tom webster

I keep hearing this and in not sure I disagree but the fact of the matter is what I consider the two best teams in the league(SF and Sea) both win with defense and running games supplemented with decent quarterbacking from a 2nd and 3rd round pick. Also, the last three Super Bowls were won by Eli, Flacco and Wilson, not exactly elite QB's.

If you believe legend, Scotty Bowman thought it was the 1979/1980 team and their failure led directly to Rick Martin getting the boot.

Both TBD and Wookie did well but TBD not only didn't call the buy out, he predicted against it. Some of his next season moves could come to fruition but the contest is about the off-season. As for Wookie, not sure what could happen by opening day to tilt things in his favor but I reserve the right to award a second prize if anything comes out of left field by opening day. I will be choosing my tickets in the coming days and I wanted the winner to have a chance to request a specific game. I am open to suggestions on how I can do this better next year.

So any consensus from the group? Is Rakish the winner by default? Any thoughts?

First, In pretty sure you were around 8 in Brees first year. Second, I'm pretty sure he started one game his rookie year.

In my opinion , 582 miles per month may be the big drawback.

In spite of what some people think, the Sabres are not his only business or private interest. The Bills will just be another part of his portfolio.

If last year was about playing your best players Pysyk, Risto and Larsson(?) would have been year. You can't keep telling a guy whose done all you asked to take one for the team and they know it. It cost these guys a lot of money to play for AHL money. There is no way they ask Mark to do that again. He was the good soldier last year and now is his time

There is no way Pysyk ends up in Rochester this year. He will be one of the top 4 guys.

I don't deny that it could have helped. My point is that no one knows. Peyton Manning and Troy Aikman were destroyed and beat to hell their rookie years playing on historically bad teams yet survived. Other guys folded under similar scenarios. There is no tried and true absolute method. That's my point. Ultimately, what happens to Grigo will in my opinion have little to do with how he was handled his first couple years and have everything to do with what kind of man and player he really is.

I have no idea if Grigo is going to develop into a top center or not. As a fan I hope he does for obvious reasons. However, this continued assertion that his handling has set him back is pure speculation. There is no iron clad proof that handling him differently would have resulted in anything except him dominating Juniors and thinking he's all that. In fact, his apparent change in attitude may show that he was handled perfectly and the desired result is forthcoming. Similarly, I hate how Paul Hamilton continues to assert that sending Risto down to Rochester had such a great effect. What proof is there that he wouldn't have developed the same if he played all year in Buffalo.

Apparently it's now just JL.

I respectfully disagree. In the new NHL, guys like Flynn are just what you need in your 11th through 13th forward and Rudy is the perfect 6th or 7th defenseman. The fact that they were asked to be more last year was what was indicative of a lack of 1 through 9 and 1 through 4 talent.

Looking to change careers and become a mechanic in Toronto or looking to rent a truck?

I understand where you are coming from but ever since Andy Messersmith signed the first uber rich free agent deal I have been hearing how free agency would end pro sports as we know it. When salary caps were established, the next battle cry, championed by LQ, was how teams would implode with all these rich contracts and the smart teams would be waiting in the weeds to scoop up all these players that teams could no longer afford. Still waiting.....

Actually I would argue that most people think it was Ruuttu for Hasek.

That was my thought as well when I read the post.

I have posted a couple links previously. right now i have no desire to research again but more then one reputable person has reported this. The new TV contracts alone will push it up $5 to $6 million. This years cap was held down by player concerns over escrow payments.

Their first extensions were 5 for $31.5M. These are 8 for $84M.

With the cap expected to be around $75M, next year, it should be closer to 28% of the cap in the first year, but still well worth it. The Blackhawks are proving that you can keep your stars and still compete for the Cup. While four lines is the way everyone is going its really about 5 to 7 stars, 4 forwards, 2 defenseman and a decent goalie. Managing the rest of the roster is just a matter of being to identify talent, get value added contracts and knowing when to move those assets for other assets or promote them for one of your top 6.

Good for him. Maybe Patrick is growing up a bit. Excellent news for the team as well.

You are putting way too much stock into schemes. LB's are going the way of FB's. Teams play nickle and dime over 60% of the time now. That plus the fact that Schwartz was Pettine before Pettine was Pettine and I'm not overly worried about the D. In the end, the only thing that will matter is if Manuel is what I think he is or what you think he is.

Huh ?

Their own

If he ever figured out how to improve his skating, he could accelerate the team's rebuild by a full year. I, for one, am not counting on it.