he 2002-02 edition of the Buffalo Sabres set the franchise record with seven losses in a row from November 3-19, 2002 then matched it between December 20-31, 2002. And they weren't done either. Less than a month later they set the mark at eight games between January 25 and February 13, 2003.


Uh, Michael? You been taking lessons from Garth? Nice read though. We knew what you meant.
- badgermilk

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As far as Ryan O'Rielly, Sabres should just sign him in 1.5 years as UFA. I would only pay him ~ $8M if he just signed as a UFA, but if we trade for him, I would want that number a lot lower. Maybe ~$6M.

I welcome all
- homiedclown

Yep

I welcome all
- homiedclown

I think it's going to be a very long eight days.

The only idea I can come up with, that would be fun for the fans to watch but probably at the very least disinteresting for the players, would be for the 14 teams that didn't make the playoffs to have their own playoff format to determine the top pick.

Format: top 2 teams in terms of points that missed the playoffs receive a first round bye, remaining 12 teams play a best 2 out of 3 playoff series. Winners move on to the final 8 where it's another best 2 of 3 format, winners move on to the semi-finals (2 of 3 again), then finals to determine the top 2 picks.

They could have some kind of trophy made for the winner along with receiving the first pick overall. I'm sure the players could care less about playing in a tournament for the 1st pick, but it would be fun to watch from the fans perspective.
- kingcong39

Wait...so after a bad team who can't beat anyone loses and misses the playoffs severely they have to play teams that they couldn't beat for a draft pick? Dude, some of those teams are good but dysfunctional. Philly? Columbus? That is absurd. Maybe the bottom 4 teams duke it out. Any higher then it is completely mismatched.

Leafs, flyers, Columbus, Minnesota, Kings, Devils, senators, Avalanche...why should an underperforming team like philly have that good of a shot? Or Colorado. Or Minnesota.

As far as Ryan O'Rielly, Sabres should just sign him in 1.5 years as UFA. I would only pay him ~ $8M if he just signed as a UFA, but if we trade for him, I would want that number a lot lower. Maybe ~$6M.
- Lilroot9

It isn't necessarily the number that should be the prohibiting factor. Nothing guarantees that we could sign him even if we did trade for him. This is even more dangerous given his past negotiations.

Wait...so after a bad team who can't beat anyone loses and misses the playoffs severely they have to play teams that they couldn't beat for a draft pick? Dude, some of those teams are good but dysfunctional. Philly? Columbus? That is absurd. Maybe the bottom 4 teams duke it out. Any higher then it is completely mismatched.

Leafs, flyers, Columbus, Minnesota, Kings, Devils, senators, Avalanche...why should an underperforming team like philly have that good of a shot? Or Colorado. Or Minnesota.
- badgermilk

I've seen that proposal in various places over the last few months. I think the idea is intriguing but I favor the system as it is. Play the kids when you are out of a playoff spot so that they can get experience.

9 times out of 10 andrew peters opinions make me puke in my mouth, because thats all they are. Opinions.

I do however enjoy his insight and stories from having been a player.

I think it's going to be a very long eight days.
- Der Kaiser

I started running again

I will do 60 miles this week so it won't be an issue for me

the team is 30th in the league and we are talking about andrew (frank)ing peters


really?

As far as Ryan O'Rielly, Sabres should just sign him in 1.5 years as UFA. I would only pay him ~ $8M if he just signed as a UFA, but if we trade for him, I would want that number a lot lower. Maybe ~$6M.
- Lilroot9

agreed

no reason to trade for a player that will probably walk in 18 months to the highest bidder

the team is 30th in the league and we are talking about andrew (frank)ing peters


really?
- homiedclown

I've always found that my distance running is helped tremendously by blowing two or three lines and drinking a few glasses of vodka.

I've always found that my distance running is helped tremendously by blowing two or three lines and drinking a few glasses of vodka.
- Der Kaiser

I take a smoke break after running 4 miles and then do my last 2 miles

I take a smoke break after running 4 miles and then do my last 2 miles
- homiedclown

60 miles this week? We math differently.

Peters played in the NHL, he isn't an idiot. Played a different role, but played with and against top notch talent. All hockey players are good guys (people skills) different than other professtional sports.

I'm just amazed how many on this site sh!t on our hometown athletes!

Just a different generation I guess?
- Irish 14

It's an incredibly dumb statement. If he wanted the answer, why doesn't he call his former teammate and Erie Otters Assistant Coach Jay McKee?

It isn't necessarily the number that should be the prohibiting factor. Nothing guarantees that we could sign him even if we did trade for him. This is even more dangerous given his past negotiations.
- Slump Buster

I agree, but the number stops me too. I don't think he is worth that much $ especially for a team that looks to be heavy at the C position moving forward. Because he is a pain to negotiate with, I doubt many teams want to give much up for him. Hopefully Murray is just asking to see if he can pry him away for less. I mean, how many teams would be excited that a 23 year old him held out to get more than $4M / year? Granted he played at 18 in NHL and he has decent numbers, but I just don't know that sinking $8M / year (for how many years? 4?) that it will help. Think of all the players that we would need to resign before that 4 years is up, Reinhart, 1st rounder this year (granted that he plays next season for Sabres), Grigorenko, Girgensons, Zadorov, Risto, McCabe and any other young player that is coming up. We could get away with it, but I would rather Myers $5.5M for a top 4 D man (maybe top 2).

