that go the AHL route and fill their rosters with overagers who are in their mid 20s. They generally are low skill, very defensively responsible, and can outmuscle 19 and 20 year olds. I just find that boring.
True. But 5th worst isn’t a lotto pick. Need to be top three. But I agree with you, the Wings were in a rough spot. Raymond and Seider are likely the two best players they will get via draft.
I agree with your frustration. I am not a fan of the lottery. I will say though that fans will come back. And some never leave (Detroit lions fans). So it would depend on the team.
I counted expansion teams as moving down because they did, in fact, move Detroit down. Having multiple expansions during a rebuilding window is just icing on the turd cake that was served to the Wings.
Because Holland ran the team into the ground in a way that it took 10 years to comeback from and he also didn't do it in a very competent way at that.
Holland had told everyone it would take ten years and per Devellano told the Ilitch family the window was closed after the Boston series loss.
The new rule: if you weren't watching this team, you don't get to root for the Wings when they're successful.
It was over before then but I do think Illich holds more of the fault for the dumpster fire by holding course for so long, his prerogative as owner and cutting him some slack for it being like bucket list item. But for us doesn't change the consequence. A team declining so bad that one of the best players in franchise history breaks his contract to get out of dodge I think is about all that needs to be said.
They talked to Pavel about going on one year deals, like they had done with most of their 35+ vets. He and his agent insisted on three. Then he complained about it three months later at training camp in year one of the deal.
Ilitch was totally responsible for our shitty drafting and development. If you want to retool on the fly you can't suck as badly as we did drafting out of North America with our best draft capital. Terrible owner.
Agreed. I’m just a Cross Hanas troll from way back
