nfreeman

I'm finding it kinda challenging to get excited for a game these days.

Your fix is certainly true in most cases, but I'd note that the magnitude of the grift in NYS, and of its destructive effects, are in the 99th percentile relative to other state and local governments. I agree that the huge number associated with the stadium -- and that's before overruns, which are a lock to be enormous -- brings the issue into stark relief.

In the abstract, perhaps, but in reality the greedy and corrupt grifters that have been running NYS for generations would simply find other ways to spend the public's money and continue to keep their skim until the bitter end.

I think PA's post reflects a large amount of spin and would like a link on this.

I will also repeat something else I've said on this: the Sabres' franchise value is probably pretty GD depressed right now, with attendance at rock-bottom, the team looking at another bottom-3 finish and various pandemic and other economic hits to WNY reducing demand for tickets for the foreseeable future. It would not make economic sense for TP to sell the team, or a portion of it, now. It would make much more sense to wait a couple of years for the team and the economy to (presumptively) improve.

Respectfully, the other owners wouldn't give a crap about keeping the Sabres in Buffalo. For that matter, the Leafs are probably the most powerful franchise and they would gladly support the franchise moving. The other owners care about the Benjamins, and Buffalo doesn't provide many of them. Many, many more would flow from Houston or a number of other places. I'll say it again: don't kid yourself about the NHL, about clauses in the contract or about anything else on this. If TP sells the team, the risk of losing the team will immediately jump from 10% to at least 50%.

They are 11-36 in their last 47. If they weren’t trying to tank then they really pooped the bed.

I think Asplund could bump any of those 3 out of a spot on that line, or could get healthy-scratched. I'd guess it will depend on how each of them is playing at the time.

I expect Quinn to take Asplund's spot pretty quickly.

FWIW, Hamilton recently said unequivocally that his sources have told him the team is not for sale (and I think he said no minority stake either).

SFiNS -- you know I luv ya, but you should know by now that when you lob hand grenades into conversations on touchy subjects, as you've done upthread and in the Hasek thread, the poopstorm is inevitable.

I can see missing the experience of having young kids, and taking them somewhere that they really enjoy, but missing Chuck E Cheese itself? The ones in Rochester must've been a lot nicer than the ones I patronized.

And I could wear my white Myers jersey again! I would also support this as a hockey move -- he's a pretty solid player who didn't reach his potential, but still decent, has the right term remaining on his contract, presumably wouldn't cost much and would definitely fill a need.

As a related point, being a parent is the most rewarding thing I've ever done, but there are certainly major sacrifices that are part of the deal -- and one of them is spending time in Chuck E Cheese when your kids are young.

Who is the tweeter?

I think Bjork could get waived and sent to Rochester and Asplund could become the 13th forward. Vinnie is better than both of them.

Both of these are obnoxious.

On paper/screen this is interesting but IRL not likely I'm afraid. I don't think anyone will give them anything for a clearly injury-diminished VO and I don't think any decent FA will sign here after yet another bottom-5 (and maybe bottom-3) finish.

I think with VO it should come down to whether the Sabres think he can get healthy over the summer. If they think the slapper is gone for good, they should try to get whatever they can get for him and not give him a contract with term.

Well, saying we owe a lot of the current core to JB cuts both ways. The current core is delivering yet another bottom-5 finish. Also, most of them are here only because of terrible moves by JB. Skinner — terrible contract TT — terrible ROR trade Dahlin — terrible DFL finish in a season in which JB was trying to ice a good team To be fair, some of the members of the current core that JB brought in — Cozens, Mitts, Joki, Mule — appear to have good upside, although they haven’t really delivered yet.

The Manchurian Goalie.

Well, the Sabres are 6th-last in the NHL, so there aren't many compliments to be given here.

Well, Eakin makes $2.25MM and Zemgus makes $2.2MM. I’d call both of them JAGs. I guess it goes back to your definition of JAG, which is a point you made earlier. I’ll ask again: leaving aside the snark about other stats, and noting that I said explicitly that the other stuff does matter, albeit not nearly as much as goals do, what kind of deal do you think VO would get as a UFA if he scores 11 or 12 goals this year and next year? Would he get more than Eakin?

Yes, goals. The things that are counted in determining wins. The things that are twice as precious as assists on scoring plays. The things that Gretzky and the Rocket and Bossy and Ovechkin produced. Assists matter, as do saves and blocked shots and plenty of other things. Goals matter more — a lot more. Put another way: if VO finishes this year and next year with 11 or 12 goals per year, would you expect him to be paid materially more than JAG level?

PP2 for the end of this season: Mitts VO Quinn KO Power That's kinda interesting.