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The text equivalent to Angry Birds.

I don't see the validity of these evaluations without first knowing the actual reasons for the ROR trade. Without facts, it's all speculation, and these "evaluations" are built on gossamer wings, worth nothing, watering down...nay...destroying...the quality of the subsequent discussions. This is why we're stuck in this circle of ROR nonsense, because everyone knows no one knows a thing other than what happened superficially, and some are happy to exclude facts and context for the sake of discussion, while others know a fundamentally worthless discussion is made even more worthless by the exclusion of the facts and context.

My question is what do we gain from recognizing/admitting/knowing, in hindsight (especially), that the Sabres lost that trade? What do we do with this insight?

Some sanity. Thank God.

Clearly not, because ROR won the Cup and JBot is still here. What are you thinking?

Impossible. The man who made the trade still runs the team, and the ownership who haven't yet fired the man who made the trade still owns the team. Clearly we remain in the Valley of Fail and shall remain there until "things change". Until "things change", this team's attempts to improve are for naught.

Sour grapes lower your IQ. Are you a moderator?

The hyperbole in this post hurts. Ow.

Hey man, why don't you go do something about it then in the real world. Otherwise, the persistent bitching here isn't going to change or do jack-sh%t to what is.

All...summer...long. As I said in the game thread, there is no way the Sabres were in a position to do what the Blues did. In no position to capitalize on what ROR brings. The comparisons are folly and thoroughly ridiculous.

"HOLY F&%K! YEAAAAHHHHH"

Let's get real, the Sabres the past few seasons could not have done what the Blues did.

Now all we need is for Boston to take a penalty.

I love it. The overflow crowd is at Busch Stadium.

YES!

That's some playoff hockey right there.

Wow.

I would agree except there ain't be no goals in the second so far. They need more than a three goal lead.

The Blues are not hitting. They need to lay some hits.

Boston is going with plan B: violence in the second.

We need just one Cup for now. ONE. One Cup win and all of these sins are forgiven. After we figure out how to win one Cup, then let's worry about the moves that herald a dynasty period.

Some team was going to be the first to overpay a prized UFA. I guess I'm glad we did it this year, and kept the guy we know works with our main dude.

Agreed. Eichel and Skinner both have achieved everything in hockey already: recognition as top players, various awards, and, of course, super big contracts. What's left for competitive people to achieve? The Stanley Cup is the only achievement left for these guys. Skinner is older and a little more wise than Eichel, so that's the reason I take what he has to say about the team's potential seriously. Skinner, to me, seems pretty authentic, and my reading of his demeanor combined with the way he plays game tells me the guy wants to win. Both of these guys have the desire, and I bet Skinner would say the desire is as equal in Eichel as it is in himself.

He wanted to go West. If memory serves, the were rumors he wanted to go West and wasn't going to re-sign. Los Angeles, San Jose, Vegas, Anaheim, and even the Florida teams were with the same circumstances quality-of-life wise.