I agree, but it does raise some questions about choosing lemieux with pick 31, which kinda screams safe pick. on the other hand (it has been mentioned here before) if he can be anything close to what his dad was it's probably a pretty good pick.
- Sabresfan-365

I like what Lemieux is doing, but watching Barbashev in the World Juniors made me green with envy.

I agree, but it does raise some questions about choosing lemieux with pick 31, which kinda screams safe pick. on the other hand (it has been mentioned here before) if he can be anything close to what his dad was it's probably a pretty good pick.
- Sabresfan-365

Lemieux is one of the most improved players this year in the OHL

He is one of the bigger X factors in the sabres pipeline IMO

along with Compher, Possler, Karabacek and the Gringo

As much as I want the Sabres to finish last, I do hate the current draft system. The Sabres are blatantly exploiting a flawed system, which, to me, "rewards" losing. And I say good on them for doing so. I'm not sure that the 2016 rules are the way to fix things, but the system does need to be fixed.

Like it or not, Darcy Regier put this team in a position where tanking was really the only option. Not doing that puts this team ridiculously far from championship contention for at least a decade. That doesn't make the current route a guarantee, but it is the highest chance of success given the state of the team, and that started about 2 or 3 years ago. This team needs a player to build around badly. The draft is by far the best way to get one in the league's current climate.
- buffalofan19

Bingo. It's one thing if the team had a ton of assets to work with a solid core that just needed big trade or signing to put them over the top, but this team was at or near the bottom of the east even with vanek, pominville, miller etc. Even if they wanted to rebuild on the fly, they had very little in the way of prospects and picks to try. It's not a gurantee but id rather at least get a chance to swing and risk striking out(rebuild) than not get up to bat at all (half ass 8th place re tool).

Lemieux is one of the most improved players this year in the OHL

He is one of the bigger X factors in the sabres pipeline IMO

along with Compher, Possler, Karabacek and the Gringo
- homiedclown

Justin Bailey has improved a ton as well. Liked him at prospect camp last year.

As much as I want the Sabres to finish last, I do hate the current draft system. The Sabres are blatantly exploiting a flawed system, which, to me, "rewards" losing. And I say good on them for doing so. I'm not sure that the 2016 rules are the way to fix things, but the system does need to be fixed.
- buffalofan19

Not a fan of it either but it's the whole lemons->lemonade approach. Doesn't help when the billionaire owner is confined to a 70 mil hard cap either.

I like what Lemieux is doing, but watching Barbashev in the World Juniors made me green with envy.
- buffalofan19

this

Lemieux is one of the most improved players this year in the OHL

He is one of the bigger X factors in the sabres pipeline IMO

along with Compher, Possler, Karabacek and the Gringo
- homiedclown

I would agree i was just trying to highlight the risk reward factor between taking martin and taking lemieux. They were in a position where they could take the risk if they wanted to but chose not to, but it could still work out in their favour.

As much as I want the Sabres to finish last, I do hate the current draft system. The Sabres are blatantly exploiting a flawed system, which, to me, "rewards" losing. And I say good on them for doing so. I'm not sure that the 2016 rules are the way to fix things, but the system does need to be fixed.
- buffalofan19

But that's the thing : I don't see how the 2016 changes really affect a team's rebuild / tank way of thinking. If those rules were in place I think we would still be doing the exact same thing that we are doing now to improve the chances of getting the top pick.

Harrington's line about "disgracing the brand" is the worst non-Bucky and non-Sully line I've read in a long time. He's a disgrace.

People will be so disgusted they'll buy McDavid or Eichel jerseys in droves. What an idiotic thing to write.

Not a fan of it either but it's the whole lemons->lemonade approach. Doesn't help when the billionaire owner is confined to a 70 mil hard cap either.
- Sabresfan-365

To be fair, if that billionaire owner hadn't fallen from the sky four years ago, we'd all be happy with the $70 million hard cap, especially in a market like this.

Harrington's line about "disgracing the brand" is the worst non-Bucky and non-Sully line I've read in a long time. He's a disgrace.

