GDT: A Tale of Two (Rebuilding) Teams
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”– Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities”
How aptly the great literary work of Dickens describes the experience of the rebuilding process. On one hand, there is hope for a brighter future; on the other, the reality of a present mired in frustration and despair. Such is the state of both the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, who will face off tonight in the Battle Of The Perpetual Rebuilding Effort.
We all know the Maple Leafs’ story, how in two years’ time GM Brian Burke turned over the entire roster (save Kaberle) via free agency and trade, instilling new leadership on the blueline, trading futures for a budding star and assembling the league’s youngest team in the process. Building from the net out, Burke has crafted a team with enough talent to stay in most games — but to date, lacking the scoring depth to put the opposition away at crucial moments.
The Oilers, on the other hand, have elected to rebuild primarily through the draft, nabbing the likes of Sam Gagner, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, and Taylor Hall in the first round in each of the past four years. Although the team’s depth chart boasts an impressive hoard of young talent, the Oilers remain four years removed from their Stanley Cup Finals appearance and have yet to return to the post-season.
Naturally, with both teams meeting tonight, the eternal debate over which is the best method to rebuild a team is once again at the forefront of discussion. While most would point to recent champions Chicago and Pittsburgh as the way it should be done (finishing low and drafting high), those are but two of the five Stanley Cup winners since the salary cap came into effect.
2009-10: Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks, who parlayed losing seasons into Jonathan Toews (3rd overall, 2006) and Patrick Kane (1st overall, 2007), developed a strong support group around their two budding stars primarily through the draft (Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, David Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Dustin Byfuglian). That group was supplemented by free agent signings (Marian Hossa, Brian Campbell, Antii Niemi, Cristobal Huet) and buy-low trades (Kris Versteeg, Andrew Ladd, Patrick Sharp) which pushed the limits of the salary cap. Following the Cup victory, a large portion of the team was disbanded to ensure its young stars could be signed long-term.
2008-09: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins endured several basement-dwellings seasons in the early years of the decade, ultimately emerging with the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury (1st overall, 2003), Evgeni Malkin (1st overall, 2004) and Jordan Staal (2nd overall, 2006) … and were, of course, the beneficiaries of a post-lockout lottery draw in 2005 in which Sidney Crosby was the grand prize. Often cited as the primary example of the proper way to rebuild a team in a salary-capped league, the Penguins nevertheless had the good fortune that the years they finished last were years where premium talent was available in the draft. To their credit, despite a number of disastrous campaigns the Penguins resolutely adhered to their philosophy of allowing their young stars to grow together under the spotlight’s glare.
2007-08: Detroit Red Wings
If there is one team which disproves the notion that enduring multiple losing seasons is the only method to eventually winning it all, it is the Red Wings. Strong scouting – especially in the European leagues – has kept the league’s model franchise a perennial contender year after year, regardless of their draft position. When the Wings hoisted the Cup, Nik Kronwall and Dan Cleary – both support players – were the only first-rounds pick in the lineup. The stars of that team were players the Wings drafted low and with a focus toward development: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Val Fillipula and Johan Franzen… not to mention stalwarts Nik Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom … were all picked in the 3rd round or later.
2006-07: Anaheim Ducks
In 2005, Brian Burke took the managerial helm of a Ducks’ team which had two years’ prior drafted Ryan Getzlaf (19th overall, 2003) and Corey Perry (28th overall, 2003) in the later stages of the 1st round — a draft which followed a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, no less. With an established goaltender (J-S Giguere) already in place, Burke set about re-vamping his squad by acquiring a trio of future Hall Of Famers via free agency (Scott Neidermayer, Teemu Selanne) and trade (Chris Pronger), as well as key role players Francois Beauchemin, Todd Marchant and Travis Moen. Buffered by the strong veteran support, Getzlaf and Perry — along with the previously-unheralded Chris Kunitz and Dustin Penner — led the Ducks to the first ever Stanley Cup championship in the state of California.
