If they would have won the 2022 lottery they wouldn’t have been eligible to win the 2023 one so this isn’t possible anyways unless I’m remembering rules wrong which is possible

You can win twice in a five year period I believe.

Chicago also probably plays to win last season knowing they don't have the pick rather than tank.

Chicago wouldn’t have tanked if they didn’t have their first

I mean, let’s be honest - how good would they have been otherwise?

Looking at their trade history most of the dismantling would’ve already been done. Toews still would’ve missed most of the year, and even if they kept Kane, he wasn’t exactly looking like classic Kane.

I also don’t think they would’ve been buyers - rebuilds are long and require commitment (cough cough *Philadelphia), and even if they knew they were out of the Bedard sweepstakes, there are more drafts and more talent to come.

But hey, it’s a pipe dream. Would’ve been amazing to see, but Chicago got their guy, CBJ got theirs.

If they don't have a 1st rounder, they'd be dumb to just be like "Well, we can just be bad, who cares, let them have the great pick". Look at 1991 when Toronto bought to avoid NJD getting 1st overall pick (Lindros) as they traded their unprotected 1st.

Maybe, but again - how good would the team really have been? They were bad enough to be a lottery team in 2022 even when they were trying. Add in that they would not have had their 2023 1st as an trade sale asset, and I still think we’re talking a bottom-10 team.

Also, didn’t that ‘91 TOR team still finish with the 2nd worst record?

All they needed to be was a point better and they don't win....

Also SJS was guaranteed the 2nd overall pick, so TOR just didn't want to be last, infact they traded with Quebec, who got the 1st pick, so that QUE would be worse and PHI better.