Claude_Verret

The race for the Shart is indeed down to two or three teams. Toronto and others are too little too late and are merely jockeying for a bump in lottery odds at this point. Without that nonsense in December we could already be selling Eichel jerseys in the Sabres store.

every other team to varying degrees. Every single one of 'em. No McEichel in the east other than Buffalo...you're crazy if you'd like to see that happen.

Dominant in their rookie season? I don't think anyone expects that.

6 years? No wonder you don't get the tank.

19 here near Raleigh. Big storm tomorrow so we've got the usual freaking out going on.

That's because it is hard to believe. I'm just reporting what a highly connected individual told me, but at end of the day it's still just rumors.

Yeah, I know that rumor has been out there, but this guy is pretty tightly connected within Canes organization and says it happened without a doubt. The new part I hadn't heard before, but also appears to be already out there after googling, is that Lindros suffered one his concussions as a result of Rod the bod beating the piss out of him.

Brindamour/ Lindros dirt here in Raleigh at dinner party... Further confirmation to follow

But still unacceptable!

Yep. We could only afford to make this trade, and possibly overpay, because of the tank. That this type of move was made with multiple high end prospects being shipped out should surprise no one who has paid attention to what our brutally honest GM says.

Place that I'll be more pissed to see McEichel than I'd be elated if we land him: Carolina Order of preference for East teams for McEichel: NJ, Columbus, Ottawa, Philly, Toronto, Carolina Ideal scenario is we land one half of McEichel and other half is out west....don't care where. Seriously, I'll go all Sabretooth73 if McEichel ends up here in Raleigh.

I live near Raleigh, the only situation when I could "support" the canes is when their victory directly helps the Sabres in some way. 100 % Sabres fan all the time. F every other team to varying degrees.

It looks like he's on board with the McEichel concept as both McDavid and Eichel are co-ranked #1.

In terms of fanhood sins, being a team swapping w.h.o.r.e is far worse than openly rooting for a tank IMO. Edit: damn gefilter

People around here told us for years during Miller's tenure that we could just pick up any old run of the mill goalie and hope he gets hot in the playoffs. Perhaps GMTM believes in this theory.

Posters like TrueBlue can offer more insight, but I found this article to give a good introduction to many of the basic hockey fancystats concepts. http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/thn-analytics-an-introduction/ I think PA brought up the issue of shot counting bias in different rinks, and it sounds like there is some work going on there among the stat geeks.

In before lock. So long Drew.

What's that I smell? Could it be THE SHART??? This tank is locked and loaded.

The largest tank busting threat in Enroth ...gone!

Wonderful!!!

Yes indeed. I think you would have lost your mind with another prospect trade. I like it that phase II of the rebuild has officially begun and soon the tank will be in the rearview mirror.

Exactly. This is phase II of the rebuild, and the unique nature of this deal allows phase I, the tank, the finish in style. GMTM told us this was the plan, and that he would convert hoarded assets to NHL ready talent.

It may seem steep, but these are the types of deals that hoarding picks and prospects allow you to make.

Believing that it was/is the best way forward for the Sabres doesn't mean the same thing as believing no other way could have worked. But we've been through this before. There are a myriad of variables unique to every organization when confronted with a rebuild. For DR, GMTM and many posters here those variables when taken into full account overwhelmingly pointed towards tanking as the best way forward. We're almost there.

Still going with the implication that most of us think that tanking is the only way to build a cup contender? Might as well take that strawman right to the bitter end I suppose.