Thinking about tanking, and how bad our roster is. I started thinking maybe we'll have one of the 10 worst records of the last 20 years in the NHL. I started thinking what teams who did that poorly got out of being so bad. So I looked it up. Below are the 10 worst teams of the last two decades, and the draft picks they got out of the bargain:
1. 19-20 DET .275P% - 4OA - Lucas Raymond
2. 16-17 COL .293P% - 4OA - Cale Makar
3. 13-14 BUF .317P% - 2OA - Sam Reinhart
4. 14-15 BUF .329P% - 2OA - Jack Eichel
5. 01-02 ATL .329P% - 2OA - Kari Lehtonen
6. 20-21 BUF .330P% - 1OA - Owen Power
7. 06-07 PHI .341P% - 2OA - James van Riemsdyk
8. 14-15 ARI .341P% - 3OA - Dylan Strome
9. 05-06 STL .348P% - 1OA - Erik Johnson
10.01-02 CBJ .348P% - 1OA - Rick Nash
I have to tell you guys, I was hoping it would be more comforting than that. None of these players have been responsible (so far) for turning around their franchises (yet).
Raymond and Power are too recent to evaluate. But the rest of the list can be assessed.
Makar is amazing. Top 5-10 D. Very good pick, far.
Eichel is a star player but it's been a disaster.
Rick Nash never made the playoffs in Columbus.
Reinhart is at least a 1st line player.
JvR has been a 1st line player at times.
Erik Johnson has been serviceable but forgettable.
Dylan Strome has been wildly disappointing.
Kari Lehtonen never really helped any team much.