Islanders win draft lottery

[skilles]

I'm convinced the whole point of a lottery is so they can control the picks.

[a smell of green grass]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

So your plan revolves around hoping and praying we win a 3.5% or 1.5% lottery? In fact, the Blues already did exactly this. Two years ago, they entered the lottery in the 10th spot, same as the Isles here today…except the 96.5% of them not winning happened.

I get that. I know that there are no guarantees. Plus, I'm fully aware that the NHL backroom cigar smoke never seems to drift to St Louis.

Why do I b_____? I want St Louis kids (like myself) to be treated to the same NHL draft excitement as other cities. I hate that every year, the top 20 names go elsewhere.

The top 20 names go elsewhere every year? Just two years ago a top 10 name came to the Blues. Last year, top 16. This year, top 19.

I exaggerate a tad, sometimes. However, anyone that studies my analysis will find more glue than water.

[TAFKAP]

Even though we made the playoffs, I think the draft lottery should start with the last team eliminated from playoff contention.

[STL fan in MN]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

So your plan revolves around hoping and praying we win a 3.5% or 1.5% lottery? In fact, the Blues already did exactly this. Two years ago, they entered the lottery in the 10th spot, same as the Isles here today…except the 96.5% of them not winning happened.

I get that. I know that there are no guarantees. Plus, I'm fully aware that the NHL backroom cigar smoke never seems to drift to St Louis.

Why do I b_____? I want St Louis kids (like myself) to be treated to the same NHL draft excitement as other cities. I hate that every year, the top 20 names go elsewhere.

The top 20 names go elsewhere every year? Just two years ago a top 10 name came to the Blues. Last year, top 16. This year, top 19.

I exaggerate a tad, sometimes. However, anyone that studies my analysis will find more glue than water.

I think you might be sniffing that glue…

[somni]

My daughter wears my oversized 2019 Blues Stanley Cup shirt as pajamas almost every night.

One of the best memories we had and beats her walking around wearing a jersey of say Alex Turcotte or Filip Zadina.

Oh, her and her aunt's favorite player right now is Snuggerud. They both want Snuggies (marketing, where are you??) with his number.

[a smell of green grass]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

So your plan revolves around hoping and praying we win a 3.5% or 1.5% lottery? In fact, the Blues already did exactly this. Two years ago, they entered the lottery in the 10th spot, same as the Isles here today…except the 96.5% of them not winning happened.

I get that. I know that there are no guarantees. Plus, I'm fully aware that the NHL backroom cigar smoke never seems to drift to St Louis.

Why do I b_____? I want St Louis kids (like myself) to be treated to the same NHL draft excitement as other cities. I hate that every year, the top 20 names go elsewhere.

The top 20 names go elsewhere every year? Just two years ago a top 10 name came to the Blues. Last year, top 16. This year, top 19.

I exaggerate a tad, sometimes. However, anyone that studies my analysis will find more glue than water.

I think you might be sniffing that glue…

I don't sniff glue, only green grass. However, I do admit it all.

If you want facts, go to STL fan in MN
If you want truth, go to ASOGG, Douglas Armstrong's sock.

[SpacemanSpiff]

I agree that a successful team needs to build through the draft, but just sucking for years and compiling top picks doesn't guarantee success.

The Buffalo Sabres:
Since 2013, they have drafted at the following spots in the first round:
1st overall - Twice.
2nd overall - Twice
7th overall - Once.
8th overall - 4 times.
9th overall - Once.
13th overall - Once.
14th overall - Twice.
16th overall - Once.

Twelve drafts, 15 lottery picks. Not in the playoffs for any of those seasons.

Detroit Red Wings:
Made the playoffs and lost in the first round in 2014, 15 and 16 - haven't been back since.
10 lottery picks, including a fourth overall, 3 sixth overall and two 9th overall picks.

We could flip it around and look at different drafts -
2017 - Thomas is fourth in scoring for this draft and was selected 20th, and he's won a Cup. Robertson was selected 39th and he's fifth in scoring, and his team is still in the playoffs. Hischier was selected first overall third in points, and he's playing golf.

Bottom line, it's a team game. Drafting first or second overall does not guarantee success.

[Blue Sabbath]

I'm convinced the whole point of a lottery is so they can control the picks.

I wouldn't be shocked if such information came to light.

[Stlcardsblues]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

So your plan revolves around hoping and praying we win a 3.5% or 1.5% lottery? In fact, the Blues already did exactly this. Two years ago, they entered the lottery in the 10th spot, same as the Isles here today…except the 96.5% of them not winning happened.

I get that. I know that there are no guarantees. Plus, I'm fully aware that the NHL backroom cigar smoke never seems to drift to St Louis.

Why do I b_____? I want St Louis kids (like myself) to be treated to the same NHL draft excitement as other cities. I hate that every year, the top 20 names go elsewhere.

