MattPie

I'll play Team StormCloud for a moment. I hope I'm wrong. TNT (and the Sabres) have a few things going for them right now (no data, I'm just going by board sentiment). - No one in the east is fighting for their season nor has been for weeks; I'm not saying the entire East is coasting, but there's not that do or die in the West; it's more do or maybe get a different seeding - The Sabres (I believe) are getting a parade of backups in net - Teams may be taking the Sabres lightly based on record and earlier games this season; I'm sure the coaches are saying "this is not an easy win" but who knows if that gets through when you're not really fighting for the playoffs - There isn't much tape on 40-ish-goal-scorer TNT, next year I could see teams game-planning for him

Coach seems to be a guy that takes dissent as a personal affront, and can't keep his mouth shut. I'm not sure if I hope that Lehner forces a trade in the off-season or stays and grumbles the whole time.

To be clear, I think Levi does have what it takes and the scouts in the OP aren't giving him a fair shake. Bringing up two guys who are an inch taller out the 40-ish decent NHL players kinda proves the point. They have the exceptional skill to make up for their arms and legs being an inch or two shorter (or more) than other players at the position.

That list would have more impact if any of those guys played in the last 20 years. Exceptional skill can overcome some if not most physical challenges. Levi may have the skill to do it, but it's not unfair for a scouting group to decide it can't be done considering how unlikely it is to work.

At least 4-5 of those 7 are really injured too!

The bright side of the Decade of Incompetence is there's a whole group of young Sabres fans that have never meaningfully seen the Sabres lose a round (or even an important game), so they can enjoy non-Sabres playoff games between east teams. Well, what about the second round where the bolded rule is meaningless?

Few years back when I was doing the pace data analysis stuff every game, I think I used 0.580 as the "you're on the bubble" mark. Sure, you might not get in with 95-96 points but the vast majority of years you're in. I like 0.600 as "other than a freak season you're in". #TeamNHL600 (and because it's the internet) #DeLuca500isforNazis 🙂

I'll take 32-18-32 (D 0.390) over 42-40-0 (D 0.512) any day. 🙂

I'd go with Reinhart is better at almost all the facets of the game other than scoring goals.

We've got the Power. This really should be his goal song.

From a reply: JACK EICHEL WILL BE FINE I maintain that calling a person by a name they don't prefer is pure a**holery. I'm not picking on you directly, this goes for all the people that do it. This needs one of the videos like Ovie.

I looked last night. Significantly more than 50% of TNT's G, A, Points, etc. have come in the 76 games this season vs. the 130 games before. It's a huge breakout season, and he wouldn't be the first to regress after a big season in the NHL. Vanek never beat those 43 goals in 06-07; 40 once and 30+ twice for example. I'd be comfortable giving him market rate for a 25-30 goal guy if he'll take it, but even that feels like a risk. These decisions are how GMs make or break a team.

Interesting about the Ralph. Somehow I suspect they could have cobbled together the infrastructure needs temporarily for the next few years until permanent solutions could be found. Run bus shuttles to the metro line, make the Skyway one-way on game days to help with the traffic, etc. I think not putting the stadium downtown will end up being a mistake for the city for decades.

Hey, everyone has those "Wait, what am I supposed to be doing again?" moments.

- Mid-80s to mid-90s: in the 90s I started watching the replays at night when I was in high school and college (early 80s I'd watch with my Dad, but he got fed up) - 2002-2005: didn't have center ice, too responsible to stay up to 2AM to watch the replay - 2017-current: realized that I had things that brought me more joy than watching the Sabres; I stuck with the tank teams for awhile but eventually gave up

Just take The 190 to The Harborcenter to see The Sullivans.

I'm guessing the nightly close up doesn't include "make sure all the watertight doors are sealed just so we can open them in the morning". It's improbably named "USS The Sullivans". On a tour when I was a kid I remember the tour guide saying it is the only ship in the history of the US Navy with "The" in the name. (funny what things stick in your head (and hopefully I'm not misremembering)). I too did the Boy Scout camp out, but on the USS Little Rock.

Short answer: no. TNT may end up being nearly as effective, however.

Holy cow, I just walked by there on Tuesday. I wonder what I did.

Knife and fork, charlatan! I had to stop wearing my monocle though, the sweat of my brow would make it fall out and land in the sauce. I lost partial sight in my eye when I failed to clean it properly, never again!

Elma/East Aurora, Blue Cheese is an abomination and ruins a perfectly good wing.

Huh, all these years and never knew. Thanks!

Curious: the OP solo skate; is that a "thing" for local players, 1 overall picks, or ???. I don't think I've seen that before.

The COG line, I like it.

I prefer hot BBQ when I'm outside Buffalo. The Hot are rarely good so BBQ is a more enjoyable experience.