If the Hurricanes can just get a few breaks, they'll go 72-0 to start the season. Sadly, they'll go 0-10 to finish the season and get bounced in the first round despite winning the Preisents' Trophy because luck magically disappears immediately after game 72 and then, and only then, does talent start to play a prominent role.
- jmatchett383

I wish I didn't think you were serious.

"They have a decent goalie" I got a chuckle out of that comment myself.

I wish I didn't think you were serious.
- James_Tanner

I wish you understood hockey.

Correct. You obviously don't know the sport if you think otherwise. I mean every season it's a crap shoot for the Presidents trophy. Those teams that win usually have zero talent but they sure are lucky. Wherever those dice fall determines that lucky team. Talent really becomes evident the last nine games or so and those teams that use all of their luck up in the first 73 games have nothing to fear if they make it to the playoffs due to there never being any luck involved in them. That's when the talented teams take over but if those talented teams happen to be not lucky they may never make it in the first place (you have to be lucky those first 73 games).

Buffalo in da house

You better recognize a'ight
- Cptmjl

If anything, I'd say there's more luck involved in a best-of-7 playoff series than over an 82-game regular season. But hey, what do I know, I don't have a blog on a rumor site.

After reading Tanner's selections and explanations for said selections:

If anything, I'd say there's more luck involved in a best-of-7 playoff series than over an 82-game regular season. But hey, what do I know, I don't have a blog on a rumor site.
- jmatchett383

Exactly. I mean I dont know why these teams tank to get these talented players? Domi and Duclair are riding a luck streak as I type this.

The Sabres have 5 wins, 10 points. Rank 24th in league standings. You could have picked 19 other teams better than them.

Records are useless Tanner? Ok how bout this #, chances of them making the playoffs right now at 16%.
- tomburton99

Stats can be twisted to serve ones own viewpoint, for instance I could say the Sabres are actually tied in pts for the 22nd spot, still, even the 26th ranked team is only 5 points removed from the 10th place team......still doesn't likely put them in the top 5 or 10 but they appear a whole lot closer than you think

I'd have to agree with Tanner on this one, stats this early in the season don't mean too much, data pool is too limited, have to rely more on actual play on the ice, and man oh man the Sabres have been flying on the ice lately.....sheet, they threw 53 shots on goal against a Penguins team that iced Crosby, Malkin and Kessel!

Stats can be twisted to serve ones own viewpoint, for instance I could say the Sabres are actually tied in pts for the 22nd spot, still, even the 26th ranked team is only 5 points removed from the 10th place team......still doesn't likely put them in the top 5 or 10 but they appear a whole lot closer than you think

I'd have to agree with Tanner on this one, stats this early in the season don't mean too much, data pool is too limited, have to rely more on actual play on the ice, and man oh man the Sabres have been flying on the ice lately.....sheet, they threw 53 shots on goal against a Penguins team that iced Crosby, Malkin and Kessel!
- nikel

Yeah, they put up 53 shots against those 3 former Selke winners...

Yeah, they put up 53 shots against those 3 former Selke winners...
- jmatchett383

Someone is salty that there team cannot win right now.......

It clearly says that this is not based on points or W-L, Sabres poss. numbers, S/GM, etc are towards the top of the league. Will that continue? No. They are a bottom 10 team still. But right now? They have won 3 of there last 4 and are dominating entire games. As you should know being a flyers fan. Tanner isn't saying they are the best team or a top 5 team, this was based on numbers. But some people here can not read (reed) clearly.

The Sabres have 5 wins, 10 points. Rank 24th in league standings. You could have picked 19 other teams better than them.

Records are useless Tanner? Ok how bout this #, chances of them making the playoffs right now at 16%.
- tomburton99

Oh, if only you actually read (red) the first paragraph of the article.

Yeah, they put up 53 shots against those 3 former Selke winners...
- jmatchett383

I hate to tell you, but the way it works in hockey is that if one Offense has the puck enough to land that many shots, it makes it pretty hard to allow the opposing teams O to put pucks on net...i.e.meaning not only were the Penguins D not doing their jobs but neither was the Offense.

The fact that the Sabres kept the puck away from (arguable) 3 the top offensive players in the league is telling, if you don't understand that then better to just not comment

Exactly. I mean I dont know why these teams tank to get these talented players? Domi and Duclair are riding a luck streak as I type this.
- Cptmjl

Right, because the Islanders got where they are now by getting low draft picks

You guys and your short memories are so comical.

Islanders, from 07/08 to 11/12 seasons finished no higher than 4th worst in the league, 2008/9 were 30th with 61 pts, a mere 7 more than the "absurd/pathetic/tanking" Sabres of last season....or would you like to naively think you got Tavares because you took the high road and weren't tanking with a crap team that garnered 61 pts that season?

