Thats absolute BS, lol. The Preds were a tire fire for a long time.
Missed the POS in their first 5 years, went passed the 2nd round once in twenty years.
In 12-13 and 13-14 their center depth was worse than any team ever, only surpassed by this Habs team, or maybe not even. Legwand, Fisher, Spaling, Gaustad. Their winger depth was also really bad. Hornqvist, Erat, Smith, Wilson, Kostitsyn, etc. They had horrible teams that were carried by none other than Shea Weber. He basically rode Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne the same way Bergevin rode Subban and Price for most of his career.
You talked about players drafted ? From 05 to 2013 they basically drafted, Josi, Hornqvist, Ellis, Ekholm, Jones. Jones was a 4th overall pick and considered by many to be the best player in the draft. That 70 picks in 8 years. 17 top 50 picks, 7 top 25 picks.
Timmins is crucified for 08 to 11 where he drafted only Gallagher with 25 picks. Four top 50 picks.
If anything, HFHabs sweetheart GM is a carbon copy of Bergevin. A bad GM that somehow caught it over time.