The NHL draft has always been a momentous event on the league calendar due to its ability to change franchises' trajectories at the drop of a hat.
In recent years, the consequences of drafting well or making poor selections have been felt more than ever due to the salary cap. Teams no longer have the ability to spend their way out of talent shortages, and if you aren't building a strong prospect pool, your chances of creating a sustainable contender are slim.
The Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win is a notable counterexample to that notion, but the majority of recent champions feature homegrown cores.