NHL Draft: What Does Each Lottery Team Need Most?

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You're gonna wanna read this
This year's NHL Entry draft has a distinct lack of power. Either guy at the top of the draft is mostly projected as a second line player. Which hey, that's not bad. I can't even crack top 9 minutes in road hockey, so who am I to judge?

...a guy with a blog.

I want to take a look at who at the top of the draft each lottery team might take, and what they really need to get their shit ass franchises back on track.

First, a look at the consensus draft rankings courtesy of The Hockey Writers


Ok, you saw that. Now let's take a look at the draft lottery odds courtesy Tankathon


...fuck Colorado sucks. Jesus, can we start a relegation system, like, get this shitwad team in to the ECHL.

Let's just start from the top...

Colorado Avalanche

Luckily, what they needed most going in to this season was a new coach, and they got it. Pat Roy stormed out on his second team and cemented his legacy as the biggest baby in all of professional sports. Unfortunately, that meant replacement coach Jared Bednar was playing catch up all season. 

So what do they need?

This is a team that held on to Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon despite being a 'guaranteed' seller at the deadline. Now some of that is down to the ownership not wanting the worst GM in hockey (lookin' at you Joe Sakic) to screw everything, but I think there is also an aspect of this team being historically bad, but also still young, still offensively talent and still putting up halfway decent - when compared to their record - statistics. 

This team desperately needs a defenseman, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them move down in the draft, or take Timothy Lijlgren. He's a dynamic, smart d-man, and hopefully, mature enough to carry a blue line.

Winnipeg Jets Phoenix Coyotes

All signs pointed upward when the team signed the youngest GM in the league. John Chayka. Mr. Moneyball. well, he kind of shit the bed this season. He asked too high at the deadline and couldn't dump some aging contracts. Not a good start for the whiz kid.

So what do they need?

 Well, more than anything, this team needs relocation. They need a fresh start somewhere, and they need it quick. If all hope isn't lost in the desert, it's certainly fading quickly. I mean this is a team that plays surrounded by sand, with no support and a record that hasn't seen many meaningful hockey games since the move from Winnipeg. Time to hang it up.

No, what do they need at the draft...

 They should draft the best available player and start making some deals that can get this franchise a glimmer of hope.

Vegas Golden Knights

This one is so easy. They need a team. They have one player.

So who will they draft?

Easy, again. Nolan Patrick. Kelly McCrimmon will do whatever it takes to get in on Nolan Patrick. He was Patrick's coach and GM in junior, and there isn't a chance he settles for anything less. You see, drafting Nolan Patrick, especially if they can move up to #1, will increase the profile and value of the Brandon Wheat Kings, a team which he still owns. 

He can join former Brandon Wheat King, Reid Duke as the sole members of the Vegas Golden Knights.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils are bright and shiny and new. New GM, new coach, new goalie (sort of). Everything is so precious. They also are pretty bad. Better, since stealing Taylor Hall from the Oilers, but not great. Actually, the only thing keeping them from being higher on this list is the play of their goalie, Cory Schneider.

So what do they need?

They are another team that would be wise to take the best available player and start making deals. If they can get a player like Taylor Hall for a 2nd pair d-man, imagine what else they have up their sleeve. 

Vancouver Canucks

This team's major need is the fountain of youth. They are old, they are slow, and they are poorly managed and coached. Really, what they need is a complete overhaul.

I'm not a believer (most of the time) in players moving in to the front office to do important jobs. Garth Snow is a great example of it in New York and Trevor Linden is a good example here in Vancouver. Just not getting it done. 

So what do they need?

None of the top 3 guys are really building blocks for a rebuild, but that's what the Canucks need to do, so they are going to have to get creative. If they win the lottery, taking Patrick is probably their best chance. If not, I expect they could go after Eeli Tolvanen.

Dallas Stars

Who is the highest ranked goalie?

So what do they need?

Whoever the highest drafted goalie is. 

Detroit Red Wings

This is a team that can be completely trusted at the draft, and now they have a shot at a high pick. They need to completely restock the cabinet when it comes to prospects. They've been selling their future the present for a very long time and until this year, it worked. But the bill is due.

So who will they draft?

Doesn't matter. Where are they? 7th? Who is 7th?

...Eeli Tolvanen, congratulations on your hall-of-fame career.

Buffalo Sabres

More than anything, the Sabres need a new trainer. Or whoever is to blame for the injuries. Much like Edmonton, when their best player is healthy, they are a very different team than when he's hurt. Jack Eichel is the forgotten prodigy.

So what do they need?

They have a lot of highly skilled offensive players, having just traded their #1 dman for a rapist Evander Kane. Timothy Lijlgren is the goal, but defense is key.

Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets

Hate 'em, don't wanna talk about 'em

But what do they need?

Don't care. Nobody wants to play there. 

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