you weren't talking early picks...specifically mention 1st overall...

tanking = the unabashed want to draft 1st overall for a savior and only four teams in the past 40 or so years have done so in an offensively boastful manner:

the 83-84 penguins and devils for lemieux
the 14-15 sabres and yotes for mceichel
- Michael Pachla

1st and 2nd picks / early picks.

I moved the goal posts probably, but early picks win Stanley cups.

Its maybe more like a civil lawsuit here. Vs criminal lawsuit.

Maybe not proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, but more a ponderous of evidence.....

Crosby, malkin, toews, kane , ovi , stammer....

Look at the Oilers. McDavid and guy picked after reinhart.

More likely to win a cup than most teams..... IMO

Excellent post and points pegsville.

I really didnt want to get into the tank debate and high picks winning Stanley cups.

Detroit had all the russians and it was a very unique situation for most of their cups.

Also stevie y was an early pick. 4th isnt top 3, but....
- Boss34

they drafted him one pick ahead of buffalo and only got him because the stars drafted minnesotan brain lawton 1st overall...turgeon went 2nd, patty lala, 3rd and tom barasso went 5th to the sabres

My buddy that lives down your way can't shut up about Josh Bloom. Something about Bloom having more points in the same league as projected #1 overall Shane Wright

Excellent point 3ER

How you feeling about tager the rager these days.
Hard to defend 6'6 center ....
- Boss34

Can’t deny what Tage is doing. I’m still wondering if it is a flash in the pan because he was never a goal scorer. I don’t think he should be L1 Centre though and can’t match up with the other teams that have a good L1 Centre. Does he stop scoring goals if he goes back to wing once Mitts is up to speed?

Can’t deny what Tage is doing. I’m still wondering if it is a flash in the pan because he was never a goal scorer. I don’t think he should be L1 Centre though and can’t match up with the other teams that have a good L1 Centre. Does he stop scoring goals if he goes back to wing once Mitts is up to speed?
- Hatboro_Swords

Anyone putting him back at wing should be fired immediately. He's better than CM on CMs best day.

1st and 2nd picks / early picks.

I moved the goal posts probably, but early picks win Stanley cups.

Its maybe more like a civil lawsuit here. Vs criminal lawsuit.

Maybe not proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, but more a ponderous of evidence.....

Crosby, malkin, toews, kane , ovi , stammer....

Look at the Oilers. McDavid and guy picked after reinhart.

More likely to win a cup than most teams..... IMO
- Boss34

yeah...i get it

I had a blast. I've had fun at all 4 games Ive been to this season.
- lacaprup

They have a nice 2 consecutive night home schedule in 2 weeks with the Rangers in town on Friday and the Capitals in town on Saturday.

I might visit for the weekend and go to both, weather and prices pending.

Josh Bailey and Nick Baptiste and solid OHL D+1 seasons as well.

I’m not trying to discredit anything Bloom has done this year, as he’s been great, but I’m not sure who you take out of the aforementioned top 10 prospect list in favour of Bloom.

It’s a good problem to have though. I can’t remember a time where the Sabres have had this much apparent depth in their prospect pipeline
- Pegullaville

I think it’s nice to see prospects like Levi bloom etc. dominate on a game to game basis.

But the reality is that all that does is guarantee them an ELC and to get a chance to play in Rochester / Buffalo

The real test is still producing at an ahl level and then move up to the Sabres

How many prospects lite up juniors and then flopped once they turned pro?

UPL, pekar, and countless others that looks great as an amateur and came up to the pros and sucked (by sucked I mean aren’t producing enough to play at the nhl level)

Meh, i can understand the Sabres goal and design and disagree. They are clearly better if not more talented without Jack. Shame on them for not seeing that and making a push. I, frankly, dont give a poop about the draft lottery. My own franchise history shows me how stupid playing to lose is.

You're posting as if the Sabres last ten years are something to be lauded and not something to be ashamed of.
- lacaprup

Sure, like I said:
Seems like you just starting watching your hometown team again.

This team has 2 full lines of scrubs....
A rookie coach...

Playoffs playoffs playoffs....

They have a nice 2 consecutive night home schedule in 2 weeks with the Rangers in town on Friday and the Capitals in town on Saturday.

I might visit for the weekend and go to both, weather and prices pending.
- kingcong39

Buy tickets at the gate. Avoid the fees.

Can’t deny what Tage is doing. I’m still wondering if it is a flash in the pan because he was never a goal scorer. I don’t think he should be L1 Centre though and can’t match up with the other teams that have a good L1 Centre. Does he stop scoring goals if he goes back to wing once Mitts is up to speed?
- Hatboro_Swords

i don't think donnie meatballs is turning back from his brilliant "tallness"-to-center move...tage is a 200' beast who covers all that ice and has the stride, length and stickwork, as well as the desire, to do so...

will it last? who knows, but it's an amazing thing to behold right now

Sure, like I said:
Seems like you just starting watching your hometown team again.

This team has 2 full lines of scrubs....
A rookie coach...

