Taro T

Interesting. Used to be kids were just conceived there, not born there too. 😉

You're thinking of the team under Granato. Ruff had them ready to go in the 1st. Ruff couldn't get them to sustain that for the full 60. Now, it seems he can't even get that 1st period going well. This has the makings of a very long season.

Anybody who's team usually loses so the other owners are happy is a terrific owner for Bettman. And they probably make more $ with a horrible team than any other market in the States would make if they had a horrible team. What's for a Commissioner not to like?

Not pain. Suffering.

Ineffective Momentum-killing Infuriating

Kekalainen, while having Zito under him, did a fantastic job in C-bus. Personally expect a significant portion of that was Zito, but Jarmo MIGHT be good in his own right. You have him in house; if you've been leaning towards making him the next GM while bumping Adams up should things have gone well this year, bump him into Adams role now and find out what you have. If they bring in an outsider this off-season, Kekalainen is likely gone anyhow, so there really isn't anything lost by making the Jarmo portion of the move now. And does it matter whether it's Adams moving players or Jarmo moving players if a different guy is brought in after the season? MHO they're essentially equivalent on that front. But, like stated already, if you give Jarmo a chance now (or Karmanos for that matter), you have nearly an entire season to see how he operates when the man and you'll get an idea through a trade or 2 ahead of the deadline and then deadline day to find out just what you have in him. And, no, they won't do a thing now. But they SHOULD. (Of course that was true the day they were eliminated last season.)

Not thrilled with the idea of Kekalainen either (pretty sure a ton of his success was on Zito); but there is no way he's as bad as Adams. Make him the interim GM and if somebody actually good comes available in the offseason upgrade yet again. If not, at least there is an upgrade over what's currently going on. And personally would be very pleased with them giving Karmanos a shot at running the show. But as others have said, just don't see that happening for whatever reason.

Dang, you put on a pound or 2; when did you start wearing powder blue? 😉 (Yeah, realize that ain't you.)

The bald Finnish guy says 'hi.'

Nah, he'll be back in time for the playoffs. 😉 Now, what could Adams do with an extra $8MM in cap room this season? 🤔

You can say THAT again.

A true dream start to the season. No Tuch deal. Benson out via a fluke injury. Norris breakimg himself not even 60 minutes into the season. Bryson in the opening night lineup. Geertsen not only in the lineup but instrumental in the team giving up the game winning goal in the opener. The PP picking up right where it left off last year, and the year before that, and (except for 6 or so magical weeks) the year before that, and ... At least when you're at the absolute bottom, things can't go lower. Maybe. The canary isn't dead, but he isn't the picture of health either.

They did change S&C coaches. Clearly, the last guy was the problem. 😒

Is it greed or hubris? The league has grown its footprint substantially under Bettman's tenure and its revenues. Is it that he feels he needs more or that he mistakenly believes he's the only one that could've made it happen? The NHL's grown its footprint more than his former boss' league did since he swapped from bouncey ball to puck. Wouldn't be at all surprised to find he believes that's because he switched leagues.

Boston is another team that that Sabres should be able to compete with. Agree that hopefully they give Lyon the start rather than find out what Ellis has in the Garden. (Still am frustrated over the decision to give Malarchuk the start in game 2 in Beantown so many years ago. This new barn isn't as tough to win in as the old one, but still, let's not find out what Ellis can do by throwing him in there.) And, like Liger, would rather have Johnson paired with Power rather than Timmons. Timmons was brought in to be the 6. Keep him there with Samuelsson. And for the love of all things Holy, don't surprise us with Bryson getting the start over the player they refer to as RJ. Doubt the B's are looking past anybody, but hopefully they're expecting a cakewalk. Not happy that the Sabres are effectively walking into this game down 1-0 as it's quite likely the B's get a PP goal and the Sabres don't; but it is what it is. Just means they need to be 2 goals better than them at even strength. Win this, and worry about the Avs on Monday.

Appert is an idiot. He claims to have spent the entire off-season studying effective PPs and working with the analytics department to really revamp things and make the PP more effective. The ONLY thing that was modified effectively from last year was Norris was brought in to take FOs on the PP so they didn't have to try that ridiculous entry right from the get go. But he's now broken again, so they're back where they started. Honestly can't recall disliking any coach on this team more than Appert (and Wilford is neck and neck with him). Krueger, Housley, Rolston, Goober; none of them were as infuriating as this idiot. And they all were really bad at their job. There are SOOOOOO many things this unit could be doing to actually be effective. Most all of them have been listed here myriad times. And that idiot is in line to be the next HC. Have no idea what this management team is attempting to accomplish.

One word: Appert.

Pretty sure you're getting the highlighted one, unfortunately.

Is it because they bumped Byram up into Norris' spot on PP1?

Worse than a waste of a roster space. He took the stupid penalty that led to the icing that led to him being unable to move the puck 4' out of the zone off that next faceoff that led to the game winner being scored. Great choice, Lindy. 😒

We shall see. Personally, expect there's a better likelihood the early January week 18 game is on the road. (Probably week 17 too.) So there's plenty of time to get the rink in & out for New Year's day.

Umm, is the answer "people that were in a coma the past 3 years?"

And apparently they've come up with a workaround to effectively only have 1 goal song. Worked last night.

Wonder if the Sabres owner has any juice with the Bills owner? They might be able to work something out.

Yes. But IIRC they hired a new Marketing VP recently. So, that would make the timing make more sense.