Taro T Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 Good thing we only have five or six players worth protecting. Expecting the Sabres to be in Florida's spot when the next expansion draft hits. Hopefully Botterill doesn't screw the pooch as bad as they did. Quote
pi2000 Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 Looks like the expansion draft will be the same as well. https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/gary-bettman-nhl-expansion-draft-for-seattle-team-would-follow-vegas-blueprint/ League is becoming too watered down. 3rd and 4th line guys belong in the AHL. Coaching is becoming more important than talent. Quote
Eleven Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 League is becoming too watered down. 3rd and 4th line guys belong in the AHL. Coaching is becoming more important than talent. I have said before that contraction, not expansion, is what the NHL needs, and I stick by it. Quote
LTS Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 I have said before that contraction, not expansion, is what the NHL needs, and I stick by it. I don't see contraction as a way the NHL improves its bottom line. I understand the concept of concentrating talent onto fewer teams with the perception that it will improve the game. At the same time, there are more people playing hockey than ever before and that's likely to boost the overall talent pool making it less necessary. We're just now beginning to see this expansion of talent across the league. In the past it was far less often so many young players rocketed to the top of the leagues each year. Look at the rookie class this year and it's impressive. I hope they cap at the number of teams they will have after Seattle and then just let a few franchises move around as needed. 32 teams is a good number and makes it even all around. Quote
Eleven Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 I don't see contraction as a way the NHL improves its bottom line. I understand the concept of concentrating talent onto fewer teams with the perception that it will improve the game. At the same time, there are more people playing hockey than ever before and that's likely to boost the overall talent pool making it less necessary. We're just now beginning to see this expansion of talent across the league. In the past it was far less often so many young players rocketed to the top of the leagues each year. Look at the rookie class this year and it's impressive. I hope they cap at the number of teams they will have after Seattle and then just let a few franchises move around as needed. 32 teams is a good number and makes it even all around. It would not improve the bottom line. It would improve the game, though. Quote
LTS Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 It would not improve the bottom line. It would improve the game, though. That was my point. I don't believe the game will be improved that dramatically especially in the coming years. The growth of hockey has occurred over the past 10-12 years not only in the US but in other countries. What we are seeing is the talent pool expanding because more kids are playing it. The more opportunities given to develop the greater the game at the highest level becomes. I think you can make an argument to contract something into a small group of "all-star" teams but that's also not realistic for business. I don't believe today's 3rd liner is the equivalent of the 3rd liner ability from even 10 years ago. I think it's improved. Statistically it might not look much different but skill wise I think it's there. I think it's going to only get better as this up and coming talent pushes out players from even the worst teams. Quote
Weave Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 Then why the hell are we icing 6-8 AAA players every game? Quote
Eleven Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 That was my point. I don't believe the game will be improved that dramatically especially in the coming years. The growth of hockey has occurred over the past 10-12 years not only in the US but in other countries. What we are seeing is the talent pool expanding because more kids are playing it. The more opportunities given to develop the greater the game at the highest level becomes. I think you can make an argument to contract something into a small group of "all-star" teams but that's also not realistic for business. I don't believe today's 3rd liner is the equivalent of the 3rd liner ability from even 10 years ago. I think it's improved. Statistically it might not look much different but skill wise I think it's there. I think it's going to only get better as this up and coming talent pushes out players from even the worst teams. Here is where our opinions diverge. Quote
SwampD Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 Great, and here I am thinking we can't finish any worse than 31st. Quote
darksabre Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 Great, and here I am thinking we can't finish any worse than 31st. Sabres fans: Well, the bar can't get any lower! NHL: Hold my beer Quote
Randall Flagg Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 I agree with LTS. Bottom 6 forwards and bottom 2 defensemen have gotten a lot better at skating, shooting, and stickhandling in the time that I've watched hockey. Quote
pi2000 Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) 25 years ago, there was a big difference in ability between 3rd/4th line NHL regulars and the better AHL players. Today, 3rd/4th line NHL players are on par, talent-wise, with the better AHL players. And that's not good for the product. Edited March 2, 2018 by pi2000 Quote
That Aud Smell Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 25 years ago, there was a big difference in ability between 3rd/4th line NHL regulars and the better AHL players. Today, 3rd/4th line NHL players are on par, talent-wise, with the better AHL players. And that's not good for the product. So, it's the discrepancy between those two tiers, not the actual quality of the players that matters? Quote
Randall Flagg Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) So, it's the discrepancy between those two tiers, not the actual quality of the players that matters? Maybe that's what matters but I also think that gap has closed too. Perhaps it's more due to rule calling but 4th line and 3rd line scrubs can routinely neutralize McDavid via hooking/holding/interfering with impunity, but also because they aren't Andrew Peters getting regular ice time on the best team in the league. I miss our awesome forwards clowning lugs like Hatcher in the playoffs. Edit: Sorry I'm referring to a different gap, that between 1st liners and 3rd/4th. Didn't follow the AHL comments. Don't think that matters very much with respect to the entertainment of this league, especially not when it's more talented than it's ever been. Edited March 2, 2018 by Randall Flagg Quote
dudacek Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) I think talent is a pyramid: 10 guys in the top tier, 30 in the next, then 75 (numbers for illustration purposes only) There are probably 500 guys on the 4th line tier and only 200 of those guys in the NHL. Really, how significant are the gaps from Girgensons to Josefson to Cal O’Reilly to Griffith to Porter? Edited March 2, 2018 by dudacek Quote
LTS Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 25 years ago, there was a big difference in ability between 3rd/4th line NHL regulars and the better AHL players. Today, 3rd/4th line NHL players are on par, talent-wise, with the better AHL players. And that's not good for the product. It's not because the the 3rd and 4th liners are worse. It's because the overall talent levels have gone up. Given the larger pool of talent to choose from there are bound to be more who fit in the same general area. I believe the top tier has grown, but every tier below that has grown even more. As far as what is on the Sabres. There are two points to address. I didn't say the talent had permeated the league as a whole. I said it is growing and it will. Also, the Sabres are purposefully keeping younger players in Rochester and have iced UFAs so they can develop. How good are they? Don't know. We'll find out. Just because the overall talent levels have improved doesn't mean there aren't lesser talents and it doesn't mean they aren't on the Sabres. Quote
Rasmus_ Posted March 2, 2018 Report Posted March 2, 2018 Good thing we only have five or six players worth protecting. That's true lol We could literally leave everyone but: Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Rodrigues, Ristolainen and Scandella available. Quote
Sabel79 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 Everybody: do yourself a failure and google Cam Fowler flying. Or similar verbs. Total meltdown just now in Anaheim-Columbus game. He covered himself in the opposite of glory... Quote
mjd1001 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 Anyone here playing close attention to Philly? If so, how are they playing so well? I thought of them as an average to below average team, so what am I missing? I just looked closely at the standings, and they are only 1 point away from leading the division, 9 points up on the last wildcard spot, and have won something like 11 of the last 12 or 13 games. Provorov is only 21 year old, but he is leading the team in ice time, is he really that good of a player? Quote
Randall Flagg Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 Anyone here playing close attention to Philly? If so, how are they playing so well? I thought of them as an average to below average team, so what am I missing? I just looked closely at the standings, and they are only 1 point away from leading the division, 9 points up on the last wildcard spot, and have won something like 11 of the last 12 or 13 games. Provorov is only 21 year old, but he is leading the team in ice time, is he really that good of a player? Giroux and Voracek are deadly, Couturier is an elite defensive center who happens to be having a career year scoring a point per game, Simmonds is his usual self, and they've got some good young depth pieces like Patrick and Konecny who are starting to take advantage of the cushy minutes they get behind those guys. On D, they have 2-3 very good young players (and a bunch of garbage that will keep them from going too far, along with in goal). Once they get the rest of their nice young stable of defensemen integrated over the corpses, they'll be incredible if Giroux and Voracek are still good. Quote
Sabel79 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 Am I the only one who is just now finding out there's an outdoor game tonight? Quote
North Buffalo Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 yup but not very well advertised... Quote
Sabel79 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 Apparently you can still buy tickets as of right now. Sheesh. Currently watching Stars-Blues. Dallas D is getting torn up, but Ben Bishop is stopping pucks, still 0-0. Amazing concept. Yeah, I'm a tad bitter. Quote
Sabres Fan in NS Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 Apparently you can still buy tickets as of right now. Sheesh. Currently watching Stars-Blues. Dallas D is getting torn up, but Ben Bishop is stopping pucks, still 0-0. Amazing concept. Yeah, I'm a tad bitter. Bitter? You? No. I like the new avatar, in a ha ha way, but should the charging Buffalo not be upside down as well? Quote
Sabel79 Posted March 3, 2018 Report Posted March 3, 2018 Bitter? You? No. I like the new avatar, in a ha ha way, but should the charging Buffalo not be upside down as well? But then it would just be the actual logo upside down. It's slightly more off-putting this way, which I like. Quote
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