Dave Dryden
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Posts posted by Dave Dryden
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Just my gut feeling, guess maybe I`m not sold on Strome he is a talented player who needs work on his skating. I`d prefer a talented player who is an exceptional skater - see Hanifin or Marner.
Marner seems too small to be a center in the NHL, more of a wing. Strome is bigger, and when he fills out he will be a monster.
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If we don't land McEichel, I think we'll be in contention for Austin Matthews next year. Maybe not the favorite, like this year, but we'll be in the conversation. I can see us making some adds along the lines of Gionta and Gorges, but we need a Top 6 forward (along with Kane) to push the envelope forward. I don't think we'll be able to get a guy like that unless we draft him, and I don't think Strome, Reinhart or Marner will be ready for prime time yet.
We won't be tanking, but without an elite guys--even a rookie--I can't see us anywhere but 25th place or worse.
I'm not sure even McEichel will make that big of an impact in their first season. Not elite right away, I mean.
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It kind of depends. You know the April Fools thread that talked about trading the Sabres pick to Colo? If GMTM thinks Hanifin can be packaged in a trade to get one of those "elite" centers we keep talking about, he may just do it. The reason it was a good April Fools prank was because it was believable. GMTM may want to trade a top prospect for an NHL-ready player.
Understood. I suppose when they are on the clock such a trade could be made.
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A point to keep in mind: Jonathan Toews wasn't Jonathan Toews until he was Jonathan Toews.
Not bad for the third overall pick. Hmm.
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I would say yes. Eichel is a number one center through and through -Can`t say that about Strome. Plus Strome isn`t even playing in the NHL next year nor do I think the Sabres take him at number 3.
Strome has moved up to #3 on most boards. If close with Hanifan, I see them taking a center. What do you base your conclusions on?
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Probably about the same as if they draft McEichel. Certainly not next year in either case - possible in 2 years with or without him.
If they don`t get McEichel I will predict another bottom 5-7 finish next year (70ish points). With McEichel they finish around 10-12th worst (high 70 possibly low 80s).
2016-17 with McEichel they finish over 90 points - ill say 50% chance they get 90 points without him.
In 3 years (2017-18) they finish above 90 and make the play-offs with or without McEichel.
Is Jack Eichel really guaranteed to be that much better of a center than Dylan Strome? Because that is effectively what you are saying.
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Due respect right back Sizzle and a fair post because the Sabres certainly dangled the McEichel carrot.
But our fans are smart enough to understand the nuance that the Shart can no more be guaranteed than the cup. Speaking strictly for myself, I am doing a slow burn tonight over the butthurt entitlement I am reading, not only before this turtle derby is over, but when we are still winning!
Apparently the official narrative now is the Sabres deliberately put together a historically awful team so bad that not even Ted Nolan could redeem it, but once the fans embraced the tank, the players got pissed off and magically flipped the switch in order to say ###### you to poor fans who have suffered so much?
I need to log off. Because all I can think of is that our fan base needs to grow a pair.
Couldn't agree more. All this proves is my philosophy on life: Happiness (or unhappiness) is merely the gap between expectation and reality. People who expected it was automatic to finish 30th are now unhappy-- and we are still 30th. They simply feel they lost their "guarantee."
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I can see the newly motivated Sabres going 3-3-1 or 4-2 (real record; not CHL) in the remaining games to pick up at least 7 points putting them at 57 or 58 for the season. The Pens will be resting everyone they can that last game so the Sabres either win or at least pick up the OT point. I can see the Coyotes losing out but maybe picking up a max of 2 points. That would put them at 56 points for the season.
Doubtful. 3-2-1 or 4-2 seems fanciful when you watch this team play. Sports Club Stats give them an 89% chance to be the 30 seed. Seems about right.
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Realistically, most points I see team getting in final 6 is 6-- playing .500. If correct, we now have a 33.5% at McEichel as we won't catch Edmonton. If Arizona gets 2 points in final 5 games, it moves to 100%. I like our chances.
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Here's a vision. I am curious as to whether you think the same as I do.
There are many fans who desire to finish last to have a guarantee of drafting one or the other of McEichel. Others think the whole concept of tanking to get one of them sucks. Easy to understand both sides. (Disclosure: I happen to want one of them very badly).
IF we end up last, I think the long path of discord among Sabres fans is over. For me, with one of those players, it is all about WINNING and only about WINNING from that point on. I do not anticipate an instant turnaround. But, dammit, I expect this team to make progress quickly and aggressively with all the prospects and draft picks we have. I will be angry if they do not show a lot of forward progress... and, like, next year.
So I think we all reunite on common ground right after the draft. I think the bickering stops and we are all of one mind at that point. Agree?
Yes. The fans behavior is both rational and sophisticated. Look at the economics of it.
The goal is to win the cup each year. Next, make the playoffs. When it became clear that neither would happen-- and there was a brief moment when folks were talking playoffs in late 2014--what is the consolation prize, getting a generational player. Finishing say 24th is meaningless. Fans in many cities would not get that because they lack a deep understanding of the game(although because it is McDavid and Eichel, it is not that hard). Sabres fans are taking the long view because, well there is no other view to take. The current team is an embarrassment, the fans did not put that team on the ice, the team did.
