I Hate The Draft Lottery

[Perfect_Drug]

I wouldn't mind tweaking the system: can't draft in the top 2 or 3 in consecutive years, salary cap allowances for signing own draft picks, etc...

I'm good with the lottery though.

The problem with this system is when you fall into successively weak draft years.

Like Nail Yakupov and RNH are not in the same stratosphere as McDavid and Matthews.

If the Oilers would have sucked 3 years before, they would have Patrick Kane, Steve Stamkos, John Tavares, instead of Hall, Hopkins, Yakupov.


Not all 1st overall draft picks as the same. This system youre describing requires that every 1st overall are guarunteed franchise players when that's clearly never been the case.

 

[LeafFever]

Oilers build new rink and they said here fill it with McDavid.Years ago Mario said we need Crosby or were relocating. .Thats no lottery

The Oilers were selling-out a horrible arena when they were the worst team in the NHL.
Again, if people think the NHL "fixed" it so a generational talent goes to Edmonton Canada. Wow... Seriously guys? He'd be a Ranger.

I'm absolutely astonished at how many people here think parity is a good thing.
People actively cheering for their teams to lose is pathetic and very sad, the system is horrible and literally rewards failure and makes it so if you are relatively successful you can never become great. But if you run a franchise into the ground you're rewarded.

I like parity, but I am not convinced it is good for the NHL. Y'know how everyone complains about the NBA being so painfully predivctable? Their ratings are going up. It is not hurting business at all. And the NHL's revenues are staying stagnent and their ratings suck.

And while I'm on the subject what the flipping **** did the Leafs win before the salary cap? Or the Rangers? Or the Bruins? Or the Hawks? They all sucked.

"Muh buy championships take all the good players." Wasn't happening.

I agree. We were actually seeing a lot of upsets of teams with huge budgets in the playoffs. It was not the issue the NHl has made it out to be.

 

[SotasicA]

The winner of the Stanley Cup should get the rights to ALL 18-year-olds. That'd be like their loot. One age group of hockey players to choose from.

For instance, in 2015 the Hawks would have got McDavid, Eichel, Werenski, Hanifin, Boeser, Barzal, Provorov and Marner.

That way, if you build a dynasty, you would get all the players forever. And anyone wanting younger players would have to trade with you for their rights.

Since the Hawks would obviously win every Stanley Cup ever, the Prince of Wales trophy would become the only championship for other teams to realistically play for, and Eastern conference teams would hold parades celebrating winning it. Teams in the West would lobby to get relocated to the East, so they could also try and win it.

 

[Damisoph]

Nothing wrong with the lottery...my gripe is with the cap and the tax situation that some teams (cough Florida teams cough) get to exploit.

 

[LeafFever]

Nothing wrong with the lottery...my gripe is with the cap and the tax situation that some teams (cough Florida teams cough) get to exploit.

Yeah, that should be considered imo. Because you've now given them an advantage. Although I guess the Panthers need something as they are so incompetant.

 

[schnapshot]

I'm absolutely astonished at how many people here think parity is a good thing.
People actively cheering for their teams to lose is pathetic and very sad, the system is horrible and literally rewards failure and makes it so if you are relatively successful you can never become great. But if you run a franchise into the ground you're rewarded.

I'm sure Sabres, Oilers and Coyotes fans feel rewarded.

Building a contender off high draft picks really isn't as easy as it seems.

 

[zeke]

I like parity, but I am not convinced it is good for the NHL. Y'know how everyone complains about the NBA being so painfully predivctable? Their ratings are going up. It is not hurting business at all. And the NHL's revenues are staying stagnent and their ratings suck.

 

[shtorm2005]

I agree with OP. Bad teams are bad for a reason. And its not lack of talent. Montreal without talents (many grinders) still have chance for post season every year. It would be nice if team that just missed playoffs (rank 9) get the most of chances for 1st pick overall. That way, lowest team will get around 15-16 overall picks which is not very bad, once they become average team, they will get higher picks if they still miss playoffs. It will take more time to rebuild, but at least, GMs and coaches will be fired more often in these teams.

 

[Heldig]

OP is not realistic. There has to be a chance for bad teams to get better through drafting high. As others have mentioned that is no guarantee. You still have to build a good team, draft the right players and develop them properly.

The lottery was added and adjusted in an attempt to de-incentivise outright tanking. Look at this year. A generational talent is going first overall and the worst teams have what, only a 20% chance of winning the lottery?

 

[danielpalfredsson]

The draft lottery is crap too because then the NHL can start putting guys where they want them, and don't think for a second that they won't. It's all about the dollar bill.

The first two years of the lottery, two huge Canadian markets get their saviors. I'm shocked.

If the draft lottery was fixed, Matthews would have gone to Arizona in order to build hockey in that area of the US and contribute to the NHL being able to command more money on a National US TV deal. It was the perfect situation.

OH wait. Maybe it is fixed and they deliberately didn't put him in ARZ to throw us off.

Has Gary Bettman ever admitted to not being a shapeshifting reptilian who feasts on human flesh?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

The problem with this system is when you fall into successively weak draft years.

