Michael Pachla: Ovie "the King," another tanking team plus Sabres notes from last night

This blog should " wake some people up "

It can be measured by one word, Mr. Hodge, a word that has been thrown Buffalo's way all season, yet hasn't been used to describe the same path the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes and now Maple Leafs have chosen

first - if you haven't heard the word "tank" associated with the leafs, oilers, and yotes....then you probably haven't turned on a tv, or logged on to a computer for the last 2 months. people have been saying nothing but "tank" about these teams for weeks, if not months.

second - the reason that it's been thrown at the sabres all year is because it was obvious in the summer what their plan was this year. the oilers, leafs, and yotes actually went into the season trying to win.........and while i have no doubt that sabres players were out there trying to win games, there has been absolutely no doubt what managements strategy has been for the last year.

buffalo set out to tank..........the other teams settled on that strategy once they realized how awful their teams were.

and really..................this comment was stupid.

But good Canadian teams wouldn't stoop so low, would they?

makes you sound like a bitter little homer fan.

first - if you haven't heard the word "tank" associated with the leafs, oilers, and yotes....then you probably haven't turned on a tv, or logged on to a computer for the last 2 months. people have been saying nothing but "tank" about these teams for weeks, if not months.

second - the reason that it's been thrown at the sabres all year is because it was obvious in the summer what their plan was this year. the oilers, leafs, and yotes actually went into the season trying to win.........and while i have no doubt that sabres players were out there trying to win games, there has been absolutely no doubt what managements strategy has been for the last year.

buffalo set out to tank..........the other teams settled on that strategy once they realized how awful their teams were.

and really..................this comment was stupid.




makes you sound like a bitter little homer fan.
- sensarmy_11

And we are off!!!!!!

There is a difference between tanking and just being a terrible team.
Toronto hasn't traded away two goalies this year because they were winning games.
seriously every time you got worse in net because you were winning to many games.

That is the definition of "TANK JOB"

In Toronto we are a terrible team , its poorly put together.
the only reason we were winning early in the year was our goalies were standing on their heads, the players had above average shooting percentages and we basically outscored teams. As the year goes on the checking gets tighter and everything comes back down to earth. Combine that with the media microscope that is the Toronto media and you have the 2014-2015 Toronto Maple Leafs.

And we are off!!!!!!
- SABRES 89

i'm wrong though........he's just coming across as a bitter person.

first - if you haven't heard the word "tank" associated with the leafs, oilers, and yotes....then you probably haven't turned on a tv, or logged on to a computer for the last 2 months. people have been saying nothing but "tank" about these teams for weeks, if not months.

second - the reason that it's been thrown at the sabres all year is because it was obvious in the summer what their plan was this year. the oilers, leafs, and yotes actually went into the season trying to win.........and while i have no doubt that sabres players were out there trying to win games, there has been absolutely no doubt what managements strategy has been for the last year.

buffalo set out to tank..........the other teams settled on that strategy once they realized how awful their teams were.

and really..................this comment was stupid.




makes you sound like a bitter little homer fan.
- sensarmy_11

This. The Sabres were blatantly open about it from day 1. That's why the resentment is there. They deserve the "criticism" they get for this. It was pretty easy to see that the Sabres weren't going to make many friends doing what they were doing from the outset.

That being said, it was 100% the right play.

first - if you haven't heard the word "tank" associated with the leafs, oilers, and yotes....then you probably haven't turned on a tv, or logged on to a computer for the last 2 months. people have been saying nothing but "tank" about these teams for weeks, if not months.

second - the reason that it's been thrown at the sabres all year is because it was obvious in the summer what their plan was this year. the oilers, leafs, and yotes actually went into the season trying to win.........and while i have no doubt that sabres players were out there trying to win games, there has been absolutely no doubt what managements strategy has been for the last year.

buffalo set out to tank..........the other teams settled on that strategy once they realized how awful their teams were.

and really..................this comment was stupid.




makes you sound like a bitter little homer fan.
- sensarmy_11

thx for reading...not sure I've seen the word tank used by the media in direct reference to any of those teams other than the sabres...links would help, but it doesn't matter...

the sabres are in rebuild mode...they didn't resign john scott-type players in the off season...Moulson, Gionta, and gorges represent legitimate nhl players who've had an impact in their careers

This. The Sabres were blatantly open about it from day 1. That's why the resentment is there. They deserve the "criticism" they get for this. It was pretty easy to see that the Sabres weren't going to make many friends doing what they were doing from the outset.

