Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

It's Edmonton Again

04/19/2015 at 10:09am EDT

from Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star,

The Oilers already had three No. 1 picks in a row, and they kept winning lotteries and letting Oilers president Kevin Lowe say stuff like how they have two tiers of fans, and how half the league would trade rosters with them if they could, and “there’s one other guy in hockey today that is still working in the game that has won more Stanley Cups than me. So I think I know a little bit about winning, if there’s ever a concern.”

That was in 2013. They’ve finished 28th in the league twice since then. Their three No. 1 picks have been supported by just horrific drafting and development and decisions outside the first round, and Edmonton just went ahead and leveraged their 11.5% chance at the No. 1 pick into Connor McDavid. It was reported by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet that going into the final ball, the Leafs actually had a 4-in-11 chance, Buffalo 3 in 11, and Edmonton 2-of-11. (Carolina and Columbus had single chances.) Very Leafs, really.

But this is what happens when you fight on Edmonton’s turf. By the way, Oilers owner Darryl Katz, who has already played footsie with Seattle in a successful attempt to sucker Edmonton out of public funds for a new arena, is actively suing the Erie Otters and Sherry Bassin, the mentor of ... Connor McDavid. Ha, terrific.

Plus, did we mention they already won three lotteries? Ergo, the disappointment. As Coyotes co-owner Anthony Leblanc told Joe Yerdon of NHL.com, “(When I) realized it wasn’t us, I’m not going to lie, I’m like, ‘Holy crap, I hope it’s Buffalo.’ To find out it was Edmonton? That stung. That stung.” As Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said, “They’ve got some luck.”

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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