Like Nail Yakupov and RNH are not in the same stratosphere as McDavid and Matthews.

If the Oilers would have sucked 3 years before, they would have Patrick Kane, Steve Stamkos, John Tavares, instead of Hall, Hopkins, Yakupov.


Not all 1st overall draft picks as the same. This system youre describing requires that every 1st overall are guarunteed franchise players when that's clearly never been the case.

I'm not saying that they should fall out of the top 10, but down to #3 or #4 wouldn't kill them.

Or just shorten the time period to one year. Draft #1 and you can't draft higher than #4 the next year, then it resets.

Or trade the pick. Even in the Yakupov/RNH years I'm sure there were teams in the #7-#10 range that would've given up their pick + a pretty good roster player for the #1.

 

[LeafFever]

NBA Viewership On ESPN Is Way Up Through The First Handful Of Games

2016-17 NHL ratings dropped in U.S., rose in Canada, reversing recent trend

NHL Salary Cap Could Significantly Increase for 2018-19 | Spectors Hockey

Terrific that NHl revenues are up, but it takes expansion and the Canadian dollar going up to do so. Other leagues are not dependant on these factors.
I am more impressed seeing the NBA more dull and predictable than ever seeing revenue and ratings up without such factors.

 

[Ms Maggie]

Salary cap allows small market and teams without deeeeep pockets to compete. Which is good for the league.

The draft system? The issue is trying to bolster poor teams but discourage tanking, right?

Maybe instead of all non-playoff teams being part of the lottery with odds determined by lose %, limit it to the worst 2 teams from each group. And make it a true lottery, same odds for each team of getting the top pick, 2nd pick etc. Gives bad teams an edge but less incentive to tank.

I dunno. Maybe really stupid.

 

[tucker3434]

The NHL is a business. It’s bad for business if the same teams are cup contenders/bottom feeders indefinitely. The draft isn’t about rewarding good management. It’s about giving fans of bad teams a reason to show up to games. That might frustrate the fans, but it’s just the way it is.

 

[PenguinSpeed]

The NHL is a business. It’s bad for business if the same teams are cup contenders/bottom feeders indefinitely. The draft isn’t about rewarding good management. It’s about giving fans of bad teams a reason to show up to games. That might frustrate the fans, but it’s just the way it is.

-The draft lottery does need to change somehow.

-Florida has made the playoffs 2 times in the last 17 years, soon to be 18
-Buffalo has made the playoffs 2 times in the last 10 years, soon to be 11
-Arizona has made the playoffs 3 times in the last 17 years, soon to be 18

-Toronto has made the playoffs 2 times in the last 12 years-Finally better this year

-I mean its one thing to tank. Its another thing to tank for a decade, or in Florida and Arizona's sake, 2 decades. There should be an auto clause that if you constantly suck and cant make the playoffs, you should be an auto Top 2 selection pick in the draft.

-These teams stink (minus Toronto now). They arent even competitive. And 3 of them have been in the basement in the Atlantic division.

 

[tucker3434]

-The draft lottery does need to change somehow.

-Florida has made the playoffs 2 times in the last 17 years, soon to be 18
-Buffalo has made the playoffs 2 times in the last 10 years, soon to be 11
-Arizona has made the playoffs 3 times in the last 17 years, soon to be 18

-Toronto has made the playoffs 2 times in the last 12 years-Finally better this year

-I mean its one thing to tank. Its another thing to tank for a decade, or in Florida and Arizona's sake, 2 decades. There should be an auto clause that if you constantly suck and cant make the playoffs, you should be an auto Top 2 selection pick in the draft.

-These teams stink (minus Toronto now). They arent even competitive. And 3 of them have been in the basement in the Atlantic division.

I think it should go back to where you can only move up 3 spots. 2 of the teams you listed are in line for a top 3 pick. But that only happens if the Penguins don’t win the lottery if they happen to barely miss the playoffs. The terrible teams need those picks, and the fans of those teams deserve them.

 

[ricky0034]

there's a reason all the major north american sports leagues give higher picks to the worst teams,any other way is flat out awful for competition overall

hell the MLB and NFL don't even have a lottery they just straight up give the best picks to the worst teams

 

[shtorm2005]

Just a question, what will happen if top pick refuses to sign with the bad team? Did that happen already in NHL?

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Oilers build new rink and they said here fill it with McDavid.Years ago Mario said we need Crosby or were relocating. .Thats no lottery

That's a fine bit of revisionist conspiracy theory history. Lemieux didn't start threatening relocation of the Pens until 2007, nearly 2 years after they won the lottery to secure the Crosby pick in the 2005 NHL draft and the relocation was tied to the need to replace the obsolete Mellon Arena. At the time of the 2005 Draft Lottery the prevailing conspiracy theory was that coming out of a season-long lockout, the League would gift Crosby to one of the two major US media markets - either the Rangers, who also had 3 balls in the lottery, or the Kings who had 2 balls in the lottery and whose prospect camp Crosby had previously attended. It's interesting how quickly those conspiracy theories were discarded and replaced with others.

