Im not going to go look and see....Im sure we can both agree the team success wasnt built on high picks. They just drafted smart. Yes they had serious UFAs in a capless NHL too...quite true.
Overall though the point is not about the wings so much, just that high picks are not necessary for success unless you draft like a retard ...like I said theres a team just east of BC that gets #1OA every damn year and they suck to high heaven.
- SMBDragon

Hall and draisightl
Mcdavid and eberle are arguably the deadliest top 6 right now IMO
That team is two defensemen away from being pretty scary to play in the playoffs. They have been mismanagemed but are claearly coming around the corner. I honestly could see them finisheing ahead of us now that McJesus is back

Alright let's look at the current leaders of all the NHL teams right now and see if we can see any commonalities
Stamkos 1st
Corsby 1st
Toews 1st
Brown 1st
Weber 2nd
Koivu 1st
Sedin 1st
Tavares 1st
Mcdonagh 1st
Chara 2nd
Giroux 1st
soon to be O'rielly 1st
Mitchell 5th
San Jose (Thorton or pavelski) 1st rounder's

Now that's half the captains in the league. Come on now.
- neem55

Just because they are captains doesnt make them great leaders. Often the captaincy goes to the teams best player.
Crosby and Toews absolutely great leaders. Stamkos? Really? Guy is bailing on his team. Thornton? Come on....his own GM rips on him.

So 2 good leaders from that list.

A couple of us took a lot of heat for saying how bad he is when the season started, he's still doing the same garbage
- Bieksa#3

He does rock that purple shirt handsomely though.

Who wants to bet Vrbata isn't benched. But JMac or Virt would be

A couple of us took a lot of heat for saying how bad he is when the season started, he's still doing the same garbage
- Bieksa#3

I ripped on him during playoffs last season too. Im finished with him. He's blown it.

Canucks win a coach's challenge on an offside to stay up 1-0.

As i said this morning, I feel like we're in store for an unlikely win tonight, which will surely strike fear into the hearts of #TankNation.

Just because they are captains doesnt make them great leaders. Often the captaincy goes to the teams best player.
Crosby and Toews absolutely great leaders. Stamkos? Really? Guy is bailing on his team. Thornton? Come on....his own GM rips on him.

So 2 good leaders from that list.
- SMBDragon

he just came two wins away from the cup. You're smarter than that. Moreover, they are all designated captains by the other guys in their dressing room. The other leaders on those teams are first rounders too. Let's not be nieve, It's the one's that are found outside the first two rounds that are outliers not the other way around.

Canucks win a coach's challenge on an offside to stay up 1-0.

As i said this morning, I feel like we're in store for an unlikely win tonight, which will surely strike fear into the hearts of #TankNation.
- Carol Schram

Coyotes are a great tank team.

Hall and draisightl
Mcdavid and eberle are arguably the deadliest top 6 right now IMO
That team is two defensemen away from being pretty scary to play in the playoffs. They have been mismanagemed but are claearly coming around the corner. I honestly could see them finisheing ahead of us now that McJesus is back
- neem55

Exactly you just said my point exactly. Theres more at play in winning than high draft picks.

Hall and draisightl
Mcdavid and eberle are arguably the deadliest top 6 right now IMO
That team is two defensemen away from being pretty scary to play in the playoffs. They have been mismanagemed but are claearly coming around the corner. I honestly could see them finisheing ahead of us now that McJesus is back
- neem55

Wtf, are u drunk

Washington?
Chicago?
Dallas?

Come on man. The oiler top 6 might have the best potential but currently aren't even top 5.

Canucks win a coach's challenge on an offside to stay up 1-0.

As i said this morning, I feel like we're in store for an unlikely win tonight, which will surely strike fear into the hearts of #TankNation.
- Carol Schram

I'm not sure about everyone else that is in favor of tanking, but IMO if its the kids carrying the team then I'm all for it. This is not a team capable of going deep let alone making the playoffs, but those guys getting chemistry is very important.

he just came two wins away from the cup. You're smarter than that. Moreover, they are all designated captains by the other guys in their dressing room. The other leaders on those teams are first rounders too. Let's not be nieve, It's the one's that are found outside the first two rounds that are outliers not the other way around.
- neem55

Lidstrom was 3rd rd..... great captain and leader. HOFer

Wtf, are u drunk

Washington?
Chicago?
Dallas?

Come on man. The oiler top 6 might have the best potential but currently aren't even top 5.
- Bieksa#3

well they haven't been healthy. I'm not an Oilers fan and I'm aloud to have an opinion that is wild. If we look at ppg's those two lines are pretty up there I reckon. Washington's is better, admittedly. Led by a couple top picks I might add

This tweet from Paterson:

last 5 #Canucks forwards to score: Virtanen, Horvat, Baertschi, Etem & Vey. Oldest guy in group is 24

Wtf, are u drunk

Washington?
Chicago?
Dallas?

Come on man. The oiler top 6 might have the best potential but currently aren't even top 5.
- Bieksa#3

I have to agree with him they are top 5 easily.

Lidstrom was 3rd rd..... great captain and leader. HOFer
- SMBDragon

yes this what we refer to as outlier, because it is quite rare.
Again we can refer to more current roster captains/leaders of teams. Other than Goalies, the vast majority are first/second round picks. The best of the mare the top end picks. Benn I think is 3rd rounder too. But for every benn/Zetterberg there is are two Getzlaf, OV, Doan, Landeskog, karlson ect.

well they haven't been healthy. I'm not an Oilers fan and I'm aloud to have an opinion that is wild. If we look at ppg's those two lines are pretty up there I reckon. Washington's is better, admittedly. Led by a couple top picks I might add
- neem55

A few other players would have better offensive numbers if the never ever back checked. McDavid is the only even decent 2 way player of the 4 u mentioned. And Eberle is just god awful defensively

I have to agree with him they are top 5 easily.
- thundachunk

No chance. Far to bad without the puck.

This tweet from Paterson:

last 5 #Canucks forwards to score: Virtanen, Horvat, Baertschi, Etem & Vey. Oldest guy in group is 24
- bazz

We haven't had an old man goal since the two from Sedin on the road trip. Don't tell Lefty , he is a little sensitive about that issue. I think it is because he is getting up there in age.

I'm not sure about everyone else that is in favor of tanking, but IMO if its the kids carrying the team then I'm all for it. This is not a team capable of going deep let alone making the playoffs, but those guys getting chemistry is very important.
- neem55

Nice distinction. Well said.

Just because they are captains doesnt make them great leaders. Often the captaincy goes to the teams best player.
Crosby and Toews absolutely great leaders. Stamkos? Really? Guy is bailing on his team. Thornton? Come on....his own GM rips on him.

So 2 good leaders from that list.
- SMBDragon

Maybe I ask, what makes a great NHL leader?

We haven't had an old man goal since the two from Sedin on the road trip. Don't tell Lefty , he is a little sensitive about that issue. I think it is because he is getting up there in age.
- VANTEL

Horvat and Baer have been great

No chance. Far to bad without the puck.
- Bieksa#3

They are extremely gifted offensively. I am willing to forgive a certain amount of the defensive weakness.

Maybe I ask, what makes a great NHL leader?
- walshyleafsfan

Truculence

A few other players would have better offensive numbers if the never ever back checked. McDavid is the only even decent 2 way player of the 4 u mentioned. And Eberle is just god awful defensively
- Bieksa#3

Are Benn/Seguin suddenly playing defense? I'm pretty sure that Dallas is in most folks top 6, w/o Spezza there isn't a two-way guy in the group.