If I remember correctly just a few years ago the Canadiens finished last and were top 5 the next year.
- Sabre_Tooth

They also have the best goalie in the NHL. Makes it easier to rise in the standings as that stud goalie steals 2-1 and 1-0 games occasionally

didn't murray hire him to be the head coach?
- Michael Pachla

Come on boos, thats got pegula written all over it. Richardson wouldnt look like much consolation after the babcock swing and miss. He wants buffalo to not be some hockey back water, and buffalo was a third rate team in a second rate league- due to the previous ownership and gm fiascos.

They also have the best goalie in the NHL. Makes it easier to rise in the standings as that stud goalie steals 2-1 and 1-0 games occasionally
- stashu

2012-13 colorado was second to last in the nhl

next season they were 3rd overall
- homiedclown

And then promptly went back to 10th last. Because the previous year was mostly luck, which is unfortunately an element of rebuilding/winning.

you don't think they went into the babcock thing without a back up, do you?
- Michael Pachla

I think they went into it with Pegula's backup, not Murray's.

They also have the best goalie in the NHL. Makes it easier to rise in the standings as that stud goalie steals 2-1 and 1-0 games occasionally
- stashu

Selling him short here. The Habs with and without Price look like 2 completely different teams. The team in front of him isn't really that good.


Hatty

RIP Ted Marchibroda

dropping like flies this year

If I remember correctly just a few years ago the Canadiens finished last and were top 5 the next year.
- Sabre_Tooth

If you mean 2012, they were 3rd I believe at the bottom, but had made the playoffs the previous 4 years in a row. Other than that was 2005 where they got Carey at #5, but again they made the playoffs the year before. That is almost a hero to a zero and back again. The Sabres were at the bottom of the barrel last year and the year before. To me those are very different circumstances.

I guess there are a couple of exceptions, but they are few and far between it seems.

We are rebuilding ! If we get a top 5 pick. Great! Nobody wants to tank on purpose.


- Maximum Signal

You never know we might pull a 2.0 like last year

You never know we might pull a 2.0 like last year
- gerbe75pts

tanking involves selling off your best assets. They'll move pending UFA's and other middling guys but they're not going to move O'Reilly or Kane like they moved Pominville when they first started the tank.

If we are bottom five next year I'll be kicking and screaming, but no one goes from zero to hero that fast.
- RhinoFan

That's incorrect . but I'm happy how things are going

tanking involves selling off your best assets. They'll move pending UFA's and other middling guys but they're not going to move O'Reilly or Kane like they moved Pominville when they first started the tank.
- Sabresfan-365

TM might pull of something crazy I'm just enjoying this ride
Me,sabres,you knew we be in the top 5 or w/e lots of people
Went nuts talking playoffs in the summer

tanking involves selling off your best assets. They'll move pending UFA's and other middling guys but they're not going to move O'Reilly or Kane like they moved Pominville when they first started the tank.
- Sabresfan-365

Don't worry, as soon as we move our very first UFA they'll be dozens of other teams fans on this thread telling us all about how we're tanking and don't deserve to even have a first round pick.

That's incorrect . but I'm happy how things are going
- gerbe75pts

What other team was last place 2 years in a row and made the playoffs in the third year in succession? I apologize if I'm wrong saying that has never happened, but I don't think that has ever happened...has it?

If you mean 2012, they were 3rd I believe at the bottom, but had made the playoffs the previous 4 years in a row. Other than that was 2005 where they got Carey at #5, but again they made the playoffs the year before. That is almost a hero to a zero and back again. The Sabres were at the bottom of the barrel last year and the year before. To me those are very different circumstances.
- RhinoFan

Well, he said no one goes from zero to hero that fast and I was just stating that something of the sort had happened in recent memory.

P.S. I looked it up, Montreal finished last in the Eastern conference and the next year (half-season lockout year) finished second in the East.

What other team was last place 2 years in a row and made the playoffs in the third year in succession? I apologize if I'm wrong saying that has never happened, but I don't think that has ever happened...has it?
- RhinoFan

Flyers, Panthers , Avalanche , Canadiens, Tampa Bay, Calgary

Wonder how the 49ers feel about deciding Kap was the future instead of Alex Smith.

Wonder how the 49ers feel about deciding Kap was the future instead of Alex Smith.
- SomeoneGerman

I still think they would want to draft a quarterback I'm not a Alex Smith fan and I think he's terrible but he does win

Flyers, Panthers , Avalanche , Canadiens, Tampa Bay, Calgary
- gerbe75pts

IMO that is not currrrrrect.

Just to take Tampa as a perfect example. Tampa was last place in the league twice in a row...1997 and 1998. In 1999 they got to 3rd last, with 54 pts. It wasn't until 2002 and 2003 that they blew up and got 93 and 103 pt seasons. So again, no one goes from last place twice to a playoff spot. I still have yet to be shown where that happens.

http://www.bov.ch/hockey/fstand.html

TBH the closest I could find was Pitt being last and then second last, then squeaking in the next year because of a guy named Sidney Crosby (the exception to the rule). It rarely happens and that's what tempers my expectations.

IMO that is not currrrrrect.

Just to take Tampa as a perfect example. Tampa was last place in the league twice in a row...1997 and 1998. In 1999 they got to 3rd last, with 54 pts. It wasn't until 2002 and 2003 that they blew up and got 93 and 103 pt seasons. So again, no one goes from last place twice to a playoff spot. I still have yet to be shown where that happens.

http://www.bov.ch/hockey/fstand.html
- RhinoFan

I tried Philadelphia and Calgary and found it incorrect as well.

IMO that is not currrrrrect.

Just to take Tampa as a perfect example. Tampa was last place in the league twice in a row...1997 and 1998. In 1999 they got to 3rd last, with 54 pts. It wasn't until 2002 and 2003 that they blew up and got 93 and 103 pt seasons. So again, no one goes from last place twice to a playoff spot. I still have yet to be shown where that happens.

http://www.bov.ch/hockey/fstand.html
- RhinoFan

First overall he never said that so I am correct

I tried Philadelphia and Calgary and found it incorrect as well.
- rmiethaner

You don't remember the Flyers missing out on Patrick Kane and drafting JVR? ?? Then after that they made all those moves made the playoffs then after that they went to the Cup finals

You don't remember the Flyers missing out on Patrick Kane and drafting JVR? ?? Then after that they made all those moves made the playoffs then after that they went to the Cup finals
- gerbe75pts

I do remember that.

Maybe I missed the point. I thought it was about a team that finished in last place overall for two straight years, not just once, and then made the playoffs the next.

I can't find that anywhere.