tom webster

If analytics is evolving to the point that it can pinpoint with 90% accuracy how players will develop, and if the draft itself is such a crap shoot and varies on depth every year and if the margin of error is so slim between the 5th best team versus the 25th best team, smart managers will realize that they are paying 2 to 5 assistant GM’s, 20-30 scouts and stocking two minor league teams with the sole mission being to find one or two outliers per year. McDonalds is heading to the day when robots cook the hamburgers, sports is realizing they are investing in a for profit fundraiser for failed jocks.

As far as being drafted that high I’m sure he is. I know the Sabre’s lost Barret Heisten years ago and he was a late first rounder.

Blake Wheeler was 5th pick of Phoenix, never signed and then signed with the Bruins as free agent.

Well that I agree with. What I don’t is the notion that somehow that year is why he will never become the player he was projected to be.

Two hills I will die on. 1) Casey is not an example of bad drafting but an example of how some years it’s just luck of the draw . Robert Thomas is the only first rounder that has put up considerably better numbers then Casey. 2) Whether he ultimately fails ir not will have nothing to do with spending a year in Buffalo too early. He’s either going to figure it out or not but.......

Anyone that wants to let the money ride, I’d be actually very good with that. I just figured with so much uncertainty no one would be willing to wait what could be 9-10 months.

Ok, it looks like us die hards are staying with most of our tickets so I’ll be letting the team keep my money for who knows how long. Those that had tickets for Chicago game please pm me to verify your PayPal or Venmo are still the same or if you need payment another way and I will have this all handled no later then end of June, probably earlier. Thanks for your patience.

It’s not just about Sunday games. It’s been the same throughout history, attendance and viewership throughout the week goes up after football season.

Here is a question for my local CBA expert. Since the first games aren’t being considered playoffs, could not a team make a trade now to help them in play in round? Obviously players acquired couldn’t play in playoffs, but.......

Yep

That was my first thought

Their offer was better. They should have realized that Florida was concerned about helping them considering at the time they were close. Its still incumbent on JBOT to close the deal. As for the Monahan deal, like I said I heard rumblings but not actual parameters. It would make no sense for them to balk at including Larrson considering they were dangling him to Florida.

And this is my point, with all the uncertainty plus the negative feelings for Botterill, they know keeping him will cost more then letting him go.

This isn’t about the money. They know they stand to lose more in ticket sales then they would owe him. In the end, as much as I don’t like JBOT, it makes the most sense. If they fire him now, they either have to fire the coach or likely have to fire him after one year. Next year is going to be one last chance for them both to make it work or blow it all up again.

Trocheck was traded to Carolina so that deal with Florida is dead. They aren’t dumb. They know they need a 2C. Whether they have the wherewithal to make it happen is debatable.

And before anyone ask they could do the lottery before the play in by just assigning lottery spots to top 7 and then saying spot 8 is loser of this series #1, spot 9 is loser of series #2, etc.

The Sabre’s did sweeten the offer but not with picks. I’m with you, JBOT has to close the deal. However, in this case it wasn’t as black and white. Both people who told me this deal was close had different takes on why it didn’t go down.

There were no picks involved in the Florida/ Buffalo offer.

The McCabe and Larsson offer was the offer Buffalo thought was better then what Florida got. Have heard the Monahan rumored interest but never with Larsson and Bennet.

I am really surprised you never heard about the spin of the wheel.

I remember a 7-6 victory over Boston where they came back from down 6-2 or something. I remember Mal Davis scoring a big goal.

The one thing I never understand about these arguments that a team ruined this or that players development is why don’t these players “learn” how to play the game when somebody finally gives them a chance? Granted, there are instances of players fulfilling there “supposed” potential when they get there second or third chance, but they are rare. I will stand by my position, players find their level regardless of how a team “develops” them. Some guys like a Johan Larsson realize they can carve out a productive career by becoming something other then a top line player. Some guys need to grow into their bodies and become top 6 guys after a year or two in the AHL. Some guys don’t want to adjust their game. Some guys skill set falls between the AHL and NHL. Mitts is still young enough to fall in the “incomplete” category. I, for one, won’t believe that what he turns out to be has anything to do with him being rushed into the NHL. For the record, I do agree he should not have been in the NHL.

Wow, we seem to have actually agreed on two or three things lately. There was always anecdotal evidence that big guys took longer to develop.We will see. He’s one of the guys I always figured as one of the potential “surprises” that every franchise needs.

I’m not saying that had to search it, just that they could. If I’m not mistaken, there is no right to privacy while you are in custody other then contact with your lawyer so why would your car be different? I really don’t know.

I always assumed the same.