The value of the multi-year tank is on display this SCF

[syz]

People who thought the Oilers were tanking in that era continue to severely underestimate how bad Steve Tambellini was as an NHL GM. He was legitimately trying to win every year.

 

[Realgud]

this strategy only works if you have an elite, all time great hof GM like Ken Holland to build the perfect team around your top end talent

Ken Holland swears he only need 2 generational producers OR the 2 best two-way centers in the world and a top 3 defenseman of all time and THEN he's your guy for sure!

 

[zar]

Contemporary Top 3 Picks for Each Team in the Finals:

Florida Panthers:

2010 - 3rd overall
2011 - 3rd overall
2013 - 2nd overall
2014 - 1st overall

4 Top Three picks in a five-year span

Edmonton Oilers:

2010 - 1st overall
2011 - 1st overall
2012 - 1st overall
2014 - 3rd overall
2015 - 1st overall

5 Top Three picks in a six-year span

The whole "tanking doesn't work!" argument always focuses on the unsuccessful rebuilds, but once again we see the familiar pattern in the Salary Cap era that this is the most reliable way to build a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Long-story short: if your team is no good, tank and tank hard, and don't be afraid to just keep on tanking if you don't have immediate results until you eventually do.

What a weak take…. now do the Penguins, Blackhawks, Avalanche, etc.

How else does a small market, Western Canadian remote team possibly build a team to get to the Stanley Cup finals against so many other factors that factor into today’s NHL culture? Even that being said, the pure fluke of the talent available in the exact drafts that you end up landing the top picks is just that… pure good or bad fortune.

It a minor miracle that the Oilers have made these Stanley Cup Finals.

 

[WarriorofTime]

People who thought the Oilers were tanking in that era continue to severely underestimate how bad Steve Tambellini was as an NHL GM. He was legitimately trying to win every year.

Nah, there was a whole docuseries thing called "Oil Change" about the 2009-10 season that was clear they were tanking hardcore after doing the "chasing the dream" thing in 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09 prior to that.

 

[Zarzh]

For every Colorado you have a Columbus, Arizona, or Buffalo. I don't think it's a reliable way to build a team, but the argument can be made that if you're a team that is stuck at the lower end of the league that it probably increases your chances a bit.

Florida isn't necessarily winning because of their own draft picks though - they're winning because of Calgary's... At least that's what put them over the top.

The answer to all 3 of those are center-defense, their centers don't defend well or control play. Buffalo's first iteration has potential to control the middle of the ice but they imploded before their players could develop.

 

[WarriorofTime]

What a weak take…. now do the Penguins, Blackhawks, Avalanche, etc.

How else does a small market, Western Canadian remote team possibly build a team to get to the Stanley Cup finals against so many other factors that factor into today’s NHL culture? Even that being said, the pure fluke of the talent available in the exact drafts that you end up landing the top picks is just that… pure good or bad fortune.

It a minor miracle that the Oilers have made these Stanley Cup Finals.

"what a weak take, in fact I am going to agree with your entire post just to show how much I disagree"

The answer to all 3 of those are center-defense, their centers don't defend well or control play. Buffalo's first iteration has potential to control the middle of the ice but they imploded before their players could develop.

Center, Defense, Wing, Goaltender. In fact, you could just say "a winning team"

 

[zar]

"what a weak take, in fact I am going to agree with your entire post just to show how much I disagree"

Hate your timing… it seems like an attempt to downplay the accomplishments of the Oilers and bring down their fan base.

You pick the night the Oilers clinch a SCF berth to post this? Seem fishy.

 

[Zarzh]

"what a weak take, in fact I am going to agree with your entire post just to show how much I disagree"


Center, Defense, Wing, Goaltender. In fact, you could just say "a winning team"

No specifically the ability of their centers to defend or at least possess the puck, that's why most rebuilds fail.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Hate your timing… it seems like an attempt to downplay the accomplishments of the Oilers and bring down their fan base.

You pick the night the Oilers clinch a SCF berth to post this? Seem fishy.

I pick the night the Stanley Cup final matchup is decided to... discuss the Stanley Cup finalists from a 300 foot level? That's not.. weird.

 

[ORRFForever]

Edmonton Oilers:

2010 - 1st overall
2011 - 1st overall
2012 - 1st overall
2014 - 3rd overall
2015 - 1st overall

That is INSANE.

 

[WarriorofTime]

No specifically the ability of their centers to defend or at least possess the puck, that's why most rebuilds fail.

No, most rebuilds "fail" because 1 team wins the Cup and 31 teams lose so statistically, it's much more destined to "fail" because it has to be that case by nature.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

I mean…florida made a huge move to grab tkachuk

Picked Forsling off of waivers

Traded for Bennett, Montour, Reinhart

Signed Bobrovsky and verhaeghe

Sure they drafted ekblad, Barkov, lundell, and a couple others but to say tanking is what got here is discrediting everything else they’ve done

Teams like Buffalo, Ottawa, Toronto to an extent although not as bad as those two also tanked…and look where they are

Ditto for Edmonton, but I guess you have more of a case there, but still Hyman, ekholm have changed the teams identity and complexion just as much as rnh and Bouchard have.

