How will you celebrate if the Sabres win the lottery?

Bobby Bottle Service · Jan 30, 2015

I won't remember, but it'll be epic.

SiDC1 · Jan 30, 2015

There is no reason to celebrate winning the 1st pick, not like McDavid will magically chance this team from a told **** storm to a contender. I'll celebrate when this team actually becomes a winning team.

Deevo · Jan 30, 2015

SiDC1 said:
There is no reason to celebrate winning the 1st pick, not like McDavid will magically chance this team from a told **** storm to a contender. I'll celebrate when this team actually becomes a winning team.

So you're saying you wouldn't celebrate if today the Sabres made a trade for one of Crosby/Stamkos/Tavares/Toews/MacKinnon ???

Pleeeaase.

FearTheBeard · Jan 30, 2015

SiDC1 said:
There is no reason to celebrate winning the 1st pick, not like McDavid will magically chance this team from a told **** storm to a contender. I'll celebrate when this team actually becomes a winning team.

And this would be the first step. A generational like McDavid is so ****ing rare. You have to be lucky enough to tank during the right era, and also lucky enough to win the lottery to get a player like him. Its so improbable, and he has the potential to create a dynasty. He gives you at least 97 reasons to throw a ****in party

MayDayMayDay · Jan 30, 2015

McDavid Jersey. John Walker Black Label & Coke.

joshjull · Jan 30, 2015

I would probably just stare at the TV for hours. The shock of this working out 100% would be too much for this long time Buffalo sports fan to process.

Zip15 · Jan 30, 2015

I'll be excited. But, honestly, I'll be just as pumped when we seal 30th place.

cramdizzl · Jan 30, 2015

2016 Stanley Cup Champions tattoo

SnuggaRUDE · Jan 30, 2015

Bps21 said:
I just don't expect to win the lottery.
(remember when we spent half a decade with Connolly, Roy, Hecht and Gaustad?)

2 Divisional Championships, 2 ECF Appearances.

LITERAL HELL

joshjull · Jan 30, 2015

SnuggaRUDE said:
2 Divisional Championships, 2 ECF Appearances.

LITERAL HELL

He's talking about when those guys took over as our top centers. You're talking about the Briere/Drury years post lockout.

HiddenInLight · Jan 30, 2015

Eh, I'd be stunned more then anything. I'm not one to buy into conspiracy theories, but I feel like the league could do much more to be transparent in this lottery, which is why I've always been against the lottery system. I've always felt like the NFL has it right with a straight up draft system, where you pick where you place. People complain about lack of parity, but I remember a few years ago, when the Seahawks were considered one of the worst franchises in the league, and now they've won a superbowl and are playing in their second. I don't believe that the Sabres will win the lottery, because of the stance that they league has taken in how they are going about their re-build. I don't think the league wants to reward the sabres for that, so they will make sure that they don't get McDavid. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first one here eating crow.

HP00 · Jan 30, 2015

Whiskey, Maple Syrup, Olive Oil, and a goat

FearTheBeard · Jan 30, 2015

HiddenInLight said:
Eh, I'd be stunned more then anything. I'm not one to buy into conspiracy theories, but I feel like the league could do much more to be transparent in this lottery, which is why I've always been against the lottery system. I've always felt like the NFL has it right with a straight up draft system, where you pick where you place. People complain about lack of parity, but I remember a few years ago, when the Seahawks were considered one of the worst franchises in the league, and now they've won a superbowl and are playing in their second. I don't believe that the Sabres will win the lottery, because of the stance that they league has taken in how they are going about their re-build. I don't think the league wants to reward the sabres for that, so they will make sure that they don't get McDavid. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first one here eating crow.

I have a hunch of that too. They change the odds and openly state how they are against "tanking" so i could see them not wanting to reward the sabres. I hate how the actual lottery is behind closed doors. They don't actually televise the pick, just Bill Daly with his stupid envelopes. Im not a huge conspiracy theorist either, but changing the odds to the point where anyone in the top 10 or so (top 5 especially) has a reasonable chance to win, gives them the least resistance to give it to who they want. I guess we'll find out if he ends up in Florida or Carolina

Dubi Doo · Jan 30, 2015

Crazy Tasty said:
Hookers and blow...

That's a typical Friday night.

RefsIdeas · Jan 30, 2015

LGB24 said:
I have a hunch of that too. They change the odds and openly state how they are against "tanking" so i could see them not wanting to reward the sabres. I hate how the actual lottery is behind closed doors. They don't actually televise the pick, just Bill Daly with his stupid envelopes. Im not a huge conspiracy theorist either, but changing the odds to the point where anyone in the top 10 or so (top 5 especially) has a reasonable chance to win, gives them the least resistance to give it to who they want. I guess we'll find out if he ends up in Florida or Carolina

I asked this question recently in the Business of Hockey and got a pretty solid response.

