...

You know, we were talking about it here...we are the source...funny...ha...ha? Nevermind. Everyone just skip these past three posts. Nothing to waste time on here.

The Tank, as presented by Monty Python:

Source:

That confirms what I had read or heard. So, after the notice, what is her legal status if she still occupies the residence? I understand it's theoretical at this point being in a state you don't operate in.

Do we know if she was given 30 days written notice?

Sure, I think that's exactly the case. Guaranteed there's a legal distinction, but, IMHO there shouldn't be one. It's a type of theft.

I don't believe we're far enough away from the tank to be able to properly assess its effectiveness. There are still too many moving parts and scenarios related to it. That said, right now you can say that the tank brought us Eichel, Dahlin and GMJB, along with whatever assortment of less major characters. It also revealed that whatever attempts to change the culture prior to GMJB didn't work and probably informed GMJB on how to approach changing the culture effectively. Regardless of anything else, the Tank was and its legacy can not be removed from the present and the future. I don't understand why people get worked up over the fact that it happened at this point - or at all, since "the people" really had no say in it whatsoever.

I thought she was squatting and not technically a tenant.

MY EYES! Oh, the horror...

Agreed that there is still a lot to be seen, but given what he had to work with and it was his FIRST "realz" NFL experience, I was left wondering what all of the so-called experts were talking about.

I do not get all of the "hating" on Allen. I know very little about football other than the games I catch on TV, but last night Allen looked like he has the stuff to be something the Bills haven't had in a looooooonnnng time. The book on him at the draft, if memory serves, was that he has the tools but is a project: "inconsistent accuracy and decision making". If last night is the level of inconsistency they're dealing with in Allen, this guy very well could turn into a stud. I think McDermott is absolutely the right guy for Allen to develop under.

That's the state of the media in general right now, so, yeah.

The rocky relationship was detailed somewhat in the BNews Going Downhill thread and chronicled throughout the years on this site. That's all you need to synthesize the situation.

"Seems" isn't the appropriate word - "is" is the appropriate word. TV, websites, print, radio, all commercial media is for sale and is sold and sold and sold. What you read, see and hear is 95% of the time, or greater, a product for consumption.

He's being brought in to smooth over the relationship with PSE, no way he does anything to mess with that mission. The question is, how much long Harrington lasts after this guy is fully on-boarded.

This doesn't make sense. If Skinner does well here, of course he'll get an offer from JBot. Every team needs a guy who puts goals in the net, and if it turns out Skinner can do that for the Sabres, only a fool would let him go. Between the farm as it stands, and the current roster of picks we have over the next two drafts, JBot doesn't have to worry as much, now, about keeping the farm system stocked. I think he has taken care of the immediate needs there and has set himself up nicely for the next 2 - 4 years if his approach remains consistent. If he lets Skinner go, assuming a deal is possible with him and worth doing, then all JBot does is get stuck in constant re-building mode which no one wants. I think, if anything, if Okposo does well, he might be on the chopping block seeing as his NMC turns into a Modified NTC this season. That would easily clear cap room for Skinner, and help keep the team young(er/ish). The other guys he won't have to pay big bucks to for several season, so he has time. The only immediate need would be contracts for Skinner and Samson.

IKP, that was a very nice summary of all GMJB has done. Your grades are fair enough, especially for now, but I would review them after the season is over. I think the "culture change deals" could potentially be up or down-graded depending on how the season goes. If, for example, we can deduce that an improvement in the team's overall game is a result of changes off-ice, then I think at least the Kane and ROR grades should be upgraded. The reasons being: GMJB was able to properly define what "culture change" means/meant for the Sabres GMJB had recognized a culture change was needed and acted on that recognition GMJB had identified the correct parts to change that would: Effectively change the culture (whether for better or worse) Result in a culture change that actually benefited the team (the "for better" of the above)

From that and other videos I'd say Skinner has a higher hockey IQ and far more patience than Kane.

I have always thought that quality talent + quality coaching + the right chemistry/atmosphere/environment/culture = a chance at being successful. The VGK pretty much confirmed that. At the level we're talking about, you know, the highest level of hockey on the planet, all of this testing-the-waters, wait-and-see, moderated expectations, "it's-all-new-ya-know", is wasted breath. Obviously a settling and acclimation period is natural, but it shouldn't take all season. By December 1st, we will know what we have. I'm not saying they could be lighting the league on fire, but I am saying we'll know by then whether this team has "it" or not. HCPH shouldn't have all season to figure it out at this level. He either owns the team by December 1 or doesn't. Conversely, this core either gels by December 1 or is another bust - again, not necessarily winning every game, but at least making the KeyBank Centre fun to be at instead of the usual morgue.

I thought they should have been a bubble team last year with the talent they supposedly had. However, I think the past several seasons are strong arguments that chemistry is an X factor in all of this (same with the VGKs this past season). Coaching is an X factor, too, IMHO, although more black and white. Either the coach gets the team to click or he don't. Either the coach can match or out-match his opponent strategically, or he can't HCPH has a new tool-box now, and a year to figure out how to be a Brigadier General. He needs to show he owns those X factors.

I liked Kane's physical side, but his lack of hockey IQ was maddening. I'll take the 'Canes color guy at his word on ethics, but, frankly, anyone can "fall" at any time and I think we should all be aware by now who these guys actually are is pretty well kept from the general public. The net-result take above is a good one on the surface, so long as you're counting goals from an individual, but if Skinner is better at the game in his head, and is a positive contributor ethically, I don't think the net-result is 1:1. Skinner might have similar numbers, but his effect on the rest of the team would be to elevate the numbers of others as well, so his net-result should include an (hopefully) increase in production from his teammates. All of that said, I still don't know the guy enough to vote. I liked Kane, even with his peccadilloes, but there were definitely things I wished he would/could do better in-game. If he brings that, then, the vote is obvious.

Some people are suggesting 5 year contracts before we even see how he plays with Eichel and/or for HCPH. There might be nothing there and then we have another crappy long term contract. Let's see some games first before we start offering stuff.

I wouldn't offer him anything until he proves that he belongs here long term.

This is a good take. I think for Skinner it's not so much he may intend to sign with Buffalo and that's it, I think he is testing the waters here and at the same time looking at Buffalo as a way to improve his stats for his next contract. If it works out here, then awesome, he has a new home. If he doesn't like it here, he still puts in the effort to leverage Eichel to pad his stats and moves on.

Great trade. I liked JBots, but now I like him more. I was at first a bit dubious as to how this happened, but the narrative makes sense - except for details on why Skinner was pretty much done in Raleigh. Those making fun of his figure skating past - ridiculous. That's like making fun of an engineer who aced their high-school math curriculum. Re: the three first rounders, I think we should keep two of those and reserve the other for either a trade to help the D, or a deadline deal, if necessary. There's a lot of new parts to this team, now, and I think in no way can we predict who is going to work well with who, but I hope the chemistry is right this time. Here's hoping HCPH doesn't screw this up. The only thing missing from this summer is Royal Blue home jerseys. I'm seriously ready for the season to start at this point.