3putt

http://www.hockeysfu.../team-rankings/ "Weaknesses: Picking early and often in the last three NHL Drafts has left the Sabres with few major weaknesses in their prospect pool. The team could probably stand to upgrade their goaltending, and they could definitely use a franchise center to hasten the rebuild, but the prospect pool is extremely deep and trending in the right direction." Potato, I disagree that there are many ways to win a cup. I believe recent history shows the most talented, least injured team is the odds on favorite. If you are arguing that there are many ways to acquire cup caliber talent then I wholeheartedly agree. However, the Sabres chose to do it by cashing in UFA's for draft picks and jettisoning the prior core in the hopes of rebuilding through the draft. Now that that path was chosen, and being in a position to optimize the strategy, anything less than claiming the top two prizes is deflating. We have a deep prospect pool, but a world class talent would really position the team for quick turnaround. If a different path to talent was chosen I would expect the same commitment to optimizing the talent core.

Murray and Devine are two distinct "eras". Murray's big hit is Reinhart. I think he will be a good player but not in the same tier as McDavid or Eichel. The Jury is still out on Grigs, Armia, Possler Baptiste, Carrier, Fasching, Bailey, Hurley etc.

The Kings used there top picks in trades for other players so it is a draw on that one IMO.

...and Kane Toews Kopitar Quick.Zetterburg Datsyuk, Stamkos and or Tavares could be this year. I think that covers it for the most recent history. If you are tearing it down to rebuild why would you not aspire to get the best asset available? It astounds me that people want to be good and not great. Or worse be competitive and mediorce.

Zadorov, Risto, Pysyk and McCabe are dmen. Zemgus is a solid 2way 2nd/3rd line guy. Grigorenko, Armia and Reinhart are question marks none could make the jump directly to the show like Crosby MacKinnon, Stamkos Tavares etc.. TM did not draft Grigorenko, Armia or Z so I don't get your point there. IMO none are generational talents. Good players possibly, but not a Crosby, Stamkos, et. al. The three first decrease in value the closer we get to the middle of the pack and the Isles and Blues are not looking like middle teens picks. So the one pick that we have control over, we are screwing up. I do not correlate quantity with quality. And I am a firm believer that McDavid and possibly Eichel are franchise changing players. Anything after the first 4-5 is a crapshoot.

Unless we have a group oh Hodsons and Staffords. McEichel would not have a chance to fall in that category.

If there is a hint that TM does not plan on being here after the draft, there is no way in hell you trust him with our picks. He would be committing career suicide.

And we get elite scoring from where? At the deadline you may get a pick and a prospect, but the best way to add the tasty is to ensure we have a lock on McEichle. the deadline may be too late. Tru dat. Unfortunately.

Judging by the empty arena the "fans" are not enthralled by the prospect of rebuilding another also ran. The league leading team with Stamkos in town and a lot of empty seats and no energy in the building in the first. TP wants star power and he will get it.

I will hold off on calling tod. Enroth gets lit up in Tampa and his aura of invincibilty goes poof. We can't score near the league average. It is December 2, not March 2. Those trumpeting the new look Sabres are temporarily blinded by the turd jerseys. Lot of time to come back to the mean.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

What in the wide wide world of sports is going on here?

We really need scoring talent.

Buttons on nhl network said B's are looking for D. The Boychuck trade is looking ill conceived.

Lot of standing still on the last shift. Awfully quiet at FNC

Jagr was a dbag as a kid too. Just sayin.

Perhaps the recent streak is making people think they can have their cake and it it too. I see it as nothing more than classic mistiming. I don't care if they win 10 in a row or make the last spot. Nothing short of dfl would be a positive for me. There isnt nearly enough of the high end talent, I.e. scoring talent, in the pipeline to make me think otherwise. With exception of Risto, Zad and Gus I would move anyone for the right return and to assure a better shot at dfl. Again, I realize that is an extreme position with no more guarantee of success but that's how I see it.

Maybe. But I would rather take my chances with McEichel. Complete the tear down, bye bye Stafford et al and start a new era with no hangover. The Sabres positioned themselves for the prize and failing to see it through is the converse a late season run but narrow miss of the final po spot. Down the road you will feel the effects. Jmho

There was a quaint saying about a leaky toilet in Altoona and water damage in Johnstown. It escapes me at the moment but I think it is appropriate here.

Btw did your folks do ok? I was worried the rain might be worse than the snow. Try me. Though of humble birth my parents did their best to enlighten me. Have at it.

Maybe. But looking at where we are and not getting behind the most logical route to relevance seems like pathological contrarianism. I hate that.

What is your goal? You like the valiant run to 17th overall? You like a prrenial second best? Or has your recent introduction to skating empowered you to the point where you can someday lead us to a cup? This mirage of trying to compete could set the franchiseback farther than almost anything imagineable. Yet you cinto us on your Quoitic rant and snark campaign. Undergoing the pathetic on ice product we have without positioning ourselves for McEichel would be worse than tragic. Yet you come here on a personal vendetta against pegula and tha organization. You would rather have the most mediocre hardest working team? Why not just root for the Pens, geographically it works?

I really like his game. There is a lots Nikita love on this board, but in 10 years we are going to be happy with taking both in the first.

Lefty for a righty

The Oilers are not built for a CHL title run but they answered that riddle with coaching.