Having friends in Chicago and Edmonton; this really hurts because they had their teams rebuilt with numerous consecutive number one picks. I got a text from Chicago minutes after the lotto with some belly laughs from a SNL clip. Bastard!
Changed format (bullshit, I sense the fix is in) and we end up with third and now fifth overall.
28th and 29th and end up with 5th both years.
The problem with the format is that it doesn't actively dissuade tanking at all (see: Toronto last year). Plus, the whole obsession with tanking is exaggerated. Most teams in the bottom 5 or 10 are legitimately just bad teams lacking in poor talent. Teams like the Oilers who floundered in crap for 10 years really are an exception.
Not to mention other teams shouldn't be punished for Edmonton messing up the developments of the 3 prior 1st overalls. I have no qualms to pick with Dallas or Philly but it's ridiculous that they get to jump up and bump Vancouver and Colorado out.
What I would like to see is a lottery win gives you the ability to move up a maximum of 4 spots (like New Jersey in 2011). I think it's the fairest set up overall aside from just drafting as the standings allow. If teams want to tank so be it -- they risk alienating a fanbase and losing ticket income.
Ironically the team who made them change the format benefited from the new system the most by getting McDavid after being 28th. It's ridiculous.
