What was awful about it? It was like “Deal Or No Deal” except the outcome mattered A LOT!
It’s very anti-climactic since they’re pretending they’re doing more than draw one ball. That said I could not be happier with the results. Suck it, haters!
They draw 4 balls actually. I don’t understand the algorithm.
I like Edmonton, or at least used to like Edmonton. They seem to have drafted a lot of talent and can’t do a damned thing with it. For a number of years Edmonton was my second favourite team in the league. I don’t think it’s possible to dislike Wayne Gretzky, even when he single-handedly beat my Leafs in the conference final in 1993 I couldn’t hate him. I was at the game at Maple Leaf Gardens and had my heart ripped from my chest. But I love Wayne.
I wish Edmonton success. But they sure haven’t been able to capitalize on their last three number one draft picks. Has there ever been a team with 4 number one draft picks on it in the modern era.
Actually I think the sucky Senators in the 1990s may have had at least that many. And by sucky, I mean they finished last – before the lottery was implemented – so often that they got a number of number one picks.
That’s how I’d describe, too. Reality and modern game shows are all about making things that don’t matter at all seem really dramatic and important. They give you cheesy narration, dramatic pauses, and processes that could be over in a second taking half an hour. You don’t need that garbage when the situation is actually dramatic and important.
I also thought it was funny that their attempt at a slick program was undercut by that awkward interview with McDavid at the end.
Most years it doesn’t matter much. I don’t think I’ve watched the lottery before. I don’t even know if it’s been televised before. But McDavid is, as they say, a once in a generation player. I’m not sure I agree with that, since a generation is typically measured as a 25 year period. But he is a Sydney Crosby, a Mario Lemieux, a Wayne … nah I can’t go there. 
I’m pretty sure that the draft lottery was instituted in 1994, after the debacle when Alexandre Daigle was the Connor McDavid at the time. Anyway, back then Ottawa picked 2nd overall (1992), 1st overall (1993), 4th overall (1994), 1st overall (1995), 1st overall (1996). They only got Daigle, Berard and Phillips with their #1 picks though – 1995 and 1996 weren’t particularly strong draft years.
Thanks for that. I was too lazy to look it up. 
There is one good thing about McDavid going to Edmonton: at least we don’t have to spend the next several years listening to conspiracy theories about how it was rigged.
Well, one result, anyway. Only one team’s name gets called.
The Quebec Nordiques had three in a row back when they got Mats Sundin, Owen Nolan and then Lindros (and also had Joe Sakic, who was a 15th overall pick). Plus, people seem to forget that Pittsburgh, both prior to them getting Lemieux and Crosby, were all-world bad and had been for ages. Tampa Bay took ages to take advantage of Lecavalier. Bad teams draft low and get good young players because they missing a lot more than one player.
A bit of a side note, but this is just nuts:
These two young girls who wore Senators jerseys to the Habs game were verbally and physically harassed – if this had happened at a Leafs game at the ACC there would have been (by my count) at least three assault charges – not the least of which was throwing a nearly-full can of beer at one of the girls – and the perps would not only have been ejected from the game but arrested. But hey, that was Quebec, not really Canada – the security staff thought it was all pretty funny.
The Habs front office tweeted an apology – big deal – but the Senators heard about it and offered the girls seats for Sunday’s game in one of Eugene Melnyk’s private boxes! Nice outcome and I’m very happy for them, and kudos to the Sens.
Sigh! Very hard to be a Habs fan these days! 
A lot of hockey players are like that – real jackasses on the ice, total class off of it. Not everyone’s like Sean Avery.
Alright the Wings came to play on home ice, and look ready to make the series most people thought wouldn’t happen.
I can’t even believe the Rangers managed to pull that one out. They sleep-walked through the first two periods and somehow miraculously were only one behind after all that. I do think the Pens are not really a very good team but was surprised they followed up that opening goal with just nothing. I wish I could understand how come they lose with all that talent, but in this particular instance I’m just glad. I just can’t root for a team with Sidney on it.
Looks like Jimmy Howard may be on the move as the Wings apparently are just fine without him in goal.
What I find puzzling about Edmonton is their picks are mostly working out. Objectively they appear to be drafting in the first round just as well as Ottawa did, anyway; Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins are all productive players. Nail Yakupov isn’t that bad, and Sam Gagner was okay, too (and was flipped for Ted Purcell, also okay.)
But they just stink. There is a stink on the team, some sort of organizational rot. It’s not the same as the rot that has infected the Maple Leafs, but at least the Leafs have a president who, it seems, intends to fire everyone and start over. so you never know, they might turn things around. The Oilers are in the grip of an ownership and administration who seem totally convinced that they are going to win any day now by continuing to do the same things they’ve been doing all these years that they have been losing and losing and losing.
Can Connor McDavid fix it? To be honest, I don’t think so.
Any specific rumors?
No but the sports talk guys I listen to think he’s too good to be a #2 so someone might want him.
That’s cool, I was wondering. I like the guy and think he deserves a chance to start somewhere, but his salary is pretty high for anyone to trade for on a maybe he’ll start.
But hell, playoffs are long, for all we know he still might end up carrying Detroit to cup before this season plays out.
I’m so glad Abdelkader came back. He set up that play for the Wings first goal just now and he was instrumental in game 3.
If not I know a team in Dallas that needs a goalie.
ETA responding to wolfman.