nfreeman

Very nice. I thought the same thing. Is it confirmed that he drove back? Either way: it's been a highly disappointing season for both him and Antipin. Add McCabe and Bogo to that list, and 4 of the hoped-for improvements to the top 6 have been major letdowns. (To be fair, Scandella has been good.)

Well, I suppose you are right that the refs are human and accordingly susceptible to this type of influence -- but I think the effects are minimal. These guys are evaluated thoroughly after each game. Any bias in favor of any team is going to be identified and corrected. FWIW, I think the situation is different for Jordan/LeBron/other NBA stars -- I think that league has in fact made a conscious decision to allow the major stars to get more calls. As for defending the Pats -- I would have freaking loved it for the Bills to have beaten Jax and then to have gone into Foxboro and put that dynasty into the ground. But at the same time, I hate to see my fellow Bills fans sounding like a bunch of whiny losers -- which is the unavoidable conclusion I come to when I see these ridiculous claims about unfair refereeing. A call here or there? Yes, the refs make mistakes all the time. But they even out over time. The Bills got plenty of them this year, as did the Pats' opponents.

Again: a loser's lament. The Pats don't beat themselves with stupid decisions (on or off the field), turnovers, botched assignments, etc., and they have the greatest QB and greatest coach of all time. Coaching, intelligence and execution were the reasons for the penalty disparity vs Jax. It wasn't, and isn't, "the refs." But hey -- whatever gets you through the night. So, like the Falcons in the SB last year, Jax had a lead, shriveled up under pressure, played not to lose and let TFB their prize away? No, no -- it's a league conspiracy! "The refs" were on their side!

...or maybe Lehner isn’t very good and the Pats are extremely good.

When I have my kidnap-and-reprogram session with Swamp, "snacks that intrigue" will definitely be on the issues list.

I agree that KO's play has been much better for the last 4-6 weeks, and am no longer concerned that he's already reached Moulson-level ineptitude -- which seemed to be the case for the first couple of months of the season. He brings a lot to the table, with a good all-around offensive game, and is a capable, if overpaid, top-6 winger. However, he does have limitations. He's probably the 2nd-slowest forward on the team after Reino, he wins puck battles but doesn't hit much or intimidate, he's nothing special in the defensive zone, and I'm not inclined to give any Sabre credit for leadership given the train wreck we've seen this year. I'd probably rather have the cap space than have him and his contract on the Sabres, but no one is going to take that contract, so we need to get used to him being here long-term. Again, though, it could be a lot worse. I'd expect him to continue to produce at his current level for most of the remainder of his contract.

So the Pats lost? And didn't get calls? How does that jibe with the "the NFL wants the Pats to win and gives them all the calls" theory?

JFC. 2 solid pages of whining about another team winning and about how "the refs favor the Patriots" and "the NFL wants the Patriots to win." It's as if the NFL never conducted a highly dubious investigation of deflategate, suspended TFB 4 games and took away their 1st-round pick. These posts are the very definition of "loser's lament." GTF over it already. The Bills will win when they deserve it, and not otherwise -- just like every other team. In the meantime, if you can't appreciate the late-career stage of a Michael-Jordan-level talent, maybe you shouldn't watch the NFL.

What?

For those who want to keep Reino: are you OK with bringing back all 3 of Reino, ROR and KO next year? I am not.

The Sabres had to expose Carrier as the price for getting Vegas not to take Ullmark (a JBott decision that looks pretty good now, BTW). So to Vegas, Carrier wasn't worth much -- just the value of passing on a goalie prospect. To compare your proposal with what actually happened -- they get Carrier in both scenarios, they pass on Ullmark in both scenarios and in your proposal they get a #2 and Bogo. So really you're back to giving them a #2 for taking Bogo. Again, it's nowhere near enough. I don't think it's reasonable to compare Bogo to McNabb, for the reason that -- as you state -- McNabb has been in their lineup all season. Everyone knows at this point that Bogo can't stay on the ice. And Bogo is making $5.5MM this year, $6MM next year and $6MM the following year. When Vegas took McNabb, he was making $1.7MM and had 1 year left on his contract. The closer comparable is Clarkson, who isn't playing at all and who cost CBJ a #1, a #2 and exposing a prospect that Vegas wanted. Clarkson's contract also only costs $2MM, $1MM and $1MM in actual cash for the 3 years that Bogo's contract costs a total of $17.5MM. Obviously Bogo has more value since he actually plays 50-60 games per year, but I think the price to get Vegas to take Bogo would've been more like the #2 you proposed plus Guhle or Nylander.

Beat me to it. CBJ had to give up a 1st and a 2nd to get Vegas to take Clarkson, who has about the same cap hit as Bogo. Anaheim had to give up Shea Theodore, a good D prospect, to get Vegas to take Stoner, who is a real defenseman and has a much smaller cap hit (1 year for $3.25MM) than Bogo. Pittsburgh gave Vegas a 2nd to take Fleury, but Fleury is a much more valuable player than Bogo. No. It is the responsibility of each poster not to post in an offensive or obnoxious manner. The real question is the definition of "offensive." I wasn't as put off by the post in question as Radar was, but I could be in the minority on that. If enough people find it offensive -- it's offensive and it's the fault of the poster.

How do you know this? It strikes me as highly unlikely.

I was joking you hoser -- just associating "oral sex" with "deep dive" in a Beavis-and-Butthead-kinda way.

In all seriousness: it's pretty clear (to me, anyway) that the remark was intended as a harmless joke but was viewed by a number of posters as somewhat vulgar/offensive. It doesn't seem like anyone needs to be censured or that jokes in this vein are particularly witty or value-added.

Now you've really taken it up (down?) a notch.

I also thought ROR-Kane-Pommer produced zero chances.

I didn't see the first Rangers goal. I wouldn't fault Lehner on #2 or #3, although a really good save would've gotten #2 and better awareness and positioning would've gotten #3. The GWG was yet another unacceptable late-game choke by Lehner. Does anyone defending him expect him to be back next year? Or want him back?

For the record, there is NFW that ROR plus a late 1st yields Karlsson.

This is madness, unless, like Andrew Amerk (where's he been?), you had turkey with American cheese. Although the sandwiches are pricey there, to be sure.

Fair point on the Philly sub, and I am ashamed. I am not moving on the MSM-pastrami issue. This.

I can see them taking a shot at Tavares, but I think there is about a 5% chance that he ends up with the Sabres.

How dare you.

11's reporting on ROR is quite interesting, and jibes with the theory that the Sabres will need to unload at least one of ROR, Reino and KO in order to get faster. Trading ROR would also open up significant cap space for taking a shot at Tavares, a good defenseman or some other piece, and would presumably help rebuild the prospects pipeline. He's a good player, but I'm fine with moving him.

Seconded. I like mine with mushrooms, peppers, onions and a little mayo. And they are best in Philly. In any case: the captain of sandwiches brings it every time, and leaves an impression when the game is done. Overrated. Yeah, I said it. Unacceptable, and one of our A-wearers -- the pastrami on rye from Katz's -- would like a word. Troof. Letters: C -- Philly cheese steak A -- Hot pastrami on rye from Katz's A -- Tuna on wheat toast with tomato, cheese and bacon Rest of top 6: - Pulled pork sandwich with slaw and hot sauce - Cubano - Fried chicken with egg and cheese on biscuit