nfreeman

Yes -- these smaller arenas (including Hamilton -- IIRC, it would need to undergo a substantial expansion to be NHL-ready) are entirely different animals than an NHL/NBA arena, which start at $300MM or an NFL stadium, which start at $600MM. And if they aren't interested in doing so, and your team is ready to move to another city that will build them a stadium -- are you OK with that?

I recall this too. Kinda interesting how it worked out -- DR said no on this deal, which meant the Sabres ended up with Risto at #8, and not Elias Lindholm (a 6'1" center whom Carolina picked at #5 and who has had 2 respectable 39-point seasons) or Sean Monahan (a 6'3" center whom Calgary picked at #7 and who has had a 62-point season and a 63-point season). But DR, later that day, said yes to a different Carolina offer of #35 overall (which the Sabres used to pick JT Compher, who was, in 2015, included in the ROR trade) plus Jamie McBain for Sekera. If one was so inclined, one could read this as a microcosm of the DR era -- he avoided splashy moves like the plague and was terrible at drafting forwards, but he loved to collect 2nd-tier assets like, say 2nd-round picks. So he decided to trade a pretty decent defenseman in Sekera (who's averaged 22 min per game in the 3 seasons since the Sabres traded him), but instead of using the return on a potential star center in Monahan, he took a good defense prospect and a forward who was at least 3 years away from being an NHL player (and projects as a 3rd-liner in any case). Back to the original point, though, I would also point out that Sekera was substantially better than Pysyk.

What's the purpose of identifying the hypothetical investor's race here? Would it be OK to substitute a different race in this sentence?

Interesting. Without knowing anything about who would likely be there at #4 relative to #8, I think I would do it.

What city has built a football stadium without a team? What city other than KC has built a hockey/basketball arena without a team? What city has spent large amounts of public money on either a stadium or an arena without increasing the taxes I cited? I am neither "speculating that" nor "speculating whether." I am simply pointing out that the question is pretty much meaningless without considering the consequences of a "no" response. FWIW, I don't think TP will hold the city/state hostage for a fat public contribution to a stadium project, although I expect that there will be some public money as part of it (and for the record I think the Ralph is great and I would greatly prefer no new stadium).

I think the "it depends" option might fairly be rephrased as "if the team is going to leave unless the public pays for a new stadium, then yes I will go along with it, but otherwise no." Because that's really the question here, right? Without that threat, no one would support spending public money on stadiums. So the question should be "are you OK with an increase in your property, sales and income taxes -- or would you rather lose your team?" If your position is "no public funding for stadiums, but I don't want to lose my team," you haven't taken a position. It's the same as saying "I want the Sabres to sign Stamkos but I don't want them to give him more than $5MM per year."

Well, I interpreted your post as you proposing it as a realistic trade possibility. Since you didn't mean it that way (although you might've said something like "I wouldn't give Edmonton any more than XYZ for #4, and I wouldn't expect them to agree"), then I withdraw my gibe.

And just like that, years of painstaking, steady progress is wiped away.

Now that one was a crowd-pleaser.

Congrats WC!

Outstanding.

Ribs?

Post - exile Ali would've certainly respected peak Tyson's power and rudimentary skill, and would've game-planned appropriately, waited for the right moment and put Tyson down (much like he did against Foreman). Pre-exile Ali, like pre-baseball Jordan, would've just done whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. As a side note, Foreman, Frazier and Norton would've been great opponents for Tyson.

For those interested, "When We Were Kings," which is a documentary about the Ali-Foreman Rumble in the Jungle, is excellent, and "Ali" with Will Smith was also quite good IMHO. He was really something, both in and out of the ring. I have some issues with some things he did, but he was certainly an inspiration to millions and was the boxing equivalent of Michael Jordan. He would've taken Mike Tyson apart.

I wouldn't trade #8 for Barrie and I don't think GMTM will either.

If TB really is capped at $9MM x 6 years, he is gone.

Well, I don't think the data you originally posted really supports this statement either. Killorn's stats away from Stamkos are pretty close to Stamkos' stats away from Killorn, while Stamkos' stats away from Callahan are substantially better than Callahan's away from Stamkos. And while the biggest spread is with Namestnikov, that one also has the smallest sample size, as he only played 12 min per night in 5x5 (NB that Callahan got more ice time than Killorn or Namestnikov, so his stats may be the most reliable). Your point about relative league constipation is a good one, and effectively rebuts my theory (dammit!) -- but there are other key differences to consider between 2011-12 and this past year: - In 11-12, TB was 8th in the NHL in scoring, as compared with 12th this year. - In 11-12, TB played a much more fast-and-loose game -- dead last in defense in 11-12, as compared with 5th-best this year (under a different coach). - In 11-12, Stammer had a talented, experienced and high-scoring linemate in St-Louis (who had 49 assists that year). Killorn and Namestnikov are nice young players, but nowhere near as productive as MSL. - In 11-12, Stammer played over 22 min per game, as compared with under 20 min per game this year. Overall, I agree that we're not likely to see 60 goals from Stammer ever again, unless the NHL removes head from rectum and implements significant offense-friendly changes. But he's still a highly effective player, and I think with better linemates than he had this year -- which I think he'd have on the Sabres -- we're looking at 40/40/80.

Before last night's game, I was thinking GS in 5. Now I think there's a real chance of a sweep -- and a greater chance of that than of Cleveland winning 2 games. GS is just a much better team on both ends. FWIW, I'm rooting for the Cavs and I think LeBron is a pretty good guy, but he also should be held accountable for forcing the Cavs into a series of bad, and consequential, personnel moves. The Tristan Thompson contract was ridiculous for a guy who's no more than a good role player, and the Wiggins-for-Love trade (followed by the Love max contract) was a debacle.

Opened and bumped for your happy posting needs.

A small thing, but awesome (to me) anyway: I hung out with 2 old friends last night and watched the NBA finals. Once you get to a certain age, between work, family, etc. there just aren't that many opportunities for that kind of hanging out. It was great.

OK gents. Just to be clear, this is my understanding of the bet: Risto signs an extension for 3 years or less -- I win Risto signs an extension for 4 years or more -- you win Yes?

Yes indeedly!

$25 wager with proceeds to charity chosen by the winner?

I don't think the data you posted supports (or really relates to) the bolded. Now this is a legit concern. Still, he was tied for 7th in goals last year with 36, and had 43 the previous year (which was after the injury). And, FWIW, the year before that, which is when he hurt his leg, he had 25 goals in 37 games. I think overall NHL offensive constipation is more to blame for the (modest) decline in his production more than the injury is. I also think that there is no end in sight to offensive constipation, and in those circumstances, goals, and goal-scorers, are even more valuable. I also think, when he is a Sabre, he will lead the team in goals for at least the first 5 years of his contract. Boom! Good post. I'm out at $12MM.

Well, I want Stamkos too, but I don't think you can ignore the contract issue, which is pretty much the basis for everyone's concern. I don't think anyone here would object to him coming here at $3MM x 3 years.