Those derps don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to this stuff though either.

None of what they decide makes much sense to me to be quite honest.
- HonkFortheGoose

Not the same derps as usual. Normal suspension are the department of player safety. This was hockey operations.

My parents Shepard was just at the vet 6-1/2 month old . 87 lbs
- cabin

This is my view also.

With that said, I don't think it matters, he needs to be suspended, although I think 20 is too heavy.
- Der Kaiser

Probably gave 20 knowing it would be reduced

This is my view also.

With that said, I don't think it matters, he needs to be suspended, although I think 20 is too heavy.
- Der Kaiser

He needed to hit someone. what if he did more damage than he lucked out on ?

Not the same derps as usual. Normal suspension are the department of player safety. This was hockey operations.
- Zschalberg

Probably about 99% of the guys in any of those roles make very questionable decisions. My original point still stands.

He needed to hit someone. what if he did more damage than he lucked out on ?
- cabin

Then add games for the injury that actually happened. The Office of Player Discipline takes that into consideration all the time.

Don't add games for the injury that might have happened, but didn't.

I'm fine with that also. I just think the way things are going with Edmonton it's detrimental to the league. 4 first overalls in 6 years plus being in line to do it again this year! That's a problem. I don't care if McJesus has been hurt, that team should still be better this year. I'm not knocking them for being lucky at the lottery, hell I'd want that to happen for the Sabres, but for them to win the lotter yet again would make me question if I really want to even keep watching NHL hockey.
- sskkoo1

I think this all comes down to getting Connor.
No one seemed too worried about it before

How can one blame the oilers for being at the mercy of their draft year?
Yakupov?

Hell, even nuge who's a quality player and a great two way center, isn't a franchise changer.
Give us mackinnon and ekblad and things are different.

I don't think you'd be too upset if the Sabres had ekblad and mcdavid would ya?
And let's not forget, unlike the sabres, we didn't even finish last when we won this past lottery. Nor the previous one

Also, this narrative assumes teams should immediately turn it around despite a ton of factors just because you got high picks. You have eichel, risto and reinhart. Those three have to be considered comparable to hall, yaks and nuge at the same point in their careers, no?
How come you're not better? How come you're looking at another top 3 pick ?
It's just not that simple to turn around a decimated franchise

I think this all comes down to getting Connor.
No one seemed too worried about it before

How can one blame the oilers for being at the mercy of their draft year?
Yakupov?

Hell, even nuge who's a quality player and a great two way center, isn't a franchise changer.
Give us mackinnon and ekblad and things are different.

I don't think you'd be too upset if the Sabres had ekblad and mcdavid would ya?
And let's not forget, unlike the sabres, we didn't even finish last when we won this past lottery. Nor the previous one

Also, this narrative assumes teams should immediately turn it around despite a ton of factors just because you got high picks. You have eichel, risto and reinhart. Those three have to be considered comparable to hall, yaks and nuge at the same point in their careers, no?
How come you're not better? How come you're looking at another top 3 pick ?
It's just not that simple to turn around a decimated franchise
- HB77

Risto wasn't even a top 5 pick. As a matter of fact, your team has the guy selected before Risto.

I absolutely LOATHE how much of a raging hard on Canadian reporters have that are already saying that McDavid is the best player in the NHL and is the most important player in the NHL.

Some douche bag even said that he'd rather have McDavid than Eichel and Larkin together on his team.

I mean... the arrogance is just beyond belief for a kid who has played 14 games, missed 37 games, and is a 1 way player on a poopty asss EDM team.

I absolutely LOATHE how much of a raging hard on Canadian reporters have that are already saying that McDavid is the best player in the NHL and is the most important player in the NHL.

Some douche bag even said that he'd rather have McDavid than Eichel and Larkin together on his team.

I mean... the arrogance is just beyond belief for a kid who has played 14 games, missed 37 games, and is a 1 way player on a poopty asss EDM team.
- JVince11

I agree with them.

If I had to start a franchise today. I go with McDaivd as my first choice.

Risto wasn't even a top 5 pick. As a matter of fact, your team has the guy selected before Risto.
- HonkFortheGoose

I know that

But he's a high pick and excelling

This still lends itself to my question, no?


Unless he's assuming that our players are better just cause they were drafted higher.
That's my point.


Nurse is a year behind in pro development, so ask yourself, was risto able to carry the team on his back last year? ......
So why should we assume that nurse can ?

I absolutely LOATHE how much of a raging hard on Canadian reporters have that are already saying that McDavid is the best player in the NHL and is the most important player in the NHL.

Some douche bag even said that he'd rather have McDavid than Eichel and Larkin together on his team.

