Not really, you only have to get to 4th and move back 3 spots.
- sabresfan69

Only can drop 2 spots this year, unless I’m mistaken

What ? No nicknames for Okposo or Asplund ?

How 'bout Slowpokeso (Slopokso ?) or Assplunge ?
- kritter65

nice...i was slacking

It would be a crime not to expose Girgs to the draft. I'd even see if I could offer a sweetener in order to be rid of the contract.
- Slump Buster

his contract is a real shame because he's definitely a player you'd like on your team

functional enough as a hockey player and can be physically imposing sometimes

Reading through people's posts who say we shouldn't be hoping for the 1st pick this is their theory.

If we finish 7th and have a strong finish that means we will be even better next year but if we finish last and pick 1st we will be worse next year.

This is what they are claiming and its hard to wrap your head around that type of thinking.

So, getting an NHL ready player in the draft this year as opposed to waiting 2 years for that drafted player makes us better next year.

That is a head scratcher.
- sabresfan69

i don't think that's been the case at all...

in finishing strong, draft slot be damned, there's an effort being made to wash away the stank of two tank years and constant losing...at least that's the way i see it

his contract is a real shame because he's definitely a player you'd like on your team

functional enough as a hockey player and can be physically imposing sometimes
- robz228

they might be able to interest the kraken in miller plus a fourth round pick...after all, botts did trade for him

i don't think that's been the case at all...

in finishing strong, draft slot be damned, there's an effort being made to wash away the stank of two tank years and constant losing...at least that's the way i see it
- Michael Pachla

You think finishing strong means we are better next year? I don't think there is a correlation between the two.

The psyche of the team must be pretty weak if you think winning a few extra games will keep this fragile team from losing more next year.

I will take the first overall instead of beating out the last place teams by a few points.

What about next year when you have Berniers in the lineup and the team is excited because we have the best player from the draft in the starting lineup?

That certainly helps get the stink off.

Two sides to every coin.

You think finishing strong means we are better next year? I don't think there is a correlation between the two.

The psyche of the team must be pretty weak if you think winning a few extra games will keep this fragile team from losing more next year.

I will take the first overall instead of beating out the last place teams by a few points.

What about next year when you have Berniers in the lineup and the team is excited because we have the best player from the draft in the starting lineup?

That certainly helps get the stink off.

Two sides to every coin.
- sabresfan69

To your point before, you can always drop, and the odds heavily favor that you do. If Bernier has indeed planted himself #1, which is questionable yet, chances are we aren’t getting him anyways. I get what your saying, and the only way we move up far enough where it’s a problem would be probably going 9-2 the rest of the way. Which is very unlikely. Getting Hughes would be nice as well. He’s only 5 days from 2022 draft eligible, and still looks like one of the best players in the class. There’s a lot of guys besides Bernier that have upside for the teams picking early

I agree that these games will show you what you’ve got but that’s it. It’s definitely easier to play with no pressure and be the spoiler. Also a point to remember is roles will change for most of these guys starting next year as players like Jack and whomever are reinserted into the lineup.
- Camel

Well for a team with so many questions, isn't answering the "show what you've got' pretty high on the list? I'd say so. Plus inserting Jack on the top line gives you Jeff/Jack/Reinhart. Not much change here. You can put Olofsson anywhere. He probably replaces whoever is taken in the exp draft, if he himself is not the one chosen.

You think finishing strong means we are better next year? I don't think there is a correlation between the two.

The psyche of the team must be pretty weak if you think winning a few extra games will keep this fragile team from losing more next year.

I will take the first overall instead of beating out the last place teams by a few points.

What about next year when you have Berniers in the lineup and the team is excited because we have the best player from the draft in the starting lineup?

That certainly helps get the stink off.

Two sides to every coin.
- sabresfan69

I dont think the two kid lines and players like bryson, dahlin, joker, toki and now samuelsson, plus donnie meatballs, care about where they draft. And really that's all that matters

To your point before, you can always drop, and the odds heavily favor that you do. If Bernier has indeed planted himself #1, which is questionable yet, chances are we aren’t getting him anyways. I get what your saying, and the only way we move up far enough where it’s a problem would be probably going 9-2 the rest of the way. Which is very unlikely. Getting Hughes would be nice as well. He’s only 5 days from 2022 draft eligible, and still looks like one of the best players in the class. There’s a lot of guys besides Bernier that have upside for the teams picking early
- SDSabre

Finishing last and being assured of no worse than the 3rd overall pick would be nice in terms of being guaranteed to be able to select one of the top 3 forwards in this draft (Beniers, Eklund, Guenther).