That being said, it was 100% the right play.
- buffalofan19

oh, i agree 100%. given where the team was, it was absoulutely teh right play.

that being said, you can't get all upset when people call you on it. if you're gonna tank as obviously as buffalo has.....own it.

This. The Sabres were blatantly open about it from day 1. That's why the resentment is there. They deserve the "criticism" they get for this. It was pretty easy to see that the Sabres weren't going to make many friends doing what they were doing from the outset.

That being said, it was 100% the right play.
- buffalofan19

so being in year-two of a complete and total rebuild doesn't matter?...nor did the signings of players like Moulson and Gionta and the trade for Gorges?

thx for reading...not sure I've seen the word tank used by the media in direct reference to any of those teams other than the sabres...links would help, but it doesn't matter...

the sabres are in rebuild mode...they didn't resign john scott-type players in the off season...Moulson, Gionta, and gorges represent legitimate nhl players who've had an impact in their careers
- Michael Pachla

to be fair, i haven't heard it much about arizona.........but let's be fair, they aren't tanking. they are exatly where they've been for years. the only thing you could consider a "tanking move" was trading yandle..........but IMO that was just good asset management by a team who was already out of the playoff picutre, and who was going to lose the player for nohting.

and come on, those signings and trades are a perfect indication of the tank. they're plaeyrs who are all WAY past their prime, and who are no longer close to being impact players............but they make enough money to help the sabres reach the floor........and they're big enough names that management can say "hey, look, we're signing players to help us win".

oh, i agree 100%. given where the team was, it was absoulutely teh right play.

that being said, you can't get all upset when people call you on it. if you're gonna tank as obviously as buffalo has.....own it.
- sensarmy_11

we do...

and btw, kudos to Ottawa for their run

And as a disclaimer this isn't me knocking Bogosian or saying I want them to trade him. I just don't think he should be untouchable with how highly Murray thinks of Pysyk/McCabe
- sbroads24

Why not just keep all of them (Bogosian, Pysyk, McCabe, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Ruhwedel) and sign Green anyway?

Then attempt to jettison Gorges, Weber, or both.

oh, i agree 100%. given where the team was, it was absoulutely teh right play.

that being said, you can't get all upset when people call you on it. if you're gonna tank as obviously as buffalo has.....own it.
- sensarmy_11

It's not even about the personnel moves they made.

Look at the PR stunts they pulled. Ted Black has gone on WGR and made numerous references to them repeatedly. The Buffalo Sabres have hosted two events featuring the two most coveted draft picks in a decade. Granted, the Prospects game was a two year deal, but I highly doubt you will see the Erie Otters play a game here next year. It was definitely by design.

so being in year-two of a complete and total rebuild doesn't matter?...nor did the signings of players like Moulson and Gionta and the trade for Gorges?
- Michael Pachla

come on man, they traded for a player who was out for the year............they traded away all their goalies who could stop a puck, and brought in arguably the 2 worst goalies in the entire league.

your team is tanking, it's the right thing to do.................just own it.

to be fair, i haven't heard it much about arizona.........but let's be fair, they aren't tanking. they are exatly where they've been for years. the only thing you could consider a "tanking move" was trading yandle..........but IMO that was just good asset management by a team who was already out of the playoff picutre, and who was going to lose the player for nohting.

and come on, those signings and trades are a perfect indication of the tank. they're plaeyrs who are all WAY past their prime, and who are no longer close to being impact players............but they make enough money to help the sabres reach the floor........and they're big enough names that management can say "hey, look, we're signing players to help us win".
- sensarmy_11

Moulson, no, Gorges, no, Gionta not here for skill alone.

Why not just keep all of them (Bogosian, Pysyk, McCabe, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Ruhwedel) and sign Green anyway?

