pi2000

So this thread will continue until when exactly?

The lesson learned here is to cheer for the opposition AT THE BEGINNING of the season.... get the players all fired up so they get themselves into a playoff position right out of the gate.

If guys like Lindros and Gretzky can get traded, I wouldn't rule out the Sabres trading up from #3 to #2. Everybody is talking about getting stuck with the #3 pick, but I have a feeling GMTM has something up his sleeve if that scenario presents itself. I know, I know, nobody is gonna trade out of a spot to draft Eichel.... BUT this is a special case since ARI is likely angling for their own homegrown Auston Mathews in 2016 who is putting up better numbers that Eichel did at the same age in the same program. A package that includes both 2015 firsts, 2016's first and somebody like Girgensons/Reinhart and Zadorov (who i think GMTM is gonna try and move anyway), would probably get it done to move up 1 spot.

Why not have the draft lottery odds aligned with point differential in the standings. So if you have two teams within a few points of each other, there is less motivation to tank since they'll have virtually the same odds in the lottery regardless of who finishes ahead of who.

BUF still has an 82% (weighted) chance at McEichel.... http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHLlottery.html Until that dips below 50%, I refuse to pout. 5 games left. Chances are that ARI picks up another 2-3 points. Lets say BUF beats CAR and picks up a loser OT point somewhere for a total of 55 points, That means ARI only needs to pickup 1 more point out 10 remaining possible points for BUF to clinch 30th. This thing could be over by Sat night. Advantage BUFFALO

I've been there, it's great.

No way Hanifin makes the jump to the NHL, he's heading back to school fo sho. I like him though, he's a stud. With Hot Mez filling the net, plus Risto, Zadorov, and Hanifin in 2016 we won't need our forwards to contribute much of anything... maybe that's the plan? I digress, no way in hell BUF misses out on McEichel. One of five things will happen, guaranteed. 1 - Sabres finish 30th win the lottery, all our dreams come true. 2 - Sabres finish 30th lose the lottery, generational consolation prize. 3 - Sabres finish 29th win the lottery, GMTM faints on stage as McDavid pulls on a Sabres sweater. 4 - Sabres finish 29th and 30th place ARI wins the lottery, see #2. 5 - Sabres finish 29th, neither BUF nor ARI win the lottery and BUF picks 3rd. That said, if the hockey Gods punish us for our sins and we end up with #5, I don't there's any price GMTM wouldn't pay to move up from #3 to #2. I don't see him being able to move from #3 to #1, but a move from #3 to #2 would be possible and here's why.... ARI will be the team picking #2 (do the math, duh). ARI needs help all over the place, while they already have OEL, they may jump at a deal that involves both BUF 1st rounders in 2015 and BUF 2016 first rounder. The 2016 1st rounder is key here as next year is the Auston Matthews draft. Auston Matthews is from... you guessed it, Scottsdale, AZ, and he's putting up better numbers than Eichel did at his age in the same program. He's slightly bigger than Eichel as well. Imagine the fanfare in ARI with Austom Matthews leading that team for the next decade or so... wow. Of course, the deal would also need to include somebody like Girgensons and Ennis, which I'd be OK with... So it's not all gloom and doom if BUF ends up picking 3rd. If GMTM makes Eichel the target, I have no doubt he can pull it off considering his recent trade history and the pieces at his disposal.

That only happens in the last game or two if their position is already locked up. Fortunately, CHi, NYI, and PIT are fighting for home ice advantage. You can also say the same for VAN and CGY (ARI opponents), but ANA might not have anything to play for in the finale at ARI... meaning they might leave Getzlaf and Perry, maybe Fowler, Lindholm and Anderson at home.

Which teams will be worse than BUF? ARI with McEichel will be better. EDM is on the rise. TOR maybe? CAR? 2016 is the Auston Matthews draft. He's putting up better numbers than Eichel did at his age with the US NTDP , and he's slightly bigger. However, the top 4 picks will be determined by lottery, so there's less incentive to tank on purpose. BUF is at rock bottom. Their roster has been gutted of the old core and pending UFAs, there's no where to go but up. They'll be better next year, however that doesn't mean they get out of the basement. What if Reinhart spends or starts half the season in Roch? Kane get's hurt again? Who's the goalie? Lindback? Hackett? Without McEichel BUF will be very bad again, and IMO finish in the bottom 2 or 3. Even with McEichel I still think they're a bottom 5 team (goaltending, young D, new headcoach?, etc..)

It will be an interesting finish. Instead of cheering for BUF loses, I'm changing my strategy to cheering for ARI wins. Two more ARI points (56) means BUF has to get 7 points (57) to move out of 30th. 3 more ARI points, means BUF has to get 8 points out of a possible 12, highly unlikely. http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHLlottery.html(switch to "weighted" at the top left) shows BUF with a 89% chance of finishing last. The weighted version takes strength of opponent into consideration. What may work in BUF's favor are ARI's opponents. SJS is on the skids, they're only .500 at home, and they don't really have anything to play for at this point. VAN should have a spot locked up by the time they play, and ANA likely will have nothing to play for in the season finale at ARI. That said, Lindback looked good again last night. That save on OEL that would've tied the game late was a great play, just barely got enough and had some help from the post. If he comes back down to earth, the Sabres will be fine, otherwise he could ruin everything.

Nobody thought ARI would pickup NHL points at DET. Anything can happen, I think BUF wins a few more here but so will ARI.

Correct. But, BUF has a game in hand which is Wed at home vs TOR. So its likely a 2 point advantage with 5 each left to play. Suddenly not looking so good.

translated to CHL speak... "Quit. Don't suffer and live the rest of your life as a loser." - Muhammad Ali

It's come down to this. What an exciting time to be alive. A few more inspirational quotes for the boys tonight in Glendale. "You miss 100% of the shots you take." - Wayne Gretzky "Goals are fuel in the furnace of failure." -Brian Tracy "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can't achieve.": -Napoleon Hill "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be a failure." -Albert Einstein "Losing isn’t everything, but wanting to lose is." - Lombardi

Smoke screen. Eichel is the better prospect.

Son of Bill Carlton Bailey.

The Oilers just about out of it. Noice.

What do we expect? Do we expect the players to brush it off and say it doesn't bother them when it really does? I like Gionta's comment, but I don't blame Weber for what he said. Should he have said it? Probably not, but wether he says it or not, that's the way he feels and I would expect them all to feel that way. If it didn't bother them, then I would have a problem with it. At least we know he has a pulse and that he cares.

I feel better about it, but we're not out of the woods yet. ARI (and EDM) have difficult schedules down the stretch while BUF plays ARI, CBJ, TOR and CAR. I could see BUF getting at most another 10 NHL points, unlikely, but possible if a goalie heats up? The second ARI game is just as important as the first was. Ennis' status is also a huge deal. I love the guy and don't want him hurt, but it will help if he misses the next 2 games.

http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20080910/delayed-gratification-intelligence-linked

BUF @COL, ARI @ PIT on Sat. Game of the Weak part deux in 4 days.

Weber is pissed at the fans? Well, I'm pissed at him for taking that penalty which cost them the game. So I guess we're even, well no we're not, I'm working a full time job to finance your hockey career, so shut the up.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHLlottery.html 95%

I need to take a shower.

6 point lead now? With 8 left?