The National Hockey League's annual entry draft is a hugely important event in the history of each of the league's member clubs. In essence, the draft is a once-a-year "Get Out Of Jail Free" card: every team gets a free asset, with the NHL's drafting system set up to theoretically help the league's worst teams catch up to the pack.
Of course, poor drafting and asset management often conspire against the draft's designs, and keep mediocre teams spiraling down the standings. A good (or lucky) general manager can find players that play for their club for a while, or at least can get some value out of that player and then trade them to another club to perpetuate the draft pick's value into the future.