deluca67

Every team has their own version of "potential in the system." Right now the Sabres are the worst team in hockey. They have very little NHL ready talent at this point. Which is why I also find it difficult to say the Sabres are/will be better off than any other team. It all comes down to Tim Murray's ability ti max out assets and develop players to their fullest potential. Murray needs to hit home runs over the next couple of drafts. It may sound strange, but just having good drafts won't be good enough. Any hope for a quicker turn around for the franchise rests on Murray's shoulders and his ability max out all these picks.assets over the next two drafts.

There are two separate questions here IMO. 1) Free agents. Significant free agents, and by significant I mean those players with enough career left to make a difference in the future of this team. are not signing with the worst team in hockey. I'm sure there are UFA's out there that TM would consider, I doubt any of them would go beyond the courtesy of taking TM's call. 2) The last thing the Sabres want to do is take a top pick and throw them into the fire if they not ready. In general, this entire "tank" idea has been overplayed and been worn out. They broke the team down and are now starting the process of rebuilding. Falling to bottom of the league this season was a result set in motion several years ago. This was a franchise barely hanging around the 9-10-11 range. Last place was not a steep fall. They cleaned house, drafting 1st this season as well as probably drafting high the next few seasons is all part of the rebuilding process. "Tanking" is a silly and inaccurate assessment of where this franchise was and where they are today.

We should remember the kid is still a prospect. These games at the end of the season can be important if the Sabres want to use McCabe in a trade. It gives teams interested in a young defenseman some game tape at the NHL level to review.

It's far from "everyone". Sadly, due to the Sabres situation, every time a team finished/finishes last it will be deemed an intentional "tank" by some on the board.

I knew it. I friggn knew it. Congrats to Ruff-ians/LetTheSufferingBegin & Nobody/The Tallinder Hotel.

IMO, I think it's all a misdirection. I have a feeling this is the Alexandra Safe Zone from the comics. I don't think Gareth is the leader of the group.

Yes. When Glenn climbs up on the rubble in the tunnel and flashes the light, one of the walkers is Bub.

Did anyone else notice in last weeks episode that one of the zombies in the train tunnel was Bub from Day Of The Dead?

I should change my team name (in Gold) to the Ryan Miller's, I have a feeling Sydney Crosby will be beating me tonight.

There is a difference between "tanking" and just being bad. The Penguins drafted in the top 5 three years prior to drafting Crosby. The Oilers are drafting in the top 2 again this year, did they tank? If the end up picking #1 next is it because they "tanked." Did the Blackhawks tank to get Cam Barker in 2004 or where they just a bad team that was bad long enough to finally draft some good players with their top picks. As far as the Sabres, I am one of the few that don't believe the Sabres "tank" was intentional. They went into the 2012-13 with Lindy Ruff as coach and with a team they felt could make the playoffs.

It must be hell driving around all day trying to elude the men in the black vans. My sympathies. :wacko:

They didn't know if Manning would be back.

No short term answer at QB could have stepped into that position and made any significant difference. The entire offense flowed through Manning. Manning on any of those 6-10 Bills teams and they would be a playoff team.

Who could have the Colts brought in to make any significant difference? Put the tin foil away boys.

Didn't the Penguins rebuild start with Fleury at #1 overall in 2003? They took him over two centers #2 Eric Staal and #3 Nathan Horton.

This team needs players, they are not at the point to start filling specific needs. If the best player available in 2014 is a defenseman than they need to draft that defenseman. If it were a goalie, i'd say draft the goalie. The Sabres need players and they need a lot of them. The better the job Tim Murray does in maximizing assets they shorter the time frame this rebuild can take.

There appears to be a growing trend on the board to blame things on secret meets and hidden agenda's. It's as much disturbing as it is sad.

If it was inevitable why the need to include the Colts situation in the growing list of grand conspiracies that seem to be taking over your posts?

If Snow feels this may be his last kick at the can why would he give-up a #1(in 2015) he can use during the season in a trade that puts the Islanders into the playoffs and draft some kid in 2014 that won't likely play a game in an Islanders uniform before Snow loses his job.

Fun Fact : Steven Stamkos has as many "own goals" as Hodgson has goals over his last 12 games and Leino has over his last 52 as a Sabre. ;)

I'd spend $50 bucks to sit next to him in the press box so I can chant "You Suck" at him for 2 1/2 hours.

I don't care if he scores 100 goals in 50 games in the ROC, I don't want to see him in a Sabres jersey until 2015-16 at the earliest.

I'm saying there was nothing they could do to prevent it. You're not replacing Manning with a free agent or a trade for some backup. Manning was the QB, OC and HC. When the decision was made that Manning would be out the entire season finishing last was inevitable no matter what moves the team made or could have made.

The Colts went from 10-6 with Manning to to 2-14 without. The Broncos went from 8-8 prior to Manning to 13-3 with Manning. It should be a surprise to no one that the Colts fell to the bottom of the league when Manning was out just like it should be no surprise that the Broncos rocketed to the top of the AFC with Manning. He is that much of an impact player.

Dickie Dunn wrote this. It's gotta be true. Fantastic :doh: