Taro T

Well, shoot isn't QUITE the right word, but they could and likely would drop the wooden gun on their foot, break a metatarsal and also catch a splinter carrying the tetanus bacterium, and, well, the end result is they would've been better off just shooting a hole in the darn foot.

And to be clear, they very well may be planning on and actually effecting additional changes that do matter. But after sitting at status quo (seemingly, heck they even changed out the HC last year but by only changing Ellis' role within the coaching staff that THAT felt like status quo (especially in hindsight)) for so long; will believe the major change is happening when it has actually happened. 😉

Well, basically, what you've described is Samuelsson about 6 years ago. Definitely don't want to see him rushed and want him to be partnered up with a vet when starting out to let him get acclimated the right way. But, not convinced that vet is currently on the team. (And see finding a partner to break him and Johnson in at the NHL level as a MUCH less pressing issue than finally getting the top 4D right.)

Went to 1 game. Noticed that Novikov hadn't been noticed at all, late in the 2nd, so made of point of watching him play. The reason he hadn't been noticed is he didn't carry the puck at all. All he did was shut down darn near every single rush the opponent made. He really looks like he'll be a good one. And would expect he'll be an injury call up pretty often this year. That said, would like his to start the year in Rochester.

Well, that's the thing. Yes, Dahlin could very well be better with a more traditional defensive D partner in the mold that Samuelsson is SUPPOSED to be. BUT he and Byram WERE really good together. Keep that pairing with Dahlin now actually in his prime and Byram FINALLY just about there as well. (Only 2 years of Byram here, but when you throw in all the years of Mittelstadt developing it makes for a really friggin' long time in the "growing pains" department.) Sure, look for the defensive guy that can fully unleash Ras, but while you're looking, run with what was working. That's 24-26 minutes a night that's fairly well locked down. If Power recovers and improves as he gets closer to his prime, that's another 23 minutes a night. So, you're looking at finding 34 minutes of ice time between your 4 and 5 D and 13 minutes a night from your 6 IF there are no PPs at all. Get 3 PPs and you've shaved nearly 6 minutes off how much the bottom 3 need to play. Maybe Bernard-Docker is your 4. He might be, he might not be; didn't see enough of him to say for certain. But figure out who should be the Power partner and then you need to add one or TWO low cost veterans that are actually useful (and the league is FULL of 3rd pairing guys; pretty much everybody ELSE can find them each year) and let Johnson and Novikov be the true 7 & 8 (with Bryson & whomever holding the press box spots and covering for a game or 2 until you can get the kids into town when injuries hit) and they SHOULD be able to play 13 or so minutes without killing you. The team CAN NOT afford to have Dahlin out. But the rest are replaceable; it's just when Byram or Power are out you're giving your bottom 3 more minutes than you want. BUT none of THAT matters as the team sure does seem h*ll bent on getting rid of Byram. So, they don't just need to find Power's partner (presuming it isn't B-D) but also, and more importantly, need to find Dahlin's primary partner. (And with the minutes he eats, he isn't just riding one guy.) So, friggin' frustrating.

Doesn't top Dyngus Day, but hanging out in the hammock w/ the pet listening to Yes while waiting for the bats to start doing their thing. Doesn't get too much better than this. And they're now flying around doing their thing,

Is Mike Commodore available? (Let the punches to the proverbial 'nads of the fanbase continue until morale improves. Or something to that effect. 😉 )

Yeah, Sobotka MIGHT've been trying to quit too. He was just too bad of a player by the time he got to Buffalo for anyone to be able to tell.

The mountains, the glaciers, the U, and the M are about the only things that stand out. Guess the eye might be a flint arrow head from somebody hunting the mammoth. They should've put a tiny sasquatch in one of the features to mess with Yeti. (Oh, yeah, won't let us use the trademark in a different field, well, #### you, we're gonna mess with Big Foot (and screw with Jack Links too, just because we can).

When the 2 are actually in their prime they could be great complements for each other.

No thank you. Then the Loafs are where the Canes were in '06 - a serious injury run for the opponent away from the Finals to which they then may be a goalie injury away from their first trophy since '67. Screw THAT. Let them lose the next 2 so they have no inkling of a possibility of ending one of the few (or the only at this point, unless you give credit the SJ for all their misses dating back to '67 for their long journey back to the Bay area; and personally don't give Dallas credit for a win, but they were AWARDED one, and most people count that (mistakenly) as having won one) SC droughts longer than the Sabres and Nucks droughts.

