It's crazy. Their owners in particular would never allow it to happen. There's no believable motivation for anyone to do it.
- Zezel

I'm pretty sure every team has a representative present during the behind-the-scenes lottery to ensure nothing happens.

I'm pretty sure every team has a representative present during the behind-the-scenes lottery to ensure nothing happens.
- rangerdanger94

Exactly, none of the other teams give a poop if Pittsburgh flies off into the sky.

Exactly, none of the other teams give a poop if Pittsburgh flies off into the sky.
- Zezel

I believe one of the big accounting firms runs the show at the lottery with each team having a representative present. Anybody who thinks the lottery is rigged has to believe that Philly's owners and GM were OK with the Pens getting Crosby. That's how I know the lottery wasn't rigged.

It isnt anything wrong with the youth in the league. Those teams built thru the draft. There was a time and place that teams like Chicago and Pittsburgh were near the top of that list...its a cycle.

Plus that tweet about Pens draft picks since 2010 playing a combined 146 games should say it all.

Its not a flawed system, its called silly GM moves. Calgary did the same thing in the later 2000s, culminating with no picks in the top 3 rounds in 2010. So, at the end of the day tanking is a bigger issue than this acquiring young assets flawed system garbage.

Just a little reflection: if you had told me at the beginning of the season that a Penguin was going to win the scoring title, I would have laughed at you if you told me it was going to be Crosby and not Malkin. If Geno had stayed healthy I firmly believe he would be running away with it right now. But yeah, let's (frank)ing trade him and what not...

I put this suggestion on Eks recent blog about the draft.

I believe if you prorate (cap hit for the pick), the position of non playoff teams with the top draft picks, it will do a couple of things ie, set up a cap hit in accordance with the position you finish for the top draft picks & have all non playoff teams have equal chance to win.

1. Eg, this year the Kings don't make the playoffs. They are in cap hell, & if they finish 1st of the non playoff teams they have the same chance for McDavid but at a cap hit of $X next year. Now that cap hit will be high very high, so they either trade the pick or trade their salary players for the cap space either way they win & they even out their roster. Same applies for a team with a lot of cap space - Arizona for example. They either keep the pick or trade the pick for players - now what would McDavid bring in for Arizona (they would obviously keep the pick), but it's still a win for them.

2. There is no real need to tank because finishing last isn't that advantageous. In fact it would be better for a team to keep their better players so they don't need to restock the next year.

3. I propose NMC can be ignored for a draft pick trade only. Any player having a Clause for no movement or limited can be moved for the top pick. That means for example if the Sharks wanted the pick off whoever then they could move Thornton & or Marleau in the trade.

Haven't read all the comments yet but here is my 2 bobs worth.

If you look at the Preds they have built their team around Weber & have filled out the forwards with imports & some prospects & are having success this year. They don't have any mega star centres or wings. I think the Pens are in a position to possibly do that with the young D we have coming through now after Sid & Geno are past their 'prime'. I think that they will still be producing at a high caliber through their 30's as long as their health allows, their interest holds & Geno isn't sitting on a tank in Russia.

The Rags have a great goalie - the Pens have potentially the same coming through, & filled their roster with an even spread of talent without that major superstar. Not sure how many of their players came through their ranks but I'm sure 1 of their fans can fill us in.

It's not impossible to build a good team around a few players which is what the Pens have coming through (as long as they aren't busts).

In our top sport here we don't have a draft. We tried it once & it got taken to court & the draft process lost because the player refused to play for the team, so the ARL (Australian Rugby League), dropped the draft. We have organisations that produce players through the juniors only to have them sign with other teams for more money (we don't have ELC or any type of contracts limiting the money young players can sign for) but we do have a salary cap. Still it's money that usually takes young players away from their junior clubs. Now we don't have the outrageous long contracts you have that I think are ridiculous (how do you know what a player will be like in 8 years? Our contracts are usually 2, 3 or 4 years only but can be extended through the life of the contract.

So I think keep the cap but losing the draft won't hurt you as much as you may think.

This tanking word is annoying, can't a team just be bad?
- c2rds

Do you prefer to use 'large ship'? Although technically that's actually a 'tanker'.

All these 'large ships' games are crap!

"The idea that all the big market teams would just scoop up all the prospects is more or less false. Everybody has the same hard cap ceiling. The same teams wouldn't be able to spend spend spend every year. "

This thought is based on what exactly, that the best players are expected to take max dollars? You think that would create parity? Tell me what team Connor McDavid would go to if he had a choice? Team with the most cap availability? or a competitive team that will allow him to best showcase his skills? Therefore solidifying maximum future dollars earned once the next contract comes up? McDavid is actually a bad example as he is currently billed as a generational talent. This would apply more to the mid tier first rounders/bubble guys. Biases would shine through by way of teammates through junior, and team selection. (everyone has favorite) Small market teams would die. Trade Deadline would die. Draft Day, obviously. I think the NHL would take issue with these things.

Secondly, imagine the sheer amount of work and pressure on both the front offices and young players who are signing their first contracts. For example, McDavid would literally have 30 offers to go through. Then the next guy with the same barring McDavid signing somewhere? The process would almost take forever.

The draft is designed to help bad teams get better. Considering how bad Chicago, Pittsburgh, LA were prior to names like Kane, Crosby and Doughty, I'd say the current system is working, and working quite well. If NHL takes issue with tanking they can restructure the lottery process. If the viewer has a problem stop buying tickets/watching the games. One influences the other. Figure it out.
- Lamplighter81

Don't sports people go through that before choosing a college? Is it really like the movies?

