North Buffalo

Interesting discussion. My son who is 9, June BD, plays baseball. He is one of the younger kids on his teams because a lot of kids in our area born in September - December are being held back a year, possibly for the reasons that are stated above. So he falls into to the young category, despite that he is physically one of tallest and strongest kid on his teams. He is a lefty and can really throw with a natural breaking ball. So far he enjoys the game, has the most hits on his teams the last two years We will see where all the above goes. His problem is developmentally, he is in the middle of his class in certain things and I wonder how much that has to do with his age. Once he gets something, he catches up quickly... Not sure to what degree the expectation are put on him because of his size. He is eligible for travel baseball this year, not sure about it and a lot will depend on him and wether he wants to. Our town league is pretty competitive so we will see. Any input I will listen to. Really I do my best to stay out of the way and just keep it fun, so that I don't poison the well.

Miller for Datsyuk.... no source... totally unsubstantiated.

That is the weird thing. The Kings keep trading their top goalies for guys, so teams needing goalies are being limited. Any ideas who might be left..\ Scrivens to Edmonton... Dubnyk to Predators... Would love to trade Miller for a top forward and a pick, but I am still not sure that is the right move for this team. If possible I think the Sabres should resign... but who knows....

Latest from Central Scouting: http://www.nhl.com/i....htm?id=699869 Why Bennet? Has he risen that much. Don't know that much about the kid. CBS article on him is interesting. http://www.cbssports...-for-2014-draft NBC's take... http://prohockeytalk...hl-entry-draft/http://prohockeytalk...hl-entry-draft/ The list below is an interesting ranking set up: Go below the my draft project list which is dubious and view the actual lists from all the different sources: http://www.mynhldraft.com/2014-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings/

If so and the Sabres draft 1-4, Draisaitl and one of Bennet, Dal Colle or Reinhardt, wouldn't the best scenario be their development takes a year, the Sabres tank next year and get in the above mentioned sweepstakes. I know... it is Buffalo, but really, do you have to ruin my daydream:).

Generally, I agree except, it probably important for Nolan to figure out which guys can show leadership and effort consistently and which guys might have trade value. I think the Sabres are playing better. The D is coming around, though I think Sulzer is expendable, could ship him to Edmonton with another D for a high draft pick?? Just saying, before Nolan came in I don't think any of the guys would be worth much. Would still love to see Stafford gone. I do think Grigerenko is finally getting the idea of the work and effort he needs to put in. I am starting to see it in his night in night out effort, bout time. So giving him ice time now is probably a good thing. I was really worried he would be a bust. I hope he keeps taking skating lessons, really his only glaring weakeness besides the perceived effort concerns.

Based on Capgeeks list. So centers out there that I think the Sabres should go after are Statsny and Callahan. Statsny may be a tough sell as others have said, Callahan is an intriguing idea, especially with Nolan's coaching style. Marleau is also a projected ufa as well as Ignla, but I can't see either coming to Buffalo. Not sure what to think of Cammelleri, Hemski or Gionta. Jokininen is up and down and Michalek when not injured is a tough guy with good hands who might be interesting Jussi Jokininen and Derek Roy are there too. Interesting list: http://www.capgeek.com/free-agents Definitely Miller and Ott. Still not sure about Molson.

Latest ISS rankings: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/101161/iss-draft-rankings-reinhart-holding-steady-as-top-prospect-in-december-rankings/ Mcann might be an interesting pick as well as Milano with the Sabres 2nd 1st round pick. Should that happen this year. Wish I had a better sense of the later 1st round picks. Just looked at the Sharks profile on Bleacher and they mentioned Milano, seems to be able to put the puck in the net, but is a bit undersized. Sabres can use all the scorers they can find.

Microcenter is an authorized MAC reseller. My kids have older model IPADs that work great and didn't pay near as much for a new one. Too many people want the lastest and greatest. If that is what you need. Nice about IPAD 1s is they don't have cameras, which my boys are too young to use anyway and I don't want them using that stuff and posting video on the internet. Will be bad enough when they are teenagers.

Agreed, my only concern as well intentioned as the Obama admin seems and I am sure Kerry intends, it the execution of the agreement. You can't just make and agreement and expect folks in this part of the world to follow through. Reagan's "trust but verify" is going to be very important. And that is my concern, the Obama admin seems flush with ideas some great, but not very thorough on execution. I hope I am wrong, Dennis McDonough, his chief of staff and an old Foreign policy wonk is going to need to bird dog this one or it will be viewed as another Obama failure. As you said politically a disaster....that can be avoided with some due diligence.

So i am thinking Myers, Z and Ruhwedl would make a pretty good forward line. Only a little sarcasm because they would probably be better than who the Sabres are currently using in their top 2 lines. Maybe Errhoff could play up?

