Tank Thread and Tanking GDT XIX: Tankception (BUF @ CBJ)

[couture23]

I imagine it'll be Ruh or McCabe, but I'd love it if that's what Murray did.

That's really too bad. Ruh and McCabe are definite upgrades on Benoit.

I would applaud Murray for calling up Leduc.

 

[Jim Bob]

I would applaud Murray for calling up Leduc.

I'd love to see Nolan's reaction if that happened.

 

[Husko]

He is a prospect, who was once highly touted, whose ELC is expiring. Need to get him a look.

 

[Eram]

I personally don't think so. Maybe if it was 2 seed v 3 seed and for home ice. But isince its 4th v 3rd, I would shut it down and take the rest. They can't be the 2nd seed at this point

PIT's been 3-5-2 over their last 10 games. I can't see them resting any players after just barely making it in. I see it more the other way and wanting to use us as a good confidence builder. Just can't see Crosby taking it easy and risk going into the post season in a slump and unprepared.

 

[Karate Johnson*]

"Buffalo's deliberate tank - trading goalies that are winning too much - should be rewarded actually, rewarded with a disqualified first round draft pick."

heh

Who said that?

 

[Husko]

I'd love to see Nolan's reaction if that happened.

All I can picture in my head is Leduc scoring an OT goal and Nolan snickering

 

[Sabretooth]

PIT's been 3-5-2 over their last 10 games. I can't see them resting any players after just barely making it in. I see it more the other way and wanting to use us as a good confidence builder. Just can't see Crosby taking it easy and risk going into the post season in a slump and unprepared.

Crosby's also got the Art Ross to think about.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Crosby's also got the Art Ross to think about.

And even if he's not thinking about it, he still usually lights up the Sabres.

 

[couture23]

Who said that?

A poster somewhere on these boards...don't want to give his name to attack the guy or the fanbase. But I thought that was a laughable comment to share.

 

[Jacob582]

He is a prospect, who was once highly touted, whose ELC is expiring. Need to get him a look.

Need to call up Bagnall. Vet who deserves a game for playing with injuries the past two seasons. Hey, Toronto is calling up Colton Orr to give him a game.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Yup.

The first 5 years of "Hockey Heaven" will have been a complete and utter disaster.

Important ground work was put into place. Detroit didn't become a winner overnight.

 

[Jim Bob]

Important ground work was put into place. Detroit didn't become a winner overnight.

People forget that Mike Ilitch bought the Red Wings in 1982, their first SCFs appearance under his ownership was in 1994-95, and their first Cup under his ownership was in 1996-97.

It took awhile to become the benchmark franchise that they eventually became.

 

[Cirris]

Important ground work was put into place. Detroit didn't become a winner overnight.

Well, tell that to the baby boom Buffalonians who piss and moan on WGR and Buffalo News.

They probably want to win sooner than later so they can move south and retire happy.

 

[Clock]

People forget that Mike Ilitch bought the Red Wings in 1982, their first SCFs appearance under his ownership was in 1994-95, and their first Cup under his ownership was in 1996-97.

It took awhile to become the benchmark franchise that they eventually became.

Yup. Even if the Sabres flat out fail for the next five years, I'm still happy with the commitment made and the direction taken to achieve it. Getting 29th and missing McEichel would be infuriating when there was nothing to gain from it, but we still have a lot of great pieces and would still be adding another. Land McEichel and it's total gravy.

 

[Karate Johnson*]

People forget that Mike Ilitch bought the Red Wings in 1982, their first SCFs appearance under his ownership was in 1994-95, and their first Cup under his ownership was in 1996-97.

It took awhile to become the benchmark franchise that they eventually became.

The ways teams are built are a lot different than they were 33 years ago.

There are more, better, farther developed players in the draft. There is a salary cap and free agency.

 

[Moskau]

That's really too bad. Ruh and McCabe are definite upgrades on Benoit.

You don't seriously believe this do you?

 

[stokes84]

You don't seriously believe this do you?

I believe it. Beniot should be in the minors.

 

[Moskau]

I believe it. Beniot should be in the minors.

Maybe the first 40 games of the season. He's more of an NHL defensemen than Chad Ruhwedel or Jake McCabe at this point.

 

[Kublakhan]

I think Arizona wins tonight..

 

[sabres4ever]

I don't think Az wins tonight, but great if they do, I just feel CBJ will finish us off tomorrow night.

 

[Zip15]

I think Arizona wins tonight..

'Yotes are 2-0-0 when I go all-in with vCash on their opponent (at Detroit, vs SJ). I am debating whether I want to do it again tonight on Vancouver, or save it for when we may need it against Anaheim.

 

[CrankyJay]

'Yotes are 2-0-0 when I go all-in with vCash on their opponent (at Detroit, vs SJ). I am debating whether I want to do it again tonight on Vancouver, or save it for when we may need it against Anaheim.

i already did it for you....all in on vanc

 

[TehDoak]

I see the exact opposite.

I do too - a large number of points the Sabres garnered this season seemed to come from goaltending standing on its head to steal points and/or motivational tactics by Nolan with the "all-for-one" mindset.

I don't see it. Here is what Nolan has done:

#1. Motivated the team
#2. Instituted a "goalie friendly" system of defensive first, 1-2-2 trapping style game.

However, we are 30th on the PP. 30th on the PK. 30th in GF, 29th in goals against. We are dead last in offensive zone faceoffs and near the top in defensive zone faceoffs. Dead last in SF% (by a wide margin). When you note the marked improvements of nearly EVERY offensive player after they leave (Stafford, Stewart, and Myers) and the rapid decline of depth players after leaving (Mitchell and Flynn), to me at least says a few things

Nolan prioritized ice time to players "Buying in" and "effort" rather than utilizing the players he had to try to win games. He rewarded players who don't give you the best chance to win over players that would in a "my way or the highway" style of coaching that just doesn't work at the NHL level. He sacrificed tangible results for instituting an ineffective system.

The side effect of this is that depth guys love him. They work hard for him because that is how you get ahead in a Nolan universe. Nothing he has done has produced any tangible improvement over last years team.

If we had lets say a Hitchcock or Tippet who have a proven system and understand the X's and O's of the game in as a coach, our results over the course of an 82 game season would be markedly improved. I think we'd probably see less "COMPETE EFFORT GRIT" style performances, but we'd see consistently closer games and better overall results. Nolan is a HUGE reason we are where we are. More so that the talent on the roster and moves by Murray.

The tankiest thing that Murray did was keeping Nolan this year. The all for one, one for all mindset may have gotten a few wins here and there, but a professional, system driven coach would have gotten us more points over an 82 game season.

 

[TalkingProuder]

Did my part. 400 on Vancouver tonight.

 

[Bps21*]

Bet it all on Vancouver tonight. Unfortunately I did that for Calgary, us against Carolina and us against Toronto and won them all.

You can make a fortune betting against buffalos interest