...

I don't know if I like Okposo on the first line. Just sayin'.

Eichel made it look EASY.

E. Rod is looking good. Hutton, I like Hutton. I feel good about his play.

I think Rob Ray had it correct when he said they were trying to figure out who should take the shot.

That's the Risto I remember!

So far they're avoiding getting jammed up in their own end. That's a step forward.

Yeah, but he looks motivated.

I'm digging Hutton and the speed. It's not boring.

All I have to say is that this better be good - I hope it justifies the enthusiasm a lot of us feel.

Ugh, I gotta dig up the articles, now. Give me time, I'm supposed to be working.

We've seen neither with this year's roster - this year being, IMHO, the first "real" season with the "real" core. The longer this contract situation with Samson goes on, the less inclined I am to want to keep him as it's clear he's not a team-first guy. If Botts is trying to get a 2 year contract out of it, I don't blame him. I wouldn't sign Skinner to a 2 year deal, let alone a 6 or 7, without seeing how he fits in with the club. That would be the kind of signing the Sabres have made in the recent past and all of those contracts suck.

You guys discussing Nylander have to remember Cal O'Reilly stunted his growth by what amounts to off-the-ice maltreatment. From what I've read about what happened there, it is absolutely no surprise it's taken him time to get his head straight.

I wouldn't have guessed Reinhart would be "that guy" with contract issues at the beginning of a season.

I'm not buying the narrative that Eichel came in here with a Boston chip on his shoulder. It's obviously possible, but's also quite possible he came here amped up and wanting to win. ROR and Kane responded with a "grow up kid, just play and get paid" attitude and weren't interested in giving more than what's required to earn the big bucks - and THEN the Boston attitude kicked in with that as the foundation. Maybe Eichel wanted to know why certain people aren't as focused and/or disciplined - maybe Eichel was shocked by what it's really like behind the curtain - and THEN the Boston thing kicked in and he was an ass to those people who he thought were slackers. Just some thoughts, I know nothing about what was happening.

Chargers over 50 today? They're on their way!

I think you have to combine the changes/details in this thread with the conversation in the Lehner thread to move from "interested" or "curious" to "excited".

This is true especially for the Sabres, since they're a young team, but younger folk have a hard time dealing with mental instability in others. I can imagine even the most "mature" young player still being affected over the long term because, again, these guys are stuck in close quarters together over prolonged periods of time. A way of life average people probably can't grasp. Their egos and emotions would still turn around on themselves. Middle aged adults would have a hard time in that atmosphere. So, I think that's the reason you see Pommenstein, Eichel, and others with big smiles going into this year, it's like a huge weight taken off the core of their being. It's going to be a different year. KO's issues are certainly far more manageable, from what I understand, but the key ingredient there is that he has a family to motivate him to stay "right". These changes, alone, should make a drastic difference in the play of the team. I guarantee this is part of the "rediscover" comment from ROR, and it actually applies to all on the roster to whatever degree. Once these guys figure out this all can be fun, like really fun, watch out.

Can't and won't say. Suffice it to say, holy moly, travel, the locker room, the games, all must have been not fun for the guys. This explains quite a bit.

If there's another one with mental health issues that they moved, and I know for sure there remains another one on the roster, there were at least three battling that on the team. No wonder this team couldn't get their locker-room straight.

I'm excited. I haven't looked forward to a season in a few years now. I hope to God they finally turn a corner this season because who knows how long I, or any other fan whose interest waned, may stay away after this season if they don't. They have everything they need in place to make this a great season. Just give me a race for a wildcard slot, some highlight reel plays once in a while, and it'll be a big improvement.

Couple posts back via TBPhD.

That would align with the Howard Simon theory, then, right?

Is the coming draft worth a tank?

Okay, I get where you're coming from. I think it's a fair place, too. The only thing I would say, though...and this isn't a defense of McDermott...is that everyone has something to which they refer internally. Rex Ryan's internal reference, or, dare I say process, seemed to have led him to evaluate players in the manner "as long as they can play football and are able to have fun on the field..." I would say Marv Levy's was "they have to be smart and disciplined" (although I'm really pushing my memory here). And these things, these words, while they have universal meaning, have a specific meaning to the individual making the call. "Smart" to Levy might have a slew of characteristics, personal insight, and memories that are summarized in the one word that he uses to communicate the larger notion in his head. Maybe that will help identify what McDermott might have going on. And as I said, I don't actually disagree...the concept of his "process" shows more holes as time goes on. At one point I thought I got it, but what I got and the actual evidence are not lining up.

What is it with the "consciously or otherwise" stuff? Dude, you're really pushing this particular narrative, so you need to be clear. Instead of dancing around the details, why not be brave and state exactly what it is you're talking about. Are you "wondering" *wink-wink* if he's a Southern White Baptist Racist and using whatever criteria comes with that to evaluate players, or are you "wondering" *wink-wink* if he's a Holy Roller using whatever criteria comes with that to evaluate players? If it's the former, I think you're on drugs. If it's the latter, unfortunately I think you might be on to something.