If we have all 3 picks this year, I expect 1 of them + someone like Nylander or Guhle to be traded for a D or Fwd.

Can I possibly settle all the frayed nerves with the following?

They lost a game last night to a team that had three crazy bank shots go in.

They played even with a team tonight that is clearly and by far the best team in the league, and a ridiculous record the last 20-25 games, until the last part of the third period when the referees made a pair of mystifying calls. This was also the second night of a back to back against a team with a loaded roster. Instead of complaining they didn't play a full 60 minutes, isn't there a strong chance they just got worn down during the game by the most talented and deep team in the league?

There's lots of time left to make a playoff push, and they played hard tonight. The effort was most certainly not lacking.

I'm sure this perspective post did not work, but at least O tried.

I don't know many teams looking to give up one of those however. The NHL is moving towards drafting and developing your own. If you look at a majority of the top 6 centres around the league many of them were drafted or acquired by trading highly regarding prospects who were drafted high. Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones comes to mind. Tampa has drafted 80% of their team and used trades and free agency to round out the roster. Toronto has drafted most of their roster while getting lucky with Tavares. Winnipeg and Nashville (apart from McPhee gifting them Forsberg) have drafted and developed. At the end of the day Buffalo's success comes down to drafting and developing. Buffalo historically hasn't drafted well and thats why we needed to start the rebuild in 2011. Saying 1st rounders are useless however is completely false. We have 4 lottery tickets in the next two years to fill our top 9 and round out our Defense.
- Pegullaville

To be fair, Steve Yzerman was a wizard when he was calling the shots down there

It's not that simple

If we have all 3 picks this year, I expect 1 of them + someone like Nylander or Guhle to be traded for a D or Fwd.
- sbroads24

You mean future Kucherov???

Skinner is no Taylor Hall

I think Ristolainen is more valuable bringing another player in.
- BeadyEyedDouche

He could. But then is there another GM willing to move a top 4 RHD to us to replace Risto ? Or are we going the Toronto route and just hope to outscore everyone only to get stonewalled by Boston every year.

Respectfully, I disagree.

They do "owe the fans".

Without the fans, they wouldn't be here.
- Over50

What? Sure they would, they'd just be in a smaller arena and the players would be making much less.

Still a crap shoot.
NHL drafts always are.
- Over50

Agreed.

To be fair, Steve Yzerman was a wizard when he was calling the shots down there

It's not that simple
- BeadyEyedDouche

Its not just Tampa though. Pittsburgh, Chicago, LA also had huge success drafting and thats why they have won cups. LA made trades as well but only once they were a few pieces away. We are not a few pieces away.

If we have all 3 picks this year, I expect 1 of them + someone like Nylander or Guhle to be traded for a D or Fwd.
- sbroads24

I could see them trading Nylander and Guhle together in a package deal with lesser picks, but I have a difficult time seeing GMJB trading any of the first round picks.

I resorted to watching Lost in space .

You guys suck beady's at times .

Its not just Tampa though. Pittsburgh, Chicago, LA also had huge success drafting and thats why they have won cups. LA made trades as well but only once they were a few pieces away. We are not a few pieces away.
- Pegullaville

Were two good pieces away from being a solid threat.

We have three superstars

Dahlin
Thompson
Eichel

Stars

Skinner
Reinhart
Larsson

Former all-stars

Girgensons

We’re kinda loaded

I could see them trading Nylander and Guhle together in a package deal with lesser picks, but I have a difficult time seeing GMJB trading any of the first round picks.
- kingcong39

That is the move I'd make as well.

Its not just Tampa though. Pittsburgh, Chicago, LA also had huge success drafting and thats why they have won cups. LA made trades as well but only once they were a few pieces away. We are not a few pieces away.
- Pegullaville

Pittsburgh had success drafting Crosby and Malkin, but made a lot of trades to bring in vets and shore up their depth.

Chicago, okay, but still made key trades.

LA? They literally traded for half their team.

Yeah, you gotta draft players and develop them, but all of these teams have made big trades.

I don't know many teams looking to give up one of those however. The NHL is moving towards drafting and developing your own. If you look at a majority of the top 6 centres around the league many of them were drafted or acquired by trading highly regarding prospects who were drafted high. Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones comes to mind. Tampa has drafted 80% of their team and used trades and free agency to round out the roster. Toronto has drafted most of their roster while getting lucky with Tavares. Winnipeg and Nashville (apart from McPhee gifting them Forsberg) have drafted and developed. At the end of the day Buffalo's success comes down to drafting and developing. Buffalo historically hasn't drafted well and thats why we needed to start the rebuild in 2011. Saying 1st rounders are useless however is completely false. We have 4 lottery tickets in the next two years to fill our top 9 and round out our Defense.
- Pegullaville

It all depends on what you offer.
2C's become available when 1st round picks are dangled about.

And, I never said that 1st rounders are "useless".
I said that they are a crapshoot.

However, I respect your point of view.
Thank you for the exchange.

Were two good pieces away from being a solid threat.

We have three superstars

Dahlin
Thompson
Eichel

Stars

Skinner
Reinhart
Larsson

Former all-stars

Girgensons

We’re kinda loaded
- sbroads24

I see CJ Smith didn't waste time sulking.

Were two good pieces away from being a solid threat.

We have three superstars

Dahlin
Thompson
Eichel

Stars

Skinner
Reinhart
Larsson

Former all-stars

Girgensons

We’re kinda loaded
- sbroads24

If Okposo and Sheary, and Sobotka played like $6M, $4M, and $3M per year players we would be a pretty dangerous. Botts needs to move the wasted space out and replace it in free agency with guys who could play. Then the draftpicks will eventually unseat those guys.

Jesus the football officiating is horrible too, that was uncatchable.

Were two good pieces away from being a solid threat.

We have three superstars

Dahlin
Thompson
Eichel

Stars

Skinner
Reinhart
Larsson

Former all-stars

Girgensons

We’re kinda loaded
- sbroads24

Sarcasm.... I'm hoping?

Jesus the football officiating is horrible too, that was uncatchable.
- Wetbandit1

Illegal contact not PI. Can't push a guy out of bounds

It all depends on what you offer.
2C's become available when 1st round picks are dangled about.

And, I never said that 1st rounders are "useless".
I said that they are a crapshoot.

However, I respect your point of view.
Thank you for the exchange.
- Over50

I would love it if we could make the playoffs. I also think it isn't the end of the world if we don't. We have improved a lot from last season. At the end of the day its up to the players in the locker room.

Sarcasm.... I'm hoping?
- turbo044

What gave it away?

Jesus the football officiating is horrible too, that was uncatchable.
- Wetbandit1

Wrong blog

I don’t hate Ristolainen as a player, he’s ok, and can make some highlight reel plays.

But he keeps playing 5-10 more minutes more than McCabe when there’s almost no difference between the two
- sbroads24

Risto's an Alpha and McCabe is a cuck, it's the only explanation.

Or maybe Housley's the cuck.

Wrong blog
- cabin

Yeah? Well your blog is wrong!

Edit: You're