Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Poile would support draft format change Date: Wed, 25 Nov 92 16:20:05 EST Message-ID: Lines: 51 \SE D;SPORTS;NHL REPORT;CAPS Q&A \HD Poile would support draft format change Here's the place to find the answers to your questions about the Washington Capitals. We'll take your calls each week. To submit a question, call 202/636-8980 and leave your question, name and the town you live in. Answers will appear weekly in the NHL Report. Q: The Washington Capitals finished the '91-92 regular season with the league's second-best record, then bombed in the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins coasted in the regular season and won the Stanley Cup. Why does the NHL base the order of its annual draft on regular-season finish instead of how the teams completed the postseason? In the NFL, for example, the Super Bowl competitors take the last two slots in the NFL draft. What are the prospects for changing the NHL's drafting system? Tom Fioramonti, Loudoun Co., Va. A: Washington Capitals general manager David Poile said he is all for a new draft system based on playoff finishes. "I would like to see it changed," Poile said. "There should be one date for the non-playoff teams, then another with playoff teams picking in the order they finish. That would be a change I would advocate." However, the idea of changing the draft format has not been discussed by the NHL's Board of Governors. Poile said he is thinking about bringing the subject up among the general managers at the next league meeting in January. Q: With all the talent that apparently is available around the league, what are the Caps' prospects for swinging a deal? Michael Wolf, Silver Spring A: Caps general manager David Poile says as far as he is concerned, top-notch players are not being shopped around the league and the Caps are not working on any deals at this time. "You are always looking to better your team," Poile said. "Sometimes you can do that by a trade, sometimes by showing confidence in the team's ability. Sometimes you have to have to go on a mix of coaching and chemistry. "The Caps had many offseason trades and so many injuries since the season began," Poile said. "We just have to work with what is there right now." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM