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It's short-sighted. This teams needs a shot in the arm and if one of TT or Mitts fills that syringe, you bloody well do it. Miits isn't doing that well. And this team needs a run at 8th place. WTF, is the plan to either build a Cup contender or do nothing?

I don't know, man, I think you're off the mark a little. Here's why: If the difference was the inclusion of TT or Mitts, what a small price to pay to recover from the ROR travesty. By making that trade (with the inclusion of either), he nearly instantly would reset his reputation and likely improve the Sabres' short-term prospects. I think even Botterill makes that move all day long.

Absolutely. I hope this group is ready for it.

HE JUST SMACKED DAHLIN'S TUSHY! Talk about coming in and marking your territory.

Are our new guys already here? That would be cool.

There's the snake-oil stuff, but then there is actual statistically derived mechanisms employed to motivate groups of people. Whether a method works on a particular group is contextual and circumstantial, with a host of variables to consider. Ultimately it's no different than any other attempt to manipulate human behavior, the same type of "stuff" (in part) that is applied to advertising and political campaigns. I can imagine with a hockey team it's far more complex and dynamic and that, ideally, they first need to try and get the majority of the group to a relative baseline before being able to find what works. It has to be fascinating for people who study these things.

It does. Come on. Google "group motivational theory" or "human motivational theory". This type of stuff has been studied to death. How about just searching for "psychology of human group behavior" - you may find that has been studied a little as well. Whether it contributes to the Xbox GM mode mindset is a different matter. The trend in recent seasons for the Sabres has been to blow it this time of year. What's to say the net effect of the organizational message, then, is to "hold serve" as you put it, which, comparatively would be an improvement. Would that justify internal attempts at motivation? If we are to learn anything from the entire ROR saga, it's that the grind these guys go through exacts a toll on them. The organization has real people to deal with who are under real pressure over a protracted period. But, obviously, and again, this type of stuff has been studied and studied. It's among the factors in team success that are apparently ignored by fancy stats, but should not be.

What I like is that he sounds realistic about the future after this season, which, to me, indicates his head is screwed on right and that maybe his comments about the Sabres are a little more thoughtful than just the usual platitudes.

Someone file this info away for the next time we need to follow people with accurate sources:

That's the hope. Is that how it works leading teams of people? If you know, you should write a book.

The WGR guys don't seem impressed. And what happened to Ham Sammich? Seems to have dropped off the face of the Earth.

Let's see how it pans out. As it is, the games are still meaningful and the team has been playing well. When was the last time we could say that in February? Maybe RK has broken the cycle.

Yeah, what a weird interpretation of events by the Pens fans on Twitter, at least those threads I saw.

I think Okposo's success transitioning into a hardcore 3rd/4th liner may well have spurred the Simmonds acquisition.

Twitter keeps mentioning Kahun has "lots of injuries". Hope this guy ain't Bogo 2.0.

It's like I said in the Simmonds thread, it's a vote of confidence by the brass that might actually reverberate in the locker room.

I don't see why this keeps coming up. Our fourth line is...shall I say it? Pretty awesome. I mean, a really good, albeit expensive fourth line (thanks to KO). Why mess with it, especially when you're stuck with KO?

Maybe they're not perceived as helpers for the PK and PP?

Why are we posting Sabres sutff in the NON SABRES DEADLINE THREAD? Why is the Sabres's one closed?

I diddly did, too.

That's the reason to acquire a guy like him. Can bring the heavy and is a calming veteran presence at a minimal cost. This teams needs both, the latter probably at the behest of RK. The vote of confidence in the team thing is an important move for the locker room, and, maybe, is our first outward sign that RK thinks they have turned a corner in there and this is the next step toward being a playoff team.

Yeah, what's up with this?

You're on a Monday morning roll!