People will be so disgusted they'll buy McDavid or Eichel jerseys in droves. What an idiotic thing to write.
- PassionBucket16

I do think he has a point, though, is saying that the system ultimately needs to be changed. I don't have a solution, but I have to think there's a way.

I would agree i was just trying to highlight the risk reward factor between taking martin and taking lemieux. They were in a position where they could take the risk if they wanted to but chose not to, but it could still work out in their favour.
- Sabresfan-365

I expect Murray to play it safe with the first few picks and swing for the fences in rds 4-7

I do think he has a point, though, is saying that the system ultimately needs to be changed. I don't have a solution, but I have to think there's a way.
- buffalofan19

I think it is fine as it is. It isn't like the Penguins disgraceful 1984 run. Also, I think that in most markets it does disgrace their brand and that is enough of a penalty to dissuade them from doing it. I don't know that the Coyotes will survive this in Arizona.

The NHL can do an all star draft live, but not the draft lottery

I think it is fine as it is. It isn't like the Penguins disgraceful 1984 run. Also, I think that in most markets it does disgrace their brand and that is enough of a penalty to dissuade them from doing it. I don't know that the Coyotes will survive this in Arizona.
- Slump Buster

It kind of is though. While they're not coming out and saying it, nobody in the Sabres organization is really denying what's going on.

It kind of is though. While they're not coming out and saying it, nobody in the Sabres organization is really denying what's going on.
- buffalofan19

I think it is symantecs. You have to trade vets for kids and picks to get better.

I do think he has a point, though, is saying that the system ultimately needs to be changed. I don't have a solution, but I have to think there's a way.
- buffalofan19

Brand isn't disgraced when
A. Attendance is strong
B. Fans are embracing the tank

Brand isn't disgraced when
A. Attendance is strong
B. Fans are embracing the tank
- PassionBucket16

I'm not saying it disgraces the Sabres brand, but I do think the league as a whole needs to change the system.

The NHL can do an all star draft live, but not the draft lottery
- homiedclown

I've never understood this point as some people think that seeing it live would make it less suspicious. I don't think it is suspicious and other than providing some entertainment it wouldn't really make me trust it more.

poor man's Karlsson?
- homiedclown

I would say his highest calling is martin still shocked we got him had him late first

To be fair, if that billionaire owner hadn't fallen from the sky four years ago, we'd all be happy with the $70 million hard cap, especially in a market like this.
- buffalofan19

Touche. But even if we weren't owned by either extreme (dirt cheap, extremely rich) I think i'd feel the same way.

The core issue isn't in the lottery odds, you can change those as much as you want, if the league still operates in a system where the best way to acquire talent is at the top of the draft then they will do everything to make that happen. You could scrap the odds entirely and give each non playoff team the same shot but then you're still just rewarding teams based off the "luck of the draw" (or not depending on your point of view).

Main issue is in the fact that the draft even exists. You have a spectacle every year where a team gets to have elite talent handed to them on a silver platter. The only major sport that doesn't have a tanking problem is the one sport that doesn't have a draft, soccer.

Touche. But even if we weren't owned by either extreme (dirt cheap, extremely rich) I think i'd feel the same way.

The core issue isn't in the lottery odds, you can change those as much as you want, if the league still operates in a system where the best way to acquire talent is at the top of the draft then they will do everything to make that happen. You could scrap the odds entirely and give each non playoff team the same shot but then you're still just rewarding teams based off the "luck of the draw" (or not depending on your point of view).

Main issue is in the fact that the draft even exists. You have a spectacle every year where a team gets to have elite talent handed to them on a silver platter. The only major sport that doesn't have a tanking problem is the one sport that doesn't have a draft, soccer.
- Sabresfan-365

But soccer also has a heavier case of the "haves" and "have nots" more than any other sport as well.

but holy poop those wings are fast and they just move no matter what

But soccer also has a heavier case of the "haves" and "have nots" more than any other sport as well.
- buffalofan19

That's true, and it's hard to decide which is worse. I'd be curious to see if that changed if some form of cap was in place. Not necessarily like the one the NHL has but one that would close the gap between the haves and have nots.