Bandits host the Rush on Friday night in Game 1 of the Finals. Halifax had a 2 goal lead with less than a minute left looking to tie the series at 1-1. But Saskatchewan scored with about 40 seconds left and got the ball on the faceoff. Halifax's goalie made the stop with about 16 seconds left. So, game over, right? Wrong. They turned the ball over on a serious stick check trying to get the ball over the midfield stripe just before the 8 second clock expired. About 5 seconds later the game was tied. Halifax then took a boarding major 1-1/2 minutes into OT and the Rush only needed 10 seconds to make them pay for that mistake. Had been hoping the MD 20-20's would win tonight to force the Rush to play an extra game before meeting the Bandits. Saskatchewan won the last time the 2 teams met in the Finals. So, pay 'em back for that and get the 3-peat. Let's GO BAN-DITS!!!!

It was and it was controversial as it was the 1st "major" NA sports league championship trophy to be sponsored by & named for a corporate advertiser. WHA was ahead of its time in that regard.

Figures you'd chosse as your jumping off point a post that's simply venting. Don't really believe Pegula has quit. (And, don't even want him to quit. Just want him to find somebody better than who he's had in charge of my favorite sports team for the past 5 years. THIS team is the only sports related endeavor that his hands are on that is failing. If he finally gets someone good in charge, they could thrive.) Expect we'll know he's quit when he starts actively looking for a buyer. But not expecting that anytime soon (if ever). Noticed you had nothing to add when mentioned (once again) just a day earlier in reference to @darksabre's take that Pegula is sticking to his and Adams plan that "It's what we hear directly from people within the organization - the plan is good, it just takes time." Have literally been told that by several people within the organization. It COULD work, and (provided guys like Dahlin, Tuch, and Thompson don't give up on the team and the city) eventually it WILL work. (Heck, it was essentially a single kneed-in puck away from working the year before last.) But it is truly exhausting watching them put us once again in a situation where a whole lot of things need to go right to get there. Am REALLY forking tired. It simply isn't any fun right now. But am almost certain (much to your chagrin) that will be able to once again have hope come October. And shoot, with a real experienced "hockey guy" as an aid or dare we even say a mentor, maybe the lightbulb will go on for Adams and he turns into a good GM. Not putting any money on it, but it COULD (possibly) happen. Didn't ask for much. Bump Adams into the PoHO role and can a bunch of ACs. (THAT seemed doable. Getting a new GM from elsewhere and Sullivan was pie in the sky; but the ask wasn't very big of an ask at all.) Not getting the 1st. Doubt we see more than 1 or 2 ACs (at most) gone, so not getting the 2nd either. Courtesy of the rumors that they're looking for a seasoned voice to be an advisor to Adams that we're about to see Karmanos and Ventura pack up (figuratively, Karmanos isn't actually GOING anywhere, he'll just change employers). Had hoped for a vet goalie to be brought in, a true top 4 D-man so they actually have 4 of them when all are healthy, and a top 6 vet F brought in and a middle 6 vet brought in; but now we look to be heading into a year that their 2nd 1st OA drafted D-man needs to bounce back from a pretty major injury that they'll likely be trading away a D-man that's closer to his prime than the broken guy, so they need 2 top 4 D not just 1 (and for the 1st month or 2 they'll actually need 3). But, right now, am frustrated. Not giving up. Just tired and frustrated and just wasted way more time replying to a post than should've because still have about 2 more hours of work to get done tonight.

It's Utah. On brand.

Not giving up on them. Problem is, ownership seems to have already given up on them.

Oh sure, bring everyone back in from the ledge just to get kicked in the nads once again when we find out next week that didn't happen.

Well, when you put it that way the Sabres are officially becoming the Gorton's Fisherman Era Aisles. Might as well bring back the Slug but in light blue and orange hues just because.

Well, don't forget, they ALSO canned the S&C coach. Now when you put those moves together ...

Sadly, no. Simply an observation that you're attempting to make lemonade out of this situation, but instead of water, lemons, and sugar you've also got the postgurgitated remanants of a dog's dinner added to the blend. Yum.

Mmm, lemonade. But why does it have a nutty aftertaste?

Wasn't sure if that should get the cry or awesome emoji; but went with the positive one.

Curious how Karmanos and Ventura react to the recent news. Guessing that it isn't THAT big of a deal if they bolt for greener pastures as having them in town for the last 4 or so years hasn't appreciably affected the results on the ice. But, still, expect their leaving would be another bad thing to happen in this "offseason of hope." Maybe they're cool with the changes. But, personally would expect they want to get closer to the GM chair themselves, not farther from it.

Why, Santy Claus, why? Why are you taking our tree?

That's what folks used to say about the Eulers. And then Draisatl fell to them and they won the lottery the next year. Nearly a decade later with those 2 in their primes, their team is actually pretty good finally.