Problem is you run into a hot goalie and boom. Or we run into a backup goalie that stinks and boom. I still am on the edge of my seat for the remaining 19 games. If we don't get a top 2 pick not only will that be an epic fail it will also make us the laughing stock of the NHL even more. We failed at tanking. I mean nothing looks worse than that.
- Smittyx36

Tanking at tanking would be pretty awful.

Calling Bucky Gleason a staunch defender of integrity may be the most ignorant single statement ever posted on the internet.

2 2nds is why stripes.
Better value in the 2nd round than there is in the 3rd and 5th.
2nd's are far more attractive when it comes to adding picks to sweeten possible deals.
- BuffaloHardHat

I would have done that deal as well, if a team is strappd for cap space a 2nd is a good asset to use to help them out with thier cap space. We could have just pulled up one of the goalies in the AHL for the last 19 games.

Pathetic. Team of the perpetual rebuild. This trading dealine might be the impetus for the NHL to change the drafting process.
- howiehandles

This isn't the Edmonton blog.

The Pens got Crosby, Malkin and Fleury by losing, not winning. How hard is this to figure out.
- SABRES 89

good points also Jared Staal

good points also Jared Staal
- yen6d1

and ryan whitney

5 year stretch they drafted

5
1
2
1
2

good points also Jared Staal
- yen6d1

And a Stanley cup

good points also Jared Staal
- yen6d1

That's not the point though.
The point is most are "embracing the tank", while some like me aren't.
There is nothing at all to figure out when it comes to attaining a generational talent, I am sure everyone and their grandmother "gets that".
Some people stick hard to their belief systems and the way they expect a game to be played.
Some are more flexible when looking at it because they are sharply focused on the prize more than anything else.
Neither, mind you makes anyone better, it just means you have a different opinion is all.

and ryan whitney

5 year stretch they drafted

5
1
2
1
2
- homiedclown

True Forgot about that. I hate them more than anything

True Forgot about that. I hate them more than anything
- yen6d1

I am sure NBC will not bring those 5 picks in the conversation tonight

That's not the point though.
The point is most are "embracing the tank", while some like me aren't.
There is nothing at all to figure out when it comes to attaining a generational talent, I am sure everyone and their grandmother "gets that".
Some people stick hard to their belief systems and the way they expect a game to be played.
Some are more flexible when looking at it because they are sharply focused on the prize more than anything else.
Neither, mind you makes anyone better, it just means you have a different opinion is all.
- BuffaloHardHat

Who are you to say they aren't trying to win though? Maybe they get outplayed badly every game, oh, i don't know, because they aren't very good?

Who are you to say they aren't trying to win though? Maybe they get outplayed badly every game, oh, i don't know, because they aren't very good?
- Pierceme69

But the kids, how are we ever going to raise our kids knowing the Sabres are participating in such a dastardly act.

The honor and integrity of those kids will forever be tarnished!!!!

flip side to the tank conversation

look at the black hawks

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005218.html


they had 4 or 5 years of really good drafting before they hit on kane and toews

they havn't done poop since then aside from shaw and saad and IMO will be trending downwards in a few years

I did not like the '17 2nd at first for Stewart, but looking at it now I like it a lot more. An extra 2nd in two years when we are trying to make a push could be a very good piece to have.

I did not like the '17 2nd at first for Stewart, but looking at it now I like it a lot more. An extra 2nd in two years when we are trying to make a push could be a very good piece to have.
- adambuffalo

the easy part is to have a solid pipeline and then draft your 2 superstars


the hard part is to keep the pipeline full in the years to follow

flip side to the tank conversation

look at the black hawks

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005218.html


they had 4 or 5 years of really good drafting before they hit on kane and toews

they havn't done poop since then aside from shaw and saad and IMO will be trending downwards in a few years
- homiedclown

sooo, kind of what Like what Buffalo is doing now.

Drafted well and now will end up with their Kane and Toews.....

sooo, kind of what Like what Buffalo is doing now.

Drafted well and now will end up with their Kane and Toews.....
- ImThatGuy

bingo

Who are you to say they aren't trying to win though? Maybe they get outplayed badly every game, oh, i don't know, because they aren't very good?
- Pierceme69

C'mon Pierce we all know damned well that Murray is doing his best to flush a turd.
The entire North American continent knows this.
Heck, some of Europe probably does as well.

and ryan whitney

5 year stretch they drafted

5
1
2
1
2
- homiedclown

The Avs got 3(Duchene), 2(Landeskog), and 1(MacKinnon). Never heard poop about them tanking.

Because looking at GAA average has nothing to do with the guy in between the pipes that has had over a 95% save percentage...
- Stripes77

When he was out in November for seven games, Team GA was 2.28.

So for the year, Team GA is 3.36.
Gorges out for seven games in November, Team GA during that time was 2.28.
Gorges out for eight games now, Team GA during that time is 2.63.
Next excuse for him?

I don't get why everybody is upset that the majority media does not like what the Sabres are doing. The reality is, this is the exact opposite of how sports was intended to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm as "pro-tank" as anybody, but if this were any other team but ours, we'd be snickering as well. The fact always was, that if Buffalo went down this path, they were not going to make many friends doing it. I do think, however, the anger is pointed in the wrong direction. It should be at a system that ultimately rewards failure.
- buffalofan19

It's not the fact that the media is upset at what the Sabres are doing, they should be. It's that 3 or 4 other teams are blatantly doing it also and they don't seem to have too much of a problem with them, or the fact that their has been at least 1 team aggressively tanking each year for like the past 25 years and that was also no big deal. The double standard is hypocritical. If tanking is a smart decision for Pitt, Chi, Tampa, NYI, Florida, Edm, Col, and many others who have done it. Then why is it such a sin when were doing it.

C'mon Pierce we all know damned well that Murray is doing his best to flush a turd.
The entire North American continent knows this.
Heck, some of Europe probably does as well.
- BuffaloHardHat

This is actually true, gave me a chuckle as well

That's not the point though.
The point is most are "embracing the tank", while some like me aren't.
There is nothing at all to figure out when it comes to attaining a generational talent, I am sure everyone and their grandmother "gets that".
Some people stick hard to their belief systems and the way they expect a game to be played.
Some are more flexible when looking at it because they are sharply focused on the prize more than anything else.
Neither, mind you makes anyone better, it just means you have a different opinion is all.
- BuffaloHardHat

From the beginning of the season i had the approach of wanting them to win but wasn't disappointed if they lost.
The kane trade changed it all for me, that was the moment that it was 100% obvious. 22 years old and i've NEVER seen a pure goal scorer (briere one year) or a good Quarterback. This towns deserves a star athlete.

But the kids, how are we ever going to raise our kids knowing the Sabres are participating in such a dastardly act.

The honor and integrity of those kids will forever be tarnished!!!!
- ImThatGuy

Write an essay of 1,500 words or less describing the role of plumbers and pipe-fitters in securing an adequate world-wide supply of potable water.

The essay judged as "Most Outstanding" by our three person panel will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship by the International Association of Water Supply Professionals, to assist in payment of tuition at an accredited institution of higher learning.