pi2000

Nobody is forcing the fans to buy tickets, watch the games on TV, or buy merchandise. If you don't like the product, then don't spend your hard earned dollars on the Sabres. Again, it's a free marketplace. If they believe the Sabres are a poor product, then don't sponsor them. If the Sabres draft McDavid next season and win a Cup at some point in the next 10, it will make one or two years of tanking worthwhile. It's smart business. And IMO the league would love to see a hockey crazy region like western new york raise the Stanley Cup, which is not likely to happen if they continue to field a mediocore team with no elite talent.

They should keep it simple and use 5 point buckets. ie, teams finishing with 60-65 points in one bucket, teams with 65-70 points in another bucket... and only allow re-ordering of teams within the same bucket. ie, Sabres finish all by themselves in the lowest bucket... they get the first pick. FLA, EDM, and NYI finish in the next bucket.... they get assigned picks 2-4 at random. Basically, just group teams by how bad they are. I don't understand why the league is so anti-tank. I mean, it's part of sport... if you're willing to sacrifice now to be rewarded years down the road, then so be it. That's a large part of fan interest in the game, taking solace that your last place team at least gets to add one potential stud for the next season... and there's not even an guarantee that player will pan out. But to finish last by such a wide margin, and not even get a top 3 pick is just dumb.

here's a better view of the McDavid goal...

The most you can move down is 1 spot. So if NYI defer (iirc they already have), and Buffalo or NYI finish in last, then at worst we get the 2nd pick (Eichel).

That's why there's a draft lottery these days. If you finish last, at worst you're picking second. Assuming Reinhart this year... then McDavid/Eichel, I'd be OK with either in 2015. Plus NYI's first in 2015 (Strome, Barzal, Hanifin?). IIRC, they said they're keeping their pick this year as it's a top 10, but I can't imagine them being improved next year without Vanek, Moulson, or anthing to show for them.

wait McCormick went to MIN too?

fake sabrespace account.

it's go time! Ryan Kesler reportedly traded to #Penguins

Andrew MacDonald to the Flyers.

haha... we're heading that direction tho.

Halak, Myers, Grigorenko, and Zadorov to the Capitals for OV... deal not imminent.

I still think the Wild are in play for Halak and Brodeur. Bryz is just a failsafe should both those deals fall through tomorrow. IMO it changes nothing.

They still have Andersen.

what?! Bryz to the Wild? I take back my top 8 comment.... what a downgrade.

Ducks wanted D, wonder who they got in return? Erskine maybe?

With Halak + Vanek in 2015, MN will be top 8 in the league.... no question.

IMO MN will not be anywhere near the lottery next season. They're going to sign Vanek in the summer after launching Heatley. That's a done deal. If they get Halak and keep him around, they can be top 8 next season. I'd still take their 2015 first tho. Gimme gimme.

Let's look at some teams that finished in the bottom 5 of league standings over the past decade or so: In 2005-2006, the bottom 5 were Boston, Washington, Chicago, Pitt, and St. Louis. 3 of those teams are in the top 4 of the league this year. The following year you have Chicago, and Washington again in the bottom 5, along with LA and Philly. Then LA again finishing tied for last in the entire league in 07-08. 08-09, LA again was in the bottom 5 along with Colorado. Colorado then finished 2nd to last in 10-11'. And just two years ago Anaheim was in the bottom 5 again, last year Colorado next to last. Anaheim, Chicago, St. Louis, Pitt, Colorado, and LA make up 6 of the top 7 teams in the league this year. Bottoming out works if you draft wisely, and a quick turnaround is not out of the question. It doesn't have to be a 5 year plan, it can be 2 or 3 if you manage your roster correctly and draft well.

Ehrhoff has underperformed. He's bad defensively. I'm fine with moving him. Don't forget Connor McDavid is the end-game here folks. Stay the course.

Matt Moulson not on the ice for the morning skate in Dallas.... deal imminent. Wonder who resigns from the front office after this one?

There is an obvious disconnect between TN and management. Sound familiar? There's a reason he's been out of the league for so long, he doesn't mesh well with management, never has, never will. If you listen to TN's interview on PLF, it sounds like something happened to PLF which is rubbing TN the wrong way.... and that TN would've resigned as well, but feels an obligation to the players... he names Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis as guys struggling with the recent trade and needing direction. He sounds like he wants to leave, but that he's putting the players well being ahead of his own personal feelings. "I respect what's transpired from both sides... and that's beyond my payscale... i have to respect what's happened and have faith it was for the right reasons." "It's an emotional roller coaster, but I owe it to the players, especially guys like Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis, the younger players, they need direction, they need coaching, they don't need to hear all this stuff..... It's tough, it's tough, I don't even want to think about it right now... it's that tough." When asked if he wants to stay here and coach... "It has nothing to do with wanting to... nothing to do with that right now... my personal, whether I can coach or not, has never waivered, I know I can coach." Then he's asked about the interim tag and the fact he said in the past we wanted to be the head coach going forward... "Several times I did, but right now it's not the time to discuss that because of the situation that just occurred. And like I said, when you're emotional, you never want to make emotional comments on anything. Yes we did talk about contract (as he says this, he's shaking his head back and forth and pursing his lips, obviously he didn't like what was offered). So like I said, right now is not about my contract, it's about the situation that just happened, it's about what transpired within this organization, what happened to a very dear friend and we'll leave it at that." If you listen to the TN interview, and then the TB/TM interview, there's obviously something TB/TM aren't telling us. Something that has TN shaken up, likely deep down he wants to resign as head coach, but feels obligated to the players to see them through this turmoil.

I got it. Murray is low balling Nolan on the contract offer and it pissed off PLF. That explains why Nolan hasn't jumped at the chance to sign the deal and why Murray is saying he just wants a coach who wants to be here. Probably offered him a one year extension, which I think is fair. TN probably told PLF he wants more money/term and PLF told TN he was powerless to do anything about it.... PLF prolly took a stand against Murray and Black saying you either sweeten the deal for my BFF TN or I'm outta here. Which explains why a contract offer has been sitting around unsigned for almost a week now. The timing lines up too. IMO TN should be thankful he even has an offer on the table. However, I always got the sense, even back in the 90's, that TN thinks awfully highly of himself. He's probably taking the offer as an insult as did PLF, and he's shaken at the fact that his BFF put his own job on the line as a sign of loyalty.

Not surprised. Too many chiefs, somebody had to go. Black, Patrick, LaFontaine, Murray. That's just overkill. I just hope they don't trade Myers. Nolan can go. There's a reason he's been out of the league for so long. He's a good motivator but that's about it... His teams always give up a ton of shots, there are better coaches available. All hail Tim Murray.

nothing's gonna happen until Noon on Wed.... never does. no need to rush. teams will overpay in the final hours.