Your last statement is from an overall fan enjoyment perspective (I.e. not really in contention), but incorrect in regards to NHL standings and draft picks.
The seasonal point total numbers you provided earlier for the CBJ were not as bad as those for the Penguins. Which leads to…
In only one of the seasons in the ‘01-‘04 span did the CBJ finish as low as 2nd worst record in the league. The other years had multiple teams with worse records. If you are going to argue the specifics that first or second overall draft picks make such a difference, then the CBJ never “deserved” to have multiple picks of that type.
What part of "lottery" is unclear?? That's the point. Lotteries are
luck to a large extent. The Pens did not get their
lottery picks entirely by having a bad record (it helps, of course, but see below). And over their *entire* history, the Jackets have had terrible lottery luck. Not a single no. 1 pick and only one number 2, over more than 20 years of history, whereas the Pens got three in just 4 years. In the 27 years of the draft lottery, the worst team has only gotten the number 1 pick 8 times.
Take a look back at the previous rules and results of the NHL Draft Lottery, starting with the very first draw in 1995.
www.tsn.ca
