Well as a Calgary fan myself I would say the piece we’re missing is more along the lines of a top 6 winger and a goalie. I don’t know about Minnesota but that’s the case for a lot of those 10-15 slotted teams, they’re only missing one small piece to put them over the top which they can go out and acquire, not the franchise generational talent at the top end.

I think we’re at an impasse here though so I’ll drop it. But I will propose something else, what if you held three lotteries, but teams could move up a max of 8 slots (half of the 16 slots once Seattle joins). If you’re so confident about the top 5 being a great picks, this format would have put this placeholder team E at 4. Like I said the odds were the issue that guaranteed last place 1st pick, it’s unlikely that unless they’re increased that we ever see another oilers saga again
- RedC21

See, now that's a suggestion I could get behind Still leaves the opportunity for mediocre teams to move up into elite draft pick range, but doesn't allow them the possibility of 1st overall.

Lafrienere - McDavid - Kassian
NugentHopkins - Draisaitl - Yamamoto

Only question is, how much will that cost in 3 years? 42, 45, 50m maybe?

What's the plan/hope with Nuge - trade or resign? Have to imagine he's commanding 8 years @7-8m (not that I would pay 8 ever)

Your knowledge of history must be as pathetically shallow as the Oilers of the 2010s.

None of Edmonton's worst seasons even come close to being among the statistically worst in history. Their lowest point total in any of their seasons was 62 (which they stumbled to three times (09/10, 10/11, and 14/15). Their goal differentials in those seasons were -70, -76, and -85 respectively. Even just since their most recent 62 point season, there have been 5 teams that posted comparable or worse records and they're as follows:

Buffalo 14/15: 54 points -113
Arizona 14/15: 56 points -102
Colorado 16/17: 48 points -112
Buffalo 17/18: 62 points -81
Detroit 19/20: on pace for 45 points -141

Going further in the modern era, you'll see a few more:

Buffalo 13/14: 52 points -91
NYI 08/09: 61 points -78
Philly 06/07: 56 points -89

And this hasn't even touched expansion franchises (see: https://bleacherreport.co...orst-teams-in-nhl-history). Read something once in a while; knowledge isn't your enemy.
- MaximumBone

I think their idea was that for about the first 2/3 of the decade, Edmonton was consistently bad. There may have been a few teams who had outlier seasons that finished off worse, but the only team who was close to being at the bottom or near bottom in their conference as often as Edmonton was, well, probably Buffalo. The other teams had a few playoff runs mixed in. Hell, Philly (2006, really? 14 years ago?) even reconstructed a run to the Finals in that period.

What irked people was that you kept hitting the lottery. Let’s look at those other statistical nightmares you brought up. Buffalo get one of those overall 1sts. Dahlin. They didn’t any of the other times. Isles got Tavares, right? That was the decade prior, but who’s counting.

Who else, let’s see...Arizona. 3rd, right? Strome?? Hm. Colorado. Nope. 4th. The other two times for Buffalo. Nah. Philly came away with the 2nd pick and JvR for their crap season. That would have netted them Kane. Ouch. Oh! Detroit. Well, we know that story. No dice. They’re 4th.

So I guess if there was one team you could also point at and say “see? What about them?” It would be...the Sabres? Is that a bar with which you’d like to set your standard?

Feels like you’re trying to forget how bad them smell was. Don’t. Embrace it. You stuck through it.

Nobody is mad at Edmonton for this. If they are, it’s misguided. They’re mad at the system, and it’s annoying when they see one team blessed so often. Especially when they managed to take a few swings and misses. It’s like “you got your turn at the piñata, kid. Go sit”

I think their idea was that for about the first 2/3 of the decade, Edmonton was consistently bad. There may have been a few teams who had outlier seasons that finished off worse, but the only team who was close to being at the bottom or near bottom in their conference as often as Edmonton was, well, probably Buffalo. The other teams had a few playoff runs mixed in. Hell, the Rangers and Philly (2006, really? 14 years ago?) had both even reconstructed a Finals Run in that period. Lol, Philly came away with the 3rd pick and JvR for their crap season, too. Not one of Edmonton’s several 1sts. That would have netted them Kane.

I’m not really sure you want them as a bar with which to compare oneself
- Hesh_

Except what he said doesn't make that point. "After having the 3 statistically worst seasons in NHL history" asserts a pretty clear claim that historical evidence doesn't back-up. No one is gonna contest that the Oilers weren't trash for the vast majority of this decade, but if one wants to start making historically ignorant claims of such magnitude (or defending such claims, in your case), then I'm gonna call them on it.

