[krogothwolf]

Not actually true. A lot of successful AHL players merely become role players in the NHL. The longer a player stays in the AHL though, the less likely they will become NHL regulars. Developmental league or not, a lot of the success stories are merely 1-2 year players down there.

Can you really name a Calgary player who has become a bonafied star aside from Dion Phanuef? You look at the list of Calgary flame draft picks and it looks as barren as the Oilers do.

Historically there are actually far more teams that build up through a good drafting system. It's just that the late 1980's- early 2000's became a cash flow league in which the rich teams signed any player they could(not that it always worked, look at the leafs and Rangers). Before that though successful teams developed through the draft. Pretty much the years before the early 1990's players didn't generally flock to other teams.

I hate Edmonton as much as most Flame fans but I'm not blind to the fact that the Flames have as little success at developing top talent as the Oilers do.

Detroit's current success has been based on Drafted players as the core of their team, same as the New Jersey devil Stanley cup years. Developing your own strong core is how a team becomes successful and stays successful.