We've been saying that for years about Arizona and Carolina. No matter how many great prospects they have, they can't get out of the basement. I'll chalk that up to poor management and ownership.
They just recently changed their front office. I think Chayka has done a pretty good job at rebuilding the team through youth.
He's won pretty much every trade he's made since appointed. Including the recent trade to acquire Jason Demers. The Hjalmarsson -trade was a robbery for them. Jury is still out on that Stepan/Raanta deal because i don't know how Raanta will do as an starter, but Stepan is a really good player. Managed to get rid of that brutal Mike Smith -contract. Last years Martin Hanzal -trade at the deadline was a very good one for them aswell.
Not to even mention his drafting. Biggest winner in the 2016 draft for sure, drafting both Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun in the first-round. Cam Dineen in the 3rd round. This year he traded their 7th overall pick in that Stepan -trade but picked Pierre-Olivier Joseph in the 1st round.
He's certainly building his team through defense (which already is ridiculous when Hjalmarsson comes back), as 10 of his 14 draft picks have been D's.
Ownership is a huge question mark though.
