PASabreFan

And if the Sabres had won that razor-thin series?

Of course that reflects poorly on McDavid. Your language is interesting. "...greatest talent to ever play." If McDavid never wins anything, that'll probably be his tag. Not the greatest player or greatest of all time. The greats lift up those around them. You want an all star team around Jack to try and lift HIM to try and justify your opinion of him. It's not practical. There's a salary cap. I suppose if the Sabres trade Jack, get worse on paper and somehow start winning next season, you'll want Jack back, because then, with a good team in place, he could be a difference maker. There's a chicken and egg deal going on here.

To absolve the players on these crummy teams is ludicrous.

Not too many diehard Jackers. Can you imagine this thread five years ago? Two? Of course the people ahead of the curve always get lashed. It looks like a lot of you also knew deep down he wasn't the guy. Tank fruit and all though, first born son.

Kenny almost did The Dunleavy but caught himself.

They have had legions of supporters up until recently. And I heard from every last one of them.

It's almost like you guys forgot how sneaky hockey players are. You think Point would have slammed his own goalie like that, all things being equal?

Circular logic is circular. Listen, when Eleven and I agree on something, turn out the lights and drive safely, everybody.

Yes. It's very hard to ascribe motive to posts. I never made the connection between Meatballs and this idea that Don is Italian, which he isn't. I'm really not up for a bunch of Italian stereotypes for the next x months (where x=the number of months Don is coach). "What are ya?" is a very dated, post-World War II kind of way of looking at America.

I thought you gave up being an ***** for Lent?

I can't believe it STILL has to be explained to people.

You sure they weren't all born in Illinois?

Can we nip something in the bud/butt here? Don is not Italian.

Said like Elaine: "Do you see what's happening? I'm the Islanders. I'm the Islanders!"

The Islanders got literally nothing for Tavares. Relax. Losing the trade won't be the end of days.

I admit to starting to worry about what sabremike is hinting at. The first generation (I'll define generation as 20 years) of Sabres fans was actually seeded by the Bisons, then lots and lots of young-ish people fell in love with the team in the 70s. A second generation kicked in in the late 80s and early 90s with lots of skill and lots of fists and then Dom and playoff success. Even during tough times after Dom and during bankruptcy and losing seasons before 05-07, you still had a massive base of two generations that were keeping the faith and it almost paid off for everybody. The problem comes with the third generation, which might remember good times but in the last 10 years has known nothing but disappointment. Where will these kids, the Randalls, the Wild Cards and the LGRs be in 10 years? Will they be dragging their kids along? Remember, now we're starting to lose that first generation and parts of the second. The other thing is community viability in a new social and demographic and economic landscape. No one would think that Erie, PA could have an NHL franchise and be successful. Buffalo's a tier or two above Erie, but still... In my darkest hour, I think Terry got the Sabres as prelude to the Bills, and the NHL was complicit in the franchise being weaned away from town to make way to burgeoning, booming (insert southern/western) population base.

My solution would be to get Terry in a room and make him watch the video clips that are going around of Jon Ledecky, the Islanders owners, celebrating with the fans. His name being chanted. That's the ego stroke Terry should want. The other stroke he wants, to be the POHO of a Cup team ain't never gonna happen. Of course we'd have to get Terry to put his wine glass down first.

Spoken like a true Sabres fan.

It's A LOT better than it used to be. It was automatic ralph time when I was a kid. They say the same about our hometown, with the oil refinery spewing out stuff. People say it's the smell of jobs. You get used to it.

Do tell. The official line was that he couldn't stand the smell of the paper mill in Johnsonburg, PA when he drove back home on weekends.

No, get it right. Battista™!

He even named his dog after him. (No, haters, his kids didn't name it.) Biiiiiiig Sabres fan.

Nellie Olson: Prairie *****

Of course I did. It was hurtful.