2005-06: Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes entered the first post-lockout season with a roster of established veterans: Rod Brind’Amour and Erik Cole had been there for some time, and new additions Ray Whitney and Cory Stillman were brought in to help the team return to the playoffs. As the team appeared poised to make a run, more veteran experience (Doug Weight, Mark Recchi) would be added to the fold. The ‘Canes were by no means a young team; however, it was the youth who led the way as Eric Staal (2nd overall, 2003) enjoyed a breakout campaign while another youngster by the name of Cam Ward (25th overall, 2002) stole the show in the playoffs en route to the Cup championship.
Emerging from the past five Stanley Cup champions in the post-lockout NHL are two distinct models of building a winner. Chicago and Pittsburgh drafted high and gave their draftees prominent roles from the start, allowing them to grow together in a trial by fire, adding the missing pieces along the way. Detroit, Anaheim and Carolina chose to insulate their young stars (who, with the exception of Carolina’s Staal, were all drafted outside the top 15) with a host of veteran support from the get-go.
Tonight, we will see two teams on opposite sides of the rebuilding methodology spectrum. Where the Oilers adhere to the draft high and play the kids philosophy that worked so well for Chicago and Pittsburgh, the Leafs have taken an approach more similar to that of Anaheim and Carolina: insulating youthful cornerstones with veteran presence.
Both methods have proven successful in the post-lockout era; however, patience — be it in terms of the process of player development and/or the process of player acquisition — is the key to the success of each. For as the past five years have indicated, it is not the plan itself which leads to success; rather, it is the willingness to adhere to the plan without deviation, to stay the course through the inevitable and growing pains.
Two cities, two teams, both enduring the worst of times in the hopes that better days lie not too far ahead. But if history is to serve as any sort of indicator, those days are not nearly as far off as either hopeful fanbase may be tempted to believe during the oft-despairing moments of the process.
Looking forward to your thoughts as always,
[email protected]
twitter.com/garrettbauman
- 1131 comments
- Collapse All
Excellant article... Burke's method could work of course .... but its all about chosing the right players ....
Obviously the "current" top 6 forwards are wrong for the job
p.s.... but draft pics like McGegg, Ross ,Aulie,Kadri and D'Amigo are probably the Leaf future ...in time !!!!!!!!!
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes 
Reply
Like
@ Staples:
-
Yet most Kings forums and fan sites call out for a 2nd line center with creativity. Grabovski has been, arguably, as good as Stoll this year, but without the support. He is also that different kind of center the Kings apparently want - he's enormously creative. Would Handzus be any less utilized if these were your lines:
-
Sturm - Kopitar - Williams
Ponko - Grabo - Brown
Smyth - J.Stoll - Handzus
-
That said, I would not be in the market for giving Grabovski away - he's been one of our best players - and we all know Lombardi doesn't pay for anything - not free agents, not trade acquisitions, not nothin'.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
To see the Leafs play such uninspired hockey, and to see my fellow fans writhing in despair is simply painful. After years of non-playoff teams being iced in Toronto, and with no sign of that changing anytime soon, Leafs Nation has reached a breaking point. We can call for the head of the coach and general manager, we can call for the roster to be blown up, but in reality, we have no control over the team. We are helpless, and hopeless.
.
We see the team struggling on the ice, and it makes us sick. But what we don't see, is the inside of the dressing room. This Leafs team, the youngest it has been in years, is missing its captain. Without their captain, their leader, a young team like the Leafs is like a bunch of children without an adult. No discipline, no direction, nobody to keep them upbeat and competitive. They need their rock, the glue that holds them together, because right now, they are just a bunch of pieces to a puzzle, scrambled across the floor.
.
The roster can renovated, the franchise can be reformed, but what the Leafs really need, is their captain back. Will the return of Phaneuf magically make this a playoff team? No, but he will drive them to compete hard every night. He will be a voice to stand up to the coach when he makes bad decisions. He will be their leader.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Fan - "Yaayyyyy, wee wooonnn"
Reality - "No, they won, you watched"
.