Playoffs playoffs playoffs....
- Boss34

They could have one line of scrubs with Tuch and CM coming at some point.

i don't think donnie meatballs is turning back from his brilliant "tallness"-to-center move...tage is a 200' beast who willingly covers all that ice and has the stride, length and stickwork, as well as the desire, to do so...

will it last? who knows, but it's an amazing thing to behold right now
- Michael Pachla

When he nets 40 goals this year you can bet your ass I'm pointing out Jack Eichle doesnt have a 40 goal season.

Anyone putting him back at wing should be fired immediately. He's better than CM on CMs best day.
- lacaprup

Way, way, way too early to be making a statement like the above.

Remember how Tage looked as recently as last season?

This feels like an out of sight, out of mind comment.

If you like Tage with his size and skill, then you'd really like Conor Geekie as the Sabres 1st round pick in the '22 draft.

http://www.mynhldraft.com...yer-profiles/Conor-Geekie
- kingcong39

👍had my eye on geekie....

I'd rather take a shot at using sub par goaltending 1 more year, keep the kids in Rochester and finish with 72-75 points.

13th place doesnt do "it" for me.

Winning is fun, keep winning at home. Try hard on the road and get older...
.

When he nets 40 goals this year you can bet your ass I'm pointing out Jack Eichle doesnt have a 40 goal season.
- lacaprup

as well you should

Way, way, way too early to be making a statement like the above.

Remember how Tage looked as recently as last season?

This feels like an out of sight, out of mind comment.
- kingcong39

Wow. Watch the games. He. Is. Dominant. At some point in every game. Has anyone ever said that about CM?

TT isnt going to forget how to be bigger and cover more space than other players. He aint going back.

I think it’s nice to see prospects like Levi bloom etc. dominate on a game to game basis.

But the reality is that all that does is guarantee them an ELC and to get a chance to play in Rochester / Buffalo

The real test is still producing at an ahl level and then move up to the Sabres

How many prospects lite up juniors and then flopped once they turned pro?

UPL, pekar, and countless others that looks great as an amateur and came up to the pros and sucked (by sucked I mean aren’t producing enough to play at the nhl level)
- Sabretooth9

100%

👍had my eye on geekie....

I'd rather take a shot at using sub par goaltending 1 more year, keep the kids in Rochester and finish with 72-75 points.

13th place doesnt do "it" for me.

Winning is fun, keep winning at home. Try hard on the road and get older...
.
- Boss34

I'll summarize why I want them to make a goaltending move: I fear that without making a move for a legitimate NHL goaltender, when the playoff happens post Olympic break (if the NHL goes), the team may truly crater under the weight of the higher intensity of each game combined with very bad goaltending.

Giving them a legitimate NHL goaltender will allow them to not crater, while still finishing somewhere in the 5th to 7th pick range.

they drafted him one pick ahead of buffalo and only got him because the stars drafted minnesotan brain lawton 1st overall...turgeon went 2nd, patty lala, 3rd and tom barasso went 5th to the sabres
- Michael Pachla

Good post mike

Tanking isnt the answer this season, and I'm not trying to flat out loooose on purpose.

I am doing exactly what the Sabres are doing though:

Not getting better by adding good goaltending (that's not even realistically available)
Keeping the kids in Rochester
Picking 1 more top guy...

Pretending any of these Rochester guys are the difference between the playoffs and not.....

That's fandom.. that's lacrapruns.....

yeah...i get it
- Michael Pachla

Losing on purpose will be different this time around.

Way, way, way too early to be making a statement like the above.

Remember how Tage looked as recently as last season?

This feels like an out of sight, out of mind comment.
- kingcong39

Things are never as good as they seem, nor are they usually as bad as they seem.

When Tage was struggling to produce at the NHL level it was never as bad as pirouette buzz made it seem.

Tage realistically is not a 40 goal scorer either.

Tage should be a realizable contributor to the middle 6 though for several years. Patience is a virtue.

I'll summarize why I want them to make a goaltending move: I fear that without making a move for a legitimate NHL goaltender, when the playoff happens post Olympic break (if the NHL goes), the team may truly crater under the weight of the higher intensity of each game combined with very bad goaltending.

Giving them a legitimate NHL goaltender will allow them to not crater, while still finishing somewhere in the 5th to 7th pick range.
- kingcong39

this is a good post

Good post mike

Tanking isnt the answer this season, and I'm not trying to flat out loooose on purpose.

I am doing exactly what the Sabres are doing though:

Not getting better by adding good goaltending (that's not even realistically available)
Keeping the kids in Rochester
Picking 1 more top guy...

Pretending any of these Rochester guys are the difference between the playoffs and not.....

That's fandom.. that's lacrapruns.....
- Boss34

What you posted is literally the definition of tanking it’s not getting better on purpose

Good post mike

Tanking isnt the answer this season, and I'm not trying to flat out loooose on purpose.

I am doing exactly what the Sabres are doing though:

Not getting better by adding good goaltending (that's not even realistically available)
Keeping the kids in Rochester
Picking 1 more top guy...

Pretending any of these Rochester guys are the difference between the playoffs and not.....

That's fandom.. that's lacrapruns.....
- Boss34

oh my

Losing on purpose will be different this time around.
- ImThatGuy

i like kong's post above