It’s a common belief that drafting and developing is the best way to win the Stanley Cup. If you want to look at the current poster boy for good drafting, look no further than the Winnipeg Jets.
After the former Atlanta Thrashers franchise suffered through more than a decade of sucking, the scouting staff in Winnipeg slowly turned this franchise into a powerhouse.
Perhaps the Thrashers were doomed for ineptitude with the selection of Patrik Stefan at first overall in 1999. Injuries derailed his promising career, but Atlanta didn’t do themselves any favours by drafting the likes of Braydon Coburn, Boris Valabik, Alex Bourret and Zach Bogosian in the first round.