grigorenko scored, 2-1 hamilton in the second period

If Reinhart is going to progress regardless of where he's playing then why bother burning the first year of his contract on a throwaway season? He's got an idea of what it's like to physically compete with men much bigger than him so he'll know what he has to work on if they send him down.
- Jeffmt

It depends on what you want to progress. He's not going to adjust to the speed or physicality of the NHL in Jrs. But he can learn how to be "the guy" for this year in Jr and work on his off ice training regimen and things like that.

Having an idea of competing in the NHL in nowhere near the same as actually getting to do it for a full season.

If any of you get the chance, I'd give the marek vs wyshynski podcast a listen today, some good stuff from Bruce Dowbiggin's segment including this:

"I know that it's crazy inside there, I know that a couple months after Tim Murray was hired that there were a lot of people in the organization that thought they had made a huge mistake etc, so i know there's a lot of controversy within the organization. But i think they are making a logical decision and a logical reaction to the CBA. and i think we have a huge problem in the nhl when it comes to the CBA.

As time goes on like in the NBA, we realize there's no point being 18th. There's no point trying to scramble a bunch of veteran guys and maybe get into the playoffs. The only way you're going to win a stanley cup is to get into that bottom 3-5 for a few years in a row so you can collect the McDavid's and the Eichel's and I think that's the message everybody's gotten right now going forward in the NHL."

"People say well Edmonton tried that and it didn't work, I know it hasn't worked out for Edmonton but show me a team that's a stanley cup contender that hasn't spent some time at the bottom to collect these kind of players and move forward".


That second paragraph for days.

2-2, armia scores off the faceoff. Damn he has some silky mitts

three goals for the amerks in the past 10 minutes
Grigorenko and armia with one each i don't know the other Way more fun to watch

3-2 amerks, adam scores on the left side rush

If any of you get the chance, I'd give the marek vs wyshynski podcast a listen today, some good stuff from Bruce Dowbiggin's segment including this:

"I know that it's crazy inside there, I know that a couple months after Tim Murray was hired that there were a lot of people in the organization that thought they had made a huge mistake etc, so i know there's a lot of controversy within the organization. But i think they are making a logical decision and a logical reaction to the CBA. and i think we have a huge problem in the nhl when it comes to the CBA.

As time goes on like in the NBA, we realize there's no point being 18th. There's no point trying to scramble a bunch of veteran guys and maybe get into the playoffs. The only way you're going to win a stanley cup is to get into that bottom 3-5 for a few years in a row so you can collect the McDavid's and the Eichel's and I think that's the message everybody's gotten right now going forward in the NHL."

"People say well Edmonton tried that and it didn't work, I know it hasn't worked out for Edmonton but show me a team that's a stanley cup contender that hasn't spent some time at the bottom to collect these kind of players and move forward".


That second paragraph for days.
- Sabresfan-365

They were talking about the "intentional tank" that some people are saying is going on during Schopp and the Bulldog today. Schopp actually brought up some good points. He said it's hard to actually point at what the team's done and say that they made sure they were going to be bad.

They traded away players that were going to walk for nothing. It's not like the result would be any different this year had they not done that. Miller and Vanek would still be gone. The Ehrhoff buyout is the only one they mentioned that could be a little odd, but when you take into consideration that the player made it painfully obvious he didn't want to be here and the possible cap recapture penalty, they aren't exactly at fault for handling that the way they did.

They also said that Drew Stafford, Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis, and Cody Hodgson, etc would all be on other NHL teams, so it's not like they're icing a team full of guys that have no business in the NHL.

It's just that the combination of what they have is bad. The individuals themselves are not. It was actually pretty interesting.

If any of you get the chance, I'd give the marek vs wyshynski podcast a listen today, some good stuff from Bruce Dowbiggin's segment including this:

"I know that it's crazy inside there, I know that a couple months after Tim Murray was hired that there were a lot of people in the organization that thought they had made a huge mistake etc, so i know there's a lot of controversy within the organization. But i think they are making a logical decision and a logical reaction to the CBA. and i think we have a huge problem in the nhl when it comes to the CBA.

