Minnesota got better in a hurry after a three year stretch of picking Brad Maxwell, Bobby Smith and Craig Hartsburgh. Mind you picking up Steve payne and Neal Broten with second round picks and signing Ciccarelli as a free agent during that period didn't hurt either. (the other second rounder? Dave Semenko).
Here's a good one to research - which team had the best decade of first round drafting? In other words, best ten year period of first round success.
The Islanders would merit much consideration for their picks from 1973 to 1982. During that period the Isles nabbed Potvin, Gillies, Trottier, Bossy, Brent Sutter, Duane Sutter, Paul Boutilier, Pat Price, Steve Tambellini, Pat Flatley, and Alex McKendry. I chose Flatley over former first overall pick Billy Harris (barely), otherwise the best era would have been 1972-81. Four hall of famers.
Another obvious contender, and the best all-time IMO due to amazing depth and star quality, would be the Habs from 1971 to 1980. Thanks to Sam Pollock's wheeling and dealing the Habs had at least one top ten pick in every draft from 1969 to 1975. In fact, the Habs had 13 top ten picks in that seven-year span despite finishing on top more often than not.
During the 1970s the Habs picked more first rounders than any team will ever pick in a ten-year span, but between 1971 and 1980 the first rounders (I'll have to look a couple up, but I remember most) were Lafleur, Chuck Arnason (Tyler's dad), Murray Wilson, Shutt, Mondou, Tremblay, Risebrough, Robin Sadler, Cam Connor, Gord McTavish, Peter Lee, Rod Schutt, Bruce Baker, Napier, Van Boxmeer, Dave Gardner, Rick Chartraw, Michel Larocque, Bob Gainey, Norm Dupont, Dave Hunter, Danny Geoffrion (Boomer's bust son) and Doug Wickenheiser. Believe it or not, that included a season in which the Habs didn't have a first round (1979), not coincidentally the year Pollock retired. 23 premium picks in 9 drafts.
Anyway, with that many first rounders there were bound to be some gems and some busts, but the Habs could have built a winning expansion team with those selections alone without a doubt, especially if you throw in a few of their second rounders to shore up their defence like Robinson, Langway, Engblom, Natress and Gingras. Hard to believe that poor head office decisions could have ever destroyed that sort of foundation, but it just goes to show that hiring the wrong general managers like Grundman and Houle can quickly destroy any solid core.
Here's a good one to research - which team had the best decade of first round drafting? In other words, best ten year period of first round success.
The Islanders would merit much consideration for their picks from 1973 to 1982. During that period the Isles nabbed Potvin, Gillies, Trottier, Bossy, Brent Sutter, Duane Sutter, Paul Boutilier, Pat Price, Steve Tambellini, Pat Flatley, and Alex McKendry. I chose Flatley over former first overall pick Billy Harris (barely), otherwise the best era would have been 1972-81. Four hall of famers.
Another obvious contender, and the best all-time IMO due to amazing depth and star quality, would be the Habs from 1971 to 1980. Thanks to Sam Pollock's wheeling and dealing the Habs had at least one top ten pick in every draft from 1969 to 1975. In fact, the Habs had 13 top ten picks in that seven-year span despite finishing on top more often than not.
During the 1970s the Habs picked more first rounders than any team will ever pick in a ten-year span, but between 1971 and 1980 the first rounders (I'll have to look a couple up, but I remember most) were Lafleur, Chuck Arnason (Tyler's dad), Murray Wilson, Shutt, Mondou, Tremblay, Risebrough, Robin Sadler, Cam Connor, Gord McTavish, Peter Lee, Rod Schutt, Bruce Baker, Napier, Van Boxmeer, Dave Gardner, Rick Chartraw, Michel Larocque, Bob Gainey, Norm Dupont, Dave Hunter, Danny Geoffrion (Boomer's bust son) and Doug Wickenheiser. Believe it or not, that included a season in which the Habs didn't have a first round (1979), not coincidentally the year Pollock retired. 23 premium picks in 9 drafts.
Anyway, with that many first rounders there were bound to be some gems and some busts, but the Habs could have built a winning expansion team with those selections alone without a doubt, especially if you throw in a few of their second rounders to shore up their defence like Robinson, Langway, Engblom, Natress and Gingras. Hard to believe that poor head office decisions could have ever destroyed that sort of foundation, but it just goes to show that hiring the wrong general managers like Grundman and Houle can quickly destroy any solid core.
