I still disagree with your premise entirely

1) even u didn’t think we’d fall as far as we did
2) there are players drafted every single year in the 15-20 range that end up being better than those drafted in the top10
3) your call to “tank” wasn’t just for last year
It was until we have enough talent to be Cup contenders
...a) how can one really know when that is when some picks are bound to not work out
...b) and even with the ones who do, it happens to varying degrees and lengths of time

It kinda seems like your about ready to say we should tank again this year

And sure, high end draft picks are great
But unless you are in a situation to clearly go after an Eichel or Dahlin,
then you should be trying to win
Even if that means u pick 16th instead of 8th
- jdfitz77

The amazing thing is that the players that get picked 16th were available at 8. At the end of the day you have to make the right pick. But the premise picking early as possible is not flawed, the scouting departments of some NHL teams are though.

That's why I wanted Cozens last year. I think we have a better team this year then last, but if there is truly no moves to add a few top 9 reputable guys that fit the mantra of good for "now on", then it would be safe to start doing some research on the top end of this years draft.
- Swedish_Jesus

Cozens is looking pretty good, we actually have quite a few young guys coming up that are looking very good. I still think Botts is gonna pull of a trade that will help us, but it won't happen right now, most teams are still trying to figure there own poop out right now

The amazing thing is that the players that get picked 16th were available at 8. At the end of the day you have to make the right pick. But the premise picking early as possible is not flawed, the scouting departments of some NHL teams are though.
- Pegullaville

Sure. For the most part, earlier picks do better than later ones

But my whole argument with you last year was that there wasn’t much of a gap between picking 8th & 16th
No, we wouldn’t have gotten Cozens
But i bet most of this board would’ve been happy with Caufield, Newhook or Krebs around 16
And i really liked McMichael who went 25th

The other big part of my point,
was that in theory... you could say it’s better for us to tank again this year, and even next, and maybe even the year after

Makes sense in theory
But in reality, we are just ruining the young talent that’s here that we are trying to develop into winners

Winners wanna win
And i guarantee they don’t want a message from management that we are trying to tank for Lefreniere or Byfield, etc

Gotta find the balance between trying to win & acquiring young talent
Bc u just can’t keep tanking

Sure. For the most part, earlier picks do better than later ones

But my whole argument with you last year was that there wasn’t much of a gap between picking 8th & 16th
No, we wouldn’t have gotten Cozens
But i bet most of this board would’ve been happy with Caufield, Newhook or Krebs around 16
And i really liked McMichael who went 25th

The other big part of my point,
was that in theory... you could say it’s better for us to tank again this year, and even next, and maybe even the year after

Makes sense in theory
But in reality, we are just ruining the young talent that’s here that we are trying to develop into winners

Winners wanna win
And i guarantee they don’t want a message from management that we are trying to tank for Lefreniere or Byfield, etc

Gotta find the balance between trying to win & acquiring young talent
Bc u just can’t keep tanking
- jdfitz77

Never said future years, I’m not yet even fully committed to this year. However there were no moves that we were making last year to provide an immediate impact that would of helped the team last year and throughout the next several years.

We added Miller, Joker, Mojo, Vesey, Olofsson full time this year and we are still spinning our tires.

Now we have depth on defence to finally accommodate moving a guy like Risto, whether or not Botts does it is another story.

There are still too many holes though on this team and Dahlin and Mitts aren’t hitting their ceilings this year.

Never said future years, I’m not yet even fully committed to this year. However there were no moves that we were making last year to provide an immediate impact that would of helped the team last year and throughout the next several years.

We added Miller, Joker, Mojo, Vesey, Olofsson full time this year and we are still spinning our tires.

Now we have depth on defence to finally accommodate moving a guy like Risto, whether or not Botts does it is another story.

There are still too many holes though on this team and Dahlin and Mitts aren’t hitting their ceilings this year.
- Pegullaville

No, but in theory (your theory) it would still be better to keep picking top5 than to be picking in the 15-20 range... right?

But even that wasn’t really my problem
It is an interesting argument on how to balance acquiring young talent & trying to win

My big issue, was that u were essentially coming in here everyday last year cheering for us to lose
That was just sh!tty dude

No, but in theory (your theory) it would still be better to keep picking top5 than to be picking in the 15-20 range... right?