Courtesy of Jerry Seinfeld
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Nazem.K-savzri:
-
And Malkin did win a Conn Smythe, did he not? I also think Semin, despite his negative press, was the best Capital in last years playoffs. No, he didn't put up the points, but he was literally all over the ice.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Nazem.K-savzri:
-
Meh, I think probably only the first one is unrealistic, and only because of the perceived value of Schenn, and the perceived non-value of Kaberle and Grabovski. The reality though, is that Grabovski is performing like a top 30 center in the league, which makes him a bigger impact player than Simmonds who doesn't have half as many points. Actually, I like all those trades for realism, I think. Obviously, the Penguins one only happens if the Penguins makea very big decision, but I think the value is right: top line sniper, 2nd line wing, and a two-way center.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Just a couple of things on a topic that is so old, yet never dies (yes, I guess I'm a hypocrite).
1) Not every draft is weighted the same, some year's are simply worse for high end talent. I think Seguin will be good, maybe better than Kessel, but Burke wasn't necessarily wrong when making the deal, hindsight is 20/20.
-
Not every draft has a Crosby, Ovechkin, Stamkos--including 2011/12. When there is no consensus No.1, it's usually a sign. Based on his junior achievements, Kessel would have been right there w/ Hall/Seguin if he was in last year's class.
-
2) The Florida Panthers: They did the proper rebuild w/ Weiss, Bouwmeester, Horton, Olesz, Frolik, Ellerby etc. and it didn't work. Hell, even Columbus took 8 years of drafting (w/ several busts) to become competitive.
-
3) Player development is equally as important as drafting. Players taken outside the first can still develop into very good NHLers. I'm not at all saying this WILL happen, but what if McKegg ends up being a better pro than Seguin? Good scouting/player development is more valuable than getting a high pick.
-
Kessel is a Leaf, you cheer for the Leafs, put two-and-two together and stop ragging on the kid.
-
4) Fire Wilson...that is all.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Only_crime:
-
Yep. Don't mistake my optimism with a lack of emotion. I am furious when shit like this happens. But at the end of the day, I know it's not because these guys don't have skill, or potential. It's any number of reasons, but it's not that. We make players worthless by jumping to conclusions.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Only_crime:
I agree bud, something will happen. If the young guns didn't hold their sticks like they where grenades and played a little smarter, things would be different. Toronto is a tough market and the strain is beginning to show.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Well guys work comes early. Have a good one, maybe we pull the rabbit out of a hat trick over the weekend....thumbs up :)
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Uncle Otis:
Haha... I concur. Lots and lots of zero's. He has had the luxury of some great teams.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
I say we target someone's RFA that is disgruntled. I firmly believe we will do this again.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Uncle Otis:
-
Toronto fans claim to be ready, but at the end of the day, we're icing a developign team that is the youngest in the league, and every loss is the end of the world, and everyone needs to be fired. A new coach would have a shelf-life just like Wilson. A new draft pick would have only so long to become a star. Toronto is a different beast no matter how you try and argue otherwise - it just is. These fans are insane, and for good reason.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Uncle Otis:
Um when has Scotty ever done a five year rebuild? I ask cause I'm not sure if he ever has?
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
At the Deadline:
-
To LAK: Kaberle, Grabovski, MacArthur, 2nd in 2011
To TOR: Schenn, SImmonds
-
To SJS: Beauchemin, Stefanovich
To TOR: Setoguchi, 3rd in 2011
-
To TBL: GIguere
To TOR: 2nd in 2011
-
At the Draft:
-
To PIT: Kessel, Bozak, Versteeg
To TOR: Malkin, Talbot (rights)
-
To PHI: Caputi, Lashoff, Reimer
To TOR: Hartnell, 3rd in 2012
-
During Free Agency:
-
- Sign Alexander Semin, 5 years, 41.5 million
- Waive Lebda
-
Kulemin (2.35) - Malkin (8.7) - Semin (8.3)
Hartnell (4.20) - Kadri (1.72) - Setoguchi (2.0)
Simmonds (2.0) - Talbot (1.5) - Armstrong (3.0)
Sjostrom (0.75) - Hanson (0.7) - Brown (0.675)
Orr (1.0)
-
Phaneuf (6.5) - ___________
Schenn (3.5) - Aulie (0.733)
Komisarek (4.5) - Gunnarsson (1.125)
________
-
Gustavsson (1.35) - Rynnas (1.95)
-
Schenn starts in the AHL just like Kadri. Assuming the cap rises to about the 61 million range, this team has 5.3 million left to spend to fill those two roster spots either internally, or through free agency.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Dan hockey fan wrote:
Dustin Brown and Schenn for Kessell and Grabovski.
