Thanks for showing up, Buffalo

[Day Tripper]

Flames are 6-4-2 with a +4 goal differential.
Sabres are 2-9-1 with a -28 goal differential.

Is the Flames roster really that much better than the Sabres? It is better, but a lot of the difference has to come down to the culture of the team. Or maybe it's just Gio and Brodie.

[Enoch Root]

Currently on pace for 34 points.

The Flames already have 14 points. For the Flames to finish with 34 pts, they would have to go 0-50-20 the rest of the way!

Of course, that's impossible since they play the Oilers 4 more times, so make that 4-54-12!

[Mony]

Barring a lottery miracle, there is really no chance the Flames can draft McEichelfin this year. It's just too hard to catch Buffalo or Carolina at this point. But that's not a problem since this draft will be very deep.

[Huntingwhale]

Imagine if the Flames played like the Sabres did. Heartless, listless and just generally maining it in every single night. Makes me truly appreciate how our rebuild is going.

[Rerun]

It appears that the Sabres are really going all out to win the best chance at drafting McDavid.

Only one way to fix this race for last. Give every team that finishes out of the playoffs an equal chance at drafting first. Then those that lost, again get an equal opportunity to draft second.... and so on and so forth. Too bad its too late to change to 2015 draft lottery.

[Joborule]

The worst teams in the league shouldn't be the ones to have the best chance at selecting first in the entry draft. That's logical.

Who cares if they suck so bad they're gonna pick first. They're not making the playoffs or the cup, so they're losing on on revenue. It's still a crappy position to be in. Why make it crappier that the teams in most need of a top prospect has no chance on first dibs? The idea is to get these teams to be better quicker; not longer.

[Street Pharmacist]

With the new format, they've found the right balance. Why ruin your franchise for a 20% shot? Tanking will now be more about doing it right imo

[Ashasx]

How the Oilers picked 1st overall three years in a row I'll never knew.

It takes a special kind of bad to do that.

[PIMking]

Well OOC it could be worse, you could be an Oiler or Panthers fan

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

How the Oilers picked 1st overall three years in a row I'll never knew.

It takes a special kind of bad to do that.

Even with the odds the way they were then, the chances of the Oilers picking first all 3 years, after finishing 30th, 30th and 29th was only 4%

Yes, it was a 1 in 25 longshot for them to win all 3 lotteries.

The chances now are extremely low (under 1%). And with the switch next year to having a draw for the 1st 2 picks, it will be astronomical.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Day Tripper

Flames are 6-4-2 with a +4 goal differential.
Sabres are 2-9-1 with a -28 goal differential.

Is the Flames roster really that much better than the Sabres? It is better, but a lot of the difference has to come down to the culture of the team. Or maybe it's just Gio and Brodie.

Yes it is. Forget Gio and Brodie; Wideman and Russell could possibly be their top pair. Aside from Ennis and Stafford, their forwards are either really young or really crappy, or both. What is really hurting Buffalo is the complete ineffectiveness of the veterans they brought in to bridge the gap between the present and future. Mezsaros has 1 assist and is -10 on defence, Gionta has one assist, Moulson two assists. Gorges has no points, but his -4 is actually second on the team for players who've dressed for more than three contests.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Even with the odds the way they were then, the chances of the Oilers picking first all 3 years, after finishing 30th, 30th and 29th was only 4%

Yes, it was a 1 in 25 longshot for them to win all 3 lotteries.

The chances now are extremely low (under 1%). And with the switch next year to having a draw for the 1st 2 picks, it will be astronomical.

The Oilers actually lost the lottery in 2011 - but the rules prevented the Devils from moving up more than four spots.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The Oilers actually lost the lottery in 2011 - but the rules prevented the Devils from moving up more than four spots.

By winning the lottery, I meant picking first. The odds as calculated factored that in.

Also, every Oiler and their fans view it as a win.

[JohnnyT]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Currently on pace for 34 points.

The Flames already have 14 points. For the Flames to finish with 34 pts, they would have to go 0-50-20 the rest of the way!

Of course, that's impossible since they play the Oilers 4 more times, so make that 4-54-12!

I knew it was bad, but I didn't know it was that bad. When does this start to get embarrassing for the league? Or is it already?

[Jason14h]

Everyone saying Buffalo is tanking, how would you fix their problems?

They were terrible last year and lost their starting goalie in Miller

They tried to spend money and bring in a few veterns. It didn't work. I'm guessing FA's aren't lining up at their door.

It is hard to name 3 players without looking at their roster.

Their coach called them out the other night.

I'm curious what all the experts solutions are without giving them high draft picks!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Everyone saying Buffalo is tanking, how would you fix their problems?

They were terrible last year and lost their starting goalie in Miller

They tried to spend money and bring in a few veterns. It didn't work. I'm guessing FA's aren't lining up at their door.

It is hard to name 3 players without looking at their roster.

Their coach called them out the other night.

I'm curious what all the experts solutions are without giving them high draft picks!

Already beaten to death in another thread, but the issue isn't just that they are bad (no one is surprised by that), it's that they consciously, willingly and tactically planned on it.

[OutOfTheCube]

Why is it such a big deal that we are horrible anyways.

1) We're not actually any worse than last year record-wise, when we started the season 2-15-1.

2) We aren't even in last place as of this post (lol)

3) The other viable options for McDavid are garbage teams in cities no one cares about hockey (Carolina, Arizona) or the Oilers. I think most would agree that Buffalo is the preferable alternative to all of those!

There's just this misguided sense of "Well, the team that puts the most effort in but still misses the playoffs should get the first overall pick! Yeah!" -- which will likely, conveniently, be the team you're a fan of, the Flames. Can't you all just be happy that Calgary is more likely to be a playoff team than a lottery team and let us Sabres fans pretend this season isn't happening while looking forward to the draft? Please.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Why is it such a big deal that we are horrible anyways.

1) We're not actually any worse than last year record-wise, when we started the season 2-15-1.

2) We aren't even in last place as of this post (lol)

3) The other viable options for McDavid are garbage teams in cities no one cares about hockey (Carolina, Arizona) or the Oilers. I think most would agree that Buffalo is the preferable alternative to all of those!

There's just this misguided sense of "Well, the team that puts the most effort in but still misses the playoffs should get the first overall pick! Yeah!" -- which will likely, conveniently, be the team you're a fan of, the Flames. Can't you all just be happy that Calgary is more likely to be a playoff team than a lottery team and let us Sabres fans pretend this season isn't happening while looking forward to the draft? Please.

I didnt write this thread with the idea in mind to shame them for being so bad, and that they dont deserve to get the # pick. I'm just amazed at how much the Sabres suck.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I didnt write this thread with the idea in mind to shame them for being so bad, and that they dont deserve to get the # pick. I'm just amazed at how much the Sabres suck.

Haha, even I've been surprised. I mean, I was expecting bad, but this has so far been the worst hockey team I've ever seen. I honestly feel they didn't try to tank this season -- they went and spent some money on some decent free agents. It just didn't work. No one can tell me they pulled aside Matt Moulson and Brian Gionta and said "Okay guys, play like crap so we can get the first overall draft pick" and they agreed.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

3) The other viable options for McDavid are garbage teams in cities no one cares about hockey (Carolina, Arizona) or the Oilers. I think most would agree that Buffalo is the preferable alternative to all of those!

You flatter yourself. Certainly I would hate to see McDavid in Edmonton, but I also see no reason why I should want him in Buffalo more than I would Carolina or Phoenix.