But even that wasn’t really my problem
It is an interesting argument on how to balance acquiring young talent & trying to win

My big issue, was that u were essentially coming in here everyday last year cheering for us to lose
That was just sh!tty dude
- jdfitz77

If Dylan Cozens ends up being a Mark Scheifele lite and the long term 2C this team needs behind Jack everyone will forget about the losing we did that year pretty quickly.

If Dylan Cozens ends up being a Mark Scheifele lite and the long term 2C this team needs behind Jack everyone will forget about the losing we did that year pretty quickly.
- Pegullaville

One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she's ten feet tall

And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Call Alice
When she was just small

When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head
Feed your head

Nothing i said was douchey or attacking towards you
- jdfitz77

As the resident douche around these parts, I must say, almost every post you make is douchey.

- homiedclown

gm meetings tomorrow...if anything happens it probably won't be until later this month at the earliest...hearing anything about Calgary?

Between Gerbe and the crystal ballers I'm pretty burnt out on this place.
Believe it or not, this place used to actually not be like the cantina scene in Star Wars.
- seedy

Uh... depending on which Star Wars, that's a very good thing or a very bad thing.

gm meetings tomorrow...if anything happens it probably won't be until later this month at the earliest...hearing anything about Calgary?
- Michael Pachla

fire sale

dump the blah

grab any pick/prospect


trying to free up cap


nothing to see, move along

Uh... depending on which Star Wars, that's a very good thing or a very bad thing.
- BeadyEyedDouche

the mandalorian is outstanding

fire sale

dump the blah

grab any pick/prospect


trying to free up cap


nothing to see, move along
- homiedclown

I know that's your take, but what about the sabres

I know that's your take, but what about the sabres
- Michael Pachla

I heard nothing, as of yesterday afternoon

I heard nothing, as of yesterday afternoon
- homiedclown

am seeing that gaudreau is being vilified in Calgary...that's why I asked about them

the mandalorian is outstanding
- homiedclown

It's (frank)ing incredible

am seeing that gaudreau is being vilified in Calgary...that's why I asked about them
- Michael Pachla

Trade them Reinhart, McCabe and Ristolainen right now if this is the case.

am seeing that gaudreau is being vilified in Calgary...that's why I asked about them
- Michael Pachla

18 points in 23 games so far this season, and had 99 points last season

pretty dumb if they move him

#ihavespoken

If Dylan Cozens ends up being a Mark Scheifele lite and the long term 2C this team needs behind Jack everyone will forget about the losing we did that year pretty quickly.
- Pegullaville

Agreed
And if we got Caufield at 16 & he turns into Johnny hockey lite, then you’d have forgotten about our 1st round loss

That works both ways dude

Hey Homie,
Any fights in the Conference Rooms?
Any reports of Deep Dish Pizza stains all over a certain box suite in Chicago?
Any reports of Sam looking at the asses of you g woman, or Jacking mumbling how he is beginning to hate hockey?
- IonSabres

Probably, but that's just because deep dish is dogpoop.

am seeing that gaudreau is being vilified in Calgary...that's why I asked about them
- Michael Pachla

Yeah... it seems we aren’t the only team with crazy negative fans

I wonder what kind of package it would take to get him?

Unless he requests a trade, my guess would be that they just hold onto him
Makes more sense to just see if he can work through it, bc they won’t get a player back as good as him

Agreed
And if we got Caufield at 16 & he turns into Johnny hockey lite, then you’d have forgotten about our 1st round loss

That works both ways dude
- jdfitz77

I mean I take the Center over the winger all day long. If Cozens flames out in this scenario then Botts is sitting on his couch out of a job

I mean I take the Center over the winger all day long. If Cozens flames out in this scenario then Botts is sitting on his couch out of a job
- Pegullaville

You’re nitpicking now
I’m sure u got my point

You’re nitpicking now
I’m sure u got my point
- jdfitz77

I do understand your point, however Caufield could have been the pick at 7.

Botts had his choice of every draft eligible player available after pick 6, that is the opportunity you have drafting early although it’s not completely fool proof.

There are players picked every where in the draft that turn out. I’ll take my chances in the top 10 of the draft.