[Despite having a bevy of high draft picks, it took a generational player, Connor McDavid, to put the Oilers over the top]
"To some degree, when I arrived in 1982 to a bad franchise, when I got Yzerman in '83 in my first draft, it was night and day," Devellano said. "He made a big impact right away -- 39 goals as an 18-year-old. I don't think you can put time (frame) on things. There's some luck involved. By luck, I mean the ability to get that kind of franchise player - (Sidney) Crosby, McDavid, Yzerman, (Mario) Lemieux. You get that type of player and the rebuild moves quickly.
"But I'm told that player isn't in the draft this year (eek!) There are good players, but (not) the guy that moves the needle -- Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and (Jonathan) Toews coming in and all the sudden the team that was bad got good in a hurry.
"Truthfully, and I said I wouldn't put a time (frame) on it, it would be nice if you could accomplish something in three years. But you're going to need some luck."
- Jimmy D.
I think 3 years is the very best possible rebuild if you are the most luckiest ******* in the world and can catch lighting in a bottle, even then I still have my doubts. I think realistically it could take as long as it took Oilers. And that is what should be expected. Figure if you tank, a franchise player should come along about every 5 to 10 years. But the question is... do you win the lottery and draft him, or are you drafting #5 -#10 that specific year?
I like how Ken Holland did 2016/17 season. And that was to sign UFA and shoot for the playoffs, and when the hope was gone, sold them for a million picks. While #1 overall is the dream, it's also less likely. Having seven 2md and 3rd rounders might snag you a franchise player nobody knew was going to develop (i.e., Duncan Keith).
While Oilers is proving what it takes to rebuild, TML is *may* possibly be on it's way what it might look like if you catch lightning in a bottle... even though they are lots a pieces away from being a true contender. What they've done could just as easily fall apart in the next few years.