The Yellow and Black Attack

[S2M]

In my understanding of the NHL, as limited as it may be, the draft is somewhat of a mystery to me....although I assume it works like every other professional draft, except basketball.

That being said, the reason Pittsburgh has Malkin and Crosby is that they've sucked for so long that they got to draft high for many years. The '05 draft was conducted by way of a weighted draft lotterey, due to the work stoppage the previous year, based on team playoff appearances, and draft victories for the previous 4 years. And since Pitt sucked, actually residing in the basement from 01-02, 02-03, and 03-04....they got Malkin #2 in '04 draft, and Crosby #1 in '05 draft.....I guess it pays to actually suck.....

Lo and behold even with Crosby and Malkin, and a return for Lemieux, they STILL managed to camp out in the basement at year's end....and in the '06 draft they picked Jordan Staal #2 overall.....So tallying up my math here.....They've picked #2, #1, and #2 in those 3 drafts. Must be nice.

Teams that actually try, and end up 9th or 10th, just missing the playoffs...mire around in mediocrity. Never getting high draft picks. And teams who suck tailpipe, get high draft picks...REAL HIGH ones....end up sucking just as bad in order to get more great draft players....

What gives?

[YoungJRNY]

Dude, are you kidding me? You DO understand that this happens in almost every sport (which you stated) and that these things happen for a cause? Honestly, I don't really understand what your gripe is about. You're acting like the piss-poor sport you are and you're really acting like someone who has sand in their vagina. This drafting system has been this way for years, and it makes perfect sense. Teams go through rebuilding years and you can't expect a franchise to hold it all together within a 5-10 year span. The Pens were dominant in the early 90's and had a consistent team running until the '01 season. They ended up losing marquee players that help build their franchise, had problems with ownership and location and we had to go through many miserable years on the ice to get where we needed to be today. You can't blame the Penguins, or the organization for hand picking or selecting the players that sat in front of them who felt would help their hockey team in the future due to their spot in the draft from finishing as their record indicated from the season before.

Until further notice, this is the way things are, and this is the way league's are set up, so there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with it, and if anything this gives the Pens more credibility for selecting the players that helped win a championship. I don't know why your jealous, or bitter for that matter because you'd be all over it if it was your team drafting one and winning a lottery to select a prolific player, but tough shit, this is the way it works dude. Sometimes it works to draft high, sometimes it doesn't, that's the nature of the game. Crying like a little bitch isn't going to change anything of how the world of sports is set up. If you have a problem, then write to the commissioner of the league, maybe you'll crack the waste paper basket. Until then, I'll take the team we have in Pittsburgh and wouldn't think TWICE to gloat about it, even if it was the culprit of draft picks or not.. that's how you build a team to begin with. I don't understand your hissy fit.

BTW: The Penguins have the youngest team in the NHL and it took several years for them to get their feet wet. Players like Malkin, Staal, and Crosby weren't guarantee in the league where they were kids amongst men in a league that wins off of veteranship and experience. Pittsburgh took the gamble by selecting these guys and it paid off. How do you explain Detroit's dominance throughout the decade? They didn't have the privilege to draft high but yet, they won championships, and almost beat Pittsburgh two years in a row to win the Cup. What gives on this?

[S2M]

First of all, Trav, it wasn't a hissy fit. Nor do I have a problem with the draft procedure. Although, it would have been nice to see a true draft lottery in '05, after a work stoppage where all teams were weighted equally....

My issue is with teams that tank seasons. It's bad enough you got Malkin, and Crosby. But to AGAIN tank yet another season with those two PLUS Lemieux - in order to get Staal....that just embarrasses your franchise, IMHO.

I'm not jealous, or anything. I follow the Bruins. Not religiously, mind you. They do well enugh to scrape 8th place most years. Which gives them no decent draft position. And when they do place 1st, they make that early exit in the 1st rnd. I'm not fanantic about it like you and some others....

I just think it is below contempt to tank multiple seasons to restock a team.

Rant over.....carry on.

[Deb]

For some reason..........from the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about Stryper.

[StevePerryHair]

For some reason..........from the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about Stryper.

I thought the Steelers But a Penguins discussion is just as well Looking foward to the playoffs AGAIN next year

[YoungJRNY]

First of all, Trav, it wasn't a hissy fit. Nor do I have a problem with the draft procedure. Although, it would have been nice to see a true draft lottery in '05, after a work stoppage where all teams were weighted equally....

My issue is with teams that tank seasons. It's bad enough you got Malkin, and Crosby. But to AGAIN tank yet another season with those two PLUS Lemieux - in order to get Staal....that just embarrasses your franchise, IMHO.

I'm not jealous, or anything. I follow the Bruins. Not religiously, mind you. They do well enugh to scrape 8th place most years. Which gives them no decent draft position. And when they do place 1st, they make that early exit in the 1st rnd. I'm not fanantic about it like you and some others....

I just think it is below contempt to tank multiple seasons to restock a team.

Rant over.....carry on.

I don't think you have a case here. Nor do I think the players were set out to "tank" a season like you think they did like it was apart of their master plan. Point blank, they just had bad teams through the early 00's and they were just doing what any other franchise was doing. Picking their spot and taking the best players available to help the team rebuild. There's no embarrassment in that, just smart logic.

[Voyager]

For some reason..........from the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be about Stryper.

Me too.

[S2M]

Honestly, I don't think they went into the season planning to tank the season. But once they lost enough games - it was either just make the playoffs(resulting in a first round spanking), just missing ther playoffs(resulting in a crappy-ass draft pick), or tanking the season resulting in the best scenario....you do the math.

[StevePerryHair]

Honestly, I don't think they went into the season planning to tank the season. But once they lost enough games - it was either just make the playoffs(resulting in a first round spanking), just missing ther playoffs(resulting in a crappy-ass draft pick), or tanking the season resulting in the best scenario....you do the math.

Are these opinions too? Cause I'm not sure if I should think fool or sucky opinion that doesn't matter this time either

[YoungJRNY]

Honestly, I don't think they went into the season planning to tank the season. But once they lost enough games - it was either just make the playoffs(resulting in a first round spanking), just missing ther playoffs(resulting in a crappy-ass draft pick), or tanking the season resulting in the best scenario....you do the math.

Uh, Math? I do know 2+2=4 and that pi'=3.14 but other than that, there isn't math to solve when dealing with this whole thread and reasoning behind why Sidney Crosby wears a Penguin uniform. It really isn't that difficult to understand why or how it happened. This debate is crummy and I now feel dumber for even having to address the process of how teams build through drafting. Bottom line is that the Pens or any other team around the world of sports did nothing wrong for that matter when dealing with this situation come draft time. Rules are rules and they aren't going to change. Don't worry though, you won't see the Pens draft high for a very, very, long time.

[Behshad]

Honestly, I don't think they went into the season planning to tank the season. But once they lost enough games - it was either just make the playoffs(resulting in a first round spanking), just missing ther playoffs(resulting in a crappy-ass draft pick), or tanking the season resulting in the best scenario....you do the math.

Are these opinions too? Cause I'm not sure if I should think fool or sucky opinion that doesn't matter this time either

You two get a room already ......

[StevePerryHair]

Honestly, I don't think they went into the season planning to tank the season. But once they lost enough games - it was either just make the playoffs(resulting in a first round spanking), just missing ther playoffs(resulting in a crappy-ass draft pick), or tanking the season resulting in the best scenario....you do the math.

Are these opinions too? Cause I'm not sure if I should think fool or sucky opinion that doesn't matter this time either

You two get a room already ......

No, he still has one more strike here with me today....

[S2M]

[StevePerryHair]