Finishing last and being assured of no worse than the 3rd overall pick would be nice in terms of being guaranteed to be able to select one of the top 3 forwards in this draft (Beniers, Eklund, Guenther).
- kingcong39

No more losing

Reading through people's posts who say we shouldn't be hoping for the 1st pick this is their theory.

If we finish 7th and have a strong finish that means we will be even better next year but if we finish last and pick 1st we will be worse next year.

This is what they are claiming and its hard to wrap your head around that type of thinking.

So, getting an NHL ready player in the draft this year as opposed to waiting 2 years for that drafted player makes us better next year.

That is a head scratcher.
- sabresfan69

I'd rather win games than win the draft. Do we even know who will impact the lineup next year? Can any of these kids crack the NHL? Should it even matter? Most D-0 rookies have minimal impacts.

No more losing
- jcragcrumple

I'm not rooting for losing, I'm only indicating how finishing last is beneficial.

Finishing last and being assured of no worse than the 3rd overall pick would be nice in terms of being guaranteed to be able to select one of the top 3 forwards in this draft (Beniers, Eklund, Guenther).
- kingcong39

Don’t disagree, think even if you pick 4/5 you will still get one of those tbh. Teams will draft power, Hughes, edvinsson. Not everyone will pick for forwards in the top 5

You think finishing strong means we are better next year? I don't think there is a correlation between the two.

The psyche of the team must be pretty weak if you think winning a few extra games will keep this fragile team from losing more next year.

I will take the first overall instead of beating out the last place teams by a few points.

What about next year when you have Berniers in the lineup and the team is excited because we have the best player from the draft in the starting lineup?

That certainly helps get the stink off.

Two sides to every coin.
- sabresfan69

Finishing strong establishes that not only do you have viable players, but you also have a viable coach. Is this not what we have wanted for *checks calendar* ten (frank)ing years?

I'm not rooting for losing, I'm only indicating how finishing last is beneficial.
- kingcong39

It puts the wins in the column or else it gets the stool again

It puts the wins in the column or else it gets the stool again


- jcragcrumple

I'm rooting for them to keep the roll going.

I have no idea what you're arguing against.

I'm rooting for them to keep the roll going.

I have no idea what you're arguing against.
- kingcong39

*throws a stool*

That's not good enough!

I'm rooting for them to keep the roll going.

I have no idea what you're arguing against.
- kingcong39

*throws a stool*

That's not good enough!

I'm rooting for them to keep the roll going.

I have no idea what you're arguing against.
- kingcong39

Stop arguing with me!

I'm not rooting for losing, I'm only indicating how finishing last is beneficial.
- kingcong39

We're 3-4 points back of Ottawa, Jersey and Anaheim. Vancouver is like 8 games back so I wouldn't count them. They have 11 games left, 5 vs Boston and 2 each vs Pens, NYI and NYR. You win half of those, gives you let's say 12 points. If you go 500, there's a real good chance Sabres finish 3rd to 4th.

If you say we beat Boston 2/5, Pens 1/2, NYR 1/2, NYI 0/2, gives you 8 points, maybe a pair of OTLs, 10 points.. there's a chance you finish last or second last.

Just play a good game and the losses don't matter, or they do for a different reason. I think, like last year's draft for the picks 4-10, there isn't too much a difference in the top 5-6 talents.

Unpopular opinion.

Watching highlights Id rather listen to just about any other announcer (minus Boston) instead of RJ.

He's getting worse.

I dont think the two kid lines and players like bryson, dahlin, joker, toki and now samuelsson, plus donnie meatballs, care about where they draft. And really that's all that matters
- Michael Pachla

No but I don’t think Tokarski is going to keep up his .926% Sv in the month of April either though.

It’s possible we start to see some valiant efforts get doomed by goaltending.

Which supports the “kids continuing to play good” and the “let’s secure a top 3 pick” crowds

No but I don’t think Tokarski is going to keep up his .926% Sv in the month of April either though.

It’s possible we start to see some valiant efforts get doomed by goaltending.

Which supports the “kids continuing to play good” and the “let’s secure a top 3 pick” crowds
- Pegullaville

I'd be interested in seeing HD chance data for the entire year.

Well for a team with so many questions, isn't answering the "show what you've got' pretty high on the list? I'd say so. Plus inserting Jack on the top line gives you Jeff/Jack/Reinhart. Not much change here. You can put Olofsson anywhere. He probably replaces whoever is taken in the exp draft, if he himself is not the one chosen.
- TheSabresTaco

I just want to see this one more time. Jeff hasn't bounced back like I thought. Better, still not 9M better. If anyone can get him going, it's Jackie Boy. Seattle isn't taking that contract, we need to accept that.