...

Nolan, in sincere tones: "everyone is focused on the draft-pick, we're still trying to get these guys to compete."

Arg, the only thing that affects me about this drive to home are the interviews with Lindback. Poor guy sounds like he's going to break down, and Hamilton is there sounding like an undertaker eager to embalm a new body.

I don't remember off the top of my head, I just made a mental note whenever I heard it. If my memory serves it up, I will type it in.

And now The time has come The Sabres each Have earned their ice time Regrets They have a few Like hanging on To Regier for too long Tanks Don't mention them They'll play their hardest And eat their Wheaties For now What's coming next Is their game with The Coyotes....

"Twenty-ninth" doesn't have the rhythmic quality I was looking for.

I love Texas. Wish I never moved away.

Anyone listen to Schowp and the Cuckold today? Every one of Schowp's I'm-a-clever-thinker lines was lifted from this message board. What a tool.

27th here we come Right back where we started from Season after season of middling Even with the owner's meddling 27th I love you Not that I a-wanted to Nolan you'll be thanking For throwing away the tanking

Oh no, a goal against. Those dirty Texans will ruin the heroic push for 28th.

Dallas can barely get a shot on net, it seems.

Lindy is going to pop a vein.

This is kind of scary, their PP looks organized.

WTF, Grigorenko looks good out there, what's Nolan talking about?

Looks like Grigorenko earned some ice time.

Start time 8 or 8:30?

I love how all of the other teams who blew for several seasons, got top picks, and went on to win Cups, or at least be competitive - no way they tanked, they just sucked. But we, the Sabres, are tanking, and if everyone just tried, including GM Murray, why, the Sabres wouldn't suck. No one looks wryly at Edmonton, no one remembers Regier is in Arizona, who, suck, too. Nope, the problem is: it's the Sabres. Murray isn't trying hard enough. Nolan isn't trying hard enough. The players aren't trying hard enough. Now, let's see: folks have been calling for Nolan's ouster for a while now. I'm sure he's trying, but the complaint is he's too olde skool and isn't a "thinker". But, is he TRYING hard enough for the team not to suck? Anyone want to deny there's a significant talent gap between the Sabres roster and other NHL rosters? Do you think the players are tanking on purpose? Are the players not TRYING hard enough? And if that isn't it, then why aren't you all calling for Murray's head? Why aren't you calling for Pegula to sell the Sabres to a more honorable owner? Because I think we all suspect these guys are smart enough to know if they're tanking or not, and are in a position to force the coach and roster to suck on purpose. But Murray, and Pegula, by extension, can be doing a lot more to make sure the team doesn't suck...right? Are they TRYING hard enough not to ice a sucky team?

I do try and dismiss the attitude in your posts, but it is challenging sometimes. Anyway, I've not heard or read him talking down Strome. If you have links, please provide. I stand by my thought, regardless. The several scouting trips by Murray himself to see Erie is suspicious enough; why go watch McDavid again and again? And if Murray has been talking down Strome, I wonder why a clever GM possibly in a position to draft said player would do that explicitly..?

Dude, please don't exaggerate what I'm saying. I know you hate it when people do that to you. I did not say he had a negative opinion of Eichel, I said he doesn't seem to be in love with him, or talk highly of him. Be cool.

I haven't seen where he talks highly of Eichel, have you? If I had something contrary to what I have offered as "evidence", I'm willing to listen. But I really think it's possible he skips on Eichel if it lands him a proven top forward and Strome.

What the hell, the Sabres are BAD. If they weren't just simply bad...we wouldn't be talking about tanking. Why can't we be bad, too?

I just said Eichel. If the Sabres win the lotto, there's no question we take McDavid.

10 games left folks. It's been clear for a while now the home stretch will be a tight one. There are players with contracts on the team who know the score. They know why they're there, and they know what the fans want. They know what the plans are after this season. I'm not suggesting they're in on the tank, but I am suggesting they can't avoid its effects.

You have to think that since Murray has been to Erie many times this season, that he's taking a good look at Strome as well as McDavid. Of course, McDavid is no mystery. I would not be surprised, at all, if the Sabres did not win the lottery, that the third or fourth, or second and third picks would be available to the teams with the fourth or fifth picks (obviously, I'm projecting and trying to cover as much potential ground as possible). I'm not sure Murray is in love with Eichel based on what I've heard/read him say. The evidence suggests he's been scouting Strome heavily. So, say the Sabres wind up with the second pick, and say Toronto winds up with pick five. I think it's quite possible Murray goes after Kessel and the five pick for his second and maybe a prospect like Grigorenko. Or some such deal where Murray ends up with a solid top-tier player and able to take Strome in the draft.

This isn't directed at you, specifically, weave, or anyone else, for that matter. Just a rant inspired by your post. It's been edited to be as non-offensive as possible. The league disapproves of it because not every team can tank for several seasons and come out on the other end stronger than before. You know very well the Sabres' fan-base will grow after the tank is done. Chicago tanked. Pittsburgh tanked. Edmonton keeps tanking. Whatever the league decided isn't just about what the Sabres are doing. The league has to respond to all 30 teams. 27 of those teams are probably complaining, loudly, to the league offices. It's not that it's not fair, because it IS. The rules that are written allow the Sabres to do what they're doing. They allow Arizona to do it. They allow Edmonton to do it. The Sabres aren't skirting anything - they're using the system to reinforce the team and try to go win a Cup for their fans. There's nothing for the other teams to complain about. Again, at least the Sabres are working WITHIN THE SYSTEM. The problem, this year, is Eichel and McDavid. That's why the other teams are complaining. No matter what system was in place, even a 1-30 odd lottery system where every team had a chance, someone would be complaining, because it's McEichel, and the odds aren't good enough. Seriously, if tanking truly rubbed the league the wrong way, why don't they come out and bar Darcy Regier from working anywhere within the league? Because he blatantly started it here, and then Arizona mysteriously started to overtly tank once Regier landed there. Why hasn't the league done something about Edmonton? Why didn't they do something about Pittsburgh? Come on. Are you angry about the tank, or just that the Sabres have sucked the past several seasons now?

I don't think I liked Nolan's tone when speaking about Nikita.