The Hockey News: Sam McCaig's blog: THN.com Blog: Some teams can't even get losing right

THN.com Blog: Some teams can't even get losing right

Goalie Kari Lehtonen and the Thrashers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Sam McCaig
2009-03-14 10:00:00

It just doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make any sense at all.

Teams such as the Thrashers, Islanders and Maple Leafs spend the first three-quarters of the season diligently digging their way to the bottom of the NHL standings – only to foul up their draft-lottery chances by getting hot in the homestretch.

What on earth are they thinking? “Well, we won’t make the playoffs, but if we get on a roll we can drop from the first or second pick to 13th.”

Yeah…because John Tavares and Victor Hedman probably won’t pan out anyway.

Heading into the March 14-15 weekend, Eastern Conference laggards Atlanta, Toronto and the Islanders all were among the hottest teams in the league. The Islanders were 6-2-2 in their past 10 games, while Atlanta and Toronto went 6-3-1.

Of course, it’s a positive from the standpoint that it’s good for the players. The rosters of the Thrashers, Isles and Leafs are mostly filled with guys hoping to earn a job for next season. So, obviously, if they can prove to management they’re capable of playing on a winning team – as they’ve been doing for the past 10 games or so – they bolster their own chances for being in the NHL next season.

And, of course, there’s the little matter of competitive integrity; we can’t have teams tanking it for draft position. It wasn’t right when Pittsburgh beat out New Jersey for the No. 1 draft pick and Mario Lemieux in 1984 and it’s not right in the draft lottery format.

But…well, come on, these teams have been the worst in the league all season, without debate. (That’s the case for the Islanders and Thrashers, at least; the Leafs, it must be said, have been bad, but not dead-last-overall bad.) And, they dumped many of their veterans and top players at the deadline, dealing away the likes of Niclas Havelid and Bill Guerin and Nik Antropov in exchange for prospects and draft picks.

Related Links

So now they’re going to cruise through the last portion of the season, falling down the draft order with every win they rack up? It’s easy – at least, easier – to win when there’s no pressure. But these teams deserve, and desperately need, a high draft pick that will turn into an elite NHL player. Don’t believe the hot streaks you see right now; they’re merely an oasis for teams that have been wandering around the desert all season.

Speaking of which, over in the desert, the Phoenix Coyotes have it figured out. After hanging around the Western Conference playoff race for the first 50 games or so, Phoenix has gone 3-6-1 in its past 10 and has entered the fray for the No. 1 overall draft pick. The only team that’s been worse than Phoenix in its past 10 games is Colorado (3-7-0), and the West-worst Avs have steadily digressed as the season unfolded.

Wouldn’t it be wild to see Tavares in Phoenix, the NHL’s Next Great Scorer being coached by the league’s best playmaker of all-time? Or how about in Colorado, where he could skate with ol’ Joe Sakic for a season or two and then move over to Paul Stastny’s line when Sakic retires?

Another team still in the last-place race is Ottawa: Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and John Tavares, anyone?

Sam McCaig is The Hockey News' senior copy editor and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears every weekend and his column, From The Point, appears regularly.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (28)

Sort: Oldest | Newest Filter: All | Videos

HaydenM Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:36)

Matthew, it's because a) at least nordiques fans still have a team in their province, unlike jets fans, b) the nordiques were moved to a traditional hockey market, unlike the jets and c) the coyotes are in worse shape than the jets ever were.

Laura Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:34)

@Jake I agree with you about Tavares. The bad thing is, the boy is going to the Isles, hands down. The Thrashers have a log jam at defense with probably 3 or 4 guys fighting to get on the team after camp next year, so while Hedman might be awesome to have (and I wouldn't say no to a Hedman/Hainsey pairing - Enstrom and Bogosian aren't getting broken up), that leaves a good number of defensemen who have NHL potential (like Kulda, Bogo's old linemate) out in the rain. We really need a decent RW for the 2nd line. I like Armstrong, but he's not a 2nd liner.

Matthew Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:33)

I've always wondered why the Avs aren't nearly as universally hated in Canada as the Yotes. I mean, they used to be in Canada too. You never see any bitter Nordiques fans ranting about them, yet the Yotes have been under attack since day one. It's wierd.

Jake Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:31)

Re: Laura. I think if Atlanta drafts Tavares as the center to play with Kovalchuk it kills two birds with one stone. He'll come right into the NHL and he's supposedly as close to Crosby talent as theres been since Crosby was drafted. People want to play on Crosby's line, and after next season I think people will say the same thing of Tavares. Even if he comes in and isn't a superstar and scores only 60ish points, I think its the talent on the roster Kovalchuk cares about and how many games they win in 2009-10, not about how many games they won last year.

leafsfan Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:29)

I think the writer might be being a little sarcastic here.

Laura Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:29)

You forget that the Thrashers have someone more important than Tavares to play for - they have Kovy. He's a UFA at the end of next season, and there's a push to re-sign him. Who would he rather sign with - a team that rolls over and fails when he's hurt and out for basically 2 games, or a team that steps it up and wins those 2 games by putting in an excellent team effort? This season's a deep draft, and regardless of where you choose in the 1st round, you should get a decent player. The Thrashers won't fall out of the top 6 or 7 anyway.

K.J. Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:28)

The guy who wrote this article is an idiot. Phoenix "finally figured it out". What the hell does that mean? Do you honestly think the players are tanking it every night? Get a clue dude. And Toronto, Atl, etc. should tank it? Yeah, that would be great for all those fans paying $100 a pop to come and support them in these tough economic times. Where do get these writers from??

Rob Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:28)

Everyone should relax about the draft. We all have seen from history that many top players get drafted in the mid first round (bossy, sakic, etc) or in late rounds (every detroit star).....let the lousy teams have the top picks and without proper management they will still suck. Nyi's still need two d, and three more forwards...the leafs the same.....on and on it goes...

whatsthatsmell Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:28)

I hate articles like these that suggest the bottom teams should tank the season. If teams start throwing games, no one is gonna watch them because they will already know who the winner is going to be. Anyone that deliberately throws a game is a pathetic loser. I always play to win, just for the reward of winning alone. That is the only reason to play. Otherwise what's the use of playing.

trueblue Posted
(2009-04-30 08:06:27)

Brian Burke is a masterful draftee and he'll make sure the Leafs are in the Top 3-5. The Leafs can wait for the Phoenix dispersal draft in 2011.

1 2 3 Next »