from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

Seriously, though, Elaine, you hear so often about the need to bottom out in the NHL, and for sure it is better in any given year out of the playoffs to finish with the best lottery odds possible, but collecting a string of high picks does not guarantee success.

The Flames appear out for the seventh time in nine years, the Islanders are all but out for the eighth time in 11 years, the Canucks for the fourth time in five years, the Stars perhaps for the eighth time in 10 years, the Candy Canes facing extinction for the ninth consecutive year and the Oilers out for the 11th time in 12 years. If the Puddy Tats are out, it will be for the 15th time over the past 17 seasons.

All of these teams have one thing in common: an uncommon number of high draft picks. Well, two things in common: not have enough talent. Make that three: inferior management.

And that’s why the Rangers, who defeated the Sabres 5-1 at the Garden on Saturday night, are not planning on one of these slow, bottom-of-the-barrel rebuilding processes.

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