Taro T

The question wasn't who is your FAVORITE team, as posited in the OP it was who is your SECOND favorite team. (And, it really is most likely a reflection of which team do you dislike the least.) But how many people buy merchandise for their SECOND favorite team? Merchandise sales would be a reflection of who fans' #1 team is, wouldn't it be? (YOU might have Bruin and Sabre gear, but personally doubt many others here have a whole bunch of merch for teams other than the Sabres. And expect that trend would be similar across the league and across sports.)

It was the EXACT same building as the Staples Center in LA except instead of having only 1 level of box seats between the 200's and 300's there were 3 levels of box seats there. Which is likely a big part of why the roof is so high above the seats. The building could've held more boxes, but there would be no way to sell that many. Oh, another difference, the seats in the Staples Center were purple instead of blue. Amazing how much cheaper the engineering is when you're taking an existing design for a building that seats more and is in a less geologically stable environment and using it over. 😉 PS - the original name of the building was the "Crossroads Arena" until the naming rights were sold at which point it became the MMArena. 😉 The location of the team store was slightly different too.

Why trade him? Because if a team is going to provide Sabres somebody like a Zegras, they are very likely going to want him coming back in return as part of the package. Personally, DON'T WANT HIM TRADED. But, if Adams makes a trade for a 2W am expecting he's going to be a big portion of the price to make that happen.

Pretty sure you're on the right track with that. Hey, TO's playing X, who are you rooting for? Team X unless it's the B's or the Phlyers and then am rooting for both teams forfeiting due to teamwide intestinal distress (food poisoning) and neither having enough guys that aren't on the toilet to play the game. There's several other teams that would garner that same response.

Provided he isn't the prospect going the other way should a trade for a 2W be consumated.

300 level concourses are insanely tiny, so the events staff place trash cans and recycling bins at the end of the stanchions under the stands to restirct them even further. Genius. They have been asked to not place them there and on occassion have moved them. But then the ushers complain that people "can't find them and leave their trash everywhere." Bullspit. There is a can or recycle bin literally at every stanchion. It isn't hard to "find" one. And if that really were the reason, they could be placed so that they stick out past the stanchion by 4"-6" so people could "see" them, but it would still free up at least 24" of prime walking space. This stupid can placement makes it very difficult to get around in the 300's at the 1st intermission as the vast majority of the 300's empty into the concourse during that intermission. Heck of a job, Quinny; heck of a job. (Though he's the idiot that was fine with the stupidly narrow concourses (which are wider than what was there behind the blues in the Aud, which isn't saying much. The hallway in our tiny house is probably larger than they were over near the bathroom by the Aud Club entrance.) at least he isn't the idiot telling them to keep restricting pedestrian flow even further. But still, a chance for a pot shot at that tool, when provided should and must be taken.)

People hate on St. Louis? Really? Why? People like Dallas? Really? Why?

That could be part of why the acoustics are being revamped. A (IMHO) bigger part of it is that people sitting in certain spots in the rink literally need to bring ear plugs to keep from leaving the building with ringing ears and in other parts can't hear the announcements at all clearly. It is amazing how much variability there is in the volume and quality of the sound throughout. Don't care about the new scoreboard, but am looking very hopefully to having the acoustics at least upgraded if not outright fixed.

Having had a basement VERY prone to flooding prior to some major work we had done in the yard, can tell you we've had MANY a summer with as much, if not more, downpour rainfall.

Haven't personally run Square for payments (though do have an account for that and also a Paypal card reader; just haven't actually used either as got set up with both just before Covid hit and, well, things changed since then), but a NFP I'm associated with uses it annually for a major event. It seems to be pretty easy to set up and then very easy to use if you have a laptop or tablet available. And they've been using it to sell books, among other things, btw. Would recommend you set it up and then run a small "test" tranaction to verify you can make it run flawlessly.

+ & = are your friends, Numbers-Guy. 😉

Apparently they simply won't be able to get significantly ahead of anyone, needing 7 games all 4 rounds. Wonder if he's got them winning that very last game?

35 G, 37 A Glued to Cozens hip at 5v5. Bumper on PP1.

It doesn't matter how many other teams would've given up a 2 for him. None that were lower in the standings would (we know that because the Caps accepted the Sabres offer) & we know the Caps would rather have him on their roster than a 3td round pick because Adams had to give up a 2. The 2 teams that mattered for this transaction both agreed he was worth a 2. Were they right? We'll know by May.

Based on the investment, it sure does seem like Ruff plans on "rolling 4 lines" with everybody dressed having a role and everybody being expected to fill that role. And could definitely see which 12 F's dress, and maybe even which 6 D dress, changing on a nearly nightly basis depending upon who they're playing that night.

