Discussion. This isn't a **********, people have different opinions.
To me, it feels like we are just repeating convos in different places. Im also an optimistic person so I don't really value those same repeating convos in a thread about optimism. Anyway, I digress. I truly value variety in opinions (which is why I'm tired of seeing the same horse beaten over and over).
So for the pens their window was just under 5 years after they bottomed out. Chicago it was 5-6 years (you forgot to mention Kane and Toews, which are just as important).
I think you missed the point of the list. I was pointing out the time from when the first core pieces were acquired until a cup was won. So no, I did't forget Toews or Kane. I was pointing out that it took 8 years from the acquisition of the first core piece until success was achieved.
Detroit has been rebuilding for 3 years and they don't have players of that caliber. If they drafted them this year, lets say Holland kills it, gets 3 core pieces, a center and 2 top pairing defenders, we are talking now 10 years since the rebuild started and 20 years since the last cup for Detroit to contend again. That's not a world burning rebuild, and that's if they turn the corner today.
Further to my point about the journey, the Blackhawks were also "missing" their 1d 3 years into their rebuild. Sure Keith was drafted 8 years before they won the cup but 3 years into his development he was a 20 point player in the AHL. He was in the system but a far cry from the core 1D that helped carry the team for years.
Similar with Morgan Reilly. The leafs brought him into the system 7 years ago but he has truly only started emerging over the last year and a half.
You argue that after 3 years into this rebuilding process we are still missing the top 4 d necessary to contend. At a similar point Chicago and Toronto appeared to be missing those pieces as well however history has shown that wasn't true at all. Those piece were in the system, they just hadn't yet evolved into the polished product that carried their team to contender status.
Will Cholo, Hronek or other become the next Keith? Maybe, maybe not but keith definitely wasn't looking to be that player by the same point. Can Rasmussen have a Kadri kind of impact? Maybe, but Kadri wasn't having much of an impact 2 years after he was drafted either.
This is why I stress that we are on a journey. It is also the reason why I don't get worked up over a single draft or draft pick. There will be positive surprises and there will be setbacks; there will be up years and down years.