[News] Islanders will keep 2014 1st round pick

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by theoforever

If you listen to what was written instead of getting hysterical it would help you to undetstand.
Perhaps, you should wait for an official memo from Sabres, I'm sure they will explain their plan point by point.

Nobody is talking about players being told to lose.
Are you reading between the lines....

The selling off by Sabres has been grater than Flames, look at the trade record.

So really, by your definition, any seller at the trade deadline is automatically a tanker, since they're trading away assets for prospects and picks. In that case, everyone tanks. So what's the problem with the Sabres? Miffed at the fact they were able to do a heck of a job at it and amassing a ton of high picks?

[Geeoff]

I feel like the Sabres thought they were going to be a playoff team coming into the season and only sold everything off when it turned out they sucked.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Hackey

They traded these players at the deadline when they were already out of the playoffs. They were all UFAs as well. It's not like they traded them in the off season or during the season. So no they didn't trade their best players knowing they would suck. They sucked and THEN traded their UFAs.

I actually meant to say that. Thanks. I think we can both agree that the Sabres did something smart, and that was trading their best players when they still had high value. Unfortunately, the Flames didn't do that, so the mediocre deals that were made for Iggy and JayBo weren't that fair.

Buffalo in 5 years is going to be scary, especially if they get their hands on McDavid or Eichel next year.

[indes]

Speaking of the Islanders (sorry to interrupt)

Their LW depth is absolutely awful right now but an MDC - Tavares - Okposo line would bode pretty well for them in the future. Think they take a run at Cammy or Moulson?

[Hackey]

Moulson already turned down an offer from them didn't he? If not doubt he wants to go back. I imagine Cammy would prefer to go to a better team as well. After playing for some pretty bad teams the last few years I imagine they'd welcome the chance to play in the playoffs and possibly win some rounds.

[neo45]

Moulson actually wanted to sign there I believe but Snow didnt want him back? I think I read that somewhere

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I actually meant to say that. Thanks. I think we can both agree that the Sabres did something smart, and that was trading their best players when they still had high value. Unfortunately, the Flames didn't do that, so the mediocre deals that were made for Iggy and JayBo weren't that fair.

Buffalo in 5 years is going to be scary, especially if they get their hands on McDavid or Eichel next year.

I think Buffalo will be overrated... don't think Ted Nolan is a good fit.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think Buffalo will be overrated... don't think Ted Nolan is a good fit.

They'll finish last next season, and get off to a bad start the season after that, then fire Nolan 20 games in and hire a new guy.

[Hackey]

You got the winning lotto numbers this Friday as well?

[theoforever]

A little history:

Buffalo fired Lindy Ruff Feb 20/2013 and replaced him with a guy with 0 NHL experience in Rolston.

Buffalo blow up starts March 30/2013:

March 30/2013 Leopold for picks, UFA
April 01/2013 Regehr for picks, UFA
April 03/2013 Pominville for picks and prospects, none of immediate impact. 1 year left on the deal.
June 30/2013 Sekera for McBain and pick

Many saw these trades as a fire sale and many jokes were floating around, including infomercial Sabres FireSale which you can find on YouTube.
Miller and Vanek trade rumours start prior to the 2013/2014 and Sabres try to move them but it takes time to find Snow. Pominville trade is similar in nature to JBO trade.

Sabres move on the Vanek trade for picks early Oct 27/2013. Snow proves he is an idiot once again. Everyone knows that Moulsen is going to be traded at the deadline for more picks.

Feb 28/2013 Miller and Ott traded for Halak (throw-in), Stewart, prospect and picks;
March 5/2014 Molson traded for picks.

Fire-Sale of monumental proportions!

Record
Buffalo 2009/10 100pts; 2010/11 96pts; 2011/12 89pts; 2012/13 48pts; 2013/14 52pts;
Calgary 2009/10 90pts; 2010/11 94pts; 2011/12 90pts; 2012/13 42pts; 2013/14 77pts;
Sabres dive is extremely noticeable, not so in Flames case.

Some people in this thread have said that Buffalo was weaker than Calgary others that Buffalo had better players. Which one is it?
Buffalo may have had better players but they traded them all for future despite being in less dire circumstance.
Some are saying Sabres should get points for being smart and starting rebuild early. I don't have a problem with that. However, one cannot deny that Sabres made the choice to be bad now in order to have a better future. - TANK

The argument that Buffalo tried to be good in 2013/2014 and somehow underperformed is complete nonsense. The team was being setup to be bad, scorched earth policy in effect. The fact that they were shopping Vanek for futures from day one proves it.

Sabres had chosen to rebuild using scorched earth policy, they didn't have to but wanted to. In my opinion they over did it, to the point that it will take them many years to dig out of the sewer they crawled into, btw. the sewer was occupied by the Oilers. 52 points is a huge hole to get out of.
Monumental tank job.

Sabres will have to get better but this may not be possible without giving up future.
Logical plan is to let the kids develop, get top 2 pick in 2015 and most likely 2016. Considering the current situation they should be much better although most likely not a playoff team by 2017/2018.


On the other hand Flames were forced into the rebuild. Kipper forgot how to stop the puck and retired a year before his contract expired. Iginla would not re-sign despite Flames trying to re-sign him to the last moment. JBo is the only guy they didn't have to trade. Tangs refused to support the rebuild. Flames have made several trades in attempt to stop the bleeding as for example Smid, Russell etc. (something that Sabres did not)
77 points is not bad.

Flames will now do the logical thing and refuse to get better by giving up future.
The plan is to let the kids develop one more year, get another high pick in 2015.
After that Flames are hoping on a rebound in 2015/2016.
I called this unofficial tank job, treading the water for one more year.