So everybody in the Buffalo organization is ok with tanking?
- Streit2ThePoint

I agree that there aren't many, if any, coaches or players that tank on purpose. But I would argue that there are certainly GMs who set up their team to tank and do it with approval from ownership.

Trading young franchise level players for multiple lesser pieces always does.
How did you not know that?
- Ihateallofu

Depends what the need is. I know this is probably a shocker to you, but hockey is a TEAM sport. You need to build a team. Having 9 of the best forwards in the NHL, scoring 16 goals a game doesn't matter if your D sucks and is giving up 17 goals a game. Sometimes those "lesser" pieces is what your teams needs to fill holes on your team.

Same goes for the NFL teams that always used to draft receivers and QB's. They finally realized that they can't do jack without a solid line...

Sometimes, you can fill multiple holes by sacrificing one of your "star" players. Sometimes it works out for you both.. sometimes it works out on one end.. other times both are losers. That's the game and the business...

This isn't that difficult.

14 teams don't make it. You have an event in Las Vegas because it's a hockey hot bed. All 14 teams compete in a shoot-out to determine draft order.

I just don't get why the league hasn't asked me before?

Isnt that intention in all trades...real cutting edge stuff with this one
- DDM-Coga

that doesn't make sense....

This isn't that difficult.

14 teams don't make it. You have an event in Las Vegas because it's a hockey hot bed. All 14 teams compete in a shoot-out to determine draft order.

I just don't get why the league hasn't asked me before?
- Fols19

Only if Kansas City can host the draft.

Examples of trades bringing back needed assets, and met broth team's needs?

Coburn - Gudas, 1st, 3rd
Yandle, 4th - Moore, Duclair, 1st, 2nd
Kane, Bogosian - Myers, Stafford, 1st
Vanek, 5th - Collberg, 2nd
Luongo - Markstrom, Matthias
Miller, Ott - Halak, Stewart, 1st, 3rd
Vanek - Moulson, 1st, 2nd
Zidlicky - Foster, Palmeiri, 2nd, 3rd
Carter - Johnson, 1st
Wideman - Hasuwirth, 3rd
Shattenkirk, Stewart, 2nd - Johnson, McClement, 1st
Beauchemin - Lupul, Gardiner
Kovalchuk - Oduya, Bergfors, Cormier, 1st
Phaneuf, Sjostrom - Stajan, Hagman, White


Those are just some of the more major ones over the past couple years. I could go on, but I somehow have the feeling you'll just discredit any and all information I provide anyway... so take it however you want...
- WarriorHockey21

Lets use the hindsight you love so much.

Which one of those deals do you make for hall?
Remember, the team wants to actually get better.
Also remember that once u move hall- pouliot is our new 1lw with Purcell mark Fraser and Matt Hendricks rounding out the top 12

Yandle and Shattenkirk are the only two defenders even close and they aren't worth it.

Your hindsight is weak

RNH is a good player, hes the new Spezza, highly skilled but under appreciated by the media bc hes articles about his are not sexy sellers
- DDM-Coga

I don't think he's really a Spezza. RNH isn't even close to a point per game player. To me, a franchise player should be at least somewhere in the area.

He's probably better defensively than Spezza (cause, really, who isn't), but either way Spezza/RNH alone would never turn a franchise around.

I don't think he's really a Spezza. RNH isn't even close to a point per game player. To me, a franchise player should be at least somewhere in the area.

He's probably better defensively than Spezza (cause, really, who isn't), but either way Spezza/RNH alone would never turn a franchise around.
- Charliebox

I don't think he's really a Spezza. RNH isn't even close to a point per game player. To me, a franchise player should be at least somewhere in the area.

He's probably better defensively than Spezza (cause, really, who isn't), but either way Spezza/RNH alone would never turn a franchise around.
- Charliebox

way to take that way too literal, im not talking ppg. The fact is that they both never get the full respect from around the league due to them playing in a Canadian city with rival cities next door, the hate and bashing will always be constant bc of that

I don't think he's really a Spezza. RNH isn't even close to a point per game player. To me, a franchise player should be at least somewhere in the area.

