nfreeman

OK. If they are bottom 5 in the NHL next year, would you think the tank was a failure? What if it's both next year and the following year? As for the comparison with the Bills -- I think that's a straw man. The Bills weren't trying to win. They didn't spend to the cap and they hired one bargain-bin loser after another at GM and coach.

This is such a stupid and tiresome theme that you continue to bang on in a distressingly high percentage of your posts. TT is a religious guy -- did they keep him?

Well, the purpose of the tank wasn't to land Eichel. It was to become a cup contender, with the logic being that having Eichel would facilitate becoming a cup contender. Those of us who opposed the tank argued (correctly) that even with Eichel, it was much more likely that the team would continue to languish at the bottom than rise to the top. I agree that getting Babcock -- one of the best coaches in NHL history -- would've made for a better team. Your other 2 changes would also have helped, although I think the improvements there would've been marginal (greater improvements would've resulted if Lehner had become what GMTM was hoping for, instead of a bottom-5 NHL starter). But if the plan relies on getting Babcock -- it's a stupid and desperate plan.

In answer to the OP: the tank failed exactly as much as everyone should've expected -- i.e. it has been a complete debacle and has resulted in the team sinking to the bottom and staying there for an as-yet-indeterminate period. The fan base is alienated and shrinking, the games aren't fun to attend, the team isn't particularly likeable and there's not much hope for real improvement any time soon. If your plan for paying your mortgage is to pawn all your stuff and buy a bunch of powerball tickets -- don't be surprised when you find yourself sleeping under a bridge.

It seems increasingly likely to me that their plan is to move up, draft a QB and throw him in as the starter on day 1.

I have heard this too, but not from an official source, and I am a bit skeptical. Why would the NHLPA care about this (or more accurately, care enough to make it a priority in negotiating with the NHL)? In any case I like the suggestion about the drafting team having the right to offer more $$. Also a good suggestion. And good data here.

Yes indeed, and this gives me some hope that TP may have hired the right guy for the Sabres as well.

There is certainly plenty of data to support this view. However, it seems clear that McD and BB have been targeting at least one of the QBs in this class for a while now and therefore that they believe that they can get a true franchise QB. So it comes down to whether you trust McD and BB to get this right.

I don't think we can evaluate this until we have the contract deets. There are certainly contract structures that result in little to no cap hit if they cut him before the end of the contract. There's no way to be sure. I agree with you that I don't want McD and BB to give away all of their picks to move up -- and their trades last year at the draft indicate that they aren't shy about doing so -- but at the same time I think they've earned the right to go after the guy they like best. If it crashes and burns -- that will be an important factor in how we evaluate them.

Lotulelei is 6'2", 315 lbs. He'll turn 29 at the end of this coming season. He was the 14th pick in the draft in 2013. He's played 5 seasons, 3 of which he played all 16 games, and played 14 games in the other 2 seasons. He's from Tonga and played college football at Utah. Obviously McD and BB know him well and like him. Good enough for me.

At this point we have to think they are going to keep moving up and are prepared to throw their 2nd- and 3rd-rounders at the situation as needed. In for a penny, in for a pound. It's risky but I'm prepared to give McD and Beano the benefit of the doubt, unlike the series of bozos that preceded them.

Well, I would dearly like for Reino to turn into a consistent high-end player. I also think his play for the past couple of months has been the best I've seen from him, and will be very happy with him if that is his level of play going forward. I just think it would be ill-advised, given the inconsistency in his game to date, plus reasonable cause to doubt his maturity, to give him a fat long-term contract this summer. I also think it would probably be better for his long-term development for him to get a short-term deal now -- so he knows he has to work hard and stay consistent for the next 1-2 seasons in order to cash in -- and hopefully at that point the good habits will have taken permanent hold. And GA -- you weren't here when Derek Roy was in my doghouse.

He has 5 years to go at $6MM per year? He’s not walking away from that. Nobody would. Hopefully he gets whatever medical certification he needs to get him paid but still allows him to retire.

Envious ... have a great time ladies and gents.

I have to run to the bathroom and vomit for a while, but will post when I return.

Fixed.

How do the Sabres get shafted?

It's kinda early to draw any conclusions on DOR.

Ties are and always were an abomination.

It might've been me, although others have certainly recommended Fargo as well. IMHO both season 1 and season 2 are terrific, with a slight edge to season 2. Season 3 was good but not at the level of the 1st 2.

Some tips evidently don't take the form of cash: https://nypost.com/2018/02/28/ive-had-sex-with-three-of-my-uber-drivers/

I started watching "The Good Place" on Netflix. Pretty solid comedy so far.

NYC is so GD soft when it comes to snow. They announced a school closure last night for today. Here it is, 9:45 AM, and there is a bit of rain and zero snow. Weak sauce.

This is a battle that can't be won.

Toronto is more like L.A. than like NYC IMHO.