Peevo Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 We all know the stats about the longest playoff drought in North American professional sports. Did you know gas was on average $1.30(!)/gallon in 1999? But the other pro team in Buffalo is also working on quite the playoff drought of their own. Their last appearance was in 2011, which is six seasons ago should the Blue and Gold fail to make it again this year. Which will also make it exactly 10 seasons since their last playoff series win. Unfortunately, the stats I can find, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NHL_franchise_post-season_droughts, do not say if the pending six season drought is a franchise record for the Sabres or not. Since both teams have been pretty bad since, well, Twitter was a thing, who do you think finally breaks the drought first? The team without a franchise quarterback, playing twice a year the team with the greatest quarterback to ever play? Or a team still stuck in mediocrity almost two seasons removed from some of the worst professional hockey ever played, in the hopes of getting "generational" talent? I guess it's pretty even money, should there be a betting on line on such a thing as this. But if pressed to an answer, I'd say the Sabres have the best statistical chance at breaking the drought. Many more games leaves more chances to correct mistakes, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are reasonably easy to obtain, as more than half the league gets into the first round. But that doesn't mean I'm right. What say you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 (edited) Sabres are a bit closer in my opinion. However draft picks can have an immediate impact in football much more so than in the NHL. My personal opinion is neither are likely to make the playoffs for a few more years, however if lightning strikes and the Bills end up with some good players out of the draft and end up one way or another with a decent QB they could cinderella their way in. Edited February 14, 2017 by CodeMonkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuoteTheRaven83 Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 People still watch hockey? LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJBobby Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Sabres, Bills are not that close actually (until you get a QB) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffismagic Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Sabres. They have the core pieces in Eichel, Ristolainen, Reinhart, and ROR. Just need to get rid of a few more dead weight players and change the coach and they are in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJBobby Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Not to mention easier to make the playoffs in Hockey than in the NFL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 (edited) They are pretty close. Both teams are going to end up slightly on the outside looking in. A 56 yard FG probably kept the Bills out and the Sabres OT / shootout record will keep them out. The NFL playoffs technically come first so that gives the Bills a head start. I don't think that they'll be a playoff team in 2017 but maybe if they pick up the defense. I think that the Sabres should take the next step in 2017-2018. I guess that I think the Sabres but I wouldn't bet an amount that mattered on that. Edited February 14, 2017 by Kirby Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffismagic Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Bills roster peaked a few years ago and Sabres are on the rise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFanInJax Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Sabres. They are building around some good young talent. Pegula hasn't blown up the Bills yet, but he has to be getting close to doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark80 Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 People still watch hockey? LOL People still write "LOL"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorquemada Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 100% sabres. like it's said above, Sabres have some good young talent, the Bills really don't. They've been drafting terribly for years and even when they chance upon a player like Watkins, he's not on the field enough, or surrounded by the sort of needed talent to make a difference. Unless the bills coaching staff is an order of magnitude improvement, there's little chance they'll do any better than 8-8 which isn't going to make the playoffs, probably ever, in the AFCE. Someone posted in another thread the grim reality of the Bills last few drafts, when you're only keeping a couple players from each draft, then finding the rest on the scrap heap, well, you're going to be a bad team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 People still write "LOL"? lulz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metzelaars_lives Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 People still write "LOL"? There's your winner folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Sabres, because it's easier to make the playoffs in hockey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metzelaars_lives Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 (edited) As it stands right now, the Bills are a better football team than the Sabres are a hockey team. It's actually not that close. The Bills were a middling/average NFL team this season. Remember, they actually had a positive points differential and we're top ten in the league in scoring. The Sabres are definitively a bottom 5-10 team in the NHL. All that being said, I think the Sabres' long term outlook is definitely more favorable. But THAT being said, I'm a bit tired of the Bills getting piled on while everyone makes excuses for the Sabres and loves Tim Murray unconditionally. It's about time for them to put up or shut up. For the record, I have been calling for Bylsma's firing for over two months now. Edited February 14, 2017 by metzelaars_lives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HT02 Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 We all know the stats about the longest playoff drought in North American professional sports. Did you know gas was on average $1.30(!)/gallon in 1999? But the other pro team in Buffalo is also working on quite the playoff drought of their own. Their last appearance was in 2011, which is six seasons ago should the Blue and Gold fail to make it again this year. Which will also make it exactly 10 seasons since their last playoff series win. Unfortunately, the stats I can find, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NHL_franchise_post-season_droughts, do not say if the pending six season drought is a franchise record for the Sabres or not. Since both teams have been pretty bad since, well, Twitter was a thing, who do you think finally breaks the drought first? The team without a franchise quarterback, playing twice a year the team with the greatest quarterback to ever play? Or a team still stuck in mediocrity almost two seasons removed from some of the worst professional hockey ever played, in the hopes of getting "generational" talent? I guess it's pretty even money, should there be a betting on line on such a thing as this. But if pressed to an answer, I'd say the Sabres have the best statistical chance at breaking the drought. Many more games leaves more chances to correct mistakes, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are reasonably easy to obtain, as more than half the league gets into the first round. But that doesn't mean I'm right. What say you? Sabres, much easier to make the play-offs in the NHL and the Atlantic division is ripe for the taking. The Sabres will be in the play-offs next year. (This coming from an Islanders fan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Allan in MD Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Browns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondo in seattle Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Not to mention easier to make the playoffs in Hockey than in the NFL This is my reason for voting Sabres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan2313 Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 People still write "LOL"? Actually, yeah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 Sabres fans should pull the fire alarm since so many NHL teams make the playoffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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