A bank firm and an NHL representative watch the actual drawing, and it's taped live (just not shown on tv). They draw 4 balls corresponding to a set of numbers on a large chart, and whoever matches that combination wins the lottery. There are too many eyes on it for it to be fixed.

enthusiast · Jan 30, 2015

relapse

tsujimoto74 · Jan 30, 2015

LGB24 said:
I have a hunch of that too. They change the odds and openly state how they are against "tanking" so i could see them not wanting to reward the sabres. I hate how the actual lottery is behind closed doors. They don't actually televise the pick, just Bill Daly with his stupid envelopes. Im not a huge conspiracy theorist either, but changing the odds to the point where anyone in the top 10 or so (top 5 especially) has a reasonable chance to win, gives them the least resistance to give it to who they want. I guess we'll find out if he ends up in Florida or Carolina

Remembering back to Murray's rumblings on the subject, it seemed like the team the other NHL clubs were worried about was Edmonton, not Buffalo. And Florida? If the league wants to eliminate repeat offenders, so to speak, at the top of the draft, and they're rigging the lotto, no chance it's them. Florida's already picked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall in recent years.

ETA: However, the idea that league rigging the lottery is pretty farfetched.

couture23 · Jan 30, 2015

Ordering a McDavid jersey the moment it happens.

Myllz · Jan 30, 2015

I'd order a McDavid jersey as soon as they're available.

HiddenInLight · Jan 30, 2015

tsujimoto74 said:
Remembering back to Murray's rumblings on the subject, it seemed like the team the other NHL clubs were worried about was Edmonton, not Buffalo. And Florida? If the league wants to eliminate repeat offenders, so to speak, at the top of the draft, and they're rigging the lotto, no chance it's them. Florida's already picked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall in recent years.

ETA: Let's be real though, the idea that league rigging the lottery is pretty farfetched.

Regardless, I think I'd be pretty salty if the Sabres went in there last overall in the standings for a second straight year and once again didn't come out with the first overall pick. I'm still very annoyed with the whole lottery system in the first place. IMO it is very hard to be 100% transparent with that type of thing, and a straight up reverse standings draft has always worked for the NFL and MLB, which are much larger leagues then the NHL.

joshjull · Jan 30, 2015

HiddenInLight said:
Regardless, I think I'd be pretty salty if the Sabres went in there last overall in the standings for a second straight year and once again didn't come out with the first overall pick. I'm still very annoyed with the whole lottery system in the first place. IMO it is very hard to be 100% transparent with that type of thing, and a straight up reverse standings draft has always worked for the NFL and MLB, which are much larger leagues then the NHL.

I get you'd feel that way but statiscally speaking its not really shocking. Last year they had a 75% chance of not winning and for the 2015 drawing (assuming 30th place they'd have a 80% chance of not winning it.

As for the lottery and the changes to the draft. Neither the NFL nor MLB has such a proven result for their top picks.

brian_griffin · Jan 30, 2015

I'll remove all* the myriad straight pins I've inserted into my homemade Gary Bettman voodoo doll.

*Except for the "No-Goal" one through his heart with the pinhead colored Dallas Stars green.

HiddenInLight · Jan 30, 2015

joshjull said:
I get you'd feel that way but statiscally speaking its not really shocking. Last year they had a 75% chance of not winning and for the 2015 drawing (assuming 30th place they'd have a 80% chance of not winning it.

As for the lottery and the changes to the draft. Neither the NFL nor MLB has such a proven result for their top picks.

While the NFL isn't as proven with their top picks, the first overall pick is often not BPA, which is the norm in the NHL. There are many times that the first overall pick is based on team needs, and this is shown in recent years with the recent inflation of value of the QB position. If the NFL were similar, you would often see a Center taken over other positions simply because he is a center, even if he isn't the best player in the draft. Draft lotteries leave a bad taste in many fans' mouths. Just look at the NBA draft which is widely believed to be fixed.

That being said, I'd be the first one to eat crow if the results come out in our favor. I simply don't believe that they will.

joshjull · Jan 30, 2015

tsujimoto74 said:
Remembering back to Murray's rumblings on the subject, it seemed like the team the other NHL clubs were worried about was Edmonton, not Buffalo. And Florida? If the league wants to eliminate repeat offenders, so to speak, at the top of the draft, and they're rigging the lotto, no chance it's them. Florida's already picked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall in recent years.

ETA: However, the idea that league rigging the lottery is pretty farfetched.

That was the issue for owners. Basically why should inept and horribly run franchises repeatedly get shots at top level players.

Selanne00008 · Jan 30, 2015

I'll create a thread predicting the point total for McDavid in his rookie year on this terrible team. 25-50? 50-75? PPG? 100+?

How will you celebrate if the Sabres win the lottery?

Win for Rick

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But what is grief, if not love persevering?

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cram it

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cybersabre his prophet

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RELEASE THE KRAKEN

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"Eric Cartman?"

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