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Am trying to fix the formatting. Everytime it ends up getting worse. Sorry.

Went to the STH Blue and Gold Insights with Kevyn Adams last night. These have grown tremendously over the past 2 years. From a Zoom call with Skinner and Mittelstadt that likely had 100 or so people take part in. To last year's one with Adams in the Lexus Club with maybe 75-100 people at. To this year with Comrie and Power which had over 100 people at it; Paterka and Quinn's talk which had a couple hundred at it; to this one that had nearly all of section 105 filled with overflow into 104 and 106 This one was hosted by Dan Dunleavy rather than Brian Duff who had done all the others. (My comments are in parenthesis. Dan asked the 1st few questions then turned it over to the STHers On the season to date, Adams said he felt that the team's identity was forming both as individuals and as a team and that there wasn't an identity set back in October. Not sure what the expectations should be because the team is so young. "We are in a good spot" in the big picture but still have a long way to go Asked about Kulich driving in to watch his countryman get his 1st game. It's incredible to see that. He was really happy for his friend. And that sentiment runs through the entire team. (Not specifically for Rousek, but in general this is a tight team that wants to play for each other. Made a point of saying how players currently are playing through injuries for their teammates and they really want to be in there He loves the intensity Dan's final Q was about Levi. He's very special: curious, self aware, and driven. He keeps a noteboke with him and makes notes while watching the games figuring out what drills he needs to work on to handle specific situations. He told an anecdote about watching him in an 8-3 loss and how impressed he was with his body language throughout that really awful night. Questions were then thrown out by the audience The 1st Q was about playoffs. Answer began with the typical 3-5 year goals for the team. But yes, the playoffs next year are the goal just like winning the Cup is a goal (only 1 team wins any year). Though they are the goal, the future won't be mortgaged to get there. That 3-5 year goal is overriding the short term one. (So, not expecting a Saros type move that would cost Savoie or Kulich; but maybe a Demko type move might be in the He did not want to overpay this year to keep from hurting that 3-5 year goal. He was looking for players that would help the team today and could grow with the team. He wanted defensive depth. They lacked a hard edge on D. Thus grabbing Stillman. Same thought process on bringing in Greenway. Asked about the prospects. Quinn, Peterka, Levi, Power, Krebs, and Cozens are guys that should be prospects. He also called out Savoie (getting coached by James Patrick), Kulich, and Östlund (who he wants on this side of the pond next year, but he's ok with him staying). Ryan Johnson - he'll be an NHLer and he wants him to sign but it is his decision. Mentioned how they have some great Russian prospects. Poltapov (who is under contract for 2 more years) plays hard, fast, and (missed the last word). Neuchev. Novikov - talked about his size. Asked about how being a former player affects how he approaches his job. Tries to maintain good relations with his players and staff. Brought Levi to his house for dinner. Likes to take players out to dinner on the road to speak with them, oftentimes guys who are having a rough go of it. Always tries to be truthful with the players. Asked about changes in the game from when he was a kid to today. Likes that though the game is still physical that guys that are 5'6" can play in the league along wiht the 6'6" guys. Thinks the game is better now than ever before. Look for the guys that think their way around the ice. The game is still physical but it's a different kind of physical. He was asked about how he prepared for this job and transitioned to it. Talked to a lot of people he knew from the game. "Be where your feet are." Asked about the tiny defense and individual goal songs. Pointed out that of the top 6 D, 5 are 6'2" or bigger; Jokiharju is 6'0". Said he'd told Bryson he needs to be his competitive self. (Play to his strengths.) As for the goal songs, he thought they were fun. When asked about the team playing horrible in the 3rd and losing a lot of games there and also about the team getting pushed around. He pushed back stating that he'd need to be convinced that actually happens. He doesn't want our guys getting pushed around, but doesn't believe they are. Cited Joker's hit on the Hab Monday and pointed out he'd learned that hit from Dahlin. Also talked about the scrum vs the Aisles. How to improve at home? Goal songs. (Got a big laugh) The young players are proud and don't want to let the fans down at home. He thinks they try too hard at home but just play on the road. Also mentioned the players are bothered by the rink sometimes getting taken over by visiting fans. Asked if he'd offer sheet someone. Definitely. But it's hard to land the guy because teams find a way to match He doesn't believe in overpaying for guys on the downside of their career, but will pay for guys on the way up. (Read, Dahlin and Power will get paid. So will the other guys that were mentioned in the current prospects.) The goal is to always have a full funnel coming up from underneath. Felt they were in a terible place when he took over: only 5 picks, few prospects, a bad team, and at the salary cap. He believes strongly in where they are going. If anybody who went heard things differently or heard stuff not included here, please add it. Thanks.

With Johnson being 1-1/2 weeks away from making a decision, would've been very surprised to see the Sabres make a hard push for him and even more surprised to see them land him. Now had Minnesota been eliminated this past weekend and Livinstone moving on to the Frozen Four, maybe.

Am not splitting up the post. Believe might have it to a point where it'll post right, if it does will start a separate thread. The only thing that was surprising was the degree to which he pushed back against questions that said the Sabres were too small or get pushed around. He was ready for them.

If they practiced today, he certainly did.

The goal is playoffs, but they won't sell the future to make it happen if they're in a similar situation to where they were this year at the deadline. Because THE goal is still being legit Stanley Cup contenders consistently. And his answer to my qustion was the 1st time he has publicly stated that the playoffs are a goal. He has been VERY careful to not publicly state playoffs. He prefaced it with the 3-5 year goal and came back to not sacrificing the future for short term gain, but playoffs are the minimal goal for next year with primarily THIS crew. (I actually was going to post my notes from last night on the board, but the weird formatting that happens when trying to post anything longer than this kept me from doing so.)

