Neo

Ah, give me one last night in the Aud .... we weren't spectators, we were part of a living, breathing, organism ... broiling insides wrapped in a labyrinthine exoskeleton of hallways, ramps and dead ends. An arena so intimate you could pick out friends and neighbors section to section. Nooks, crannies, inclines, and frustrating inconsistencies. You didn't go to the Aud and forget about it when the game started. You interacted with the building, itself, all night long. How many of us laid hands on the cold, stone, facade? Do other buildings beg to be touched? AND you had your heroes on the ice! Sigh ... one more time. Update! Mogilny ties it up!

Edit to my post above ... my "next round" excluded Mogilny because of my ranking. I recognize he scored high enough with others to remain in any next round, even if he's not "my guy"!

While we wait: Should Housley prevail, I'd consider the following. Presented for Hoss to consider among his many sources. Note I am dropping Mogilny, despite his strong showing in this round, out of my top ten. The numbers and the intangibles are just too strong among this group. Next Round: Rick Martin, Danny Gare Craig Ramsay Mike Ramsey All of which implies my top ten of: Hasek* Perreault* LaFontaine* Phil Housley Rick Martin Danny Gare Craig Ramsay Mike Ramsey Dave Andreychuk Jim Schoenfeld Gare's ascendency knocks Mogilny out of my top ten. Mike Ramsey's does the same to Don Luce. There were some good hockey players in those late seventies, early eighties, teams. Schoeny's hold is tenuous.

Among my all time faves, yes. I am doing the Schoeny / Ramsey analysis in my head. I may get there when I focus on "the next slot up". I made my first list off the top of my head, and I continue to revise it as I focus here or there. One game, one pick, Schoeny vs Ramsey, I take Mike. In short, I'm going to get there. I'm busy saving Housley! I believe my first ranking, and iterations thereafter until I focus spot to spot, suffered from some level of "icon" effect. "Memory glands" is awesome!

Controversy alert ... As I continue to have dialogue, revisit numbers, and scan the memory banks, I make yet another revision. Owing to Alex Mogilny's lead at this point, I spent some time on his career. I am dropping him on my list. One spectacular season, and never 40 goals again in Buffalo. One trick, one time. Enigmatic son of a gun. Fun to watch. Jets on his feet. Occasional fists of stone. Remember the fear of flying and the occasional "driving Miss Daisy" to games as far away as Chicago and Detroit? In fact, I've dropped Alex to second best right wing, and out of the top ten all together. Alex is not top ten in any category of Buffalo Sabres statistic. His glorious single season alongside Patty shines! I didn't realize Gare's over all numbers were much greater. Of course, Gare brought so much else! Tidbit: Gare and Mogilny scored on their first shift of their first game. There are challenges to Housley at slot four. I don't believe Alex Mogilny is one of them. Dom Gil, Patty, Housley, Rick Martin, Craig Ramsay Dave Andreychuk Jim Schoenfeld Danny Gare Luce

Memory test, only ... no counterpoint. I'd list the over/under % of points Housley scored while a defenseman at 95%. I acknowledge PP time at wing in some of those games and skating wing, primarily in a few others. If you disagree with 95%, would you agree to 90%?

Craig Ramsey, of Tupelo, Mississippi. Sixteen games, 1972, 73. 16G-2G-3A-5Pts-4 PIM. OK, I made that up. Oops, again! Spelling!

Housley was not defensively sound. It frustrated us. He scored approximately 560 pts in approximately 600 games as a Sabre, mostly as a defenseman. He played some wing for you youngsters. He's in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Orr, Coffey, Potvin, Borque, McInnes, Reinhart, and Leetch are the ppg defenseman ahead of him. Borque, Coffey and McInnes are the total points defensemen ahead of him. That's all time, all generations. Total points of 1,232. One thousand two hundred and thirty two. Just as when he played, the commentary addresses what he wasn't. I voted for what he was.

We need to spend some time together at the meet up. We have more than UB in common.

Do I have Craig Ramsey too high?

I voted Housley, and revise my original list thusly ... Dom (Gap) Gil, Patty, Wowie, Martin Alex, Schoenfeld, Craig Ramsey Andreychuk Luce

1,500 .. and deservedly so.

I thought McDavid looked like a bigger kid last night. He's not JE or AM, but he seemed to have grown ... no surprise at his age.

This is gonna be fun when we get to the Turgeons, Howerchuks, Satans and Vaneks ... and Edwards, and Sauves .... and Barassos ... and Bodgers, and and and ... You can say that again!

Style points: Simpson for Tom Cousineau.

PS ... is this the Cam Talbot I wanted, less expensively, than Lehner?

I couldn't be happier with my SabreSpace gambling loss! Matty Mo and Gio ... who'd a thunk.

2015 vs 2016 Healthy Shady Lynn and simple Personal fouls and discipline Clock at the end of halfs Rex game awareness, challenge flags System over talent's desires (defense) Healthy, jelled, OL

Love Hajt call out. As I critique my original top 10, I'm trying to see if he creeps in. My heart is so Schoeny! Hajt was a rock for so long. As we get further along, it'll be interesting.

Power ranking --- top 8, 9, 10?

300 yard rushing day.

I'm seeing highlights. McCoy's running wild, and the OL seems to be groovin'.

Gronk (NE; I'm watching NFL Red Zone) is that big, loud, athletic, moron you knew in high school.

Could've sworn that was Shayne Carson. My mind, my mind ...

I'm at $2,200. Four units on Edmonton. If I lose, I'm at $1,500. If I win, I'm at $2,600. I'll stop the remedial stuff, soon. I'm training my brain.