He's probably better defensively than Spezza (cause, really, who isn't), but either way Spezza/RNH alone would never turn a franchise around.
- Charliebox

RNH is 22.

He's accomplished more by this time in his career than some of the most elite centermen in the game.

Are u assuming he's peaked?

I totally agree that the first overall should go no more than once every 5 years to the same team would be a good rule but it does not avoid tanking. Buffalo may as well have come out and just said they are shooting to finish 30th overall because they have done everything they could to get there. Phoenix is not far behind them in embarrassing the NHL. I think all teams who finish within 15 points of the last place team should have an equal shot at the number 1 pick.

This isn't that difficult.

14 teams don't make it. You have an event in Las Vegas because it's a hockey hot bed. All 14 teams compete in a shoot-out to determine draft order.

I just don't get why the league hasn't asked me before?
- Fols19

There is only one way to really settle who should get the 1st overall...Battle Royal

Whether they are actually tanking or not, I'd love it if it was a total surprise and teams such as Dallas, Philly, New Jersey, Columbus or Carolina filled the top 3 pick spots and see/hear Buff, EDM, and ARZ fans reactions and whining on how their "tanking" didn't work
- arichardson22

You'd love to see Philly get the top pick as opposed to teams that aren't your favourite

Hmmm
Good post

RNH is 22.

He's accomplished more by this time in his career than some of the most elite centermen in the game.

Are u assuming he's peaked?
- Ihateallofu

This is from Scott Cullen on TSN:

HEROES

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – The Oilers centre had a couple of assists for the third straight game and has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in the past five games. As a No. 1 overall pick, in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins comes under a lot of scrutiny. Because Edmonton hasn’t had anything resembling success during his short tenure, he takes a lot of criticism.

But, let’s be fair. He is tied for the scoring lead from that draft class, with No. 1 pick Gabriel Landeskog and since 2000, there are a dozen players who had more than 181 points through their age 21 season. Considering that the Oilers have a dozen games remaining, RNH could easily climb to 11th and a point-per-game finish would put him ninth.

Anyway, given that production, it’s way too soon to start wondering about whether Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be a No. 1 centre. If he’s not already, ranking 24th among centres with 49 points, then he’s on the cusp at age 21.

This is from Scott Cullen on TSN:

HEROES

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – The Oilers centre had a couple of assists for the third straight game and has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in the past five games. As a No. 1 overall pick, in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins comes under a lot of scrutiny. Because Edmonton hasn’t had anything resembling success during his short tenure, he takes a lot of criticism.

But, let’s be fair. He is tied for the scoring lead from that draft class, with No. 1 pick Gabriel Landeskog and since 2000, there are a dozen players who had more than 181 points through their age 21 season. Considering that the Oilers have a dozen games remaining, RNH could easily climb to 11th and a point-per-game finish would put him ninth.

Anyway, given that production, it’s way too soon to start wondering about whether Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be a No. 1 centre. If he’s not already, ranking 24th among centres with 49 points, then he’s on the cusp at age 21.
- ystoil

nope should have picked Landy

You'd love to see Philly get the top pick as opposed to teams that aren't your favourite

Hmmm
Good post
- Ihateallofu

Well he did say other teams such as Dallas, NJ, Carolina...

Examples of trades bringing back needed assets, and met broth team's needs?