As time goes on like in the NBA, we realize there's no point being 18th. There's no point trying to scramble a bunch of veteran guys and maybe get into the playoffs. The only way you're going to win a stanley cup is to get into that bottom 3-5 for a few years in a row so you can collect the McDavid's and the Eichel's and I think that's the message everybody's gotten right now going forward in the NHL."

"People say well Edmonton tried that and it didn't work, I know it hasn't worked out for Edmonton but show me a team that's a stanley cup contender that hasn't spent some time at the bottom to collect these kind of players and move forward".


That second paragraph for days.
- Sabresfan-365

Hockey is different than any other sport when it comes to this (Baseball is the closest)

You can't tank for one season, draft Lebron James and become a contender. It takes a few years of suffering. The way the Sabres are doing it is perfect.

They unloaded all of their aging assets over 2-3 years, are going to draft 1 or 2 hopefully two years in a row and then ascend to the top of the league when the talent is ready to make an impact.

You can't build a proper NHL team by spending money on mediocre free agents and making trades. it just doesn't work, you need to draft upper echelon talent

They were talking about the "intentional tank" that some people are saying is going on during Schopp and the Bulldog today. Schopp actually brought up some good points. He said it's hard to actually point at what the team's done and say that they made sure they were going to be bad.

They traded away players that were going to walk for nothing. It's not like the result would be any different this year had they not done that. Miller and Vanek would still be gone. The Ehrhoff buyout is the only one they mentioned that could be a little odd, but when you take into consideration that the player made it painfully obvious he didn't want to be here and the possible cap recapture penalty, they aren't exactly at fault for handling that the way they did.

They also said that Drew Stafford, Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis, and Cody Hodgson, etc would all be on other NHL teams, so it's not like they're icing a team full of guys that have no business in the NHL.

It's just that the combination of what they have is bad. The individuals themselves are not. It was actually pretty interesting.
- HonkFortheGoose

Agreed 100%. In fact, what you mention isn't all that different from what Travis Yost wrote for TSN. Essentially saying that while they added, the team has been carefully set up (mashed more like it) to a point where even if you didn't think/want them to tank you couldn't help it.

The team was way overdue for a natural rebuild thanks to a number of factors, even if they didn't want it

Hockey is different than any other sport when it comes to this (Baseball is the closest)

You can't tank for one season, draft Lebron James and become a contender. It takes a few years of suffering. The way the Sabres are doing it is perfect.

They unloaded all of their aging assets over 2-3 years, are going to draft 1 or 2 hopefully two years in a row and then ascend to the top of the league when the talent is ready to make an impact.

You can't build a proper NHL team by spending money on mediocre free agents and making trades. it just doesn't work, you need to draft upper echelon talent
- sbroads24

Bet Terry had that put as his screen saver after 2012.

Agreed 100%. In fact, what you mention isn't all that different from what Travis Yost wrote for TSN. Essentially saying that while they added, the team has been carefully set up (mashed more like it) to a point where even if you didn't think/want them to tank you couldn't help it.

The team was way overdue for a natural rebuild thanks to a number of factors, even if they didn't want it
- Sabresfan-365

Before the salary cap came into play, it was a lot easier to piece together a fairly competitive team without having to go through an entire rebuild. You could patch things up a bit more.

The problem is that once the NHL put the salary cap in place, guys started signing longer term contracts with the teams they were already on. So at some point, even if you wanted to try and fix your team via free agency, there's just not many options available. Guys stick with their current team because they were being given huge contracts, especially when you look at the term of them. The bridge contracts disappeared. Players were signing deals for 8-12 years. That makes the FA market extremely watered down.

Before the salary cap came into play, it was a lot easier to piece together a fairly competitive team without having to go through an entire rebuild. You could patch things up a bit more.

The problem is that once the NHL put the salary cap in place, guys started signing longer term contracts with the teams they were already on. So at some point, even if you wanted to try and fix your team via free agency, there's just not many options available. Guys stick with their current team because they were being given huge contracts, especially when you look at the term of them. The bridge contracts disappeared. Players were signing deals for 8-12 years. That makes the FA market extremely watered down.
- HonkFortheGoose

It makes you wonder, with the cap potentially going up every year, whether it's something they try to address in the next round of cba negotiations. Like trying to create a scenario in which either FA is more alluring to really good players or a scenario where handing out long term contracts became less viable (or even impossible).