Trade deadline thoughts. Since nobody is untouchable, I'm going to attempt to rank the players in terms of how much it would cost to trade them were I the GM. I am going to try and include prospects as well. These are all IMO and how I look at each player.

A Ton: Girgensons, Ristolainen, Reinhart

A Lot: Myers, Zadorov

Very Strong Return: Ennis (one of only two F to make a constant impact every game), Delauriers (if he is on your 4th line, your 4th line is dangerous; cheap too), Pysyk, McCabe, Armia, Grigorenko (for some reason I feel he's going to be an add on to a deal to get an impact winger when the time comes)

A Good Amount: Baptiste (lots & lots of promise), Bailey (steadily removing doubters one by one), Compher (the kind of 3C that you need when it's time to win), Ullmark (his Euro team is bad this year; still believe), Lemieux (opening eyes with every game), Neuvirth (believe he is the long term answer in net assuming he can stay healthy)

A Solid Return: Marcus Foligno (still have belief; many teams would like to add him), Flynn (costs nothing, does everything right), Carrier (bottom 6 NHL impact), Ruhwedel (underrated; ideal 6/7), Fasching (bottom 6 NHL opposite wing of Carrier), Hurley (could take a while but could be a great pick), Karabacek (wild card is making noise with constant improvement), Martin (stolen), Florentino (a steal)

Unknowns: Johansson, Possler, Olofsson (all are hidden away in Europe and two are on a very bad team)

Take The Best Return & Run: Stewart, Stafford, Meszaros, Benoit, Enroth, Weber

Virtually Impossible: Gionta (last concussion; not much gas left), Hodgson (good luck)

60 miles this week? We math differently.
- Der Kaiser

I do another 4 miles at night when I get home from work 5 times a week

I do another 4 miles at night when I get home from work 5 times a week
- homiedclown

Kudos Homie. I picked up the running addiction a couple of years after my mother passed. It's a great feeling of accomplishment at the end of each run, especially if you give max effort and as the distances increase.

On Free Agent signings, can a case be made that not signing any free agents that cost an exorbitant price is actually the best way to go?

That would mean either never signing one during an offseason or going bargain shopping only after the initial frenzy.

Trade deadline thoughts. Since nobody is untouchable, I'm going to attempt to rank the players in terms of how much it would cost to trade them were I the GM. I am going to try and include prospects as well. These are all IMO and how I look at each player.

A Ton: Girgensons, Ristolainen, Reinhart

A Lot: Myers, Zadorov

Very Strong Return: Ennis (one of only two F to make a constant impact every game), Delauriers (if he is on your 4th line, your 4th line is dangerous; cheap too), Pysyk, McCabe, Armia, Grigorenko (for some reason I feel he's going to be an add on to a deal to get an impact winger when the time comes)

A Good Amount: Baptiste (lots & lots of promise), Bailey (steadily removing doubters one by one), Compher (the kind of 3C that you need when it's time to win), Ullmark (his Euro team is bad this year; still believe), Lemieux (opening eyes with every game), Neuvirth (believe he is the long term answer in net assuming he can stay healthy)

A Solid Return: Marcus Foligno (still have belief; many teams would like to add him), Flynn (costs nothing, does everything right), Carrier (bottom 6 NHL impact), Ruhwedel (underrated; ideal 6/7), Fasching (bottom 6 NHL opposite wing of Carrier), Hurley (could take a while but could be a great pick), Karabacek (wild card is making noise with constant improvement), Martin (stolen), Florentino (a steal)

Unknowns: Johansson, Possler, Olofsson (all are hidden away in Europe and two are on a very bad team)

Take The Best Return & Run: Stewart, Stafford, Meszaros, Benoit, Enroth, Weber

Virtually Impossible: Gionta (last concussion; not much gas left), Hodgson (good luck)
- kingcong39

I do another 4 miles at night when I get home from work 5 times a week
- homiedclown

the team is 30th in the league and we are talking about andrew (frank)ing peters


really?
- homiedclown

what exactly are we going to talk about? I watch about 75% of the games and its getting harder to keep it at that mark. There is nothing interesting, not even our young players save girgensons.

Then peters gets to talk hockey for two hours a day and 90% of it is ignorant opinion "because thats not how players think"

The radio show isnt for the players.

what exactly are we going to talk about? I watch about 75% of the games and its getting harder to keep it at that mark. There is nothing interesting, not even our young players save girgensons.

Then peters gets to talk hockey for two hours a day and 90% of it is ignorant opinion "because thats not how players think"

The radio show isnt for the players.
- ieetbred

prospects

potential draft picks

- Der Kaiser

part of me wants to smack the poop out of you
thee other part is laughing

part of me wants to smack the poop out of you
thee other part is laughing
- homiedclown

In 2007, I completed a Half Iron Man (1.25 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). I was 43.

Saturday, I huffed through 3 miles: Sunday I chose to make and eat a pot roast instead of working out.