Face it, the plan for next year is another tank

[dudacek]

Think about it
 

• This team currently has a cap hit of $43 million with only 4 RFAs to sign. Those UFAs will cost $10-12 million which barely gets them to the floor.
• The just traded their #1 defenceman by usage and their highest scoring forward for a sixth defenceman and a bucket of assets that won’t see Buffalo for two more years at the earliest.
• The guy they just took first overall is not likely playing until next spring.
• Their franchise player will not be playing for them next season and they are working hard to trade him for a package of futures.
• Their top two remaining defencemen have not seen their 22nd birthday.
• Their next two have played 50 NHL games combined.
• Their top two centres have a combined for 31 NHL career goals
• They promoted an inexpensive development specialist to be head coach
• And they do not have an NHL goalie under contract.
• Next year promises to have some elite talent at the top of the draft.

In my view, they haven’t announced it, and they may pick up the odd veteran to soften the blow, but we would be foolish to think they are doing anything but tanking next year while possibly preparing a clean, fresh slate for a new buyer.

 

[nucci]

or they are just really bad at running this franchise. Wonder if they ever plan on winning? 

[LGR4GM]

All true except the development specialist head coach thing. Granato has 30 years of coaching experience. 

[Sabres Fan in NS]

NO!!

A THOUSAND TIMES NO!!

AND THEN A THOUSAND MORE TIMES NO!!

[Stoner]

I'm glad I read all of that. The payoff was sweet.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

This feels different. 

These trades needed to be made, as it appears that these guys were very disgruntled, probably rightfully so.

I have to believe that the Sabres learned their lesson the last time.

The Sabres will be bad this coming season.  There is no need to tank to get a top pick.

[Norcal]

I'm not ready to concede yet

[Stoner]

1 minute ago, New Scotland (NS) said:

This feels different. 

These trades needed to be made, as it appears that these guys were very disgruntled, probably rightfully so.

I have to believe that the Sabres learned their lesson the last time.

The Sabres will be bad this coming season.  There is no need to tank to get a top pick.

I think you've hit on the crux of it. Macro-tanks happen. But you have to manage micro-tanks. I want Granato to put in place his philosophy and system, which, ultimately have to be about winning every single freakin' game starting Game 1. You put that in place and carry it to seasons 2, 3, 4...

[DarthEbriate]

We'll know for sure if the team is challenging for a playoff spot (I know, I know... but maybe they get two scrub goalies and both just play out of their minds all season) and instead of going for it, they sell off the goalies. Obviously, I don't think for a second that this roster without Eichel can compete in the Atlantic. But I hope the kids at least give us the thrill of knowing that the Pegulas don't want to win.

[Cascade Youth]

That’s all well and good but then don’t use your marketing department to lie to the fans.  I am fascinated to see what they’re selling and how.  

[Thorner]

Yep. 

Beef. It's what's for dinner. 

[etiennep99]

Darcy's suffering was like getting the chicken pox, and now we're getting shingles.

[GASabresIUFAN]

I’ve already cancelled my center ice package.

[Digger]

This off season is like being on the Titanic and knowing that it's going to sink.  I'm already in one of the few life boats.

[Doohicksie]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I’ve already cancelled my center ice package.

Center Ice has canceled the Center Ice package.  The NHL will be on ESPN+ next season.

[WildCard]

Been thinking this since yesterday. While I don't think it's a tank, it feels oh so similar to when we did tank. Everything is right there just like last time

[Weave]

Just continued aftermath from the first.

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, Weave said:

Just continued aftermath from the first.

If Pegula is calling all the shots, I could agree with this. 

If Adams has reasonable free will here, he certainly has the option of not going down this road again

[Doohicksie]

41 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Think about it
 

• This team currently has a cap hit of $43 million with only 4 RFAs to sign. Those UFAs will cost $10-12 million which barely gets them to the floor.
• The just traded their #1 defenceman by usage and their highest scoring forward for a sixth defenceman and a bucket of assets that won’t see Buffalo for two more years at the earliest.
• The guy they just took first overall is not likely playing until next spring.
• Their franchise player will not be playing for them next season and they are working hard to trade him for a package of futures.
• Their top two remaining defencemen have not seen their 22nd birthday.
• Their next two have played 50 NHL games combined.
• Their top two centres have a combined for 31 NHL career goals
• They promoted an inexpensive development specialist to be head coach
• And they do not have an NHL goalie under contract.
• Next year promises to have some elite talent at the top of the draft.