Feels like you’re trying to forget how bad them smell was. Don’t. Embrace it. You stuck through it.
- Hesh_

Feels like you're trying mighty hard to ascribe intent to what was simply the countering of a blatantly false claim.

Feels like you're trying mighty hard to ascribe intent to what was simply the countering of a blatantly false claim.
- MaximumBone

I couldn’t care regardless about the Oil’s failures or that guy being ‘statistically’ incorrect. I think you were just missing out on their frustration and instead responded with being a little pedantic. I tried to edit that into that last post, now

Honestly? I don’t even hate the system. I don’t wanna award tankers too much. I think it’s not that bad!

But this year is a bit of a different story. When there are teams bound for over 100 points Still involved, mmmmm...just seems a little messed up that they’re still in the running.

I think I would have found something different or just waited.

I couldn’t care regardless about the Oil’s failures or that guy being ‘statistically’ incorrect. I think you were just missing out on their frustration and instead responded with being a little pedantic. I tried to edit that into that last post, now
- Hesh_

Yeah, that's probably fair. However, a decade around these boards while my team has been an abject failure tends to hone your mechanism for detecting people who come around for well-intentioned discussion and those who come around just to be a nuisance. The content of his post gave me the impression of the latter so I responded with a pedantry as hollow as his point.

I probably could've avoided the personal barbs, but that's also a by-product of years at the bottom

Honestly? I don’t even hate the system. I don’t wanna award tankers too much. I think it’s not that bad!

But this year is a bit of a different story. When there are teams bound for over 100 points Still involved, mmmmm...just seems a little messed up that they’re still in the running.

I think I would have found something different or just waited.
- Hesh_

I can agree to some degree, but it seems reasonable as a "payment" of sorts to appease the teams who were pretty securely playoff bound but might fall out due to the greater degree of unpredictability innate to a 5-game series. For example, Edmonton was in a more secure playoff position than Dallas and yet Dallas gets the by due to points %. Same goes for Pittsburgh.

You're right, it would have been better if we toiled in mediocrity for our entire existence like the flames have done. The only story line your entire franchise has ever had, stars a man with what looked like a cat glued to his upper lip. What a pathetic franchise.
- Rev

With all the draft picks traded by Dutter and the horrible trades by Feaster and his predecessors, the Flames have managed to remain competetive. Not to mention having players like Iginla, MacInnis, Loob, Housley, Gilmore, Fleury, etc. That's more story lines than you suggest.

Our top players on the current roster features a top 6 with three players drafted in the top 10, a 24th overall, and two in the 4th and 6th rounds.

In all the years of drafting top 10, the Oilers have three players that are relevent. Two of them leak chances all over the place. The only reason the Oilers are not perennial basement dwellers is two players that outscore their mistakes. Picking up Lafreniere isn't going to transform the Oilers into a playoff contender. Fixing the other 15 players would.

With all the draft picks traded by Dutter and the horrible trades by Feaster and his predecessors, the Flames have managed to remain competetive. Not to mention having players like Iginla, MacInnis, Loob, Housley, Gilmore, Fleury, etc. That's more story lines than you suggest.

Our top players on the current roster features a top 6 with three players drafted in the top 10, a 24th overall, and two in the 4th and 6th rounds.

In all the years of drafting top 10, the Oilers have three players that are relevent. Two of them leak chances all over the place. The only reason the Oilers are not perennial basement dwellers is two players that outscore their mistakes. Picking up Lafreniere isn't going to transform the Oilers into a playoff contender. Fixing the other 15 players would.
- Traveldude

Right so you agree that the flames have toiled in utter mediocrity since the early 90s? You have had the same number of cup finals as the oilers since the 90s. Both teams have made the playoffs a total of 8 times since 1997. There is no leg for calgary to stand on when comparing to the edmonton oilers. Both teams were equally garbage for the last 2 decades.

Yeah, that's probably fair. However, a decade around these boards while my team has been an abject failure tends to hone your mechanism for detecting people who come around for well-intentioned discussion and those who come around just to be a nuisance. The content of his post gave me the impression of the latter so I responded with a pedantry as hollow as his point.

I probably could've avoided the personal barbs, but that's also a by-product of years at the bottom
- MaximumBone

Meh, we’ve all been a little defensive before. Especially on the internet. I know I have.

Good old Maloughney spewing his trash about winning the lottery.
How about the Oilers focus on the playoffs you hack.

I’m not sure “terrified” is the right word here. More like “giddy with excitement about the prospect of EDM effing up yet another 1st pick”

Lafreniere to NJ for Damon Severson in four years?

1st pick to EDM would be fine by me. Worst case is that he goes to a team with competent leadership and a deep roster. If he lands on Carolina, for example, yikes. That team is stacked with young talent