The top 20 names go elsewhere every year? Just two years ago a top 10 name came to the Blues. Last year, top 16. This year, top 19.

Not to mention snagging two very high recent first round picks from Edmonton.

[Stlcardsblues]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

The STL kids should be excited for this young core we are building around. Good things are ahead for this team. No need to worry about teams starting a rebuild or who are failing at a rebuild like Buffalo.

We did our tear down and rebuild a couple years ago. The first couple steps of that rebuild have been a huge success so far. Now it’s on to step three.

[skilles]

I agree that a successful team needs to build through the draft, but just sucking for years and compiling top picks doesn't guarantee success.

The Buffalo Sabres:
Since 2013, they have drafted at the following spots in the first round:
1st overall - Twice.
2nd overall - Twice
7th overall - Once.
8th overall - 4 times.
9th overall - Once.
13th overall - Once.
14th overall - Twice.
16th overall - Once.

Twelve drafts, 15 lottery picks. Not in the playoffs for any of those seasons.

Detroit Red Wings:
Made the playoffs and lost in the first round in 2014, 15 and 16 - haven't been back since.
10 lottery picks, including a fourth overall, 3 sixth overall and two 9th overall picks.

We could flip it around and look at different drafts -
2017 - Thomas is fourth in scoring for this draft and was selected 20th, and he's won a Cup. Robertson was selected 39th and he's fifth in scoring, and his team is still in the playoffs. Hischier was selected first overall third in points, and he's playing golf.

Bottom line, it's a team game. Drafting first or second overall does not guarantee success.

Like I tell my kid all the time great things don't come easy and that would be easy. Eventually you have to also do the hard parts right or those picks are going to age out of team control faster than you can acquire and develop enough of them.

World class athletes don't hang around sinking ships any longer than they have to.

[Hockey Pete]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

Dude, does someone pee in your Wheaties every morning, talk about a sour-puss...

[Hockey Pete]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

So your plan revolves around hoping and praying we win a 3.5% or 1.5% lottery? In fact, the Blues already did exactly this. Two years ago, they entered the lottery in the 10th spot, same as the Isles here today…except the 96.5% of them not winning happened.

I get that. I know that there are no guarantees. Plus, I'm fully aware that the NHL backroom cigar smoke never seems to drift to St Louis.

Why do I b_____? I want St Louis kids (like myself) to be treated to the same NHL draft excitement as other cities. I hate that every year, the top 20 names go elsewhere.

The top 20 names go elsewhere every year? Just two years ago a top 10 name came to the Blues. Last year, top 16. This year, top 19.

I exaggerate a tad, sometimes. However, anyone that studies my analysis will find more glue than water.

What analysis would that be??? You realize that our Robert Thomas was taken 20th, but currently sits 5th in scoring for his draft class AND has a better ppg than the #1 overall of that draft class (Nico Hischier). Heck the 6th scorer of that draft class was taken 39th...

[zamadoo]

I'll go ahead and complete the story...

Islander and Utah fans now have can't-miss fun and excitement for 10 years. Jerseys are flying off the shelves. Kids are talking about it in school.

Meanwhile in St Louis, 10-year old kids are just happy that the franchise is not moving to Saskatoon because the owners made the playoff bounty.

Can’t miss you say?
Alexandre Daigle and Nail Yakupov say hello (Erik Johnson was busy)

The only selections that are MORE likely to miss are those after pick 10. Those guys have a 95% chance of only a short career in the AHL. Despite this fact, please note that BluesTalk is all aglow about the 10 Blues prospects of that sort. Do you want to tell the poor b____, or do you want me to do it?

John Tavares only lasted 9 years on the Islanders after they selected him #1 OA in 2009.
Nino Niederreiter made it 2 seasons at #4 OA in 2010
Ryan Strome made it 4 seasons at #5 OA in 2011
Griffin Reinhart lasted 8 games after being drafted #4 OA in 2012

The Islanders won 1 playoff round in the 9 years Tavares was on their team after selecting him #1 OA, having gone to the playoffs 3 those 9 seasons.

After losing Tavares, the Islanders went to the playoffs 3 straight seasons, winning a total of 6 series in those 3 seasons.

[dhsux]

Islanders win the lottery.
Utah also moved up to #4. Looks like Schaefer to the Islanders and Misa to the Sharks now

Happy for both franchises.

they need to change this sh11t so the odds get away from tanking leaders like Chicago.

lol @ happy for San Jose - they're doing the same thing that Chicago did by selling off all assets to bottom out.

I did not mention or refer to SJ.

[BalotelliMassive]

Islanders win the lottery.
Utah also moved up to #4. Looks like Schaefer to the Islanders and Misa to the Sharks now

Happy for both franchises.

they need to change this sh11t so the odds get away from tanking leaders like Chicago.

lol @ happy for San Jose - they're doing the same thing that Chicago did by selling off all assets to bottom out.

I did not mention or refer to SJ.

You're right - I misread that.