We don't "deserve" anything. If this was next year, last place wouldn't even guarantee a top 3 pick, so just be thankful we slipped under at the last minute with our tank. Newly tanking teams like Toronto won't have the draft luxury we've had two years in a row. You're being absolutely ridiculous.
Good point. I don't like this sense of entitlement that some fans have developed / are developing. Guess it's only natural but I expect this kind of thing more from other fanbases, not so much Buffalo.
Do you not realize this is the same kind of nonsense people say about us being OK with being in last place? A "loser mentality". We can't have a "loser mentality". We don't make decisions. We have no influence over where the team finishes, so how are we in a position to be "OK" or not "not OK' with it? The bottom line is it isn't the end of the world if we draft third, no matter how disappointing it'd be.
Great post as usual Rob.
Over the past couple of weeks I've got to the stage in my own head where 30th is more or less in the bag - & I'm thinking about having Eichel in the team next season. But nothing's set in stone. Another team could go on a Sabres-esque run between now & April and beat us to it. Or, the Sabres could just play with enough pride & steal enough points to lift them out of 30th. If such a situation happened I'd clearly be disappointed in terms of the draft just like anyone else would naturally be, but would look towards the many positives moving forward.
I'd look at still getting a major building block at three (likely Hanifin) likely creating a formiddable top four in the not too distant future. I'd look at all the other future talent the team already has. I'd also look at having a GM in the job who is not afraid to make moves to get what he wants - looking at fulfilling the bigger picture sooner rather than later - something Sabres have been craving since forever.
But another thing I'd try to find positivity in - if the Sabres don't finish 30th it's likely because players like Girgensons, Risto, Zadorov or maybe others on the roster refuse to allow it to happen & step up beyond their years - despite the obvious huge shortcomings of the current squad (basically on paper having no business finishing anywhere but 30th). If some of these young guys are already prepared to fight so hard against the 'loser mentality' what isn't to love about that moving forward ? As I mentioned above - on the basis of the season so far I don't see this materialising - but stranger things have certainly happened.
Basically, my viewpoint is that missing out on McE would be a blow (a bitter blow for some people maybe) - but is still in no way, shape or form Game Over or Armageddon like some are predicting.
Also (again IMO) - anyone who wants to believe the team is 'intentionally' tanking on-ice either has no idea about professional sport / the athletes that play it or are just plain kidding themselves. No player is going out there to 'win' 30th place despite what the fans want. The GM can put a sub par roster out there & an inept coach on the bench - but thats as far as it goes for me.
maybe if you didn't disagree with me you would be right more often.
