What first caught my attention regarding the Pens is that they have somehow conveniently always gotten a top draft pick during the right year. I wouldn't be surprised if they finished at the bottom of the standings next year (despite already having Crosby and Malkin) so they can pick up John Tavares in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
But that's just pure speculation. Here's what really bothers me:
Over the last 20 years, the Penguins have drafted four of the five biggest name players in the NHL (Ovechkin being the exception).
Awhile back they drafted both Jaromir Jagr AND Mario Lemieux, and now more recently they've drafted (one after another) Sidney Crosby AND Evgeni Malkin with back to back first overall picks (convenient how they get those when Crosby and Malkin are coming into the league).
Regardless of whether they lost intentionally or not, or organized their team so that they would have off years when these great players became draft eligible, it's still extremely unfair that Pittsburgh always drafts these players. But, I suppose you can't prove it's cheating.
But then I found this (on wikipedia) regarding the 2003 NHL Entry Draft:
"Draft Day Trades
The Florida Panthers trade the 1st pick (Marc-Andre Fleury) and 73rd pick (Daniel Carcillo) to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 3rd pick (Nathan Horton), the 55th pick (Stefan Meyer) and Mikael Samuelsson."
Luckily the Penguins made a mistake in not drafting Eric Staal (or they would be even more unfairly stacked in terms of talent), but still, why would any team trade the first overall pick and change in exchange for pretty much equivilent change, AND Mikael Samuelsson. It makes no sense. The Panthers could have Eric Staal right now instead of Horton.
So my question is - why in the world did Florida make that trade? I don't see how it makes any sense unless there was bribery or sexual favors involved.
Anyway - the way Pittsburgh stacks their team is unfair to the rest of the teams in the league. They should have to make good trades and have solid developmental facilities just like every other team instead of getting the high picks at the perfect times and then dominating everyone else.
And PS. No I'm not a bitter Sens fan; I'm a Sharks fan. I just noticed this though and I think it's evident that there is foul play involved on the Penguins part.
What do the rest of you think?
But that's just pure speculation. Here's what really bothers me:
Over the last 20 years, the Penguins have drafted four of the five biggest name players in the NHL (Ovechkin being the exception).
Awhile back they drafted both Jaromir Jagr AND Mario Lemieux, and now more recently they've drafted (one after another) Sidney Crosby AND Evgeni Malkin with back to back first overall picks (convenient how they get those when Crosby and Malkin are coming into the league).
Regardless of whether they lost intentionally or not, or organized their team so that they would have off years when these great players became draft eligible, it's still extremely unfair that Pittsburgh always drafts these players. But, I suppose you can't prove it's cheating.
But then I found this (on wikipedia) regarding the 2003 NHL Entry Draft:
"Draft Day Trades
The Florida Panthers trade the 1st pick (Marc-Andre Fleury) and 73rd pick (Daniel Carcillo) to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 3rd pick (Nathan Horton), the 55th pick (Stefan Meyer) and Mikael Samuelsson."
Luckily the Penguins made a mistake in not drafting Eric Staal (or they would be even more unfairly stacked in terms of talent), but still, why would any team trade the first overall pick and change in exchange for pretty much equivilent change, AND Mikael Samuelsson. It makes no sense. The Panthers could have Eric Staal right now instead of Horton.
So my question is - why in the world did Florida make that trade? I don't see how it makes any sense unless there was bribery or sexual favors involved.
Anyway - the way Pittsburgh stacks their team is unfair to the rest of the teams in the league. They should have to make good trades and have solid developmental facilities just like every other team instead of getting the high picks at the perfect times and then dominating everyone else.
And PS. No I'm not a bitter Sens fan; I'm a Sharks fan. I just noticed this though and I think it's evident that there is foul play involved on the Penguins part.
What do the rest of you think?