To be successful you have to make good picks, develop those prospects, make good signings and shrewd trades.

 

[winnipegger]

If Edmonton had not won the McDavid lottery they would be in mediocre world like most teams. It takes a lot of luck to get these kinds of players. Also extremely lucky to get Drai at #3. Florida has a mediocre defenseman in Ekblad for having first overall. It's not just about tanking, for gods sake look at Buffalo. You need to tank at exactly the right time which is totally based on luck. Florida has not built their team through getting high picks. They acquired a 57 goal scorer in Reinhart in exchange for a goalie who may or may not play in the NHL, and a first round pick. Imagine trading M Tkachuk for Huberdeau now, you'd have to swallow a bottle of crazy pills to make that trade now but they did it at exactly the right time. Look at Edmonton: Tyson barrie, a few prospects and a 1st for an elite top pairing defenseman in Eckholm. Was that related to draft position? In summary, this thread is based on nothing but a cursory glance at draft position, and that these two teams happen to be facing each other. I see no reason for this thread to exist and expect the author to promptly delete it.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I mean…florida made a huge move to grab tkachuk

Picked Forsling off of waivers

Traded for Bennett, Montour, Reinhart

Signed Bobrovsky and verhaeghe

Sure they drafted ekblad, Barkov, lundell, and a couple others but to say tanking is what got here is discrediting everything else they’ve done

Teams like Buffalo, Ottawa, Toronto to an extent although not as bad as those two also tanked…and look where they are

Ditto for Edmonton, but I guess you have more of a case there, but still Hyman, ekholm have changed the teams identity and complexion just as much as rnh and Bouchard have.

To be successful you have to make good picks, develop those prospects, make good signings and shrewd trades.

Agreed, it's not my point that tanking alone is sufficient, but it's often... if not necessary it's pretty close to it... to get the thing kicked off and let good management take over from there.

 

[WestCoastLeafs]

I tank two years in the morning, I tank two years at night.
I tank two years before I tank two years, and then I tank two more.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

The only two of those 'tank' guys left for the Panthers are Barkov and Ekblad. And Ekblad is, uh, well, not great.

Also, to be fair, the Panthers weren't intentionally tanking to rebuild. They just sucked and were run by morons.

 

[TheAngryHank]

this strategy only works if you have an elite, all time great hof GM like Ken Holland to build the perfect team around your top end talent

Holland has more rings in the last 30 years than the entire country of Canada.

 

[rec28]

 

[Thallis]

Hate your timing… it seems like an attempt to downplay the accomplishments of the Oilers and bring down their fan base.

You pick the night the Oilers clinch a SCF berth to post this? Seem fishy.

Saying they got there tanking is not downplaying the Oilers. It's a statement that it's the best way to build a winner and using them as an example. Which you also provided 3 more examples of.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

These are the threads of a person who is going to cry if the oilers win

 

[WarriorofTime]

These are the threads of a person who is going to cry if the oilers win

lol, no, I'll be stoked for McDavid

 

[Bank Shot]

Hard not to respect teams like Dallas that more or less build through good drafting and management. Obviously there are other teams who have done the same (Boston).

Well every city can't be as desirable as Boston or Dallas. Bruins signed Chara after a dogshit season. That's not happening in Edmonton.

It's like playing Texas Holdem but one player gets 1 hole card and another gets 3. Is that guy a genius player or benefiting from the advantage?

 

[flashy]

heh...if only you could of seen the 4d chess we were doing the last 10 years...you were so close...

 

[logan5]

Contemporary Top 3 Picks for Each Team in the Finals:

Florida Panthers:

2010 - 3rd overall
2011 - 3rd overall
2013 - 2nd overall
2014 - 1st overall

4 Top Three picks in a five-year span

Edmonton Oilers:

2010 - 1st overall
2011 - 1st overall
2012 - 1st overall
2014 - 3rd overall
2015 - 1st overall

5 Top Three picks in a six-year span

The whole "tanking doesn't work!" argument always focuses on the unsuccessful rebuilds, but once again we see the familiar pattern in the Salary Cap era that this is the most reliable way to build a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Long-story short: if your team is no good, tank and tank hard, and don't be afraid to just keep on tanking if you don't have immediate results until you eventually do.

Who sez tanking doesn't work? For the most part it works, except for a few teams that royally screw things up, like Buffalo. The Oilers are close to Buffalo though, given all those #1 overall, and still sucking for a long time. At least they got some pay-off with a SCF appearance, and maybe a Stanley Cup. How does Buffalo do it? You have to almost purposely be that bad.

 

[Coffey]

Yes champs have those good picks.