Peter

As an Arsenal fan, this match will be difficult for me. Although I would love to see RVP and United lose, it would be better for Arsenal to see Liverpool drop points given the current state of the table.

I do. Arsenal!!!

Does that mean no playoffs this year? This may have something to do with it - may not want to play for Jordan Nolan's dad? http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/jordan-nolan-not-suspended-putting-rusty-klesla-stretcher-000308834--nhl.html

I like your idea re Ott and Callahan. I would add Moulson.

Go Blues!!! It would be nice to lock up that pick without having to worry about whether Miller re-signs with them before the draft.

Now that the Battistas have taken over the Sabres, they are taking over the NFL. The Buffalo News has even reported that Battista has taken over Starbucks after Tim Murray was overheard telling Battista to get him a cup of coffee.

I get where you are coming from, but I have never understood the suggestion that there ever was a wrong in the first instance. I realize that a lot of people love TN. I did too up until whatever happened with him, Muckler, and Dom. I also think that he has done a good job after being re-hired (especially compared to Rolston who had no business coaching in the NHL). Yet, I have many questions about everything that happened between the TN, Muckler, Dom fiasco and the day TN got re-hired. In the end, I hope everything works out. Nevertheless, I do not think a wrong had been committed and do believe that TN largely has been given a pass. I know many here may disagree, but, in my view, the "wrong" that was committed vis a vis a Buffalo Sabre coach was firing Lindy - not offering a one year extension of a contract or withdrawing that contract offer to a guy who refused to return the calls of the GM. I also find it funny that some Sabres fans and media were offended when that offer was for one year so that the GM at the time could see how they got along. Yet, people were absolutely giddy when the Sabres/PLF hired TN on an "interim" basis so that whoever was subsequently hired as GM could decide whether he could work with and want TN on a permanent basis. I may have missed it, but I never read Harrington or Bucky (or others in the Buffalo media) comment that it was some sort of travesty that the Sabres/PLF hired TN as an "interim" head coach or that it was some sort of "wrong" such as the one year extension offered to TN after the TN, Dom, Muckler fiasco.

I do not know what was in your original post (before any deletions), but I do agree with your general estimation re Harrington. It is my impression that, as time has gone by, more and more people are on to Harrington, Bucky, and Sully.

Haven't we known for at least a year?!? There is no way TN did not know we are in rebuilding mode when he was hired.

The Koharski.

It certainly will be interesting to see whether and how Dom and TN interact. Didn't Dom say something along the lines that it would best that he never play for TN again (or words to that effect)? Indeed, he never did play for him again. We all have heard rumors, but I wish I knew what really happened re Dom, TN, and Muckler (as well as what happened after just two years with the Islanders).

So far, I am impressed. I also think that he seems to have "lightened up" as you say. It does seem to correspond with some other interesting events down at the FNC. Time will tell whether today was a good day. Based on what I have seen so far (notwithstanding my hope that he could have gotten more in some of these deals), I really like Tim Murray thus far. The guy seems to be a straight shooter. He is a hockey guy through and through. It seems as though he was groomed for this day and the GM position his whole life.

Very true -- especially the part about Brian Burke.

Darcy's trade of Vanek to the Islanders was a great trade. You have to give credit where credit is due. Same thing with his trade of Pominville.

Exactly. My thoughts as well. He does seem like a good guy. I really hope we make him an offer and are able to sign him on July 1.

That is my hope. There is no secret that the Wild want Vanek and Vanek wants the Wild. That leaves us in no worse position than any other team in trying to sign Moulson. As I mentioned earlier, he grew up on the other side of the border, his parents can watch him play, he seemed to genuinely enjoy playing in Buffalo. He also grew up a Bills fan. I hope we try to sign him on July 1.

I agree with that. He gets bashed a lot, but way more often than not, he did well in trades that he made.

I think I read a second and a prospect on twitter. Wow.

I hope that, before we traded him, we told him to wait for an offer from us on July 1. Same thing with Ott. Ott likes Buffalo. Moulson grew up on the other side of the border as a Bills fan. I would hope that we would have a chance to sign both. Who knows, maybe even Miller depending on how things work out.

At least . . . .

Now that I have had a chance to look up Torrey Mitchell, I absolutely have to agree with you. Those picks better be good ones.

I always wanted Torrey Mitchell. Actually, I am going to have to look him up now, because I do not know who he is.

This makes it better than our two picks likely to be at the top of the second around. We gave up a lot, but I have to defer to Murray in the end. I presume that he has a conviction about Fasching. On paper (and based on what I have read about him), he sounds like he has a lot of upside and could end up being great for the kind of team we are building. As an aside, especially because of what we gave up, I really hope that we do not trade Myers.

Black is on the business side of things. He has said time and time again that he reports to Pegula and PLF reported to Pegula - PLF did not report to Black. If what you, others, and guys at the news have suggested were true, I seriously doubt that either Tim Murray or Craig Patrick would still be with the team. Regarding Battista, as I posted in response to another, he essentially ran an errand for Tim Murray by running down to tell Ted Nolan to take Miller/Ott off the ice because of the trade. There is no reason to elevate that into something else as others have done. The fact that Battista was running an errand for Tim Murray demonstrates the opposite.

I think that the guy just got a job in which he supports and reports to the hockey people. Nothing more than that. The fact that he was the guy to run down to tell Ted Nolan to get Miller and Ott off the ice was just a function of who was around to do it because Murray was busy doing his job. It could have been you or me if we had been standing around. The fact that guys at the News elevated what was something an errand boy does into something else is humorous and sadly typical.