It’s amazing that the big market teams don’t build organizational powerhouses. They have the money to do so, yet think the latest free agent dujor will turn them into winners. Add in the impatience of corporate ownership and management, and it’s easy to see why they need luck, more than anything to win a championship!
Free agency and 7/8 year contracts are horrible but it’s very difficult to build just from the draft.
Ray Shero seems pretty smart in using trades more then free agency but the team hasn’t won much yet. So it’s hard to call it a success although on paper the Devils have greatly improved. Who knows what’s the best magic combination. Maybe it’s Lottery Luck?!
Every team has a list of top picks and prospects that turned into a bust. Even the best scouts seem to run hot and cold.
Jay, better scouting is an imperative, but I believe teams need to increase their efforts in skill development. Through skill development, the costs of which are not part of the salary cap, a team could increase its percentage of draft success and in so doing obviate the need for free agents.