Weave

Well, seeing as they can’t readily get on a plane and fly out now, leaving the coop might be a bit challenging. And I am sure threats to family members will be back in style.

That gamble on all the Russians last year might be giving KA some indigestion right about now.

Holy impatience, Batman!

I have a profound dislike for Gronk. I’m not sure I could shake that dislike even if he were signed in Buffalo.

Is that what happened to everyone else?

The last thing I want is yet another good player’s timeline kicked down the road another 3-5 yrs, which is the timeline for Tuch’s 50% chance at replacement. This is how the whole ***** show started a decade ago. Let’s not continue this.

Hey, I’m not the one questioning their presence in Ukraine.

Damn. That is harshly awesome.

Asplund being bumped down to Bjork/Eakin replacement is effectively the same as losing his spot. He’s been pushed out of the top 9.

John Rigas. I know, semantics.

Wait….. did that happen?

I keep going back to our vet-to-kid ratio is all wrong. He might turn into someone’s valuable bottom 6er. He shouldn’t be ours though. We need to concentrate on developing difference makers and bring in good vets for the rest so the future difference makers are properly supported. Murray was a gambler. Botts was all about the safe play. Adams needs to be the best of both.

Man, you lay it out like that and it's no wonder my bitterness was extended another year. I mean, I knew but..... I did not have a front of the brain consciousness of just how tank-y this season is.

It's a numbers game now. We've reached critical mass with this current group of kids. There are too many kids to continue to support developing Asplund. We need to make room for the next one we think is going to be the ceiling that Asplund never reached.

After last season I would have been OK if we moved on from Thompson, and you know what? I wouldn't care in the slightest if he did for another team what he is doing today as long as we got good value and the team was properly balanced. Hockey trades where both teams win are the best trades. No remorse here. Who would I prune? Joki would be on my list if he didn't play the right side. We're flush with young D. Some need to go. If they are that strong as prospects we should get value coming back. Win win. I've seen all I need to see of Asplund, Bryson, R2, and I know this one will generate flames, but I wouldn't hate seeing Mitts go. He's 23 and we still don't know what we've got. If he really has that much promise he'll bring value. It's a competition for who gets developed and he's got alot of kids breathing down his neck for that spot. Kids I'd build around: Cozens, Dahlin, Krebs, Mule, Thompson, and the kids that haven't had their 9 games yet. That's like 8 kids on the roster spread among all positions. I'd move Johnson. We have too many young D to support developing him properly.

I think you're right. I feel the same about R2 and Asplund as well.

And IMO that will be a mistake. I think we have reached a point where team management needs to start selecting young players that aren't going to be difference makers and move them out. They are diluting the development and exposure of the ones we need to hit their ceilings. It's like a classroom with 1 teacher and 40 kids.

Not links, obviously, but I've seen tons of reporting and video footage of Chechen military types in Ukraine. I thought it was well known at this point. Edit to add, a quick google search returns a very diverse international reporting from respected news orgs reporting the presence of Chechnyan soldiers.

Nothing would be more Buffalo than having a convicted felon own the team. Again.

How can this not be self evident to so many people?

I hate that internet conversations are so damned digital. On at least two occassions I said that our vets were not the right ones, and it contributes to the problem. Of course we need the right vets. Saying we need the right players isn't profound, and its certainly not very debatable. You still need enough of them to make sure the kids aren't overwhelmed by their experiences. And I think its about as obvious as a sunrise that our kids have been overwhelmed because they haven't had enough support around them. And yes, that means the right support, not just lots of it.

I posted the numbers for you already. Neither Col nor Car left so many kids with so few vets.

Repeating ad nauseum, we support more young players with fewer veteran players than any other team in the league. And we keep doing it.