Well, while he is still saying he has long term 3-5 year goals, he did actually say the playoffs next year are a goal. He won't torpedo the future to goose it, but he did actually say playoffs are a goal. That is something that he has not said once prior in the 2 years of this latest retool. So don't expect to see Saros if he costs one of Savoie or Kulich, but would be very surprised if he stands pat in net. Would also be surprised if he stays pat on the blueline.

Agreed. He has "it."

And Dominik Hasek was left exposed in the expansion draft by the Sabres. "Great" hockey minds oftentimes have no more clue about goalies that aren't prototypical than we have at understanding why that truly innocuous comment has our wives ready to kill us.

After stating he'd never play for the Habs again.

Except for the handful of times that Granato went for the really few NHL games played Kids Line and a couple other 1 offs, at 5v5 when Peterka has been in the lineup he's been stapled to Cozen's wing. The normal Kids Line is pencilled in as a thing moving forward. Somebody will have to beat one of them out to break it up in the near term.

It is very interesting indeed. Just spitballin' but expect that it MAY be because a top goalie that is still all in on a team is worth his weight in gold and simply doesn't come on the market. So, the guys that do actually become available are not bought in and the team figures they're better off with whatever they can get for the expensive guy that had been a stud for them rather than somebody going through the motions at the one spot where there is nobody to cover for a mistake by him. Not sure why there isn't more of a market for these guys the handful of times they seem to come on the market.

The "game worn" ones are auctioned. For at least some of the special nights, you can buy either proweight or replica versions. Bought a nice special night sweater for the significant other recently. So, at least some are sold for retail.

5-1-0 his last 6.

No data. The games today were the only ones got to see. That's what PTR said. Guess they kept it close but took a 5 minute major and the game got away from them.

Michigan tied it with about 6 left in the 3rd on the PP and won in OT.

Which is why Nashville wouldn't make it.

Speaking of Kings properties that should be wearing tinfoil hats; Portillo just gave up a PP goal with just over a minute left in the 2nd. Nittany Lions 1, Wolverines 0. Through 2 periods. The winner will take on Quinnipiac in the Frozen 4.

Sabre 2014 1st is in Florida for the goalie of the future. Can't use it for the goalie of the present. ;) And the deal you meant to propose, would do that in a heartbeat if it brought Saros in.

Am betting he'll do better than Anderson has done in these "guaranteed win" versus bad opponent games. 5 of them since January 1 and the team is 0-4-1 in them. For all the talk about the 8 game losing streak or the poor stretch since Tuch went out and Dahlin was hurt too which has now morphed into Samuelsson out and Thompson playing hurt, if they pick up 7 out of 10 points in those instead of a truly pathetic 1 point, they're the team that's getting chased. Would like to see Levi get the start tomorrow. If not him, either Comrie or UPL. For the love of all that is Holy, please do not put Anderson in net that game. Yes, they could win it with Andy in it, but why risk throwing away another 2 points in that situation.

Well Conner Fields wasn't protected in the expansion draft and the Kin-ig-hit Hawks traded for him and they are now a game back of the Bandits. Also, Frazier has only played 1 game. Byrne missed about 6. Nanticoke missed the past 3 and Brandon Robinson has been out the past 3 as well. Plus Cloutier was hurt the 1st game and has only been back the past 3 games. That's a LOT of offensive firepower to be missing. They also tend to go run and gun even more than last season so they have a lot of 10 second or less possessions that end with a single shot as there is nobody around to pick up the loose ball after the shot. They are not the juggernaut they were during the regular season last year. That team ranked up there with the mid-90's squads. Too bad Vinc ran out of gas and they couldn't figure out Colorado's D. The way they have to battle for these wins rather than run away from anybody will hopefully serve them well when they get to the playoffs. Hoping they find a way to stay in 1st because the 2nd and 3rd seeds are going to beat the snot out of each other before facing the conference winner that will get to play a much weaker Halifax or Filly. Vinc looked spent the 1st 2 games but has been his normal self since. If they can get the penalties under control - they take a LOT of penalties and not just the physical ones like they usually get; they also have a ridiculously large quantity of illegal substitutions; they should be in good shape as well. How you have illegal substitution more than 3 times a year is boggling. They do that twice a game.

When my younger one was in 1st or 2nd grade, they had an assignment to say what they did to help out around the house. His answer was "get daddy beers." He didn't lie. ;)

Priolo with the unassisted winner in OT. 7-6. Both goalies were incredible. Buffalo held San Diego scoreless in the 1st and 4th; and SD held the Bandits scoreless in the 2nd. Byrne had the Bandits 1st 3 goals including the only goal of the 1st; then Smith; McCollum; and Cloutier had the only goal of the 4th. At 11-3 with a 1/2 game lead over the Rock who sit at 11-4. Kin-ig-hit Hawks were losing at the half in Vegas. Would be nice to see them lose out there to the expansion team.

Bandits in San Diego in a few minutes in a battle of the 2 1st place teams. Bandits need this win to stay a 1/2 game ahead of ToGronto. Game is on ESPN News.

Well there is that. But, they do seem to have issues keeping the heavier teams from making them look silly in their own end. That they can actually do it against A team gives hope they could do it against more next season. And against the Aisles they don't let them work into the dirty areas without getting a body / stick on them. One of the very few teams they do that against.