Sabresfansince1980 wrote:
I'd enjoy that, with all the talk of lateral type movements for Getzlaf instead of simply adding to the team with top talent.
How to tank? Simple.
1. Talk about 'toughness', sign tough guys. Toughness is great when you have good players that are tough. Dressing JF Jacques, Steve MacIntyre, Zack Stortini, Darcy Hordichuk, Ben Eager and the lot might have been a deterrent ten years ago. Today, they're all very nice guys, but can't play more than 3 minutes a night.
2. The scapegoat. Every year, find someone who has fallen out of favour with the team. This year for us, it's Ales Hemsky. Last year, it was Dustin Penner or Tom Gilbert. Gilbert made it, Penner didn't. Go on back every year, most of those guys aren't with the team any more. I don't know if that happened with Tim Connolly last year with you guys (or Derek Roy this year?) but we've gotten pretty good at it. Basically, take good players and trade them for picks and prospects. See Penner for a great example.
3 Don't sign defencemen. We have two, maybe three NHL defenceman playing on our roster right now: Ladislav Smid and Andy Sutton/Corey Potter. Other guys: Colten Teubert, Theo Peckham, Jeff Petry. Fine in a pinch, but not sold on the long run yet.
4. Goaltending. I have nothing else to say.
5. Preach the rebuild. Draft high, miss playoffs for six consecutive years. Sell hope.
Tank complete.