They need to be targeting at least 0.600 to keep reaching the goal of playoffs this season in their own hands. 0.575 and they still very likely will need help in some other team having serious injury troubles or their goaltending falling off the map. It's possible 94 points will be enough. But pretty sure the odds are greater everybody here will be very unhappy rather than pleased 10 months from now if that's all they end up with.

Though 94 would've been enough each of the last couple of years, would be mildly surprised if that's enough again this year. Not convinced Tampa will fall back and expect NJ to be good again this year. If even just one of the Aisles, Wings, Otters, Caps, Pens, or Phlyers get their #### together, it'll take somewhere from 96-99 to get in.

Wow. Just, wow.

The Aisles & the Pens (whom you already seem to have discounted) would be the seemingly obvious teams to also take a step back. It's in reach. They need to be more driven though than they were last year. Doubt Ruff would sit idly by as the PP goes to heck in a handbasket for roughly 95% of the season, so they will be more driven to win. Hopefully those that are here when they leave for the trip to Europe are seriously serious about it this year.

Probably not the ideal place for this response, but something about the sentence about hoping to be a playoff team in a few years stuck out. Adams expected the team last year to be a playoff caliber team and essentially sat on his hands that off-season. He found out it wasn't and seems to have learned from that experience. Since it was apparent to him that the team wasn't good enough for the playoffs (which came to him later than it did for most), he's swapped out his 3C (arguably his 1st or 2nd C, but considering he seemingly wasn't willing to pay him, will run with 3C) for a player he believes can be on the top pairing in the near future, if not now (and from comments his new HC has made, likely not now); as mentioned he swapped out the head coach; he's brought in a credible veteran goalie to at minimum provide competition for the incumbants; and he's swapped out (if not upgraded) 5 of the spots on the bottom 2 lines. He's also rumored to be looking for another piece to plug into the top 6. With all that, personally see what the HOPE should be is playoffs THIS year. Maybe not the expectation; but this team as presently constructed should be at an absolute minimum in the mix for a playoff spot. Personally, expect this team, as currently constructed is about a 95-96 point team. Not a lock, and they're one of 6 or 7 teams battling for the 2 WC (can't see Moe-ray-all nor Columbus in the mix even with Columbus' FA acquisitions) but only Tampa and NJ seem to have a clear edge over the Sabres at this point in time and NJ might be the team taking the 3rd spot in the Patrick Division so the Sabres don't absolutely have to punch above their weight class to get it. But they have to be the best of that muddled middle. Would really like to see that 2W come in to help give them the edge in being the best of (or at least one of the best 3) of the "grade inflation isn't just for schools anymore" bunch. But they're in the mix. And expect (maybe it's projecting hope) that the poor start last year is something the players that are back still have front and center in their minds and will be something they will work to avoid. Many times during this dark era, this team has come out of the gate reasonably to very well, in large part because other squads overlooked them but the Sabres had something to be playing for. After last season, other teams will be overlooking them again in October but they themselves have something to prove. Hate that they're starting the year in Europe as it seems teams usually have a disconnect right when they come back home and this team can't afford it. At least Ruff will know the Devils' strengths and weaknesses well; winning those 1st 2 would be huge.

He's dirty. He's a leader. His best hockey is behind him. As with so much in this world, depends upon the price.

Still say 260-270 is very realistic. And that's with expecting no increase in production from Tuch, Peterka, nor Dahlin.

16g. 22a. And very good advanced stat metrics as he focuses more on his own end than the offensive zone.

The team as assembled is possibly a playoff team. They'll be in the mix and with a couple of realistic breaks breaking their way, they can be in. But Quinn, especially if he's on the 2nd line & the top PP unit, could very well find himself their 2nd leading goal scorer when all is said and done this year. Could realisitically see him coming out of the gate with 6 or 7 goals in the 1st 10 games as other teams are focusing on stopping the Thompson line. Because, at least at home, that line could very likely be primarily facing the other team's 3rd or 4th lines. Either bottom 6 line could match up against the opponent's top line (or 2nd line should Ruff want to go fire power vs fire power) leaving that line with horses that can exploit weaker opponents. Can't see him sustaining that pace; but could see him going on 2 hot runs like that this year should he stay healthy. 18 goals in the other 62 games and he hits that elusive 30 goal mark.

Amen to that, brother. Thing is, IF this does blow up in Adams' face again, a new GM wouldn't be starting out with a tank quality NHL roster and a LT contender's prospect pool like the past 2 (or arguably 3) GM's had to deal with. There's too much here for somebody COMPETENT to need an ADDITIONAL 3-4 years from here. But at this point, a full baker's dozen years into the abyss; not even wanting to suffer another 1-2 year reset. Make it f'n' happen NOW.