from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

It is, of course, fashionable to suggest that teams should bottom out rather than seek to retool or rebuild while continuing to contend. But a second look reveals just how long it takes to go belly up. For despite the self-congratulatory claims from Sixth Avenue regarding parity, the NHL still has a semi-permanent underclass. Upward mobility is no easy task.

Carolina has been out of the playoffs eight straight seasons, Buffalo six, New Jersey and Arizona five, with Florida out 10 of the last 12 years and without a playoff round victory since 1996. The Coyotes have won two playoff series in their history, both in 2012. Colorado has been out for six of the last seven years and Winnipeg has missed 10 of 12.

And though Pittsburgh, Edmonton and Toronto invariably will be cited as franchises that did it the right way, all three franchises received Masters in Pingpong-ology, winning lotteries to select generational players Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. The Oilers had been out 10 straight times until this year and the Maple Leafs missed 10 of the previous 11 years until both rode the backs of their wonder kids to make it this time.

So bottom out if you will, but good look on getting to the bottom’s up portion of it.

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