So many people seem to think this but I don't see it. The league believes that lessoning the odds of getting the pick will lesson the likelihood of tanking. Nothing more, nothing less.
- Slump Buster

I don't necessarily agree with the conspiracy but I don't think the recent changes alter teams thinking on tanking.

As it stands right now it looks like the best way to build a contender is (even under the new lottery rules) still through the draft.

Even if you end up finishing with the 2nd pick this year or the 4th pick under the new rules next year you're still in a far better position than if you tried to build by constantly trading for 2nd liners or going for middling free agents.

The NFL you have more busts. A number 1 pick in the NHL is going to play Everytime.
- ImThatGuy

Alexandre Daigle?

Patrik Stefan?

So many people seem to think this but I don't see it. The league believes that lessoning the odds of getting the pick will lesson the likelihood of tanking. Nothing more, nothing less.
- Slump Buster

So by lessening the likelyhood of tanking, you mean lessening the chance a team at the bottom has to improve in minimal time?

It can be looked at both ways. It is quite obvious the sabres blatantly tanked the entire season. I dont think it happens very often though. Usually at the deadline is where a team decides if they are in or out, and i dont see a problem with that.

Alexandre Daigle?

Patrik Stefan?
- DynamicThreads

In fairness to his statement those guys did play in the nhl (clear busts no doubt though).

But these days with all the advancement in scouting it seems like drafting 1st overall is a far safer bet than drafting 1st in say the NFL or NBA.

Does anyone believe Indianapolis addresses their QB position with more than curtis painter if andrew luck wasnt the prize for finishing last?

Drafts like this one coming up are few and far between. Teams arent trying to finish last every year or in the bottom 5 every year. Why dont they deserve the pick of the litter if they finish last?

To expand on drafting first and then not again afterwards.. What if you finish last, draft first and then you can draft no higher than second if you finish last the next season. No higher than third if you finish last a third consecutive year and so on. The next time you can draft first overall is the after the first time you finish above bottom 5.

Does anyone believe Indianapolis addresses their QB position with more than curtis painter if andrew luck wasnt the prize for finishing last?

Drafts like this one coming up are few and far between. Teams arent trying to finish last every year or in the bottom 5 every year. Why dont they deserve the pick of the litter if they finish last?

To expand on drafting first and then not again afterwards.. What if you finish last, draft first and then you can draft no higher than second if you finish last the next season. No higher than third if you finish last a third consecutive year and so on. The next time you can draft first overall is the after the first time you finish above bottom 5.
- ieetbred

I like that part.

In fairness to his statement those guys did play in the nhl (clear busts no doubt though).

But these days with all the advancement in scouting it seems like drafting 1st overall is a far safer bet than drafting 1st in say the NFL or NBA.
- Sabresfan-365

Most guys who are labelled as a "bust" in those leagues end up playing at least 1 full season, though. Aaron Maybin, Ron Dayne, Greg Oden, (even Alex Smith is considered a "bust") etc...They just don't always put up huge numbers or stay healthy. There are plenty of top 5 picks in the NHL who play but don't put up the expected numbers, just like the NBA and NHL. I really don't see much difference between the 3 sports.

Edit: Also, the past few NFL and NBA drafts, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall have all been pretty big hits, injuries aside.

Would anyone trade Stewart for Eriksson straight up? This year he might not do much but next year I bet he could be a quality top 6 add playing with (young center) and Kane.

Would anyone trade Stewart for Eriksson straight up? This year he might not do much but next year I bet he could be a quality top 6 add playing with (young center) and Kane.
- TheSabresTaco

Yes.


Boston I don't think would though.

Most guys who are labelled as a "bust" in those leagues end up playing at least 1 full season, though. Aaron Maybin, Ron Dayne, Greg Oden, (even Alex Smith is considered a "bust") etc...They just don't always put up huge numbers or stay healthy. There are plenty of top 5 picks in the NHL who play but don't put up the expected numbers, just like the NBA and NHL. I really don't see much difference between the 3 sports.

Edit: Also, the past few NFL and NBA drafts, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall have all been pretty big hits, injuries aside.
- DynamicThreads

This makes me sad. Just seeing his name makes me sad. Or sick or angry, I don't know.

Would anyone trade Stewart for Eriksson straight up? This year he might not do much but next year I bet he could be a quality top 6 add playing with (young center) and Kane.
- TheSabresTaco

I'd rather re-sign Stewart. I'd also rather package Stewart for a guy like Simmonds and re-negotiate with him.

Yes.


Boston I don't think would though.
- dadeadhead

If we had to add, I'd throw them something *a little* extra. 3rd or 4th

This makes me sad. Just seeing his name makes me sad. Or sick or angry, I don't know.
- TheSabresTaco

Remember when we cut him and Rex Ryan signed him and he sacked our QB first game against us?

