Grange Muses on Different Styles of Building Franchises by Maple Leafs and Oilers

On Monday night, the Edmonton Oilers arrive in Toronto for more than simply a hockey game.

The Oilers and Leafs are a clash of cultures representing two very different approaches to (theoretically) building a championship contender in the post-lockout, hard-cap NHL. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/06/grange_oilers_leafs_different_approaches/

Shacks' Take:  Personally, I think these rebuilds are going exactly as one would expect.  The Leafs having traded the ability to draft a superstar received some good pieces but are trying to win cup without a franchise defining player.  Edmonton bottomed out completely, which is the key, getting top 2 picks not top 10, and now has several players who could become superstars.  Toronto's method will likely bring the Leafs to the playoffs quicker but they're not going to be an elite team for some time.  Thye're going to have to hope they can consistently make the playoffs then catch lightning in a bottle one year to go on a successful playoff run.

Edmonton on the other hand seems poised on the brink of achieving something greater.  Once these young guns of Edmonton develop, this is going to be a scary team for years.  This is how Pittsburgh (Malkin and Crosby) and Chicago (Kane & Toews) became powers and it's the way I would choose.  I'm not ready to believe Phil Kessel will be the key to a Stanley Cup champion.