First, the Penguins obtained a вЂcanвЂ™t missвЂ™ scoring forward in Evgeni Malkin with the second pick of the 2004 draft. The 2002-03 season yielded Marc-Andre Fleury with the first overall pick and never in NHL history has a single poor season yielded as much of a return as the Penguins 2004-05 season. The perfect storm of a poor record, the loss of the 2004-05 to a labor dispute and some luck with ping pong balls almost singlehandedly put the Penguins on course for a rapid rebuild with a couple elite players as its foundation.

The PenguinsвЂ™ timing for playing abysmal hockey was incredibly good. From 2001-02 through 2003-04, the Penguins missed the playoffs, finished in last place in their division and actually managed to top the previous yearвЂ™s poor performance by doing even worse in the next season. This post takes a look at the timeline and process for the Penguins rebuild to see if there is anything that the Hurricanes can borrow as they attempt to accomplish similar. The NHL draft gifts automatic superstar foundation Other teams who have recently accomplished this include the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings. The Penguins are 1 of multiple teams that went from being a a bottom dweller to being rebuilt into a team capable of making it to the Stanley Cup Finals (and in most cases winning it). The Hurricanes game Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins offers a look at another team that was really bad but rebuilt into a team capable of winning the Stanley Cup.

Nhl rebuilt 2004