Neo

I agree. I actually thought about that as I wrote. We may be one third of the way through Jack’s extension before “the process” begins to bear fruit. I look at that as a deeply unfortunate sunk cost. There may be a Mozart who can grab pieces, unexpectedly from here and from there, and put the end result in place without growing it. It’s happened. I just don’t think it happens dependably. We were here before this roster iteration. We’ll be here after it. Give me a franchise with an identity, a plan, and deep pockets. I’ll wait. Think of the children!

To me, that indicates that he knows the rule. It concurrently indicates, again to me, that his judgment is that possession did not take place. “I did not know possession was necessary” is not the same as “the necessary possession did not take place.” I can imagine uncountable examples for hooking, slashing, offsides, and so on. We’re comparing knowing the rule with exercising judgment and applying it to the action, no? Had he not spoken up, would we be asking “why not?” Signed, The Unlearned.

It matters that a coach knows the rules. Last night does not demonstrate, or even indicate, that our coach does not.

I believe we’re looking at several years at a minimum. We may not compete until 2020. There aren’t player acquisition or system overhauls that will turn any terrible group into a good group. I think you find talent early, develop it, and deploy it when it’s ready. That talent develops alongside other talent that developed the same way in an earlier cycle. Detroit, Pittsburgh, St Louis for decades, and so on. A large risk is the unknown ability of TP, JB and PH. I’m encouraged that TP may have learned that “trust the process” beats “make a splash” over at One Bills Drive. I’m encouraged by JB’s Pittsburgh upbringing. The Tank gutted this team; hands, feet, heart and soul. It had an impact on Rochester and concession vendors. Jack Eichel is an excellent hockey player. The price was too dear. We iced an expansion team in 2015. Draft talent into a sound structure and let it grow. Trust the Process. The bad news about this approach is that it takes time to work. The good news is that it sticks around after it starts producing.

Meme: Buffalo can’t have nice things. Meme Buster: MODO! You are a thrill. An oasis in the desert.

Lake Temagami (1) and New Liskeard, Ontario (2). Who knows New Liskeard?

Algonquin twice ... 7 days each. Honeymooned on Baptiste.

Best to Cody ... I used to vacation on Lake Baptiste. Halliburton general store was a stop for supplies. Highland Grove and Bancroft, too! Ontario is so large, that you can be quite north, and still in southern Ontario. PS ... God lives there.

Dudacek ... I’m without words ... Bravo, BRAVO!! Not since, as Smell mentioned, PA and Lindy ... (LOL, I unknowingly replicated LTS’s praise phrases. Late to the party, it seems!)

Man, giveaways...

Interesting take on systems. Simple, collapse and make stretch passes. Hard, it’s not “let ‘em play.” Simple, “let ‘em play.” Hard, be aware of attacking and defending as a unit..

I think the organization may be waiting until this team has some direction before burdening some young man with the “C.” Can you imagine being Eichel, at +/- $10 million per season, feeling all eyes on him between periods or at press conferences?

I think you spotted my snide. I think you missed its target. It had nothing to do with the indigenous or their lands.

I’m not on board with it.

Sure. We claimed it from the Brits. Anything’s possible. I propose a GoFundMe to kick things off. Of course, we’ll have to decide who’s indigenous. Oh, and what indigenous people actually claim what land, since they conquered one another so regularly. Oh, oh, and we’ll have to enlist Europe’s help. All of it. Cuz, like, Europe is the source of the subjugators. Hold on, I have to sketch this out ....

It’s very telling. I strive for clarity. What did it tell you?

I can’t help myself ... and have nothing to say about Columbus Day ... More interesting, though, to me, is the construction. Wouldn’t subjugation, to the extent it’s land stealing and culture extinguishing, be very different from slavery as objects? I think your construct is, “we can live here and acknowledge bad things happened without having to leave.” I agree. I think LTS’ construct is, “you continue to do the bad thing, living on indigenous land our fathers took from theirs.” We cannot return freedom to deceased slaves. We can return land to the indigenous. Again, forgetting the tempest in a teapot debate around today’s holiday, I think LTS’ take was spot on. I read it as “if you’re vexed, what are you doing about it.” “You’re on a sofa, complaining, and something can be done.” True of subjugation, not slavery. Of course, the joy is in the complaining, and not the doing. And so, nothing to do, here, until another outrage can be plucked from the ether.

Did I Google correctly? Does four SHGs in one game tie an NHL record?

He’s a good winger with good centers UNTIL he’s a good center AFTER we find good wingers. I’d play him at wing until a prospect or two breaks through to play on his wing.

Gionta ...

Montreal headline ... “Good road game against improved Sabres” I really think the Habs played solidly and finished strongly. Buffalo had stretches, certainly, where they controlled the game. Still, the chances during those stretches were manageable, especially with Casey in goal. Let’s see Lehner in OT.

Lotsa icings .. or me?

Ristolainen with an off season honing his edg i ness.

I remember this sport, this “hockey” ... it’s fun to watch.

I thought so, too. Maybe we have it wrong. I mean, he MUST know, right?