I mean, folks can waste their time imagining that and concocting meaningless trade proposals if they want. Heck, folks probably do come to you guys with McDavid or Draisatl proposals too, given Edmonton's start and their contract status. So that stuff does happen, and folks are welcome to fill their boots dreaming about it. Just you should expect it to be taken with a certain lack of engagement from the other party. This mythology about building by tanking does drive a lot of traffic here, I suppose. Go ahead and keep the dream alive if you really need to.
It’s funny how you call teams that build by tanking mythology but Tanking teams have won cups way more than teams that haven’t tanked.
Matter of fact in the last 20 years how many team can you name that won the cup that didn’t tank? Not counting Vegas, who got St. Louis.
2023: Vegas Golden Knights
2022: Colorado Avalanche,
2021: Tampa Bay Lightning
2020: Tampa Bay Lightning
2019: St. Louis Blues
2018: Washington Capitals
2017: Pittsburgh Penguins,
2016: Pittsburgh Penguins
2015: Chicago Blackhawks
2014: Los Angeles Kings
2013: Chicago Blackhawks,
2012: Los Angeles Kings
2011: Boston Bruins
2010: Chicago Blackhawks
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins
2008: Detroit Red Wings,
2007: Anaheim Ducks,
2006: Carolina Hurricanes
2005: n/a
2004: Tampa Bay Lightning
I see a lot of tanking teams on this list. Not to mythology as you said.
A tanking team has a lot better chance to win the cup than a team that doesn’t and the proof is in the pudding