Look at the NFL and the QB position. Indy gets Manning and the Luck because they sucked at the right time. Did they tank? Who knows and who cares because they got Manning and Luck. McEichel is just one more piece in a rebuilding puzzle. Looking forward to next year when a team with more talent-- McEichel, Reinhart, Ennis, Kane, Girgensons, Risto, Bogosian, etc-- takes the ice.
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Yotes win ?
Indeed they did
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Huh? It's been a long day and ice had a couple but the second to last team has won the lottery the last two years.
Last year, as in previous years, there was 55% chance that one of the bottom three teams would get the first pick. In 2015, a transition year, that figure drops to 45%. So it is now more likely than not that a team outside the bottom 3 will get McDavid, which was not true before.
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Obviously
Then obviously this was a reasonable trade, as the outcome turns solely on speculation about the future.
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I think most can agree that if Kane grows up and matures that this is a great trade, if Kane keeps up with his attitude then it was a bad trade. Can we all just agree that this is going to come down to Kane's ability to grow up?
Sure, it's a gamble, but a reasonable one. It it also a gamble for the Jets that Armia or Lemieux will pan out, or the low #1. If all the pieces work out for both sides, it will be a win-win trade.
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This is the exact opposite of how I feel. How many more picks and prospects do you want? We all knew that eventually the scales were going to shift and we would start to get some actual NHL players.
The more I think about it, the more I like this trade.
Me too. We have so many propects and picks, I don't mind parting with a few. These guys were very high picks who have been playing in the NHL since their teens. Tremendous upside as they are still quite young. Need exactly these kind of guys to speed up a rebuild.
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In the real life standings the Sabres have moved to sixth to last. Not even looking at a better than normal prospect at this point. Good group of guys but after the first 3/4 it's just guys you hope turn into stars but likely turn into 2nd/3rd liners... Ugh.
Like Zadorov and Ristolainen. Or Girgenson. If this is a deep draft, having three first rounders may let the Sabres have their cake and eat it too. Only time will tell. But GMTM seems like he knows what he is doing.
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It moved.
Fruit or a B-12 shot?
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Hodgson 8/11 -4. Kassian 5/3 -4
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Lets hear preferences. Styles, sizes, labels, tobacco, sellers, you name it. If it is about cigars, post it here.
To start things off.....
I won't claim to be a geek on this subject, but I have some preferences. I smoke 15 maybe 20 cigars most years, almost all of them between the months of May and September (although I'm well past 15 already this Summer thanks to several convenient vendors in the French Quarter a couple weeks ago). For me, a typical cigar moment involves a deck, a fire in the pit, and a glass of whiskey or port. Occassionally a Belgian Quadruple ale is my chosen accompaniment.
My wrapper tastes run to Conneticut shade grown EMS or maduro wrapper depending on my mood and the situation. Lately I lean more towards maduro. Most of my sticks tend to be Dominican made but it isn't a conscious choice.
As for shapes and sizes, I gravitate towards torpedos and 50 ring gauge. 5-1/2" to 6" is a nice length, not too long to become tiring to finish, but long enough that it isn't over while I'm still enjoying it. Ugh, there's a nasty joke in there somewhere. :blink:
Lately I've been buying mostly Cohibas and Romeo y Julietas. I like the soft, smooth smoke of a Macanudo from time to time but find them a bit bland. Picked up a bundle of 10 Partagas Conneticut wrapper torpedos in New Orleans and had the first one this past weekend. Was a nice flavorful smoke but had a loose draw. I hope the rest of them are a little tighter as the smoke was a bit hot. I've been known to buy Joya de Nicaragua from time to time. A Nicaraguan co-worker turned me on to them almost 15 years ago (holy crap, it's been that long?). They used to carry a ridiculously dark wrapper version that was heaven. Used to like to smoke Casa Blanca's too but haven't seen them in several years.
I buy my sticks in 5's or 10's. I don't smoke enough to justify purchasing an entire box and I like a little variety. At my old job there used to be four or five of us that smoked so we would buy 3 or 4 boxes and split them between us to get box prices and a little variety.
I buy most of my sticks online through JR Cigar and Cigars International. I'd like to buy from local retailers but 1. I live in a rural area so there are none and 2. NY tobacco taxes mean I can get sticks cheaper online so I do. Why drive into B-lo for my smokes AND pay the man a premium? When I was in NO I found a the store front for Pay Less Cigars they had good prices so I've got their web store bookmarked. We'll see what kind of shape their sticks arrive in after shipping before I give a recommendation.
Who's up next?
Good topic. I prefer a maduro wrapper myself. LaFlor Dominicano and La Gloria Cubano are nice and Padron reserve or anniversary are really nice but a bit pricey. Smoke too many, but I started because it helps my concentration. Especially like a cigar with a Racing Form and cold beer.
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He plays center and wing. Some feel he can be a center in the NHL.