As a lifelong Hab fan it disgusts me that the NHL hasn't incorporated a system that somehow finds an equal distribution of Entry Draft prospects. How any team is expected to build a Stanley Cup contender without having the benefit of choosing either 1st or 2nd for 30 yrs., proven with the Habs playoff record in the last 23yrs.
When a team makes the playoffs without these types of picks continually, all it does is make it harder due to their late drafting position.
The NHL and other Sports Leagues should have found a fairer way to distribute these picks after decades of barely any change at all. With the advent of this years Entry Draft representing teams with at least 5 players capable of being a franchise type of player, the NHL has opened the lottery to all teams out of the playoffs. Still for Hab fans this means the same old thing, leftovers. I don't know about other fans feelings about the upcoming draft, but my feeling is that if every team had an even chance in the lottery of claiming #1. There would be far more effort on each team's part to win every game, instead of trading players or in short trying to tank to be in the best position to win the lottery!
What a boon it would be to the Habs to be able to draft #1 or even in the Top Ten, but that's not what our team gets for trying to be #1 every year, Thank's to Trevor Timmins our team's prospects are keeping the Habs in the running for the SC every year, but having Connor McDavid on our top line in 2016 would be pure gold to a Hab fanbase that has gone without, except for PK Subban' emergence as the premier puck moving defenceman.
How does this sound for the opening day lineup for the 2015-2016 season:
starting for the Habs ;
Carey Price in goal.
PK Subban(CAPT.) & Nathan Beaulieu on defence
Alex Galchenyuk(LW) - Connor McDavid(C) - Nikita Scherbak(RW) 1st line.
Now that has a ring of Championship to it, or at least the promise of special things too come.