In my view, they haven’t announced it, and they may pick up the odd veteran to soften the blow, but we would be foolish to think they are doing anything but tanking next year while possibly preparing a clean, fresh slate for a new buyer.

You're right and you're not. 

The previous tank was a two year effort.  The real prize was McDavid (consolation prize Eichel), but they started the tank the year before to get Reino.  To do that, they literally took every room down to the studs.  There was nothing left, and then we had to build from scratch around Reino and Eichel.  XGMTM blew threw accumulated draft picks and prospects to accelerate the rebuild and failed miserably.

This time around, the HC is a development coach.  He's got about half a team of good quality players and will develop them into motivated leaders.  As other prospects mature we'll have a core that's all within a few years of each other and if we do it right there will be a continuous feed of prospects. 

Will we be bad next year?  Probably.  Do we have players on the team right now that will lead us out of it?  Yes.  It's just a case of growing and maturing them, and feeding more matriculating prospects into the fold.

[COSabreFan]

12 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I’ve already cancelled my center ice package.

Same

[Doohicksie]

2 minutes ago, Thorny said:

If Adams has reasonable free will here, he certainly has the option of not going down this road again

I really think Adams knows how to let the Pegulas have their say but still make the hockey moves he wants to make.  He probably even convinces them that it's what they wanted all along.  I think he communicates with them probably much better than TM or JB.

[Thorner]

Just now, Doohickie said:

You're right and you're not. 

The previous tank was a two year effort.  The real prize was McDavid (consolation prize Eichel), but they started the tank the year before to get Reino.  To do that, they literally took every room down to the studs.  There was nothing left, and then we had to build from scratch around Reino and Eichel.  XGMTM blew threw accumulated draft picks and prospects to accelerate the rebuild and failed miserably.

This time around, the HC is a development coach.  He's got about half a team of good quality players and will develop them into motivated leaders.  As other prospects mature we'll have a core that's all within a few years of each other and if we do it right there will be a continuous feed of prospects. 

Will we be bad next year?  Probably.  Do we have players on the team right now that will lead us out of it?  Yes.  It's just a case of growing and maturing them, and feeding more matriculating prospects into the fold.

But what if the "good quality players" are more less here already? And the pick we get next year is another guy like them and not the top 1/2 guys? Won't we be sitting with a core (Dahlin/Cozens/Mitts) now growing as accustomed to losing as Jack and Sam had become, a few years into their losing?

[bob_sauve28]

Just now, Thorny said:

But what if the "good quality players" are more less here already? And the pick we get next year is another guy like them and not the top 1/2 guys? Won't we be sitting with a core (Dahlin/Cozens/Mitts) now growing as accustomed to losing as Jack and Sam had become, a few years into their losing?

Depends on what type of goaltending we get. It’s not looking good right now,, but there is still time 

[Thorner]

2 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I really think Adams knows how to let the Pegulas have their say but still make the hockey moves he wants to make.  He probably even convinces them that it's what they wanted all along.  I think he communicates with them probably much better than TM or JB.

I like the imagery your Grima Wormtongue comparison conjures up even if I don't subscribe to it

[Drag0nDan]

2 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

You're right and you're not. 

The previous tank was a two year effort.  The real prize was McDavid (consolation prize Eichel), but they started the tank the year before to get Reino.  To do that, they literally took every room down to the studs.  There was nothing left, and then we had to build from scratch around Reino and Eichel.  XGMTM blew threw accumulated draft picks and prospects to accelerate the rebuild and failed miserably.

This time around, the HC is a development coach.  He's got about half a team of good quality players and will develop them into motivated leaders.  As other prospects mature we'll have a core that's all within a few years of each other and if we do it right there will be a continuous feed of prospects. 

Will we be bad next year?  Probably.  Do we have players on the team right now that will lead us out of it?  Yes.  It's just a case of growing and maturing them, and feeding more matriculating prospects into the fold.

Optimistic. I agree the plan isn't to just fail and get one player though. Dahlin and power are those players. Whoever they get the next 2 years are probably also higher picks and probably likely make an impact down the line. 

Every year with Jack we were hoping x makes an impact and well be competitive. Now they're starting over with more of a volume approach. 

I don't have to watch a team try to lose. This is a really young team that will hopefully get after it.