Quote:
Originally Posted by edn88
Given where this team is, I hate even hearing tank. I think that you have to reward the guys who are here and keep trying to make the playoffs until you don't.
Maybe everyone thought this group of guys was going to fail, but somehow the coaches have gotten these guys to overperform. Let them overperform - even if that means missing the playoffs or going out in the first round.
I think it helps develop our younger players including Wolf. Don't allow a loser mindset to creep in.
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I don't think this team needs to talk about doing more to try to intentionally tank. Either they will continue to defy expectations and hold off the Blues and Canucks from passing them or they will lose games that are one the road and/or to the playoff contenders.
This is how I look at the schedule leading up to the trade deadline.
Expected Wins: Sabres (H), Ducks (H), Sharks (H)
Likely Wins: Red Wings (H), Kraken (H)
Likely Losses: Kraken (A), Flyers (A)
Expected Losses: Wild (A), Jets (A), Caps (H), Leafs (H), Avs (H), Caps (A), Lightning (A), Panthers (A), Hurricane (A), Stars (A)
The X factor to this list is determining which games Wolf will play. Maybe he can move a bunch of those games into the win column... but I think these are safe and objective expectations for the upcoming schedule.