Coburn - Gudas, 1st, 3rd
Yandle, 4th - Moore, Duclair, 1st, 2nd
Kane, Bogosian - Myers, Stafford, 1st
Vanek, 5th - Collberg, 2nd
Luongo - Markstrom, Matthias
Miller, Ott - Halak, Stewart, 1st, 3rd
Vanek - Moulson, 1st, 2nd
Zidlicky - Foster, Palmeiri, 2nd, 3rd
Carter - Johnson, 1st
Wideman - Hasuwirth, 3rd
Shattenkirk, Stewart, 2nd - Johnson, McClement, 1st
Beauchemin - Lupul, Gardiner
Kovalchuk - Oduya, Bergfors, Cormier, 1st
Phaneuf, Sjostrom - Stajan, Hagman, White


Those are just some of the more major ones over the past couple years. I could go on, but I somehow have the feeling you'll just discredit any and all information I provide anyway... so take it however you want...
- WarriorHockey21

Ones I bolded are ones that stand out as examples of trades that only favoured one side.

So everybody in the Buffalo organization is ok with tanking?
- Streit2ThePoint

It must just be bad luck then, like last year.

nope should have picked Landy
- DDM-Coga

Buffalo cant even get this right, typical of our sports teams..

This is from Scott Cullen on TSN:

HEROES

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – The Oilers centre had a couple of assists for the third straight game and has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in the past five games. As a No. 1 overall pick, in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins comes under a lot of scrutiny. Because Edmonton hasn’t had anything resembling success during his short tenure, he takes a lot of criticism.

But, let’s be fair. He is tied for the scoring lead from that draft class, with No. 2 pick Gabriel Landeskog and since 2000, there are a dozen players who had more than 181 points through their age 21 season. Considering that the Oilers have a dozen games remaining, RNH could easily climb to 11th and a point-per-game finish would put him ninth.

Anyway, given that production, it’s way too soon to start wondering about whether Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be a No. 1 centre. If he’s not already, ranking 24th among centres with 49 points, then he’s on the cusp at age 21.
- ystoil

None of this please.

this is inconvenient

the oilers aren't good.
That means neither is rnh

This is from Scott Cullen on TSN:

HEROES

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – The Oilers centre had a couple of assists for the third straight game and has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in the past five games. As a No. 1 overall pick, in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins comes under a lot of scrutiny. Because Edmonton hasn’t had anything resembling success during his short tenure, he takes a lot of criticism.

But, let’s be fair. He is tied for the scoring lead from that draft class, with No. 1 pick Gabriel Landeskog and since 2000, there are a dozen players who had more than 181 points through their age 21 season. Considering that the Oilers have a dozen games remaining, RNH could easily climb to 11th and a point-per-game finish would put him ninth.

Anyway, given that production, it’s way too soon to start wondering about whether Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be a No. 1 centre. If he’s not already, ranking 24th among centres with 49 points, then he’s on the cusp at age 21.
- ystoil

But this is my point.. it was a weak draft class.

I was arguing against EK's idea to limit one first overall per team every 5 years.

RNH is a good player. He has the potential to be a great player.

That said, go back and look at the first overall picks through the last two decades. The only two forwards that aren't better than him are Stefan, and Yakopov.

Again, I'm not ripping him or the Oilers. I'm ripping into Ek's horrible idea.

If no team should be allowed the first pick twice in 5 years then maybe NTC and NMC should be illegal..
- ystoil

This needs to be a part of the ongoing argument. I am open to changing the draft rules but how else to teams get better if players wont allow themselves to be traded to underperforming teams?

IT ONLY LEAVES THE DRAFT

- ystoil

Landy is mansome, Nuge has a horse face...clearly the wrong pick

They need to stop tweaking the draft order and just go back to worst-is-first method. Like Ek said, throw in a rule that you can't draft first for a few years, or run a loser tourney. If you want to prevent tanking, the lottery is NOT the way to prevent that. The lottery is a big marketing scheme the NHL uses to keep their viewer numbers up. The lottery gives more teams a reason to lose a few more games.

Think about it, 3 teams are tanking to get the top 1-2 pick in the draft this year. What's going to happen next year, when 4 spots are up for grabs? 5,6 heck 7 teams will be trying to lose a few to move up.

This does NOT prevent tanking