Do it Burke.
Not without a gun:)
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Cameron:
It's impossible to suck and blow simultaneously..although Burke's giving it a good try.
I don't have to get into conventional wisdom, tanking for a superstar ,yadayada...we all know the refrain.
But l say Leafs fans WERE ready for that slow rebuild contrary to your assertion.
Hell,if Andrew is right and Scotty F'n Bowman wanted this plan...then we should stop arguing right now.The guy is encyclopedic and shits pucks.
Oh people would bitch and moan..but what would we be talking about right about now(and this time last year) with glee?
Yep,losing like this with your first rounder in tact is called happiness insurance.
What we are going through right now is called hell.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Dan hockey fan wrote:
Dustin Brown and Schenn for Kessell and Grabovski.
Do it Burke.
Dustin Brown and Schenn for Grabo, Mac and Kaberle (with extension).
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Dan hockey fan wrote:
Dustin Brown and Schenn for Kessell and Grabovski.
Do it Burke.
Heck id add to that. Id do Kessel, Bozak, Kaberle, for Brown + Schenn. Future would look decent down the middle with Kadri-Schenn-Mckegg-Grabo in the ranks, and we'd have a semi-poor mans (depending on how you look at it) Wendel Clark in D.Brown.
-
PS: We'd have to eat some salary for sure though. Poni? (are they using him?) Anyways, sumthin like that.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Nazem.K-savzri:
Explain that to a French man (Asian man, Black man, Aboriginal man, Muslim man...etc). It is suppose to be the character we see in a fellow human. Unfortunately for some of all ethnicities, they do not see this and their loyalties to their beliefs and upbringing play a key role in this.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
Dustin Brown and Schenn for Kessell and Grabovski.
Do it Burke.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
canucksnaphook wrote:
@ Cameron:
But what if its B.Schenn plus for Kessel? Do you do it?
-
No. Brayden Schenn will be a David Bolland like center. He will be a high end 2-way center, but not a true weapon like Kessel would be next to Kopitar. That trade is just too lobsided for LA, given that they could immediately pair Kessel with a top line center and top notch playmaker. It would look bad. I think we're going to be able to nab Schenn for less than that at some point. Kings fans are ready to rip Lombardi apart right now on this losing streak. They are furious he continues to not bring in proven NHL talent to bolster the roster. If that climate continues to rise, you could finally see him hit his panic threshold. Moving into the playofs, they want a 2nd line center with creativity (they want Stoll in the 3rd slot, and Handzus playing a wing, 4th line C, and manning the PK), and another high-end defensemen. We could potentially have one of the best packages for this sort of thing.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
@ Nazem.K-savzri:
Even Gretzky and Gilmour know the value of someone riding shotgun for a star player. Wilson does not seem to understand that or Burke.
Gretzky and Gilmour both played with passion and a strong desire to win. They would not rake their players over in front of the press either.
I would take either of them over Wilson.
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
canucksnaphook wrote:
haha wow. That is a lot of pent up anger you fellas have.
Just because I dont want a french coach doesnt make me a bad guy. I am actually a bad guy for other reasons.
Im sure ur not a bad guy, but that is racism at its finest. Its not ok to be racist towards french, no more than its ok to be racist towards a black man or an asian man, its all the same (im sure u know this) whether you meant it in that way or not, u dont see somebody for ethnicity, you should see them for their character and in this case, what they bring to the table. I would take any coach over Ron Wilson at this point..and this is just another low point for him, lets wait nd watch to see what goes down. PS: If Wilson is fired...does Eakins keep the same strategy? or does he imply his own with the Marlies? or does he come up to the big club and implement Rons system to smooth the transition? or as mentioned before does he implement his own? I wonder what options are out there; what would you guys think if we brought Gilmour in on interim-basis/coaching tryout? lollll, im not sure what he could offer in terms of strategy, but i definitely know the players would respect him. Heck, even Gretzky is available..and he was a Leaf fan growin up ;).
- 0
Replies - 0
Likes - Reply
- Like
