tom webster

You can get all the data you want but there’s no way of knowing player A became a better player than player B because team Y kept player A in the minors three years while team X made player B play in the NHl right away. You believe that because that’s what you were taught your whole life along with other great truisms like rookie QB’s can’t play in the NFL. I don’t because I learned to question everything. My belief is that player A was just the better player all along but team Y had no room on its NHL roster.

Good teams, which usually get undo credit for player development, leave players in the minors three years because they have no room for them in their lineup. I’m of the camp that doesn’t believe Benson should be in minors. NFL teams have realized that rookie QB’s can start immediately. In the NHL it’s a little different because of age but if they can handle the physical part of the game, slowly teams will realize that nothing is gained by playing in the AHL.

I think they are better than the current rules. Kickoffs had become a non event. Either removing them completely or tweaking them was the only option

There really is no way to know. i believe that “development” or lack thereof, is just an excuse when someone doesn’t turn out like was expected. The player blames the team. The scout blames the team. The fan who was sure Luke Adam was the next Phil Esposito blames the team, etc.

As I’ve stated before, there is no real way to prove the point unless you were able to create an alternate universe. Would player A turn out any different if he was drafted by another team? How can you ever know?

Casey is a perfect example of how the whole “development” thing is bunk. As you said, all players have different development curves. Good players figure it out or grow into or whatever. The whole notion that you can ruin a player by putting him in bad situations has always been old school garbage to me.

Everytime I see a highlight of him it screams Briere. I am interested to see how he develops.

Granted, not an acronym in any sense of the word. I apologize for the lack of clarity.

Rod Brind’ Amour. Carolina has still not extended him and there have been rumors that Buffalo would offer to make him the highest paid coach in the NHL. First, he’s likely to stay. Second, like Babcock before him, his wife would likely veto any move to Buffalo.

I don’t see Adams getting fired. He really is good organizationally and is ideally suited to be President with Karmonis taking over as GM. In an ideal world that would happen this year along with RBM taking over as highest paid coach in the league but there are a few reasons that won’t happen

Disagree but I understand that thinking as well.

Adams and Donny will barely make it through this offseason. There is virtually nothing that will make them believe they will make it through next off season without a playoff appearance. Nothing will incentivize them to delay anything.

You need to read the Athletic article about all six teams around them. The teams around them are most likely taking a step back. Pittsburgh and Washington are stuck in that purgatory where they are trying to keep icons happy, the Islanders are aging and loaded with bad contracts, Philly will likely take a step back as they rebuild, even Tampa is showing signs of aging. I am as frustrated as anyone but I realize a lot of the anger with the four years of Adams and Granato has more to do with the nine years that preceded them. The Sabres are still the youngest team in hockey and don’t need a major overhaul.

Again, that’s nonsense. Blaming Skinner for all the woes of the teams he’s been on is beneath you. You obviously are a lot smarter then someone that would leap to this conclusion but if that’s how you want to end the discussion fine.

I saw a study once pointing out how goal scorers even with the worse defensive metrics still positively effected their team’s outcome by the virtue of how hard it is to score in the NHL. Maybe if I’m bored one day I’ll find it.

One player is not the reason why, or why not, a team makes the playoffs.

Yes, like Alexander Mogilny, Dave Andreychuck and Jack Eichel would never win the Cup.

I still think the Flyers are one of the teams that will fall out of the race. Trading them EJ was a 4D chess move and should be the grease that slide needed.

Asplund was grateful to be given opportunity. Lyubushkin I don’t know.

Levi is joining Sabres on the trip.

Stone might be done. I have no problem with what Vegas is doing unless it can be proven they are faking injuries.

Adams said at the deadline press conference that they would be careful with him and not rush him. If it’s up to him, he’ll play when ready. The team will only let him play if they are comfortable he’s ready. My guess is he only plays if they are in the playoff race.

Sam was already pretty think with those three as well.

Still wondering

I’m really intrigued by the thought that these brokers still exist. What would the markup have to be on the ten to fifteen “high demand” games to cover the cost of the other twenty-seven and still make a reasonable return on investment?