The statements you read repeatedly that really are not intelligent similar to your statement of "Go talk to Buffalo fans about how great tanking works. It doesn't", are really fascinating. For one, to refute that position, doesn't take an ounce of hockey knowledge. It just takes common sense. The statement you made is the absence of common sense. For one, there is no single approach in all of sports that is foolproof, that works every time. It all requires execution. You bring up asking Buffalo fans. How about we ask Pittsburgh, Colorado, Chicago and TB fans if tanking works. Surely it's safe to assume that those fans will say it does. Now we'll get to the hockey part
What it's about is what approach has the best odds, which works at a higher rate to obtain elite level talent? Which is the key to building an elite team capable of winning the Cup. That's clear. Secondly and this is most important for you to learn. Tanking is just the first step. It's phase 1. Once you draft elite level talent, you have to develop it. You then have to build the team around that elite talent. Have the right mix of players and coaching. You have to execute the plan! It's not as if you tank and voila! LOL. Buffalo's issue isn't that tanking doesn't work. It's that they haven't done a good job after tanking. They haven't executed well. Those who are against tanking who repeatedly bring up Buffalo aren't thinking clearly.
