We stay up until 4am to watch Canadian junior games in Latvia, so it's nothing for us. I just know the EST fans don't catch a lot of west coast games because it's past their bed times. It's a good deal to have this one on the weekend at least.

Toronto makes us play at 4pm on Saturdays when the Leafs come to visit. It's demeaning.
- micah555

Bars here are open to 4am so it's nothing for us either. I've got center ice and insomnia so I watch a few west coast games a week despite having to work at 8am during the week.

Fair to say Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek had a pretty significant impact on your success in 2007 though.

I'm also not happy that you lost in the 1st round last year. Totally wrecked me in my playoff pool.
- micah555

Ryan Miller was a 5th rounder in 1999...

It doesn't bother you that your team is one of the biggest jokes in the league? With all that talent on O? I would love love love to have Eberle,Hall,Hopkins, and even Gagner on my team! The sabres haven't had a top 5 pick since 03 yet they managed to go to the conference finals and win the presidential trophy... Also The wings are another example of not having to tank to be a top team!
- Smittyx36

yeah and edmonton went to game 7 of the SCF that same year. whats your point? After that season Pronger asked for a trade and Peca, Spacek and Samsonov all left amongst others. They were cindarella to begin with and that pretty much gutted them.

Oil have dmen in the system, good ones. These things just take time. what they really need is a genuine starting goaltender.

In answer to your question though, no, it doesn't bother me. Only the casual and uneducated sort of fan thinks of them as a joke. Fans that know their stuff see the process and realize the timeline.

So as a loyal sabres fan you are okay with finishing at the bottom for the next 3-4 years!? This isn't a dumb argument at all. I'm 21 years old and I don't wanna wait till I'm 25 to see my team make a run at it...

People have been saying they will catch fire for the past 2-3 years!
- Smittyx36

Where did I say that I wanted them to tank?

A little bit of reading will help you buddy, I promise you that.

You act as if the Oilers top talent is all fully developed
RNH-18 Years old
Hall-20 years old
Eberle- 21 years old
Gagner-22 years old
Paajarvi- 20 years old

All I stated was that your proclamation that top 5 picks are crap shoots is kind of bland... Look since the lockout and find me one that has tanked and you'll see that more are good NHL players than Busts.

Where did I say that I wanted them to tank?

A little bit of reading will help you buddy, I promise you that.

You act as if the Oilers top talent is all fully developed
RNH-18 Years old
Hall-20 years old
Eberle- 21 years old
Gagner-22 years old
Paajarvi- 20 years old

All I stated was that your proclamation that top 5 picks are crap shoots is kind of bland... Look since the lockout and find me one that has tanked and you'll see that more are good NHL players than Busts.
- Fotes18

This. All of it.

yeah and edmonton went to game 7 of the SCF that same year. whats your point? After that season Pronger asked for a trade and Peca, Spacek and Samsonov all left amongst others. They were cindarella to begin with and that pretty much gutted them.

Oil have dmen in the system, good ones. These things just take time. what they really need is a genuine starting goaltender.

In answer to your question though, no, it doesn't bother me. Only the casual and uneducated sort of fan thinks of them as a joke. Fans that know their stuff see the process and realize the timeline.
- GuyLaDouche

This.

Since the lockout it seems that top 5 picks rarely tank...

Honestly this is a really stupid argument.

The Oilers have some really really good young talent, that in a year or two is going to catch fire and be really dangerous. Hall, Eberle, RNH, Paajarvi are all gonna be can't miss players it seems, and Gagner is playing great with the extra help on the wing... Honestly, the Oiler fans should be excited about their future.
- Fotes18

THANK YOU! I don't understand how people can state (as fact) that the Oilers will continue to suck, and in the very next sentence say that they failed, where the Pens/Hawks succeeded... It doesn't make any sense to me.

The Hawks/Pens both sucked for a long time... A long time. From 1998 to 2008, the Hawks made the playoffs once. They see guys like Toews and Kane, and it immediately erases the memories of just how bad they were.

From 2001 - 2006, the Pens were one of the worst teams in the NHL... Like I said earlier, the Pens had #5 overall, #1 overall, #2 overall, #1 overall, and #2 overall picks in consecutive years.

I'm not saying the Oilers will be as successful as the Hawks or Pens, but I'm not saying they won't be... At this point, to say that they failed where the Hawks/Pens succeeded is ridiculous.

Maple Laff's goaltending is just deplorable!

Being last place or even second to last 3 years in a row to any fan regardless of how much hockey knowledge they have makes them a joke. I don't see how you can argue with me on this... And If i said the top 5 are a crap shot then i miss wrote. I was saying after picks 1-4/5 its hit and miss... Sabres won't finish that low and they prolly won't have a pick 1-5 so I say play the rest of the year if the goal to make the cup! I might have misspoken and thats why your arguing with me?

Maple Laff's goaltending is just deplorable!
- Irish 14

Yeah I still feel bad for Wilson... Not his fault the scouts+ Burke couldn't find him a Goalie.

Maple Laff's goaltending is just deplorable!
- Irish 14

That was quite the adventure out there.

Ryan Miller was a 5th rounder in 1999...
- Smittyx36

Sorry, my bad. I just scanned the list and he was highlighted with a 5 next to him. I didn't really think about it.

THANK YOU! I don't understand how people can state (as fact) that the Oilers will continue to suck, and in the very next sentence say that they failed, where the Pens/Hawks succeeded... It doesn't make any sense to me.

The Hawks/Pens both sucked for a long time... A long time. From 1998 to 2008, the Hawks made the playoffs once. They see guys like Toews and Kane, and it immediately erases the memories of just how bad they were.

From 2001 - 2006, the Pens were one of the worst teams in the NHL... Like I said earlier, the Pens had #5 overall, #1 overall, #2 overall, #1 overall, and #2 overall picks in consecutive years.

I'm not saying the Oilers will be as successful as the Hawks or Pens, but I'm not saying they won't be... At this point, to say that they failed where the Hawks/Pens succeeded is ridiculous.
- laughs2907

Once again the hawks had only one number 1 pick during that stretch! Edm. has had two and are looking at there third in a row... The pens are a example of tanking and having success afterwards. But they are the only team so far to do so. The hawks aren't a good example.

That Brown-Staubitz fight was awesome.... One of the best hockey fights I've seen in a while!

I said 3 top 10 picks. Then i said plus ebs at 22 and ganger at 6. I didn't list PRV because he isn't even playing this year! Didn't think i had to remind you of all your picks from the past 6 years
- Smittyx36

Wow you are dense bud...i quoted you and it still is above your head...

You say that we have all these top ten picks...and lump Ebs who was a #22 with them.

Hall, Nuge, Gags and PRV (as you mentioned is not playing)...so 3 top 10. OMGWEMONOPOLIZEDTHETOP10PICKS!!!

Vanek, Myers, Ennis, Stafford...Hodgeson now, a bit of a first round monopoly going on over there...where is your playoff success?

Once again the hawks had only one number 1 pick during that stretch! Edm. has had two and are looking at there third in a row... The pens are a example of tanking and having success afterwards. But they are the only team so far to do so. I mean eventually your gonna have a good team if you guys continue to tank for the next 2-3 years. This gives you the chance to draft a good goalie and some D. So it looks like you guys will make a run for the cup in 2016/2017. prove me wrong then
- Smittyx36

Being last place or even second to last 3 years in a row to any fan regardless of how much hockey knowledge they have makes them a joke. I don't see how you can argue with me on this... And If i said the top 5 are a crap shot then i miss wrote. I was saying after picks 1-4/5 its hit and miss... Sabres won't finish that low and they prolly won't have a pick 1-5 so I say play the rest of the year if the goal to make the cup! I might have misspoken and thats why your arguing with me?
- Smittyx36

If that's how you feel, that's fine... But you have to be consistent with your views. If you feel that way, the Hawks/Pens were once jokes as well.

Once again the hawks had only one number 1 pick during that stretch! Edm. has had two and are looking at there third in a row... The pens are a example of tanking and having success afterwards. But they are the only team so far to do so. The hawks aren't a good example.
- Smittyx36

Ohhh... I see... We're only judging by #1's now... Toews don't count. Cool.

Wow you are dense bud...i quoted you and it still is above your head...

You say that we have all these top ten picks...and lump Ebs who was a #22 with them.

Hall, Nuge, Gags and PRV (as you mentioned is not playing)...so 3 top 10. OMGWEMONOPOLIZEDTHETOP10PICKS!!!

Vanek, Myers, Ennis, Stafford...Hodgeson now, a bit of a first round monopoly going on over there...where is your playoff success?
- OilHorse

Only guy you listed that was a top 10 pick was Vanek in 03 . Hodgson doesn't count because he wasn't drafted by us. I'm sure we would have playoff success if we had Hall, Nuge, This years top 1-3 pick which you guys will have. We have had ONE top 10 pick in 10years. Keep reaching bud.

If that's how you feel, that's fine... But you have to be consistent with your views. If you feel that way, the Hawks/Pens were once jokes as well.
- laughs2907

I don't quite understand him? I'm always one to defend my own but I can't really defend him here...

I guess the idea of a re-build (which in every situation is unavoidable, nobody WANTS to re-build) isn't something he can quite understand....

I for one give Tambellini credit... I don't like the idea of trying to get out of the basement using free agency.... The core pieces of every team always seem to be homegrown talent, free agency should be used to supplement that homegrown talent. Find the missing pieces if you will.

That Brown-Staubitz fight was awesome.... One of the best hockey fights I've seen in a while!
- Fotes18

Toe to Toe Fotes! Good ole' fashion fight! Agreed

It's a fact that the Sabres would be thrilled to make it to 90 pts for this season. How many points do the Nucks have?

I don't quite understand him? I'm always one to defend my own but I can't really defend him here...

I guess the idea of a re-build (which in every situation is unavoidable, nobody WANTS to re-build) isn't something he can quite understand....

I for one give Tambellini credit... I don't like the idea of trying to get out of the basement using free agency.... The core pieces of every team always seem to be homegrown talent, free agency should be used to supplement that homegrown talent. Find the missing pieces if you will.
- Fotes18

I understand it but the sabres don't need to re-build... You can't say your a die hard fan if your ok with your team being awful for 3-4 years just so you can get those top picks.

I see everyone is having fun

Ohhh... I see... We're only judging by #1's now... Toews don't count. Cool.
- laughs2907

Guess #3 overall doesn't count. I mean, Toews is the best player in his draft looking back on it 5 1/2 years later. Only one that's even really close IMO is Giroux and even he hasn't done enough to unseat him.

Toews only went #3 because of team needs in front of them...

Pittsburgh took Staal because he measured out to be a more physical presence and with Malkin-Crosby already there that element was sorely needed. Erik Johnson still has all the tools to reach full potential, and you have to admit when he came out he seemed like he'd be Pronger 2.0.