I mean... the arrogance is just beyond belief for a kid who has played 14 games, missed 37 games, and is a 1 way player on a poopty asss EDM team.
- JVince11

I don't know that I'd say McDavid is a 1 way player. No, he's not Patrice Bergeron, but he holds his own pretty well.

I absolutely LOATHE how much of a raging hard on Canadian reporters have that are already saying that McDavid is the best player in the NHL and is the most important player in the NHL.

Some douche bag even said that he'd rather have McDavid than Eichel and Larkin together on his team.

I mean... the arrogance is just beyond belief for a kid who has played 14 games, missed 37 games, and is a 1 way player on a poopty asss EDM team.
- JVince11

Not saying you don't have a point, but mcdavid is NOT only offence.
His takeaway ability is outstanding

As someone mentioned, he'll never be Bergeron, but a quality player without the puck

I know that

But he's a high pick and excelling

This still lends itself to my question, no?


Unless he's assuming that our players are better just cause they were drafted higher.
That's my point.
- HB77

Typically, the higher drafted players should be the better ones, so in a way sure.

Even if your high picks aren't the same caliber as other years, when you have accumulated as many as Edmonton has, there should be a significant improvement at some point, and there really hasn't been.

Now, a good portion of the problem in Edmonton, from what I've seen, is defense and not having a decent group of vets around the kids. I think that's where Buffalo has been a bit better. Now, it's not leaps and bounds better than the group Edmonton has had, but I do think it makes a bigger impact.

I don't know that I'd say McDavid is a 1 way player. No, he's not Ryan O'Reilly, but he holds his own pretty well.
- HonkFortheGoose

Another option, which the stats say is very, very close.

Another option, which the stats say is very, very close.
- Der Kaiser

Touché

I absolutely LOATHE how much of a raging hard on Canadian reporters have that are already saying that McDavid is the best player in the NHL and is the most important player in the NHL.

Some douche bag even said that he'd rather have McDavid than Eichel and Larkin together on his team.

I mean... the arrogance is just beyond belief for a kid who has played 14 games, missed 37 games, and is a 1 way player on a poopty asss EDM team.
- JVince11

I'm not disagreeing that I get mad at the reporters acting like he is the Jesus/Gretzky hybrid, but he is going to be a great player and I wish he was on my team so that I'd be the one talking about the Jesus/Gretzky hybrid. We have our guy who gets praise every time he's on the ice and gets national attention whenever we're on NBCSN. They just need to do their oohs and ahhs until the next one comes along.

Typically, the higher drafted players should be the better ones, so in a way sure.

Even if your high picks aren't the same caliber as other years, when you have accumulated as many as Edmonton has, there should be a significant improvement at some point, and there really hasn't been.

Now, a good portion of the problem in Edmonton, from what I've seen, is defense and not having a decent group of vets around the kids. I think that's where Buffalo has been a bit better. Now, it's not leaps and bounds better than the group Edmonton has had, but I do think it makes a bigger impact.
- HonkFortheGoose

How does draft pedigree mean anything tangible after the fact?
"He should be better cause he's drafted higher" doesn't mean anything if they aren't.

The oilers finished 2nd last after finishing last twice. And that's without any mJor acquisitions.
You finished last twice, made some significant acquisitions, and aren't showing any tangible improvement.

The point isn't about bashing the Sabres, it's about a false narrative of how it should work

And yes, they should insulated those kids earlier with vets. No one would sign there. Same goes for defence, so they drafted. Now they wait

How does draft pedigree mean anything tangible after the fact?
"He should be better cause he's drafted higher" doesn't mean anything if they aren't.

The oilers finished 2nd last after finishing last twice. And that's without any mJor acquisitions.
You finished last twice, made some significant acquisitions, and aren't showing any tangible improvement.

The point isn't about bashing the Sabres, it's about a false narrative of how it should work
- HB77

That's true but it's been the same song and dance since the cup run. Yes there were better years in there but still, that's a long time.

Like i said earlier, I feel if you pick top 3 you shouldn't be allowed to draft top 3 for a year or two. That way you can get your top draft pick but you limit the amount of top draft picks being stashed on one team. Obviously that would have affected us and I still would have agreed with that rule.

Not saying you don't have a point, but mcdavid is NOT only offence.
His takeaway ability is outstanding

As someone mentioned, he'll never be Bergeron, but a quality player without the puck
- HB77

Goalies have a .879 S% w/ he is on the ice, no PK time, and is 20% FO W% in D Zone.


He is TREMENDOUS!!! I absolutely agree. Phenomenal young talent. HIGH, HIGH potential.

