bottlecap Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Sinking to the bottom of the standings has been a successful team strategy for many teams throughout sports: in hockey, it's Atlanta and Tampa Bay most prominently. I have a feeling (Pittsburgh) that the lotteries are somehow not on the level but if the Sabs keep on being a borderline team, barely missing/making the playoffs, they keep having to pull a rabbit out of the hat on draft day. And our draft choices have been mediocre. The Sabres are too honest of an organization. Only once out of nearly 40 years have they been dead last and drafted first. (Turgeon) They need a slam dunk draft pick or picks at this time. I wouldn't mind sinking to the bottom if the Sabres could get Tavares; he'd be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Sinking to the bottom of the standings has been a successful team strategy for many teams throughout sports: in hockey, it's Atlanta and Tampa Bay most prominently. I have a feeling (Pittsburgh) that the lotteries are somehow not on the level but if the Sabs keep on being a borderline team, barely missing/making the playoffs, they keep having to pull a rabbit out of the hat on draft day. And our draft choices have been mediocre. The Sabres are too honest of an organization. Only once out of nearly 40 years have they been dead last and drafted first. (Turgeon) They need a slam dunk draft pick or picks at this time. I wouldn't mind sinking to the bottom if the Sabres could get Tavares; he'd be worth it. Define "worth it." To secure a Cup? It hasn't happened often. If you look back at first picks over the last 25 years, at first glance it appears only Tampa Bay (Lecavalier in 1998) and Pittsburgh (Mario in '84) parlayed that pick into a Cup. The rest of the teams are a bunch of woebegone bottom stragglers that literally can't win for losing. The Penguins and Capitals could change that trend in the next couple of years. If worth it is getting to watch amazing talent like Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Crosby and the like, sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottlecap Posted December 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Define "worth it." To secure a Cup? It hasn't happened often. If you look back at first picks over the last 25 years, at first glance it appears only Tampa Bay (Lecavalier in 1998) and Pittsburgh (Mario in '84) parlayed that pick into a Cup. The rest of the teams are a bunch of woebegone bottom stragglers that literally can't win for losing. The Penguins and Capitals could change that trend in the next couple of years. If worth it is getting to watch amazing talent like Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Crosby and the like, sure. good points. for now, "Worth it" means watching good talent on our side for once...not sure if this management group has the resources, the stones or the brains that can put together a championship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpandean Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 The Penguins and Capitals could change that trend in the next couple of years. I don't know if you can really count the Penguins. They wouldn't be converting one #1 pick into a cup. They have: 2002: 5th overall - Ryan Whitney 2003: 1st overall - Marc-Andre Fleury 2004: 2nd overall - Evgeni Malkin 2005: 1st overall - Sidney Crosby 2006: 2nd overall - Jordan Stall They sucked for a lot of years to get where they are now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 I don't know if you can really count the Penguins. They wouldn't be converting one #1 pick into a cup. They have:2002: 5th overall - Ryan Whitney 2003: 1st overall - Marc-Andre Fleury 2004: 2nd overall - Evgeni Malkin 2005: 1st overall - Sidney Crosby 2006: 2nd overall - Jordan Stall They sucked for a lot of years to get where they are now. And let's not forget a few other first round picks they dumped off last year to make their cup run (not early 1st rounders though: Angelo Esposito- 20th in 2007 Colby Armstrong- 21st in 2001 The other thing I see looking at their drafts: my god their boards are college heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 I don't know if you can really count the Penguins. They wouldn't be converting one #1 pick into a cup. They have:2002: 5th overall - Ryan Whitney 2003: 1st overall - Marc-Andre Fleury 2004: 2nd overall - Evgeni Malkin 2005: 1st overall - Sidney Crosby 2006: 2nd overall - Jordan Stall They sucked for a lot of years to get where they are now. And they still suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 And they still suck. Let me be the first to say. I'll trade our suck for their suck in an instant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stenbaro Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 I don't know if you can really count the Penguins. They wouldn't be converting one #1 pick into a cup. They have:2002: 5th overall - Ryan Whitney 2003: 1st overall - Marc-Andre Fleury 2004: 2nd overall - Evgeni Malkin 2005: 1st overall - Sidney Crosby 2006: 2nd overall - Jordan Stall They sucked for a lot of years to get where they are now. That was a bonus pick..They lucked into that one after the lockout... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JujuFish Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 That was a bonus pick..They lucked into that one after the lockout... Yeah, Buffalo had just as many balls in that lottery. :thumbdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DR HOLLIDAY Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 I just hope that the kid goes to a real hockey city.............He is something special........... :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 That was a bonus pick..They lucked into that one after the lockout... They would've landed him without the lockout anyway. They were still going to be horrible that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Sinking to the bottom of the standings has been a successful team strategy for many teams throughout sports: in hockey, it's Atlanta and Tampa Bay most prominently. I have a feeling (Pittsburgh) that the lotteries are somehow not on the level but if the Sabs keep on being a borderline team, barely missing/making the playoffs, they keep having to pull a rabbit out of the hat on draft day. And our draft choices have been mediocre. The Sabres are too honest of an organization. Only once out of nearly 40 years have they been dead last and drafted first. (Turgeon) They need a slam dunk draft pick or picks at this time. I wouldn't mind sinking to the bottom if the Sabres could get Tavares; he'd be worth it. And what if he's a bust? If i had the #1 overall pick, i'm going with Hedman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottlecap Posted December 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 I wouldn't mind having this kind of skill on our side for a change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 Let me be the first to say. I'll trade our suck for their suck in an instant. It's interesting to look at the standings approaching midseason and see the "disappointing" Sabres only three points behind the Pens. And only a modest winning streak away from taking a run at the fifth spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 It's interesting to look at the standings approaching midseason and see the "disappointing" Sabres only three points behind the Pens. And only a modest winning streak away from taking a run at the fifth spot. The Penguins, minus Whitney and Gonchar for most of the first half, minus Fleury for a good chunk of the season the Penguins whose general manager will actually make trades to improve his club. Yeah, I'll take the Penguins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted December 28, 2008 Report Share Posted December 28, 2008 The Penguins, minus Whitney and Gonchar for most of the first half, minus Fleury for a good chunk of the season the Penguins whose general manager will actually make trades to improve his club. Yeah, I'll take the Penguins. All teams have injuries. You can make the same case for the Sabres. Teams that impress me are ones that can overcome. Look at Washington this year and the Sabres in 05-06. If the Pens, with arguably the two top players in the league, are waiting for help to ride in on a white horse, it doesn't bode well for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 All teams have injuries. You can make the same case for the Sabres. Teams that impress me are ones that can overcome. Look at Washington this year and the Sabres in 05-06. If the Pens, with arguably the two top players in the league, are waiting for help to ride in on a white horse, it doesn't bode well for them. You are seriously telling me that a team with Roy, Hecht, Mair and Ellis at center is better? Pittsburgh isn't waiting for anything. They are in a little funk right now but will be just fine. By the way, the fact that the disappointing Sabres are only back of Pittsburgh is news but the "resilient" Capitals being only 5 ahead of Pittsburgh makes them worthy of praise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 You are seriously telling me that a team with Roy, Hecht, Mair and Ellis at center is better? Pittsburgh isn't waiting for anything. They are in a little funk right now but will be just fine. By the way, the fact that the disappointing Sabres are only back of Pittsburgh is news but the "resilient" Capitals being only 5 ahead of Pittsburgh makes them worthy of praise? Why do you keep wanting to put words in my mouth? Yeah, I think the Caps at 11 games over .500 with their injury problems are worthy of praise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasker48b Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Re: Sabres dumping games to finish last and draft Tavares If losing was the recipe for success, the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals would have met in Super Bowl XLII Re: Tavares I'm still trying to figure out how he stole the puck off of the Czech player at the WJC to set up Esposito's goal in Canada's first game of the tourney. If the NHL doesn't work out for Tavares he can look forward to a lucrative career as a pick-pocket. The TSN commentators noted that much of Tavares goal-scoring success comes on the PP. ("All he does is score goals"). He doesn't appear to be as effective 5-on-5, which is likely why his draft rating has dropped with some scouts preferring defenseman Hedman from Sweden. Tavares has been touted as the #1 pick for two-three years now, so to see someone else emerge as a possible #1 pick is surprising to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 It's interesting to look at the standings approaching midseason and see the "disappointing" Sabres only three points behind the Pens. And only a modest winning streak away from taking a run at the fifth spot. Since the 6-0-2 start, the Sabres longest win streak is at 3 and that has happened once. Since that same start, they have had the following streaks... 0-2-0 0-1-1 0-5-0 0-3-0 0-1-2 So much for the team goal of not losing 2 games in a row this season. January's schedule of 3 games at home and 10 on the road are going to make or break this team. The only saving grace is that the teams chasing the Sabres(Carolina, Florida, Toronto & Ottawa) aren't going anywhere real fast. Two road games against division rivals Jan 1 at Toronto 7:00 pm Buy Tickets MSG, LTV Jan 3 at Boston 1:00 pm Buy Tickets MSG, NESN Two home games out of three for the month Jan 6 vs Ottawa 7:00 pm Buy Tickets RSN, MSG Jan 9 vs NY Rangers 7:30 pm Buy Tickets MSG, MSG Three game mid-west swing Jan 10 at Detroit 7:00 pm Buy Tickets MSG, FSD Jan 14 at Chicago 8:30 pm Buy Tickets MSG, CSNC Jan 15 at Dallas 8:30 pm Buy Tickets MSG, FSSW Last home game of the month Jan 17 vs Carolina 7:00 pm Buy Tickets FSS, MSG Two game swing through Florida Jan 19 at Florida 7:30 pm Buy Tickets MSG, FSFL Jan 21 at Tampa Bay 7:30 pm Buy Tickets MSG, SUN Three game swing out west Jan 27 at Edmonton 9:00 pm Buy Tickets RSW Jan 28 at Calgary 8:00 pm Buy Tickets TSN, NHLN Jan 31 at Phoenix 9:00 pm Buy Tickets AZTV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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