I hate to tell you, but the way it works in hockey is that if one Offense has the puck enough to land that many shots, it makes it pretty hard to allow the opposing teams O to put pucks on net...i.e.meaning not only were the Penguins D not doing their jobs but neither was the Offense.

The fact that the Sabres kept the puck away from (arguable) 3 the top offensive players in the league is telling, if you don't understand that then better to just not comment
- nikel

Yes, I understand how possession works. That said, it doesn't matter how good your players are at puck possession if they lack the ability to get possession in the first place and/or cannot properly transition the puck. Have you watched the majority of Penguins games this season and seen how their defense functions?

Yes, I understand how possession works. That said, it doesn't matter how good your players are at puck possession if they lack the ability to get possession in the first place and/or cannot properly transition the puck. Have you watched the majority of Penguins games this season and seen how their defense functions?
- jmatchett383

So you're arguing that getting or keeping possession is solely a function of the D?....seriously?

Correct. You obviously don't know the sport if you think otherwise. I mean every season it's a crap shoot for the Presidents trophy. Those teams that win usually have zero talent but they sure are lucky. Wherever those dice fall determines that lucky team. Talent really becomes evident the last nine games or so and those teams that use all of their luck up in the first 73 games have nothing to fear if they make it to the playoffs due to there never being any luck involved in them. That's when the talented teams take over but if those talented teams happen to be not lucky they may never make it in the first place (you have to be lucky those first 73 games).

Buffalo in da house

You better recognize a'ight
- Cptmjl

Man, you post prolifically and even intelligently, but you love twisting anything someone says that's slightly positive about things you dislike, such as Garth, common decency, the Sabres, in order to make your snarky little "gotcha-at-your-own-game" points, and that makes you look like a whiny brat. Sarcasm is one thing but being douchy is another.

Hey we just beat "the best team in hockey bar none" without Keith or Hossa. What does that make us???

Hey we just beat "the best team in hockey bar none" without Keith or Hossa. What does that make us???
- SimpleJack

Statistically lucky.

Still under the 73 game mark.

Someone is salty that there team cannot win right now.......

It clearly says that this is not based on points or W-L, Sabres poss. numbers, S/GM, etc are towards the top of the league. Will that continue? No. They are a bottom 10 team still. But right now? They have won 3 of there last 4 and are dominating entire games. As you should know being a flyers fan. Tanner isn't saying they are the best team or a top 5 team, this was based on numbers. But some people here can not read (reed) clearly.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Um you didnt dominate us when we played you. Honestly the Islanders are playing like crap but your team was completely out played for two and a half periods. If it weren't for Ullmark and a puck going off the linesman which lead to the winning goal the Sabres wouldn't have won. Im not salty I'll be the first to say the islanders are playing like crap but you're posting some nonsense. Dominate? Come on how many shots did you end that game with?

Hey we just beat "the best team in hockey bar none" without Keith or Hossa. What does that make us???
- SimpleJack

Equivalent to Arizona? They beat the Kings without Keith or Hossa, too...

Man, you post prolifically and even intelligently, but you love twisting anything someone says that's slightly positive about things you dislike, such as Garth, common decency, the Sabres, in order to make your snarky little "gotcha-at-your-own-game" points, and that makes you look like a whiny brat. Sarcasm is one thing but being douchy is another.
- LandlordTom

Ok. Someone lambasting a poster in a Tanner thread about sarcasm and being douchey. Keep up the good fight

Right, because the Islanders got where they are now by getting low draft picks

You guys and your short memories are so comical.

Islanders, from 07/08 to 11/12 seasons finished no higher than 4th worst in the league, 2008/9 were 30th with 61 pts, a mere 7 more than the "absurd/pathetic/tanking" Sabres of last season....or would you like to naively think you got Tavares because you took the high road and weren't tanking with a crap team that garnered 61 pts that season?
- nikel

Im not overly shocked by this but I think you may have missed my point.

Right, because the Islanders got where they are now by getting low draft picks

You guys and your short memories are so comical.

Islanders, from 07/08 to 11/12 seasons finished no higher than 4th worst in the league, 2008/9 were 30th with 61 pts, a mere 7 more than the "absurd/pathetic/tanking" Sabres of last season....or would you like to naively think you got Tavares because you took the high road and weren't tanking with a crap team that garnered 61 pts that season?
- nikel

- KINGS67

Went over your head also...

Hey we just beat "the best team in hockey bar none" without Keith or Hossa. What does that make us???
- SimpleJack

a very good team.

Im not overly shocked by this but I think you may have missed my point.
- Cptmjl

make a clear point, that would be a good start

here's a thought, if no one understands what you're saying, or misinterprets it.....it might be you, not us