I like this take. Keep the train rolling Donny... if we luck into the top 3, great. But not at the detriment of Donny.
- Gr8daygo

Just think if we don’t keep Granato and get a Synergy Jr.

Right now coaching out ways anything else. Well maybe besides metaling owners

pens for sure, chicago...maybe...don't forget, they got lucky as they moved up the maximum allowed four spots in the lottery to select kane...toews was a third-overall and duncan keith was a second rounder
- Michael Pachla

The Canes are looking alright and they just came off of a 10 year playoff drought.

The Avalanche have won 2 playoff rounds since 2010 (to be fair 3 first round exits). How many rosters in the league is anyone taking over there’s right now ?

Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004. One playoff appearance from 2005-2016. Doubt you’ll find many of them complaining about the roster they have now either.

i'm not opposed to drafting him...wouldn't be opposed if they ended up with one of the d-men or one of the other forwards or even if they ended up 7th a guy like kent johnson...

i think what we're witnessing first hand with the likes of dahlin and fatty is that no matter where a player is drafted, proper development is of the utmost importance
- Michael Pachla

Preach!!!

We have out first line Center - Eichel
2nd line Center - Cozens
3rd line Center - Fatty McFatterson

1st D Pairing - Dollhead and Joker

Great D prospects fighting for 3-6

We need some better wings.

Done with attaching the stank of losing to the kids. Win 75% of the rest of the season. Have them going into the offseason with there heads up high.

The Canes are looking alright and they just came off of a 10 year playoff drought.

The Avalanche have won 2 playoff rounds since 2010 (to be fair 3 first round exits). How many rosters in the league is anyone taking over there’s right now ?

Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004. One playoff appearance from 2005-2016. Doubt you’ll find many of them complaining about the roster they have now either.
- Pegullaville

The question is whether having Granato do what he's doing is preferable to Eakin playing 18 minutes a night against Crosby under Krueger at the expense of higher lottery odds.

At some point you have to turn the corner and stop counting on the lottery to bail you out. All hail Donny Meatballs and his "play the kids" approach.

At the end of the day, this is supposed to be fun. Don made it fun again

The Canes are looking alright and they just came off of a 10 year playoff drought.

The Avalanche have won 2 playoff rounds since 2010 (to be fair 3 first round exits). How many rosters in the league is anyone taking over there’s right now ?

Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004. One playoff appearance from 2005-2016. Doubt you’ll find many of them complaining about the roster they have now either.
- Pegullaville

And if they Canes don't pony up they will be looking for a new HC which could hurt all that hard work.

Sure, but using the Pens doesn't really work when they lucked into Crosby, or the Blackhawks who lucked into Kane. And the Pens also got extra lucky because they lost the 04 lottery, still ended up with a franchise talent in Malkin, and that allowed them to be among the handful of teams with the best odds for Crosby, had they won the lotto in 04 they wouldn't have. That's a poopload of luck. The Sabres and Pens had the same odds in 05 and one drafted 1st and the other 13th.
- Wetbandit1

The LA Kings missed the playoffs from 2003-2009. 6 year drought.

Had first round playoff exits in 2010 and 2011.

When they won the cup in 2012, those series wins were the first time they had won a playoff series since 2001. They had also lost in the first round in the year 2000.

The Kings won a cup with having one playoff series win in their last 12 years.

The Canes are looking alright and they just came off of a 10 year playoff drought.

The Avalanche have won 2 playoff rounds since 2010 (to be fair 3 first round exits). How many rosters in the league is anyone taking over there’s right now ?

Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004. One playoff appearance from 2005-2016. Doubt you’ll find many of them complaining about the roster they have now either.
- Pegullaville

true enough...but only one team out of those outwardly tanked with fans not afraid of showing their love for losing to draft top-two

Thank God Adams chose Don and not Steve Smith

And if they Canes don't pony up they will be looking for a new HC which could hurt all that hard work.
- Buff36

i thought coaching doesn't matter

Thank God Adams chose Don and not Steve Smith
- jcragcrumple

By the way, nice writings Boomhauer

By the way, nice writings Boomhauer
- sabrerob

Tell you what, dang ol thank you man

The LA Kings missed the playoffs from 2003-2009. 6 year drought.

Had first round playoff exits in 2010 and 2011.

When they won the cup in 2012, those series wins were the first time they had won a playoff series since 2001. They had also lost in the first round in the year 2000.

The Kings won a cup with having one playoff series win in their last 12 years.
- Pegullaville

three top-five picks from 2005-2018: hickey (4) doughty (2) brayden schenn (5)...from 05/06 to 08/09 they had a .468 pts percentage

leafs drought 05/06 to 11/12 .509 pts percentage

carolina drought from 09/10 to 17/18 .501 pts percentage

buffalo sabres playoff drought 12/13 to present .420 pts percentage

i thought coaching doesn't matter
- Michael Pachla

Think what we've seen for the last month disproves that.

Think what we've seen for the last month disproves that.
- Buff36

it was also said that goaltending doesn't matter

it was also said that goaltending doesn't matter
- Michael Pachla

Well think playing decent hockey in front of your goaltender can cover up some of the flaws of a bad goaltender, and a good goaltender can cover up for bad hockey.

three top-five picks from 2005-2018: hickey (4) doughty (2) brayden schenn (5)...from 05/06 to 08/09 they had a .468 pts percentage

leafs drought 05/06 to 11/12 .509 pts percentage

carolina drought from 09/10 to 17/18 .501 pts percentage

buffalo sabres playoff drought 12/13 to present .420 pts percentage
- Michael Pachla

Schenn was used to acquire Richards. They also don’t draft Kopitar or D.Brown by making the playoffs.

Well think playing decent hockey in front of your goaltender can cover up some of the flaws of a bad goaltender, and a good goaltender can cover up for bad hockey.
- Buff36

And good hockey plus a good goaltender?

Winner, winner, Donnie Meatball dinner!

And good hockey plus a good goaltender?

Winner, winner, Donnie Meatball dinner!
- Powerslave

Had a Mulberry meatball today for dinner.

Why cant we put risto on forward

I am not crazy

Think about it
- ieetbred

I’m not saying he’s a “#1” by any means,
but yet ANOTHER coach singing his praises after today’s game
Saying how he’s been mentoring Bryson & that’s why they wanted to put Samuelsson with him as well

Preach!!!

We have out first line Center - Eichel
2nd line Center - Cozens
3rd line Center - Fatty McFatterson

1st D Pairing - Dollhead and Joker

Great D prospects fighting for 3-6

We need some better wings.

Done with attaching the stank of losing to the kids. Win 75% of the rest of the season. Have them going into the offseason with there heads up high.
- ZiggyBuff

Goalies moving forward are a question mark as well- especially if Ullmark leaves in free agency

1st regulation win vs. pitt at home since lindy was head coach: feb 19 2012
- Michael Pachla

Ahhh feels like yesterday

Goalies moving forward are a question mark as well- especially if Ullmark leaves in free agency
- jdfitz77

ullmark's injury really hurt his chances of a nice payday...also, i think he's happy with his situation (read-bales as his coach and the staff) in Buffalo...re-sign ullmark 2/3 yrs at $4m per yr and sign one of dreiger or grubauer for a year or two while upl develops

I’m not saying he’s a “#1” by any means,
but yet ANOTHER coach singing his praises after today’s game
Saying how he’s been mentoring Bryson & that’s why they wanted to put Samuelsson with him as well
- jdfitz77

extension this summer

extension this summer
- homiedclown

me riding that bomb dropped on sabreland

via GIPHY