Just a question, what will happen if top pick refuses to sign with the bad team? Did that happen already in NHL?

Uhh...paging @tarheelhockey to tell you the tale of Eric Lindros.

 

[Spartachat]

Just a question, what will happen if top pick refuses to sign with the bad team? Did that happen already in NHL?

Eric Lindros refused to sign with the Nordiques sitting out for almost a year and was traded to Philly. Lemieux initially refused to play for Pittsburgh, but gave in later for a huge contract.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

The salary cap has ruined the magic of the game. Younger fans don't understand and argue it on the internet. There is no such thing as powerhouses and underdogs anymore. Every team is interchangeable. It doesn't matter what jersey you wear, what your city is. Every team's the same now. Nerds and kids don't get it.

Powerhouses are good if you're a fan of that team. Or you're not a fan of a powerhouse and you're not that competitive of a person. Or if you're a fan of a team that can spend it's way to a title. And this is from a fan who was a fan of the Bulls NBA dynasty. The only thing the cap has done is put the emphasis on better management. Which is a good thing. So, what you just said is inaccurate. Because if so, where's our time at the top? Arizona's? Buffalo's? And so on. And I'm not a younger fan.

 

[shtorm2005]

Eric Lindros refused to sign with the Nordiques sitting out for almost a year and was traded to Philly. Lemieux initially refused to play for Pittsburgh, but gave in later for a huge contract.

Thanks! So, you`re not allowed to play in NHL if you don`t sign with the team that drafted you? Can young hockey player remove his name from entry draft list? ...and choose his team later?

 

[MoistDadBod]

The draft lottery is crap too because then the NHL can start putting guys where they want them, and don't think for a second that they won't. It's all about the dollar bill.

The first two years of the lottery, two huge Canadian markets get their saviors. I'm shocked.

The draft lottery started in 1995 so I guess you're talking about Bryan Berard and Chris Phillips as saviours?

Uh..Ok then.

 

[Machinehead]

The draft lottery started in 1995 so I guess you're talking about Bryan Berard and Chris Phillips as saviours?

Uh..Ok then.

I'm talking about lotteries where you got first overall for winning it, not that crap where you moved up a few spots.

 

[stampedingviking]

I hate that bad teams are rewarded with high draft picks, talented prospects who those poorly managed franchises often ruin. Athletes who spent their whole lives working their butt off to achieve their dreams to be mismanaged and have their development stunted by imcompentant management. Go to the sub-forums of teams who aren't even basement dwellers but bubble teams, and you'll see a bunch of fans actively cheering against their favorite team so they get a better shot at the loser prize. Teams who are 8th place whose fans want to lose even though they're in prime contention of a playoff spot. That is sad. Think of how much more thought would go into managing teams & how advanced scouting would become if teams success depended on it rather than knowing they'll get the clearcut superstar if they suck enough.

I don't know which system should replace it, whether it's that idea of points accumulated once statistically eliminated from contention. Which would still make the genuinely bad teams get better picks, as they'd be eliminated far earlier so have many more games to accumulate points. But it incentivize pushing all the way to the final game for every valuable point. Teams tanking mess the standings up for playoff teams, for instance if tanking team is playing 2WC and 2WC wins to surpass 1WC to get the easier playoff matchup. Those points are very valuable to some teams and others are icing a roster with the straight up intention of losing (obviously athletes play to win, but management selling off any pieces keeping them competitive & icing AHLers). Or better yet, have the draft lottery completely random. Parity sucks and hockey is already the sport that is most strongly influenced by luck rather than top end talent to begin with. A team should never be better off losing.

There should be no lottery, if you're the worst team you get to pick first, not teams who only just missed the playoffs getting a very high pick. Why should a good team get a potential superstar, it's the bad teams that need them?

I don't mean I hate the lottery drawing odds and would rather go in reverse order of the standings, I mean I want to get rid of this system altogether and have it random. Every team has the same odds and no-one is better off for losing

That's just stupid.

Every sports league has a system where the worst teams get the best pick of the best odds at the pick. Every year at some point fans start to hope for losing so they get a better pick because logically it makes sense. It's not a new phenomenon at all.

They did recently re-structure the lottery to de-incentivize the reward of being bad on purpose. They made it more random. I think they did a good job. A lot of casual fans don't even realize the lottery was changed and being dead last gets you a 18% chance at a #1 pick and a 52% chance at the #4 pick. If you finish dead last you are more likely to draft 4th than top 3 currently.

Teams like Colorado getting the #4 pick as the worst team is what the new lottery is designed to do. A few more years of this and fans will realize the reward for being the worst team isn't all that great. The new system is actually pretty decent on paper. The ideal system would be where the worst team still has the best odds of being rewarded, but not enough so that teams go out of their way to be bad. I think that's what we got with this new system.

In north America perhaps, most other countries don't have a draft and have relegation/promotion to sort out what level the teams should be at.

The worst team has a 52% chance at the #4 pick. It is technically the most likely scenario. So in the case of Colorado getting #4, that was not a fluke.

That's where it is wrong, the worst team should have the highest chance of drafting 1st.