I didn't mean to imply they won because of Benning.
My point was just that they got where they are without tanking Edmonton style. They don't have a top 5 pick on their roster (they did have one with Seguin who they traded). They only have 5 first rounders on their roster...only one of which they drafted.
I looked back at the Bruins seasons since 2006...
And I can definitely see the similarities.
When Chiarelli came before that 2006/07 season...
The team had gotten rid of Joe Thornton a couple of months before...
And the team had a top 5 pick...
Which it used to draft Kessel.
In the same draft...
Boston also got Lucic and Marchand...
And it traded Raycroft for Rask.
Then the team signed Chara and Savard in the summer.
The team still sucked though...
And Boston got the 8th overall pick next year.
It did nothing with it...
But the earlier draft picks and acquisitions...
Such as Krejci and Thomas...
From the previous regime...
Had started to pay dividends.
Marco Strum also proved to be a capable goal scorer...
And Brad Stuart is a dependable top-4.
Next year...
They barely sneaked into the playoffs...
But they never looked back since then.
2006 was the turning point.
I have looked back at Boston's draft since that draft...
And Boston drafted rather poorly in all these years.
The only thing that saved Boston was that it made very good trades...
Such as the one for Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski...
Who they acquired for a 2nd, Bitz and Weller...
And the Kessel trade...
Which gave the team a lot of futures.
They also got Wheeler...
The 5th overall pick in 2004...
Who Spurned the Coyotes and signed with the Bruins...
And they used him to acquire Peverley.
Yes...
Boston did not tank...
But it is not correct that it did not have high picks.
It just mostly used those very well.
It also got very lucky...
As it got 4 very important pieces at the 2006 draft...
And it was able to sign a franchise defenseman...
Who almost never comes onto market...
From free agency.
Then the team added important pieces through smart trades in subsequent years.
Now...
In regards to the Canucks...
The questions are...
Is Benning's 2014 draft comparable to Boston's 2006 draft?
Will the prospects they have now step up eventually?
Is there a franchise altering player in free agency?
Will the Canucks be able to get him?
Will he be able to make smart trades...
And get the pieces for a championship team?
Sure...
It will take years to know...
And while I cannot answer questions 1 and 2 yet...
Questions 3 and 4 are definitely a no.
Question 4 is interesting...
Because while I think it is a no...
Since Benning appeared to have bled assets at every turn...
And I did not like any of the trades...
It is way too early...
So I will give him the benefit of the doubt for now...
And say it is undetermined yet.
In consideration of everything...
I just think the situations are too different.
Plus...
That Boston model is mostly a fluke...
And it got very, very lucky...
Even in trades...
I will argue.
I honestly do not think it can be copied.
Again...
While I am not optimistic about the team's future...
I do hope that I am wrong...
And Benning is able to copy to do what Boston had done.