Not to be cynical but they have plenty of that. except for disaster stuff ins is one of more stable and profitable businesses out there. We pay for it. Part of the whole healthcare cost debate.

Vanek is back and scored 2 last night...

Normally, you would think that and we may be seeing some of that, but it is a ratings issue, so it may depend on the area the policies are being sold. In NY, there may be a decrease in cost. NY currently from my understanding allows someone who gets sick to buy insurance upon getting sick and be covered. The insurance cos rated this risk and built it into premiums, so now that everyone has to buy insurance, including those not currently sick... the young, it expands the risk pool.... kind of like crop insurance if you want to participate in Ag programs. Some farmers don't produce in high risk areas but have to carry insurance. This spread the premium risk out for everyone, thus lowering the overall premium for individuals. Other states already have such restrictions, so increased demand may actually cause an increase in premiums because of as you stated an increase in demand. Still it depends on the overall risk (based on actuarial tables) for the price of insurance. What I don't know is if there are any regulations on those premiums and they may vary from state to state.

I am just not sure yet. Agreed Glass Stiegal deal was and is a huge problem still. The other problem is that insurance companies are still largely regulated by States and State legislatures are easily manipulated. Obama care only addresses this issue peripherally. If Christi can stay away from ideological right wing issues not saying he can during the Republican nomination process he has a really good chance of winning. I like the fact that he busts bureaucrats butts to make things happen. Clinton did that, though not as blatantly. He did it more behind the scenes and through is strong staff, while cutting huge chunks of it. Part of the reason for the surplus. Bush went the other direction. Obama has been incapable of doing either by design because of the economy or just unwilling until recently and he does it in such a way that he doesn't get any credit for it. Too mealy mouthed unless pushed to be aggressive. The guy by his nature is too affable. We need a President with the ability to have some snarl when challenged and yet smile and be warm when needed. Christie seems to have that. What I don't like is the Republican philosophy of free marketing... there is no such thing. It is a balance between Capitalism and responsive safety net programs that don't break the bank. The abuses of Capitalism need to be controlled and responded to and dealt with while basic entrepreneurial instincts need to be encouraged especially at the Small Business level and I am not talking about the NFIB definition of small business, because they are in the pocket of middle to big business masquerading as small business advocacy. In addition if you close take loopholes, overall tax rates should be lowered equivalent or close to the savings achieved by closing the loopholes. The tax structure needs to made transparent. Just the tip of the iceberg with what pressingly needs to be address imo. P.S. Republican efforts to end the food stamp program imo is stupid unless you also agree that farm programs should be scrapped as well. If both happens, prepare for an even larger consolidation of American Agriculture into the hands of a few and food prices to skyrocket. Ag programs need to be restructured for today's modern age, but not eliminated. I could go on... but don't get me started on trade agreements.

Elite Prospects is an interesting site: Good reference material on all levels of hockey: http://www.eliteprospects.com/

I feel the same way. What bothers me most about Obama is not the directions he has chosen but lack of being able to use the Bully Pulpit to clarify his objectives and hammer them home every day. Reagan did it and was good at it to the chagrin of Democrats. Clinton did it well, but made sure to infuriate and baffle Republicans everyday. But Bush was only able to do it speaking through Cheney, which scared the crap out of everyone. Obama only has Biden who everyone thinks as a hot wind bag and ignores and he obviously can't get his staff to do what he wants efficiently and clearly as evident by the whole healthcare debate. Though I agree with him sometimes, Christy of NJ seems to have that it factor, but I doubt the right wing will give him the nomination. Hillary is considered one of the front runners on the D side, but there are others including Cuomo who may step in so this should be interesting to see how it all shakes out in another year or so.

As long as they were sharpened before you began skating, I usually go til I start losing my edge. Drills include skating in circles on a face off circle while doing cross overs. Balancing on one foot while gliding on the other. If you really feel adverturesome, trying lifting your off ice skate leg up and moving it back and forth so you are doing one leg swizzles. Another good drill is gliding on one leg, jumping up and landing on your other foot as you are gliding... It is all about finding your edges.

Stafford will only put in the effort for a short while and as soon as the spot light is off he will revert to his normal self. I don't trust him further than than I can throw him.

No..

Latest Button rankings: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=436555

Latest Button rankings: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=436555

The interview with Teddy sounds like he has matured a bit. Milstick said he wasn't an x and o guy and that is what is needed in the current league. LOL what a tool, this coming from a goon who wouldn't know an x if it bit him in the O. That being said Nolan may well have picked up a few things and with the assistants he currently has inherited Xs and Os should be okay with more effort. Will see and at least it should be more entertaining er punishing hockey.

Fair points. I wonder if that is why Zadarov sat to that Nolan could evaluate him for 2 more games before sending him back.

Kinda nice that LaFontaine is connected to Bettman and NHL operations. Maybe the Sabres can have better relations with NHL decision making. Can't hurt.