Tank on!

[OpIv37]

Re: Tank on!

I was at the game against the Islanders. No need to tank because the talent is there. They just need to develop and learn to play together.

In the first period they were in sync and generated a lot of scoring opportunities. The rest of the game, they were just a little off. I distinctly remember one play where Eichel got rushed so he quickly entered the zone, took two defenders with him, and passed back to the point. The problem is that no one was home. If the other players knew what he was going to do, that's a scoring chance.

It won't come in time to save this season, but it will come.

[JATMtheJATM]

Re: Tank on!

I'd take Mathews if he is available. If chychurn was available, **** yeah

[coastal]

Re: Tank on!

I remember saying this over the summer. This is a gap year.

McGinn producing some... he will get a return at the trade deadline. No need to sink any money into him.

I say we run Lehner out there for the rest of the year no matter how he's playing. He's Murray's boy.. might as well ride and hope the light bulb goes on... but not until the end of the season...

Are there any other pieces we can move?

[coastal]

Re: Tank on!

Rasmus' defensive pairing partner...

http://windsorstar.com/sports/spitfires-add-russian-defenceman-mikhail-sergachev

30 minutes every game of pure lockdown.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Tank on!

I agree with the premise of this thread. Buffalo is miles better than last year. They have also been without their starting goalie for practically the whole year. While their play has not resulted in enough goals and their goaltending has been ok of late, they have been getting chances to score and not putting them away. And while their goaltending has made some spectacular saves along the way, they have also given up some pretty soft goals. That giveaway to Williams in the second Washington game comes to mind.

They are a vastly better team, but even a vastly better team wouldn't necessarily make the playoffs being almost historically bad the last two years. As long as they continue to grow and get better and find out if the goalie they gave up so much for is the answer, I will be happy.

But a lottery win for once would be really nice.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Tank on!

McGinn producing some... he will get a return at the trade deadline. No need to sink any money into him.

I say we run Lehner out there for the rest of the year no matter how he's playing. He's Murray's boy.. might as well ride and hope the light bulb goes on... but not until the end of the season...

Are there any other pieces we can move?

Gionta might get you a second rounder. Ennis possibly more. They have a few on defense that aren't worth much but a team looking for depth might give you something for Coliacavo and Weber. Only guys in Rochester that I can think might be depth guys or someone to trade would be Ruwhedle, Varrone, and even Kaleta. I don't have the desire to go back and spellcheck each one of those players.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Re: Tank on!

Seriously... this team is clearly better than last year's sh1t show but they aren't making the playoffs.

another prize is waiting there in Matthews and some recent reports are saying that he's a better prospect than Eichel.

were bound to win one of these lotteries.

There are going to be three draws of lottery balls in this years lottery

Non-Playoff Team (Fewest Pts. to Most)	New Draft Lottery Odds	Odds Under Former Allocation
1	20.0%	25.0%
2	13.5%	18.8%
3	11.5%	14.2%
4	9.5%	10.7%
5	8.5%	8.1%
6	7.5%	6.2%
7	6.5%	4.7%
8	6.0%	3.6%
9	5.0%	2.7%
10	3.5%	2.1%
11	3.0%	1.5%
12	2.5%	1.1%
13	2.0%	0.8%
14	1.0%	0.5%

2016 NHL Draft Lottery
Beginning in 2016, the Draft Lottery will be utilized to assign the top three drafting slots in the NHL Draft, an expansion over previous years when the Draft Lottery was used to determine the winner of the first overall selection only.
Three draws will be held: the 1st Lottery draw will determine the Club selecting first overall, the 2nd Lottery draw will determine the Club selecting second overall and the 3rd Lottery draw will determine the club selecting third overall.
As a result of this change, the team earning the fewest points during the regular season will no longer be guaranteed, at worst, the second overall pick. That club could fall as low as fourth overall.
The allocation of odds for the 1st Lottery draw will be the same as outlined above for the 2015 NHL Draft Lottery. The odds for the remaining teams will increase on a proportionate basis for the 2nd Lottery draw, based on which Club wins the 1st Lottery draw, and again for the 3rd Lottery draw, based on which Club wins the 2nd Lottery draw.
The 11 Clubs not selected in the Draft Lottery will be assigned NHL Draft selections 4 through 14, in inverse order of regular-season points.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=728795

[Ginger Vitis]

Re: Tank on!

I thought the Maple Leafs waited to long to get their rebuild and tank on but it appears I was wrong.. This Top 5 in 2016 is really looking good better than 2014 for sure.. And for a top 5 its looking like its deep enough that it wont be devastating not too get the No.1 overall pick....

[Crisis]

Re: Tank on!

The top 6 on this team is really fine. The bottom 6 is a ****ing mess.

The sooner we can get rid of Gionta and Moulson the better.

With that said I still take Matthews if he's there, he's too good to pass up.

[Ingtar33]

Re: Tank on!

goaltender is all that's standing between this team and the playoffs.

you could argue we're mostly a 2.5 line team as well, which is true. a few more nhl quality forwards would help, at least till we have 3 lines, 4 would be ideal, but we have what we have. so 2-4 average forwards, 2 average defensemen and a good nhl goaltender and we'd be competitive.

get a goaltender and we'd be right in the thick of it. right now we're getting mediocre to average play from that position, it's amazing we're as competitive as we are.

[Crisis]

Re: Tank on!

goaltender is all that's standing between this team and the playoffs.

you could argue we're mostly a 2.5 line team as well, which is true. a few more nhl quality forwards would help, at least till we have 3 lines, 4 would be ideal, but we have what we have. so 2-4 average forwards, 2 average defensemen and a good nhl goaltender and we'd be competitive.

get a goaltender and we'd be right in the thick of it. right now we're getting mediocre to average play from that position, it's amazing we're as competitive as we are.

I don't think we're a goalie away from the playoffs. Realistically, how can you expect 3 players to carry the offense? ROR, Eichel, and Risto have done all the heavy lifting offensively for this team with little help. Girgensons finally being on Eichel's wing has got his game going at least, but this team needs a LOT more production out of atleast 2-3 of Ennis, Foligno, Larsson, Legwand, Gionta, Moulson, and Girgs.. I'll give Kane a pass for now but even he has been under producing on the score sheet (if he can somehow become a better/more willing passer that would improve his game tremendously). I don't expect much out of Legwand at this stage of his career and Des is fine as an energy 4th liner.

I mean, I like McGinn most of the time, but there's a problem when he's one of the best forwards on your team.

ROR and Risto are going to have career years offensively and we're still one of the lowest scoring teams in the league.

[coastal]

Re: Tank on!

Second last place and one point from the basement...

So seriously... Matthews is very much in the radar.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Tank on!

I believe this team will only get better and will finish somewhere between 6 - 8 from the bottom.

[Dr. Lecter]

Re: Tank on!

goaltender is all that's standing between this team and the playoffs.

you could argue we're mostly a 2.5 line team as well, which is true. a few more nhl quality forwards would help, at least till we have 3 lines, 4 would be ideal, but we have what we have. so 2-4 average forwards, 2 average defensemen and a good nhl goaltender and we'd be competitive.

get a goaltender and we'd be right in the thick of it. right now we're getting mediocre to average play from that position, it's amazing we're as competitive as we are.

How many games have they scored one goal this year?

Blaming their record on a general lack of goaltending is wrong. There's no nice way to say other wise. They're 28th in the NHL in goals scored per game

But the goaltending is the problem

Come on.

[swiper]

Re: Tank on!

There is no way that Gionta is going to get you a second.