James Tanner: Are the Draft Lottery Rule Changes Fair to the Sabres?
The new draft lottery rules could unfairly impact the the Buffalo Sabres.
- James_Tanner

You reference preventing tanking for McEichel a lot in this blog. I'm pretty sure they said this won't be in effect until 2016?

I don't see why we can't tweak the current format? For example, why should the worst teams (say bottom 5, 26-30) have the highest chance a the 1st pick?

What if the 5 teams that just missed the playoffs all had an equal chance at the 1st pick? Would that not encourage every team to at least be competitive as possible, for as long as possible?

Teams 10-14 shouldn't have a significant percentage of getting the 1st overall compared to lottery teams, but it should be greater. Put simply, the 5 worst teams should still end up picking inside, say, the top 10?

There's definitely a way to help teams that are cellar dwellers in the draft every year without handing the absolute worst team the #1 pick on a platter. The goal is to make the playoffs, right? The 14 teams that don't should all have a DECENT chance at a top 5 pick.

Just shooting poop with ideas. Still filtering through posts so others may have expressed similar points. I feel like the basic jist of what I'm saying is pretty straight forward though.

But the thing is, the NHL already has a draft lottery that is supposed to do that, and it seems unfair to change it all of a sudden when there's a particularly important player available. I think Buffalo deserves to be pissed about this. And it's not like they altered it slightly, they are now 20% less likely to get rewarded for finishing last.
- James_Tanner

Maybe they decided since Buffalo has 3 first round picks that it wouldn't be the end of the world.

But the thing is, the NHL already has a draft lottery that is supposed to do that, and it seems unfair to change it all of a sudden when there's a particularly important player available. I think Buffalo deserves to be pissed about this. And it's not like they altered it slightly, they are now 20% less likely to get rewarded for finishing last.
- James_Tanner

And funny how there was no uproar about it when the best player was Aaron Ekblad.

For the "The world hates Buffalo" people, it has nothing to do with Buffalo, and everything to do with MCDavid

Really??

Now Brian Gionta, Matt Moulson and Josh Gorges aren't Kurri, Anderson and Lowe, but they are all very competitive, accountable players that will lead by example and show these kids how to be professionals.

Ted Nolan, while never being compared to Mike Babcock, is probably the most competitive person in that organization, and won't stand for laziness.

Tim Murray said recently (and i'm paraphrasing here), "if anyone thinks I like losing, you've never sat next to me in the press box".

To even think that a team - or even THIS TEAM, in particular - would phone it in, is off their rocker. Players aren't going to tank just so their team can go out and draft the player that will take their place in the lineup.

All this being said, the Sabres don't have the high end talent most teams do, and will lose a ton this year, but purposeful tanking it ain't.

Really??

Now Brian Gionta, Matt Moulson and Josh Gorges aren't Kurri, Anderson and Lowe, but they are all very competitive, accountable players that will lead by example and show these kids how to be professionals.

Ted Nolan, while never being compared to Mike Babcock, is probably the most competitive person in that organization, and won't stand for laziness.

Tim Murray said recently (and i'm paraphrasing here), "if anyone thinks I like losing, you've never sat next to me in the press box".

To even think that a team - or even THIS TEAM, in particular - would phone it in, is off their rocker. Players aren't going to tank just so their team can go out and draft the player that will take their place in the lineup.

All this being said, the Sabres don't have the high end talent most teams do, and will lose a ton this year, but purposeful tanking it ain't.
- grand-magus

Bravo.

And, again, I'm pretty sure this won't be for the McEichel draft anyway...

Bravo.

And, again, I'm pretty sure this won't be for the McEichel draft anyway...
- mochoson

It is for next years draft. With more changes for 2016.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/...ottery-for-2015-1.2742088

And funny how there was no uproar about it when the best player was Aaron Ekblad.

For the "The world hates Buffalo" people, it has nothing to do with Buffalo, and everything to do with MCDavid
- sbroads24

Plenty of Buffalo fans love playing the old woe is me card. Even with this years lottery i remember our page losing their poop because we lost a lottery that we had a 75% chance of losing it. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

Like I said before, if Timmy does his job right, none of us will care in a few years.

The two most profitable and popular sports in america dont feel the need for these draft gimmicks so why should the nhl? Id say the nba is the last league they should want to imitate.

Great article James, and not just because it's about Buffalo, and in fact while we could be getting screwed over, i don't think it necessarily has anything to do with Hockey in Buffalo, in fact the NHL just announced the scouting combine will be there in the brand spanking new hockey mecca of the NHL, Pegula's Harbor Center Project....and i would be surprised if the 2016 draft is held there as well.

Where i do call shenanigans on the league is that do you for a second think that if a Jeremy Jacobs team(with all his sway) was in the running for finishing last this next season, that these changes would have gone into effect in 2015 or maybe 3 or 4 years down the road?!!!!

No way in helll they would start in 2015, and that's what pisses me off about it.

Great article James, and not just because it's about Buffalo, and in fact while we could be getting screwed over, i don't think it necessarily has anything to do with Hockey in Buffalo, in fact the NHL just announced the scouting combine will be there in the brand spanking new hockey mecca of the NHL, Pegula's Harbor Center Project....and i would be surprised if the 2016 draft is held there as well.

Where i do call shenanigans on the league is that do you for a second think that if a Jeremy Jacobs team(with all his sway) was in the running for finishing last this next season, that these changes would have gone into effect in 2015 or maybe 3 or 4 years down the road?!!!!