I just hate the anointing of the king thing when he has played 14 games.

I think this all comes down to getting Connor.
No one seemed too worried about it before

How can one blame the oilers for being at the mercy of their draft year?
Yakupov?

Hell, even nuge who's a quality player and a great two way center, isn't a franchise changer.
Give us mackinnon and ekblad and things are different.

I don't think you'd be too upset if the Sabres had ekblad and mcdavid would ya?
And let's not forget, unlike the sabres, we didn't even finish last when we won this past lottery. Nor the previous one

Also, this narrative assumes teams should immediately turn it around despite a ton of factors just because you got high picks. You have eichel, risto and reinhart. Those three have to be considered comparable to hall, yaks and nuge at the same point in their careers, no?
How come you're not better? How come you're looking at another top 3 pick ?
It's just not that simple to turn around a decimated franchise
- HB77

First, as I clearly stated, I'm not blaming Edmonton for winning the lottery, who wouldn't want to win. What I'm saying is that it's ridiculous to allow one single team to consistently be able to win without asking them to take a seat for a while. Second, saying that Sabres should have it turned around by now compared to Edmonton is just B.S. Eichel and Reinhart are 50 games into their careers Hall, RNH, Ebe, and Yak are not. We are better, we're the most improved team in the league this year. Edmonton has been rebuilding for almost a decade now, time for that franchise to get it's act together. And, I truly feel bad for you Edmonton fans, you deserve better. I never meant to sound like I'm trying to bash the Edmonton fan base, but there's clearly a problem there when every year for the past 10 years Edmonton is in the bottom 5 and is in contention for the first overall pick. Edmonton should be talking about how they're going to plan their Stanley Cup parade this June, not talking about a draft party welcoming Matthews.

How does draft pedigree mean anything tangible after the fact?
"He should be better cause he's drafted higher" doesn't mean anything if they aren't.

The oilers finished 2nd last after finishing last twice. And that's without any mJor acquisitions.
You finished last twice, made some significant acquisitions, and aren't showing any tangible improvement.

The point isn't about bashing the Sabres, it's about a false narrative of how it should work
- HB77

Not true. While the standings aren't reflecting it necessarily, go back and look at Pach's most recent Team Stats blog and you'll see the improvements.

Also, I'm not bashing Edmonton, so please don't take it that way. I'm sure it's just as frustrating to you that they haven't improved the way you'd like, just like it's frustrating to us that the Sabres haven't either. Fortunately for the Sabres fans, we've only had top 5 picks twice recently, where you guys have picked in the top 5 in 5 of the past 6 years.

I'm not disagreeing that I get mad at the reporters acting like he is the Jesus/Gretzky hybrid, but he is going to be a great player and I wish he was on my team so that I'd be the one talking about the Jesus/Gretzky hybrid. We have our guy who gets praise every time he's on the ice and gets national attention whenever we're on NBCSN. They just need to do their oohs and ahhs until the next one comes along.
- Zschalberg

I, totally, get it that they need to try to piggy back this whole new era of players like McDavid, Eichel, Bennett, Domi, Ghost, Barkov, Ekblad, etc.. I get that...

I want all of them to succeed for the prosperity of this league... but I just HATE that people would honestly say they would take him over like Patrick Kane, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Carey Price, Tarasenko, Ovie, Crosby, Karlsson, or Subbans of the NHL.

I'd take the guy that is proven in the NHL over the guy that has potential and you just hope meets it... every day of the week.

That's true but it's been the same song and dance since the cup run. Yes there were better years in there but still, that's a long time.

Like i said earlier, I feel if you pick top 3 you shouldn't be allowed to draft top 3 for a year or two. That way you can get your top draft pick but you limit the amount of top draft picks being stashed on one team. Obviously that would have affected us and I still would have agreed with that rule.
- Zschalberg

not sure I agree, but certainly a fair comment


This may have also helped the oilers actually

Hall

Then possibly Adam larsson or Jonas brodin

In yaks year, reilly, trouba, forsberg etc


Hindsight is a funny thing

Not true. While the standings aren't reflecting it necessarily, go back and look at Pach's most recent Team Stats blog and you'll see the improvements.

Also, I'm not bashing Edmonton, so please don't take it that way. I'm sure it's just as frustrating to you that they haven't improved the way you'd like, just like it's frustrating to us that the Sabres haven't either. Fortunately for the Sabres fans, we've only had top 5 picks twice recently, where you guys have picked in the top 5 in 5 of the past 6 years.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think it boils down to EDM's inability to properly draft/trade for a well-balance team and to allow top ceiling prospects to fully develop into their ceilings.