Sabres can't even blow a season right

[Forum21]

They had to have this little 'pride push' didn't they? They've been swimming at the bottom all season and all of a sudden, there are 5 teams with a worse record sthen them.

Even with half of Rocester in a Bflo uni, and recording only 15 shots on goal, they're winning.... pathetic.

There goes our shot at a number one pick in one of the deepest drafts in years. Ruff and Regeir should DEFINATELY be canned for this stunt!

[sabres081]

a team with bride winning to bad have team give up for draft not right

[zow2]

I agree! After suffering through this miserable season I was hoping for a great shot at the #1 pick. Now they're blowing it.

[Snarf]

Heck if they keep this up, they may pass Montreal and not come in last, and really screw things up. Oh well, they were probalby only going to draft another goalie with that first pick anyway.

[The REAL Sabres]

Originally posted by jj@jj.com
There goes our shot at a number one pick in one of the deepest drafts in years. Ruff and Regeir should DEFINATELY be canned for this stunt!

If it's a deep draft, what's the difference if you pick 1st or 6th??

[Jim Bob]

Ruff and Regeir should DEFINATELY be canned for this stunt!

Ruff is an UFA this offseason. I'm guessing his unwillingness to tank is driven by the fact that he's trying to put a positive spin on things by having his team finish strong.

Heck, it worked for Gratton last year, right?

[Jim Bob]

Originally posted by Sabrejeff
If it's a deep draft, what's the difference if you pick 1st or 6th??

Exactly, this draft is very flat at the top with 4 or 5 guys that could all go #1 overall. And even if the Sabres finish in 6th or 7th they could very easily end up with a top talent from this draft by going after one of the top NCAA freshmen in Zach Parise or Tomas Vanek. Bith of which will likely be around after the top 5 guys go (Zherdev, Michalek, Staal, Horton, Fleury).

[pigskin]

From everything that I have seen this is one of the worst drafts in many years. There are no bonified stars in the draft like in recent years. The top five players seem to be as good as the rest. I would have liked to gotten my hands on Nathan Horton or Eric Stahl. I wouldn't be too upset with the recent winning streak it isn't that great of a draft year.

[Jim Bob]

Draft years are rated on different things. If you are merely looking at Franchise players at the top of the draft, then this isn't your year.

But if you look at the number of players that will be solid NHLers and how many players have All-Star calibre upside, then this is a very solid year.

Personally, this is a great year to do what the Sabres are doing here at the end of the season because they'll still get a nice offensive upside guy no matter where they end up.

Horton and Staal would have been nice, but I'll be happy as long as they don't take Coburn or Fleury and instead go with a forward with offensive upside like Parise or Vanek.

[Jim Bob]

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030330/1035343.asp

Florida could beckon Ruff

Popular opinion has Lindy Ruff heading to Columbus, but the Sabres coach could wind up with several options if he high-tails out of Buffalo.

Whispers are getting louder about Mike Keenan leaving Florida for the New York Rangers. If it happens, Ruff could return to South Florida, where he was an assistant under former coach Doug MacLean before taking the Buffalo job.

Ruff and his family enjoyed living in Florida and still have several close friends living there. Among them is Dudley Hart, the professional golfer who grew up in Hamburg and is one of Ruff's chief confidants. Another is Duane Sutter, back on board as Keenan's assistant. It's conceivable they could be reunited.

Ruff already was respected around the league. The fact the Sabres never packed it in - with all the uncertainty under a lame-duck coach - merely added to his stock. You can safely assume the Blue Jackets, Rangers, Panthers, Bruins and a few other teams have been paying attention.

Ruff's being an UFA likely has a lot to do with how he's handling things down the stretch.

[RustySabre]

It's a double edge sword no matter how you look at it. Do they tank the season for a number 1 that may or may not take a year to develope? Or do they finish the season on a winning note and try to use it as a springboard to put fans in the seats for next year?
From the players standpoint it must be a load off them knowing there is new ownership. No matter how many times they say they won't use it for an excuse, they have to agree that it was a factor. Didn't they start a win streak right after the new ownership was named? I don't think tanking it ever crossed their minds.

That's my take on the end of the season. I don't think they lose either way.

[Jim Bob]

Do they tank the season for a number 1 that may or may not take a year to develope?

I'd be surprised if any of the guys that might go #1 in this year's draft were contributers to an NHL team next year.

[bernsy74]

Ruff WILL re-sign with the Sabres......you can take that to the bank!

[Hurls]

ya, the sperm bank, ruff's load has been busted, he's off to columbus