GARTH'S CORNER: Coyotes Dealing With Emotional Hurdles Of Losing McDavid, Eichel

Great blog.

Actually this blog isn't that bad.

I don't blame the Coyotes for being pissed. They should leave the draft alone. Last place team gets the first pick. How did their changes work out this year for the NHL?

By the way Garth, a meaningful blog. Good job.

Bravo...about time

Some drafts the 3rd pick is the best!

Some drafts the 3rd pick is the best!
- powerenforcer

Sometimes you draft Cam Barker, sometimes you don't.

Some drafts the 3rd pick is the best!
- powerenforcer

Yes, as a Blackhawk fan you can say that! But out of the last 15 drafts I checked, Toews is it...

I won't disagree with any comments from the Peanut Gallery. However, one statement did jump out at me:

LeBlanc said he's been told if not for McDavid and Eichel being in this draft, some of the players projected to be picked in the three to eight range would be comfortably viewed as potential top overall selections.

Isn't this true every year? If it were not for the first two players selected, anyone in the 3-8 range could be top overall selection?

Yandle was a disappointment with the Rangers?

Yeah, it must be really disappointing to trade for an offensive defenseman and then have him go on to lead your team in points and +/- for defensemen in the playoffs. While playing hurt.

I don't blame the Coyotes for being pissed. They should leave the draft alone. Last place team gets the first pick. How did their changes work out this year for the NHL?

By the way Garth, a meaningful blog. Good job.
- sippyd

So basically if you tank you get rewarded with the last pick? Sounds about right coming from a Sabres fan.

GARTH'S CORNER: Coyotes Dealing With Emotional Hurdles Of Losing McDavid, Eichel
- garth

"Don’t be the least bit surprised when the Desert Dogs tank this season for the hopes and dreams of selecting Arizona native Auston Matthews first overall in 2016-17."

Don't be surprised if they are fighting for that pick with the Sabres again as well.

So basically if you tank you get rewarded with the last pick? Sounds about right coming from a Sabres fan.
- imsorry66

It's about rebuilding through the draft, a system used by teams who are unable to attract good UFA's and unable to trade for them since they have NTC. Or is it fair to force the same teams to stay at the bottom forever? Obviously more than one way to look at it.

It's about rebuilding through the draft, a system used by teams who are unable to attract good UFA's and unable to trade for them since they have NTC. Or is it fair to force the same teams to stay at the bottom forever? Obviously more than one way to look at it.
- sippyd

Dont take his word so seriously, he is just a jaded habs fan who knows that aside from price and subban his team has no other true elite talent.

With that knowledge also comes the realization that it will never be enough to..

A: get past the second round of the playoffs
B: finish low enough to aquire the talent that will most certainly become necessary to keep up with tampa bay and in a few years hopefully the sabres.

I agree with you, last should pick first.

Now look you did, now Tanner's gone and trolled you.

Now look you did, now Tanner's gone and trolled you.
- TheSabresTaco

"Don’t be the least bit surprised when the Desert Dogs tank this season for the hopes and dreams of selecting Arizona native Auston Matthews first overall in 2016-17."

Don't be surprised if they are fighting for that pick with the Sabres again as well.
- LamontSanford

NHL will make sure Matthews goes to Arizona. That could be the last chance at saving the franchise in Arizona.

NHL will make sure Matthews goes to Arizona. That could be the last chance at saving the franchise in Arizona.
- imsorry66

They need to move...

They need to move...
- jochfr

You know that .... I know that ..... Gary Bettman does not know that.

I think the perfect (and, poetically justified) scenario for next year is the Sabres to finish with about 75 points. Then they actually WIN the lottery after twice getting number 2.

Oh, the howls.

Dont take his word so seriously, he is just a jaded habs fan who knows that aside from price and subban his team has no other true elite talent.

With that knowledge also comes the realization that it will never be enough to..

A: get past the second round of the playoffs
B: finish low enough to aquire the talent that will most certainly become necessary to keep up with tampa bay and in a few years hopefully the sabres.

I agree with you, last should pick first.
- ieetbred

Hypocrisy at its finest.

Maybe he's just stating what most people are concerned about, if last picks first you'll always run the risk of teams doing what Pittsburgh did for Lemieux and what Buffalo did for McDavid. It ruins the point of competing in the league, so unless you can find something to institute that prevents it, "last picks first" is equally as flawed as you think the current system is.

Hypocrisy at its finest.

Maybe he's just stating what most people are concerned about, if last picks first you'll always run the risk of teams doing what Pittsburgh did for Lemieux and what Buffalo did for McDavid. It ruins the point of competing in the league, so unless you can find something to institute that prevents it, "last picks first" is equally as flawed as you think the current system is.
- ehabs9

You forgot Toronto who started out a playoff team and Arizona who traded their best dman with term. Omitting them is hypocrisy.

NHL will make sure Matthews goes to Arizona. That could be the last chance at saving the franchise in Arizona.
- imsorry66

After the Oilers won it, that convinced me the lottery isn't fixed. If it was, it was their opportunity to give #1 to Arizona.

Hypocrisy at its finest.

Maybe he's just stating what most people are concerned about, if last picks first you'll always run the risk of teams doing what Pittsburgh did for Lemieux and what Buffalo did for McDavid. It ruins the point of competing in the league, so unless you can find something to institute that prevents it, "last picks first" is equally as flawed as you think the current system is.
- ehabs9

first, the sabres didnt tank for mcdavid, they tanked for eichel. the fans understood the percentages involved. finish in 30th this year, get a franchise center. if eichel was a year younger and this year looked like mcdavid, then hanifin, marner, and strome, winning the consolation prize would have been devastating. thats the game, we just played it.

second, i agree with you. i think the league should have an equally weighted lottery for all 14 teams that miss the playoffs. even if you suck you might as well go out and try to win. until you fix the system its gonna happen. arizona finished with 33 fewer points this year, and toronto certainly took their foot off the gas as well.

there is just too much at stake for teams to assure themselves of this talent. this type of talent- especially at center- doesnt hit the free agent market (and recent history has shown that a blank check might not be enough) and is barely ever available via trade. as far as competing goes, as long as you are above the salary floor the league will probably leave you alone. gonna have to change the system.