nfreeman

Nice list. I'd add one D question: will there be a reshuffling so that we end up with LHD-RHD on each pair, as opposed to 2 pairs with same-handed guys? I've seen a few reputable Sabres writers (including I think the guys on Maintenance Day) speculate that it will look something like this: Dahlin-Joki Power-Cliffie Mule-E Johnson I kinda expect them to keep Dahlin with Mule, but I wouldn't be shocked either way.

You're right, but still -- let the man be.

Yes -- he was poised, calm and very accurate.

Skinner is there too!

Not to my knowledge. I was just responding to the assertion that it was the agents that are pushing for LT deals — I don’t think this makes sense in the context of Dahlin though as it seems almost certain that the Sabres would want the full 8 years.

But it sounds like Dahlin wants a shorter deal, so he can cash in again in 5 years while still in his prime, and the Sabres want the full 8.

Before anyone throws a temper tantrum — I will move all of these posts when I get to my desk. In the meantime, please take this to the politics club.

What a debacle.

Is anyone revising their personal Sabres prospect rankings to move Rosen higher? I sure am. He looks great. He’s a great skater, he seems to have great vision/awareness and passing/playmaking skills AND he can laser it in with the wrister.

I know the Jets have a really good D, but the Bills, especially JA, are playing a million times better than last week.

Thanks. Great snipe goals by Benson and Rosen! Does anyone know who made the sweet pass from behind the net on Neuchev’s goal? EDIT: looks like it was Kozak. Very nice play.

Savoie and Rosen are fixtures IMHO and then maybe Kisakov or Kulich?

I most liked Rosen and Savoie at F and Metsa on D. Kulich sure looks strong on his skates but couldn't quite put it together until his sweet PPG at the end. Benson made a few very nice plays on the backcheck but not as much on offense. Ryan Johnson had a few nice moments. Metsa seemed like the dman who was most in control IMHO.

@SwampD -- is the 2018 stuff about TP saying, at a meeting with players and owners, that the NFL should have an African-American spokesperson the stuff you're referring to?

Yeah, baby! Yeah!

What reports, and when? I don’t think there have been any stories about racist comments by TP before this.

Interesting. So the implication is that the Sabres have had discussions on a 7- or 8-year extension with OP. Since Sanderson got a bit over $8MM per year, it seems pretty likely that OP would expect at least $8MM per year as well.

Seth Appert said yesterday on WGR that Komarov is injured (lower body, not a major injury) and will miss the tournament. Bummer.

OK. I was simply making the point that the smear wasn't solely the law firm's doing. More broadly, I've said multiple times in this thread in the last day or 2, including to you directly, that we don't know the facts here, that TP should sue IF he didn't say it and IF further factual inquiry indicates that Trotter was acting recklessly, etc. If you want to ignore those clearly stated predicates in reaching a conclusion about my views, you're of course free to do so.

What does this mean?

What? While I agree that TP also has a beef against the unnamed person who allegedly told the story at the zoom meeting -- which itself is far from a "fact" -- Trotter is the one who, in the effort to squeeze the NFL, has published the smear, which includes numerous statements referring to "what Mr. Pegula had said given that it was so highly offensive and racist", "Mr. Pegula's discriminatory remarks", etc. My point all along -- which I think you understand -- has been that IF TP didn't say it, he's plenty justified in suing Trotter. I have no idea why you think TP is "certainly not suing Trotter."

I completely agree about this law firm. I also think though that ultimately the decision to smear TP like this is Trotter’s, and he’s accountable for doing so.

That's the primary issue of the lawsuit, sure -- but the pursuit of that objective doesn't make it OK for Trotter to recklessly smear TP or anyone else with a major character assassination YMMV, of course.

I was using your phrasing. Either way, my suspicion wouldn’t ripen into, say, belief (which appears to be what you’re driving at) without more facts — e.g. I’d like to know whether Trotter did any work to confirm the story he allegedly heard before making the accusation.

Well, I didn’t post it to say “this matter has now been conclusively determined” — I posted it because I thought it was relevant info. At this point, on one hand, we have an accusation of a racist comment 5ish years ago, made by someone who didn’t hear it, but who claims to have been told about it 3 years ago by an unidentified person at a meeting with about 40 others in attendance — none of whom have said anything publicly about it. And on the other hand, we have a forceful, on-the-record denial by the person who allegedly made the comment, plus a report that the NFL interviewed everyone who was there the night of the alleged comment and they all denied hearing it. Is that enough to say we absolutely know what happened? Of course not. But I would not believe this type of accusation about anyone without quite a bit more to support it than what we have here As one of the frothers, my suspicion is that the accusation was made recklessly, not maliciously — and IMHO if you smear someone with a serious accusation like this recklessly, you deserve to get sued.