nfreeman

Depending on what the alternatives are this summer, I can see bringing Lehner back for another "prove it" 1- or 2-year deal, but I don't think it's possible for him to play well enough this year for me to want to give him more term than that.

This. I would like to keep Kane, and would rather pay him a big number for the next 5 years than ROR, but Kane is no dummy and definitely understands the value of really pouring it on this year. this is certainly true as well, however. interesting.

Kids done with school this afternoon, we're heading to Massachusetts to visit my wife's family for xmas, then chilling out upstate for about 10 days while they are off school...and my son got into college last week so that process (which has gotten really complicated and labor-intensive) is over and we can relax over the break. Fantastic.

Tom Petty-Bruce Springsteen-Jerry Seinfeld-Chris Rock

Well, the excuse would've been that Nylander was a substantially better player than Sergachev -- but only if it actually works out that way. If Nylander were in the NHL this year, flying around the ice making nifty Swedish moves and on track to score 30 goals, no one would be complaining. I think this is what XGMTM thought would happen. It still might, but if it doesn't, XGMTM is accountable. Murray took over a few months before they drafted Reino, and was 100% responsible for maintaining the tank to get Eichel. And you said "Every GM's plan would have relied upon getting McDavid." As for the squandering of picks -- the more you have, the better your chances of hitting on one. I am fine with trading picks, but the trades need to work out. Again, the GM is accountable for the results.

Well, we might be mincing words here, but while I agree that every GM would've hoped to get McD, I don't think any competent GM's plan would've relied on getting McD. If your plan relies on a 5-to-1 longshot paying off -- it's a stupid plan. What does the hope/rely distinction mean in practice? It means that since you know you probably won't get McD, you plan accordingly. Maybe you don't squander your picks/prospects like a drunken sailor. Maybe you bring in better leaders. Maybe you don't tank to begin with. Maybe a bunch of other things, but what is certain is that you know you most likely aren't getting him, so don't put yourself into a situation where you are screwed if you don't get him. As for the Nylander draft: yes, they needed scoring. They also needed D -- and many observers at the time felt that they needed D more than they needed scoring. Moreover, a good all-around defenseman -- like MacAvoy -- can help team scoring as much as a good winger -- like Nylander may or may not become. Again: XGMTM was paid millions of dollars to make the right calls in these situations. He failed to do so.

No ERod?

Is he playing speed metal air guitar? Getting ready to chop someone?

I've often wondered about this. You might be exaggerating a bit in your description, but XGMTM was unquestionably more overtly disappointed and PO'd that night than was logically justified, given that the Sabres had only a 1-in-5 shot at McD. Did he really think the Sabres were going to get him? And of course the more alarming question: did his plan rely on getting McD? If he did, and his plan did, then it should've been clear immediately that he was the wrong guy for the job.

Huh? You think GMTM was not on board with the tank? I don't think I've seen anyone here post that theory. As for no one here having the credentials to get an interview -- no kidding! My point was that GMTM was paid millions of dollars to do a better job than a Sabrespace poster would've done -- and he failed to do so.

This is fair, but the guaranteed $$ that Cousins will get won't be much lower than what Stafford got. There is no way to get him without a huge guaranteed payment and a huge cap hit for at least 3 seasons. Now, it's worth noting that Brees is a UFA after this year. That's a guy worth paying through the nose for.

The bolded is certainly fair. If some of the non-Eichel picks turn into gems then GMTM's legacy will improve. As for damned if you do/don't and BPA: again, he was paid millions of dollars not to try, but to succeed. Anyone here could've tried and failed. He failed. It wasn't (presumably) out of greed or laziness or malice, but he undeniably failed, and it's fair to evaluate him accordingly.

I will respectfully but emphatically disagree with respect to Draisaitl and direct you to the following, especially :23, 1:05, 1:15 and 1:43 points (and others not listed): I will also disagree with respect to Barkov, although it's admittedly closer:

Stafford was guaranteed $60MM upon signing and $86MM on day 1 of season 2 of his deal. Does anyone want to give Cousins that much?

Draisaitl and Barkov are both much faster than Reino.

Yes indeedly. Speed, quickness, want-to and smarts. And: potential chemistry with Jackie boy. BTW: Reino has zero goals and 1 assist in his last 12 games.

I think for the 5-year period starting this year, the odds are 25% or greater that ERod is better than Reino.

Good response. Thanks. However, my understanding (which could be well off base) is that Cousins will cost $35MM to $40MM and Alex Smith will cost $25MM to $30MM. At those prices, I'd rather have TT. I'd also MUCH rather have TT than McCown or Keenum, regardless of how much those 2 would cost. I agree that the plan should be to draft a QB and to have a veteran starter for next season while the rookie is groomed. But I think TT should be that vet unless someone who's clearly better pops loose. I also agree that the Bills are almost certain to lose to the Pats.

I think there is a real possibility that Rodrigues is a better NHL player than Reino.

But NHL GMs are paid millions of dollars to be right about draft picks -- not to just follow the scouts' consensus. Otherwise anyone here could've run the draft. This is where XGMTM's gimlet eye was supposed to be a difference-maker. He was supposed to be able to figure out that Draisaitl (not to mention Pastrnak) was better than Reino and that MacAvoy and Sergachev were better than Nylander. He was supposed to look at the bunch of second-round prospects that were all ranked between a 6.6 and a 6.8 and the third-round prospects ranked between 5.5 and 5.7 and pick the right ones -- especially since he had a bunch of picks to work with -- or at least do so now and then. He was supposed to figure out that McNabb was a better asset than Fasching. More accurately, he was supposed to be right on these calls a respectable percentage of the time, instead of wrong on just about all of them. This doesn't even touch on his inability to put together a roster that functioned well together, to bring in a solid goalie to give confidence to a young team, to foster a winning culture in Rochester or to comprehend that the tank was an idiotic move. He was a debacle.

I think what TP said about McD being religious was more in the context of McD being a person of good character -- i.e. character being the key factor, not devoutness. TP also emphasized McD's attention to detail much more than he did character or faith. As for disputing the point -- the point I am disputing is that devoutness played any kind of significant role in the choice. I continue to think this is nonsense and not supported by the facts. And as you noted there is no indication that TP played much if any of a role in selecting Housley -- let alone that any of the factors mentioned in PA's post were considered. I am simply responding to your trollish and baseless assertion that TP applied silly criteria in the selection of Housley.

Correct. Darcy couldn't draft forwards and GMTM couldn't draft anyone.

While I think it is reasonably likely that TT is gone -- although if he gets them into the playoffs and looks good in the playoffs then I think they will keep him -- I would like to know who specifically will be a better option in FA. Do you want to spend $35-$40MM on Cousins? As for the draft -- they aren't going to have a top-15 pick and aren't going to be able to trade up into the top 2 or 3. Who specifically will they be able to draft that would be better than TT next year? Completely agree with this.

Nonsense.

This.