I think it makes you angry.

Alexandre Daigle?

Patrik Stefan?
- DynamicThreads

70% of the time it works 100% of the time

I like that part.
- stashu

I think there are much better ways to solve this tanking "issue" than what the NHL has put into motion for the upcoming seasons.

Conspiracy aside, i think the NHL cringes when they see a team like buffalo loaded in the way we are. They are terrified of the small market getting the big stars out of the draft, multiplied by the fact that our market doesnt even have issues compared to some. (carolina, florida, arizona ect)

I'd rather re-sign Stewart. I'd also rather package Stewart for a guy like Simmonds and re-negotiate with him.
- DynamicThreads

Ooof. That's not happening ever in the history of ever.

Back to Eriksson, why not try to sign Stewart on July 1. (frank) it, have both. We need skill at the rw position and history tells us Eriksson is a pretty consistent 60 point guy outside of Boston. Yeah, he's injury prone. But for one year, it's extremely low risk/ pretty high reward

Does anyone believe Indianapolis addresses their QB position with more than curtis painter if andrew luck wasnt the prize for finishing last?

Drafts like this one coming up are few and far between. Teams arent trying to finish last every year or in the bottom 5 every year. Why dont they deserve the pick of the litter if they finish last?

To expand on drafting first and then not again afterwards.. What if you finish last, draft first and then you can draft no higher than second if you finish last the next season. No higher than third if you finish last a third consecutive year and so on. The next time you can draft first overall is the after the first time you finish above bottom 5.
- ieetbred

it was done on purpose... it was very clear. Suck for Luck was being said before the season started in Indy...

70% of the time it works 100% of the time
- IndianaSabresFan

Ooof. That's not happening ever in the history of ever.

Back to Eriksson, why not try to sign Stewart on July 1. (frank) it, have both. We need skill at the rw position and history tells us Eriksson is a pretty consistent 60 point guy outside of Boston. Yeah, he's injury prone. But for one year, it's extremely low risk/ pretty high reward
- TheSabresTaco

...a boy can dream...

It was a late one last night, day off, and I'm all alone until Sunday night.............


Oh the possibilities......
- dadeadhead

How'd you manage that? Do you even know what to do will all that alone time??

Most guys who are labelled as a "bust" in those leagues end up playing at least 1 full season, though. Aaron Maybin, Ron Dayne, Greg Oden, (even Alex Smith is considered a "bust") etc...They just don't always put up huge numbers or stay healthy. There are plenty of top 5 picks in the NHL who play but don't put up the expected numbers, just like the NBA and NHL. I really don't see much difference between the 3 sports.
- DynamicThreads

Respectfully i think there's a huge difference. In the last decade the NBA saw Bargnani, Bogut and Oden go 1st overall in three consecutive years. I don't see such a pattern in the nhl.

Fleury went 1st overall and then was follwed up by Ovi and Crosby and Erik Johnson was followed by Pat Kane.

the 2013 1st pick in the nba is already being touted as nothing more than a bench player.

There's risk in all 3 but in the modern day draft it seems like you're far more likely to get what's been advertised to you than in the NBA or NFL.

I'd rather re-sign Stewart. I'd also rather package Stewart for a guy like Simmonds and re-negotiate with him.
- DynamicThreads

Maybe I'm missing something, but what exactly are you re-negotiating? You can't re-negotiate a contract in the NHL. It doesn't work that way like it does in the NFL. If you trade for a guy and you don't like his contract, your options are to buy him out, play him, or send him to the AHL for minimal cap relief while still paying him the full contract.

I agree also with the lottery changing next year we could strike with a high pick again
- yen6d1

Plus we might still not be very good.

Respectfully i think there's a huge difference. In the last decade the NBA saw Bargnani, Bogut and Oden go 1st overall in three consecutive years. I don't see such a pattern in the nhl.

Fleury went 1st overall and then was follwed up by Ovi and Crosby and Erik Johnson was followed by Pat Kane.

the 2013 1st pick in the nba is already being touted as nothing more than a bench player.

There's risk in all 3 but in the modern day draft it seems like you're far more likely to get what's been advertised to you than in the NBA or NFL.
- Sabresfan-365

Sure. I think NBA is the biggest risk. NFL has been mostly hits lately, though.

I wonder if the 935147 hockey leagues and farm system(s) has a lot to do with NHL's success in player drafting. And I don't exactly wonder more than I suspect.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what exactly are you re-negotiating? You can't re-negotiate a contract in the NHL. It doesn't work that way like it does in the NFL. If you trade for a guy and you don't like his contract, your options are to buy him out, play him, or send him to the AHL for minimal cap relief while still paying him the full contract.
- HonkFortheGoose

Just looked it up, didn't realize he signed a 6-year extension. For some reason I thought his contract was up in a year or two.