I know the new lottery rules are supposed to discourage tanking but even in 2016 the team that finishes last still gets a very good pick. Still beats signing the Leino's of the world.

It makes you wonder, with the cap potentially going up every year, whether it's something they try to address in the next round of cba negotiations. Like trying to create a scenario in which either FA is more alluring to really good players or a scenario where handing out long term contracts became less viable (or even impossible).

I know the new lottery rules are supposed to discourage tanking but even in 2016 the team that finishes last still gets a very good pick. Still beats signing the Leino's of the world.
- Sabresfan-365

It's really an interesting topic in general, because I don't think there's really any small changes that could get made that would really make an impact. On one hand, you don't want teams to think that in order to get that elite talent they have to be bad first but you don't necessarily want to reward them for being bad either. I honestly don't know if there's a way to fix it at all.

The only team that really falls outside the box when it comes to all of this is Detroit. They've managed to stay competitive for 20 years without having any top picks. But even that is starting to catch up to them at this point because while they still have a great farm system, they're having trouble getting veteran players in to play with the younger guys they have.

Armia and Grigo catching fire

3-2 amerks, adam scores on the left side rush
- gerbe42

That was a nice goal. I was surprised it was Adam.
Grigo/Armia seem to be developing in to exactly what the sabres are hoping for.

It's really an interesting topic in general, because I don't think there's really any small changes that could get made that would really make an impact. On one hand, you don't want teams to think that in order to get that elite talent they have to be bad first but you don't necessarily want to reward them for being bad either. I honestly don't know if there's a way to fix it at all.

The only team that really falls outside the box when it comes to all of this is Detroit. They've managed to stay competitive for 20 years without having any top picks. But even that is starting to catch up to them at this point because while they still have a great farm system, they're having trouble getting veteran players in to play with the younger guys they have.
- HonkFortheGoose

It's a fear of mine, my hope is a natural increase in the salary cap and perhaps some tinkering with contract rules will help but even then it may not be enough. I bet at some point (even though it's pretty far fetched) the topic of whether they should even have an amateur draft will come up as they near the expiry of the current agreement.

That was a nice goal. I was surprised it was Adam.
Grigo/Armia seem to be developing in to exactly what the sabres are hoping for.
- seedy

im especially impressed with armia, he looks like he is going to be a stud. I cant wait for the two of them to be up here. I love the idea of them developing chemistry in rochester the whole year even though that wasnt my original preferred method

im especially impressed with armia, he looks like he is going to be a stud. I cant wait for the two of them to be up here. I love the idea of them developing chemistry in rochester the whole year even though that wasnt my original preferred method
- gerbe42

May be after the trade deadline depending on who stays or goes...

May be after the trade deadline depending on who stays or goes...
- seedy

everyone but 28, 63, and 57

So, this is what real hockey looks like??

So, this is what real hockey looks like??
- HonkFortheGoose

yep exciting isnt it

Armia and Grigo catching fire
- sbroads24

They look real good together.

It's really an interesting topic in general, because I don't think there's really any small changes that could get made that would really make an impact. On one hand, you don't want teams to think that in order to get that elite talent they have to be bad first but you don't necessarily want to reward them for being bad either. I honestly don't know if there's a way to fix it at all.

The only team that really falls outside the box when it comes to all of this is Detroit. They've managed to stay competitive for 20 years without having any top picks. But even that is starting to catch up to them at this point because while they still have a great farm system, they're having trouble getting veteran players in to play with the younger guys they have.
- HonkFortheGoose

I was thinking about this today. I thought it would be interesting if they decided to flip the lottery odds. So the 14th team in the lottery would have the best chance at getting the first pick and the last place team in the league would have the least chance of winning the pick.

So, this is what real hockey looks like??
- HonkFortheGoose

No, it's minor league hockey.

everyone but 28, 63, and 57
- gerbe42

fine with me.