No way in helll they would start in 2015, and that's what pisses me off about it.
- nikel

Exactly. If toronto was predicted to be a bottom team this next year this draft doesnt change. If it did there would be a major meltdown.

Exactly. If toronto was predicted to be a bottom team this next year this draft doesnt change. If it did there would be a major meltdown.
- zdp1189

Has nothing to do with what team was/is last.

It's the fact that there is 2 superstar players available and everyone wants a shot at them.

Well, they still get the prize in mceichel this year if they tank.
Doesnt take effect till 2016.

But I guess its unfair to any brutal team going forward.

Looks like the oilers got while the getting was goos just in time.
But just for argument sake; outside of hall, its still a question mark whether the numbers 1s they got are all star game changers like the kanes, stamkos' etc.

I think nuge could be great, but theres a few question marks with both him and yaks.

no its not unfair, you said it yourself, the Sabres have been dismantling their roster for the past year. its the worst form of tanking. there was no reason to buy out ehrhoff other than to leave the team unable to effectively Compete. Buffalo moreso than any other team has made moves totry and assure not only McDavid but Eichel as well.

They have made a mockery of the draft.... If it were me I would have made the 2016 changes this year as well. so that the Sabres wouldnt be guaranteed a top 2 pick. Buying out ehrhoff clearly shows you have no intention whatsoever of trying to win

Really??



To even think that a team - or even THIS TEAM, in particular - would phone it in, is off their rocker. Players aren't going to tank just so their team can go out and draft the player that will take their place in the lineup.

All this being said, the Sabres don't have the high end talent most teams do, and will lose a ton this year, but purposeful tanking it ain't.
- grand-magus

youre being blatantly dishonest, you traded away your talent to assure you are in no position to win. Ehrhoff at 4 million a year is cheap and in his prime. you bought him out just so you can lose more efficiently. without Mcdavid as the ultimate goal the sabres do not buy out ehrhoff

The funny thing about the changes for 2015 is that it actually encourages tanking for next year only. If you are the Sabres, or any bad team for that matter, work hard to finish last and the worst that can happen to you is you get Jack Eichel. Thus in Buffalo's point of view finish last again and have a 20% plus (added % if the NYI and/or St Louis miss the playoffs) chance at McDavid and laugh all the way to the bank with with future superstar Eichel.

If you are Murray, getting either McDavid or Eichel sets the franchise up down the middle for a decade when combined with any combination of two from Reinhart, Hodgson, Grigorenko, Girgensons or Compher. The Sabres haven't had this much depth down the middle since LaFontaine and Hawerchul skated for the Blue and Gold

With the first overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Arizona Coyotes are so proud to select... From the Erie Otters, Connor McDavid.

Does it suck. Yes

Is it fair. Yes. They make the rules and you have to play by them. Do they have a van data against certain things. Sure.

The thing is that Tim did improve the team this summer and was thrown in such a terrible situation that in order to make the team competitive would have screwed them for the future.

Well, they still get the prize in mceichel this year if they tank.
Doesnt take effect till 2016.

But I guess its unfair to any brutal team going forward.

Looks like the oilers got while the getting was goos just in time.
But just for argument sake; outside of hall, its still a question mark whether the numbers 1s they got are all star game changers like the kanes, stamkos' etc.

I think nuge could be great, but theres a few question marks with both him and yaks.
- hugefemale dog77

Changes, or at least some of them, take effect immediately. And, as good as Eichel is, McDavid is the prize. He's generational. Eichel merely very good.

With the first overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Arizona Coyotes are so proud to select... From the Erie Otters, Connor McDavid.
- laughs2907

That's hilarious and all, but if you win the Cup, you automatically draft 30th and he won't fall that fall!

James Tanner: Are the Draft Lottery Rule Changes Fair to the Sabres?
The new draft lottery rules could unfairly impact the the Buffalo Sabres.
- James_Tanner

YES IT IS FAIR..

In odrer to keep Owners & GM's playing fair when it comes to "tanking" rules must be put into place.

IMO the Draft Lottery is slightly rigged anyhow.

Has nothing to do with what team was/is last.

It's the fact that there is 2 superstar players available and everyone wants a shot at them.
- sbroads24

Im not saying it is or isnt. But if it was one of the league darlings that was in the sabres position it may not necessarily have changed anything. Itd be a dream from the league standpoint for toronto to land mcdavid.

I think the bottom 5 teams should all have equal shot at the #1 pick. It's just sucks that this is the year the league decides to do something. But I get it every gm who had a bad team would legit tank for McDavid.

And for the fan who knows nothing about the Erhoff situation buffalo didn't buy him out bcz we want to be last place, we are a bad team and will be last place with or without him, we bought him out bcz if and when he retires from that contract he will have a huge cap hit for a few seasons.

Even though this changes the odds a little, no GM is stupid enough to assume that they're DEFINITELY going to get the 1st overall weather the chance is 20 or 25% you can be sure that Tim Murray has every situation mapped out way ahead of time and knows what he's going to do once the cards are dealt. Tanking for the first pick even when it was a 25% chance is beyond rediculous.

I think this is all OILERS fault!!
We should TANK on purpose to piss NHL off!!
Screw NHL and other teams!!
GO SABRES!!!

I really didn't see Buffalo finishing in last place anyway.

Nolan is a great motivator and will play the best players until they drop.

Great things for the Sabres in the future... but no guarantee's the finish bottom 2!!!