Penguins fans:

How would you rank these goalies from best to worst:

Cam Ward
Cory Schneider
Brayden Holtby
Marc-Andre Fleury
Jaroslav Halak
Steve Mason
Henrik Lundqvist
Sergei Bobrovsky
- jmatchett383

Henrik Lundqvist























Who were the others?

This has probably already been stated in the previous 200 plus comments, but this has to be the stupidest blog ever written. Year after year after year the Red Wings find a way to compete while still replenishing their prospect pool. Parity is needed for a league to survive. It is ridiculous to think that all teams would be on an equal playing field if the draft was removed and teams were free to spend whatever they choose on incoming players. Yes all teams would have the same cap, but a team like Florida is not going to spend like a Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. Parity is the cycle that keeps people coming back and hoping that next year is the year. The basic idea of this article seems like Mr. Wilson is not happy with the upcoming down swing in Pittsburgh dominance, realizes that this 87/71 era may not yield the 5 plus cups it was so certainly going to bring to the city of Pittsburgh and is now saying that since the run of Penguins top picks is coming to an end(in 5 years or so) that things need to change to make sure they stay in the top tier of the league. I am all for thinking outside the box but come on this is basically him saying he wants to do away with the system that put the penguins were they are because its going to be a good while until they are in that spot again.

LMAO at the rangers fans crying about Big Buff's crosscheck last night....

It's a dangerous play to crosscheck someone in the back of the neck.... he should be suspended and I can't believe we didn't get a PP




Pot meet kettle

LMAO at the rangers fans crying about Big Buff's crosscheck last night....

It's a dangerous play to crosscheck someone in the back of the neck.... he should be suspended and I can't believe we didn't get a PP




Pot meet kettle
- Yonk1216

Byfuglien is a scumbag. Remember that late hit on Downie after he scored? NHL likes keeping those WWE tactics in the game like taking a run at a player late and cross checks to the neck though so they work.

LMAO at the rangers fans crying about Big Buff's crosscheck last night....

It's a dangerous play to crosscheck someone in the back of the neck.... he should be suspended and I can't believe we didn't get a PP




Pot meet kettle
- Yonk1216

I see where you guys were coming from now but I also think Byfuglien's crosscheck was a lot worse. Much more force, Miller was pressed against the ice, and there was more intent to injure.

I see where you guys were coming from now but I also think Byfuglien's crosscheck was a lot worse. Much more force, Miller was pressed against the ice, and there was more intent to injure.
- rangerdanger94

I don't like either of the crosschecks, but I do agree that Byfuglien's is worse. It just becomes highly specious to criticize one while ignoring the other.

I see where you guys were coming from now but I also think Byfuglien's crosscheck was a lot worse. Much more force, Miller was pressed against the ice, and there was more intent to injure.
- rangerdanger94

Hmm.... I don't remember AV or Rags fans being so indignant when Staal did that. Funny how that works.

Yeah, hitting a guy in the head that took nearly 2 years to get over his concussion. No intent to injure there.

Hmm.... I don't remember AV or Rags fans being so indignant when Staal did that. Funny how that works.

Yeah, hitting a guy in the head that took nearly 2 years to get over his concussion. No intent to injure there.
- madmike71

Staal really isn't a malicious player. The crosscheck in that GIF is bad but you see it a lot in front of the net, just more in the numbers than on the neck.

I don't want to get in an argument though because I know it'll last like 5 pages with no side balking and make me look like a hypocrite.

So would you guys rather face the caps or isles in round 1?

I see where you guys were coming from now but I also think Byfuglien's crosscheck was a lot worse. Much more force, Miller was pressed against the ice, and there was more intent to injure.
- rangerdanger94

The thing is, Staal crosschecked Sid's neck at least twice, then came head hunting straight for the head. If that were Orpik doing that to Nash you guys would lose your mind. Maybe even Downie on Lundqvist in front of the net?

The thing is, Staal crosschecked Sid's neck at least twice, then came head hunting straight for the head. If that were Orpik doing that to Nash you guys would lose your mind. Maybe even Downie on Lundqvist in front of the net?
- znagle

Whenever it happens to your own player you're obviously more upset. It's no secret and it happens with every fan base.

With that said, I still think Byfuglien'a crosscheck was a lot more vicious.

Why not just make it an equal chance for all non playoff teams to get the 1st round pick? Also, if you don't have draft picks to trade, you're not going to be able to do much trading at all. A team is most likely stuck with their roster all year and has very little room to change it.

Whenever it happens to your own player you're obviously more upset. It's no secret and it happens with every fan base.

With that said, I still think Byfuglien'a crosscheck was a lot more vicious.
- rangerdanger94

There was nothing wrong with that, it was just a hockey play. Happens every game. -99% of NYR fans last year

There was nothing wrong with that, it was just a hockey play. Happens every game. -99% of NYR fans last year
- znagle

I can't wait for the day when Staal get's the same "hockey play" done to him. I'll laugh, laugh, laugh...

There was nothing wrong with that, it was just a hockey play. Happens every game. -99% of NYR fans last year
- znagle

Ok.

I can't wait for the day when Staal get's the same "hockey play" done to him. I'll laugh, laugh, laugh...
- madmike71

That's some evil ass poop bro

Ok.
- rangerdanger94

It was a dirty play, just like Staal all last postseason. Rags fans said it was a clean play(s), not dirty at all. Now that it happens to one of their own suddenly Staal on Sid becomes "less vicious than the one Buff did to us"