This is entirely bogus.
Take a team like Detroit.
In just about every scenario, they get the last pick in the draft, or something close to it.
Detroit, as evidenced by the last two playoffs, was obviously a team on its way down.
And they lost Brett Hull. And Matt Schneider.
Guys like Shanahan, Yzerman, Chelios, McCarty are all showing signs of age.
And now there has been an entire year off. The old guys were getting older. They had a reduced roster, with Hull and Schneider.
I think it is safe to say that Detroit wasn't going to finish 2nd overall last year.
There is no way that the league should have a draft using past seasons.
Have a 30 team lottery.
Everybody picks a number out of the hat.
I also have ideas for future drafts.
1) Eliminate high draft picks for low teams. (I'd say eliminate the draft altogether, but the draft is an insitution and important PR for the league)
Why? With a salary cap, bottom feeders no longer need the help to compete. They can go out and get what they want just as easily as the next guy.
Every body get's an equal shot at #1. For the most part, #1 picks don't step in and make an impact for a few years. With a salary cap, by then, most bottom feeders would have been able to put themselves back into contention without the help of a big-name youngster.
Also, I believe the NHL, if it goes this route, should go to the 1-30, 30-1 draft selection format (The kind used by fantasy drafters everywhere)
But if you must c ontinue with this format, may I suggest some tweaking:
2) Detroit was eliminated in the second round last year, but would have picked next to last. That's not right. Calgary should not have a higher pick than Detroit, if you really believe all the nonsense about worse teams needing higher draft picks.
It's time to change things up.
Picks one through 14 will be decided in a lottery fashion, going to the non playoff teams.
Last place gets 14 names in the hat.
Second last gets 13
....
14th last gets 1.
Similarily, this should continue to happen until the top fourteen slots are decided.
Then The bottom 16 picks should be decided like this:
Eight teams are eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They get picks 15-22. Use the regular season stats to decide who goes where. The worst record of the 1st round losers gets pick 15. The best gets #22.
The 4 teams eliminated in the second round get 23-26.
Again, using regular season records to break ties.
And so on.
The Stanley Cup champ gets pick 30. The other finalist gets 29.
Again, even using this format, I would support a 1-30, 30-1, fantasy draft format.
Because with a salary cap, there will be less need to help the bottom feeders. They still get the best shot at the can't=miss talent. So it doesn't upset the crusty old thinking too much