tom webster

The story is not yet over but I know I posted several times in defense of Cody Hodgson.

I've said it over and over again, people are going to be shocked at how good Pysyk is.

Sure and if you are too good and threaten the board's direction we might keep someone down on the farm. Not sure what to do with the kid that is too young for our minor league board but too good for the high school paper. We might have to give that some thought before we ruin another Pulitzer prize winner.

Maybe instead of hitting new posters in the head with our pens or forcing them to write in a more centrist tone because we didn't replace the centrist we lost we should create a minor league sabrespace rather then risk the chance of stunting their development and writing them off as busts before their time.

Agenda might have been a poor choice of words but you definitely have a "theme" to your posts. Sorry, if you find that offensive.

I generally like Promo's posts although he has as much of an agenda as those he decries. Its all part of the community and the reason I like coming here.

Mirtle reporting that NHL escalator will be less then 5% which could drop cap below $70 million. The volatility of the situation is why it is way to early to predict what Murray will do. One thing I think I can guarantee though is that there will be no offer sheet risking a number one pick unless he is certain he can be a playoff team. Can you imagine the uproar if they miss the playoffs and won the lottery but don't have their pick?

While I Like Hamilton, I don't see the Sabres investing assets in a right handed shooting defenseman in the same way I don't see them investing in a left winger. With Risto, Bogo and Pysyk, they would seem to be set for awhile.

No doubt he played exactly how Punch wanted him to. I think he might have wanted him to shoot more but that's it

I will defer to you but I am surprised to hear that they didn't sell out the first year considering they still hadn't added the oranges to the Aud. As far as Imlach, I just can't see him in the role hockey ambassador. OK, I'm at my daughter's dance recital do no links but a quick internet search shows average attendance near capacity right from the beginning. 9700 first year, over 15K every year till capacity was increased to 16433. Again, with the Bison fans and all the Canadien fans dying for live action I still have to question Gil being told he needed to help sell tickets.

Considering you couldn't get a ticket without knowing someone in those early years, I doubt he was told to play offense to put fannies in the seats not to mention that Pinch couldn't give a rats ass about ownership requests if they would be so daring to try.

Certain players transcend different eras. I don't know how his speed matches up but I do know that he still would have been one of the best.

Kane, Moulson, Foligno, Deslauriers plus a couple of centers who will likely have to move there. I can't see them bringing in someone who has spent his whole career on the left side. Management loves Foligno, who knows what Bylsma thinks but I'd be surprised.

I agree. He is going to be a huge part of this team going forward.

I'm still dealing with not wanting Crosby for a third and now this! Seriously, Stepner seems to have an in with someone lately. Good deal. I like disco Dan.

Gionta, Gorges, Moulson, Hasek, back in the day. Juniors is where Nolsn belongs. Working with teams that may have one or two players with NHL ability who he can't harm, the rest of the team can get real life lessons from him.

I'm still waiting for these fans of Nolan to explain why he can't even get an interview anywhere else. And as far as players keeping quiet in support of TN, they all have guaranteed contracts. They could care less what management thinks of their opinion. Over and over they talk about what a great guy he is but how the team is looking forward to more structure and professionalism.

Isn't it funny how your mind plays tricks on you as you get older. I can't tell you how many times I could have sworn something happened in one game I was at when it actually happened in another.

Gil Perreault, OJ Simpson and Bob McAdoo. The Golden age of Buffalo sports as the argument could have been made that those were the three most exciting athletes playing their respective sports at the time. I remember when the NBC announcer asked Phil Esposito if anyone would break his goal scoring record and without hessitation he said Gilbert. Good times.

Thank you, K9. At this point I'd just assume leave it alone anyway. It got a lot more play then I expected.

Could be

And that's a very valid point. If you are doing it right, depth becomes cyclical. You need to identify which players will fill your top 5 or 6 and then move the rest when their value is at its highest point.

I was using him as an example of the kind of player TM would be looking at not necessarily targeting him. Actually a young defenseman is exactly what they are looking for. They are pretty well set in their top 4 and are looking to swap young depth players because of how deep they are upfront

I think he is on record as saying that he will move the picks but for a young players two or three years ahead of the player he would be drafting at 21. Think Kirby Reichel or someone along those lines.

Its a great take but its nothing new. People have been talking about coaching killing the game since the days of the New Jersey Devils. This along with a league that believes that parity leads to a financially healthy league gets you the kind of game we have today. Once guys like Yzerman and Lemieux become a bigger voice at league meetings, maybe then we will get a league that wants its star offensive players to excel.