Then attempt to jettison Gorges, Weber, or both.
- kingcong39

I feel like you're approaching this like you would a fantasy hockey team.

to be fair, i haven't heard it much about arizona.........but let's be fair, they aren't tanking. they are exatly where they've been for years. the only thing you could consider a "tanking move" was trading yandle..........but IMO that was just good asset management by a team who was already out of the playoff picutre, and who was going to lose the player for nohting.

and come on, those signings and trades are a perfect indication of the tank. they're plaeyrs who are all WAY past their prime, and who are no longer close to being impact players............but they make enough money to help the sabres reach the floor........and they're big enough names that management can say "hey, look, we're signing players to help us win".
- sensarmy_11

*shrugs*

it is what it is...the sabres started dismantling their core three years ago...that they're bottoming out now is a matter of good timing...

for more background on where the four bottom teams were over the course of the last five seasons, you can go here

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=67086

we do...

and btw, kudos to Ottawa for their run
- Michael Pachla

thanks....it's certainly fun to watch. sadly, i think they dug themselves too much of a whole at the beginning of the year.

oh well.

come on man, they traded for a player who was out for the year............they traded away all their goalies who could stop a puck, and brought in arguably the 2 worst goalies in the entire league.

your team is tanking, it's the right thing to do.................just own it.
- sensarmy_11

I do...no problem with it...but there's been a lot of grandstanding up north and it gets tiresome

so being in year-two of a complete and total rebuild doesn't matter?...nor did the signings of players like Moulson and Gionta and the trade for Gorges?
- Michael Pachla

Make no mistake. This "complete and total rebuild" happened when it did with McEichel in mind. There's no way you can tell me with a straight face the plan was to build this team around Sam Reinhart.

Signing a few third-tier "name" players that were, let's face it, pretty much over-the-hill, and not real difference makers on their own was a veiled attempt at not openly admitting to tanking, nothing more.

Like I've said for a while now. Let's not kid ourselves. The Sabres did this on purpose, and anyone with a remote ability to read between the lines could see it. They're taking a road that we all knew would be unpopular. Acting surprised that the national media and fans aren't taking kindly to it is somewhat disingenuous. Also, let's be honest, if the Philadelphia Flyers or Boston Bruins did what the Sabres did, both on and off the ice, we'd be calling bullpoop as well. It's just the nature of what has/had to be done.

This. The Sabres were blatantly open about it from day 1. That's why the resentment is there. They deserve the "criticism" they get for this. It was pretty easy to see that the Sabres weren't going to make many friends doing what they were doing from the outset.

That being said, it was 100% the right play.
- buffalofan19

I can care less about friends, I want a cup, this isn't the DR. Phil show. Everyone knew from day one this was going to be a bad year, who cares what it looks like to others and the rest of the hockey world.

come on man, they traded for a player who was out for the year............they traded away all their goalies who could stop a puck, and brought in arguably the 2 worst goalies in the entire league.

your team is tanking, it's the right thing to do.................just own it.
- sensarmy_11

You're damn right it's the right thing to do.

There is a difference between tanking and just being a terrible team.
Toronto hasn't traded away two goalies this year because they were winning games.
seriously every time you got worse in net because you were winning to many games.

That is the definition of "TANK JOB"

In Toronto we are a terrible team , its poorly put together.
the only reason we were winning early in the year was our goalies were standing on their heads, the players had above average shooting percentages and we basically outscored teams. As the year goes on the checking gets tighter and everything comes back down to earth. Combine that with the media microscope that is the Toronto media and you have the 2014-2015 Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Adam_The_Golf

The two goalies that were traded were both pending UFA's. Murray got something of value for them instead of just letting them walk away for nothing at th end of the year. It's what any smart GM would do. Especially if he didn't feel that either one was in his plans going forward.

I can care less about friends, I want a cup, this isn't the DR. Phil show. Everyone knew from day one this was going to be a bad year, who cares what it looks like to others and the rest of the hockey world.
- SABRES 89

That's my take as well. However, making the unpopular choice and warranting criticism for it are not always mutually exclusive. This is absolutely the case here.