Agreed but I don't think we should rule out finishing last because of winning streak, just that it'll be a closer race than we originally thought.
- Sabresfan-365

We can have cake and eat it too. Nice to win a few games here and there.

Agreed but I don't think we should rule out finishing last because of winning streak, just that it'll be a closer race than we originally thought.
- Sabresfan-365

That and we have been semi-lucky with injuries

Imagine if Girgensons, Ennis or even Myers get hurt?

I can't imagine winning too many games at that point

If we end up 7th or 8th no, anywhere in the top 5 yes.

We were mediocre for so long.

I will take Reinhart/Strome or Hanifin
- sbroads24

Sorry no. This is about getting a franchise player. Eichel and Mcdavid are head and shoulders above the rest. This will not be worth it if we end up with another defensemen. We dont need defense. We need a franchise offensive player.

[quote=MCGUIZZY]Sorry no. This is about getting a franchise player. Eichel and Mcdavid are head and shoulders above the rest. This will not be worth it if we end up with another defensemen. We dont need defense. We need a franchise offensive player.quote]
I agree, but we already have 3 potentially really good centers.

It's not dooms day if we miss out on those 2, we just drafted a forward at #2 overall and have a combo of Armia/Girgorenko getting praise in the AHL

[quote=MCGUIZZY]Sorry no. This is about getting a franchise player. Eichel and Mcdavid are head and shoulders above the rest. This will not be worth it if we end up with another defensemen. We dont need defense. We need a franchise offensive player.quote]
I agree, but we already have 3 potentially really good centers.

It's not dooms day if we miss out on those 2, we just drafted a forward at #2 overall and have a combo of Armia/Girgorenko getting praise in the AHL
- sbroads24

We dont have a franchise changing player bottom line. We need one badly. Grigorenko still has his question marks. in fact most of our prospects/young players still have question marks. We dont have a stud and we will need one if we want to turn this thing around.

We dont have a franchise changing player bottom line. We need one badly. Grigorenko still has his question marks. in fact most of our prospects/young players still have question marks. We dont have a stud and we will need one if we want to turn this thing around.
- MCGUIZZY

#3 has had franchise associated with his name recently. At any rate, I don't think we'll miss out. It's possible sure, but with a double header against the habs and lightning coming i suspect we'll be right back "on track" so to speak. That and im not sure Enroth/Neuvirth can stand on his head for 50 more games

That and we have been semi-lucky with injuries

Imagine if Girgensons, Ennis or even Myers get hurt?

I can't imagine winning too many games at that point
- sbroads24

Any combination of injuries on the blueline probably brings the meszaros-benoit pairing back

We dont have a franchise changing player bottom line. We need one badly. Grigorenko still has his question marks. in fact most of our prospects/young players still have question marks. We dont have a stud and we will need one if we want to turn this thing around.
- MCGUIZZY

There is nothing to say that either Eichel or McDavid will be exceptional in the NHL. They may not progress. Anything is possible. I am anticipating the worst and hoping for the best. Of course both have the ability to be generational talents, but there is always the possibility that they don't or they get hurt. The realist in me is planning on what we have now and seeing what that gets us.

Where did you learn to math? you wish you had 21 points
- SpoiledByOil

good lookin out...

dyslexia
- cabin

or I need an editor

We dont have a franchise changing player bottom line. We need one badly. Grigorenko still has his question marks. in fact most of our prospects/young players still have question marks. We dont have a stud and we will need one if we want to turn this thing around.
- MCGUIZZY

you could also look at the bruins...they never drafted a franchise player (in fact they traded jumbo joe away) and they did alright

This is what I was afraid of. The sabres are not a lock to finish last. It seems like everyone in here has been assuming/flaunting the fact that the sabres will end up with one of mcdavid/Eichel. We better pray that we end up with one at this point. Will all of this be worth it if we miss out and end up drafting 3rd or 4th overall? short answer-no
- MCGUIZZY

What is even better than not finishing last? the Islanders and Blues finishing #1 and #2

Any combination of injuries on the blueline probably brings the meszaros-benoit pairing back
- Sabresfan-365

Fighting for last place probably brings those two back near the end.

Fighting for last place probably brings those two back near the end.
- sippyd

Can you imagine what this team would look like without Girgensons??

For Edmonton it would mean another player seemingly in the range of a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and a Taylor Hall. Not a bad player by any means, but a player like that placed in the mix with what they have now probably wouldn't move them much farther along. The Oilers still have major holes on defense and in goal and because of the poor draft record, there's not much in the system to fill those holes.

Did I miss something about the godliness of this draft? I'm pretty sure most scouting reports would point to Hall and Nuge ending up better than a 4th overall from this year.

And arguably our top 5 best prospects are all defensemen. Certainly top 3.

For the record, I want to see the Oilers win as much as possible and improve through a much needed dose of confidence. I don't care to see McDavid in Oilers silks. It would feel profoundly cheap.

On the other hand I'd be totally happy to see Buffalo land him!

"Good Luck"!

Can you imagine what this team would look like without Girgensons??
- HonkFortheGoose

Him Ennis or Myers injured would be a big problem.

Him Ennis or Myers injured would be a big problem.
- sippyd

Yeah. Definitely. I have to say, I've been pretty impressed with how the Myers/Strachan pairing has looked. I was worried that Gorges getting hurt would effect Myers, but he seems to be maintaining his level of play.

Yeah. Definitely. I have to say, I've been pretty impressed with how the Myers/Strachan pairing has looked. I was worried that Gorges getting hurt would affect Myers, but he seems to be maintaining his level of play.
- HonkFortheGoose

Strachan was the best of the scrub pickups. He did a number on OV. He makes some really nice plays.

Strachan was the best of the scrub pickups. He did a number on OV. He makes some really nice plays.
- sippyd

I've been pleasantly surprised. Whether he keeps it up for a good portion of time is still to be seen, but so far so good.

Too bad the Bills don't have an offense to go with their defense.

Him Ennis or Myers injured would be a big problem.
- sippyd

reaches for baseball bat under the desk while pricelining tickets to Buffalo...

Strachan was the best of the scrub pickups. He did a number on OV. He makes some really nice plays.
- sippyd

I think I mentioned this a couple of Blogs ago, but double his salary (celery) and keep him another year or two. I personally think he does a better job than Mezzaros, Beniot or Weber. Nothing flashy....just "be" a defenseman.
A 30 year old making NHL "minimum wage" is a good guy to have around the kids. Not some chump making 4.5 million who doesn't give a crap.

I think I mentioned this a couple of Blogs ago, but double his salary (celery) and keep him another year or two. I personally think he does a better job than Mezzaros, Beniot or Weber. Nothing flashy....just "be" a defenseman.
A 30 year old making NHL "minimum wage" is a good guy to have around the kids. Not some chump making 4.5 million who doesn't give a crap.
- seedy

Or trade him because he's doing well.

Or trade him because he's doing well.
- thatsapickle

Eh. I think Seedy's idea works better for the team. All you're going to get in a trade for him is a late round pick if you're lucky. Sign him to another 1 year deal and see what happens. This is all dependent upon whether he can consistently play like he has so far.

Too bad the Bills don't have an offense to go with their defense.
- sippyd

They've got some good pieces just a bad O-Line and frankly I'm not that confident in Hackett as an offensive coordinator.