Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon was tasked with picking out 2020 NHL Draft “winners” and “losers,” and he placed the Red Wings into the latter category–for a reason that still stings:
Detroit Red Wings: This is no reflection of the Red Wings’ decisions. Count me as one of the people who believe we have to find a way to get teams that find themselves in awful situations a path to the top of the draft board. Conspicuous tanking — the kind that makes leagues worry about optics and the integrity of games — is never going to be a thing like it was when the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins were being as putrid as possible in pursuit of Mario Lemieux. And even if it was, I agree with the adage you’re either selling wins or hope. Detroit had the worst points percentage if you combine the past two regular seasons, yet, between 2019 and 2020, there were eight players they never had a chance to draft. Let’s at least amend this thing to prevent teams — like the Rangers — from making big jumps into the top three in consecutive years.
Damned draft lotteries!
