LTS

It's a good post with a lot of good thought. It's just not going to happen. It's not what this season was about and it never was. It was about growing the team and resetting the culture to prepare for the following season. The early success certainly upped the fans excitement level and expectations. Going in on trying to upgrade the team this year would be foolish in my opinion. I am confident that if there is a good deal out there that aligns with the plan they have for this team they will take it. However, I don't think there's going to be a move that attempts to salvage a playoff spot just to make the playoffs. the move will have to align with the plan for next year, not just this year. What I am happy about is seeing what this team can do, but never expected to see them do it throughout the season. Tempered enthusiasm and expectations.

The part about Americans is unnecessary? Why do you feel that way? Americans are known for needing things bigger, larger, better than ever. They live in a world of being marketed to 24x7x365 about the newest shiniest features they absolutely have to have. I didn't think that was actually in question with regards to our society.

Well, that's how i feel about it. I didn't watch the Winter Classic this year. I had better things to do and I don't like the Bruins. I also don't need all the pomp and circumstance, but most Americans do. I just want to see a hockey game played. I don't care if it's inside or outside as long as the product is not harmed. For me it's the over the top media garbage that ruins it more than the location.

If he's out Saturday to Sunday?

What many Canadian fans, and certainly Hockey Canada, are not accepting is that they are no longer the de facto gold standard for hockey in the world. The game has grown internationally and the player development systems have adapted to produce higher talented players. Hockey Canada has been clinging to old school development ideas for the past decade while they watch other countries float to the top. The US fans are certainly the same way and I would imagine would be just as bad if these things happened in American Football or basketball. I would imagine at one point it was like that for baseball, but the baseball in the US fell to the NFL and NBA so it distracted the US fan. Canada doesn't have that replacement sport. They have hockey. I admire the passion and knowledge of many Canadian fans. I've met some amazing fans from Canada who are so integrated into all hockey levels. But the actions portrayed at International events is an insult to the fans I am referring to. It's an insult to good Canadians. Unfortunately they are the face of their country at these events and it reflects poorly on all Canadians because of it.

I realize you are overstating things on purpose. But exactly how many outdoor games are there this year? I don't even know. The only reason I care is because it's relevant to this discussion. Overall though, the NHL is hardly alone in this. The NFL used to have two games on Thanksgiving. It used to play national games 2 days a week. It used to have less teams in the playoffs, and so on. College football has Bowl Games for teams that are .500. Pretty soon the NBA will have basketball all Christmas Day (maybe they do, I honestly can't even tell you 50% of the basketball teams that exist). Point is.. it's a business and if the initiative makes money, it stays. There are not enough fans who dislike the outdoor games for them to stop having them. How do you define what "the fans want?" Again, if they are drawing large crowds and an above average TV rating for the product, doesn't it indicate they are having success?

And now it's time for a SS autocorrect.. All Skinner should now be Skynyrd... ?

Hell, I am not even sure I want my kid attending a college these days, and he's not even remotely funny.

Yeah, just rip the dude without knowing the story. Good call. It may turn out that he's all sour grapes, but why assume it? The fact that there's little to no news about him makes me think that there is indeed something going on. Even better, you are actually pissed off about it? Wow.

Which fans? There are a lot of fans who do want this game, even if they are the lowest common denominator. There were 70k+ tickets/fans at the game. That's a success, even if no one watches it on TV. We are all dying...

Isn't that all anyone does or is supposed to do? Try their best at whatever they are selected to try their best at? The amount of perfection demanded by those who will never be perfect is astounding. But it's okay, because they aren't hockey players, or CEOs, or garbage collectors, or, or, or.... it's not their job. Of course they aren't perfect at their job, but that's not important.

I was commenting on the assertion of "We all agreed", not who would start the thread. I feel fairly confident that we've never all agreed, on anything here. ?

This has literally never happened on this forum.

As I predicted, I was too busy eating and drinking to pay attention to the game. I'm glad about that. Next.

So Eichel is out a few games to demonstrate that Skinner can't produce without Eichel centering him? ?

One thing is for certain... I will be too busy with other things tonight to pay too much attention to the game. I regret finally being able to watch the Sabres v Bruins... Let's Go Buffalo.

It is... it's just so awesome.

I hate not having NHL Network.. right about now.

I have one of the Reds.. it was the best of that time period. I would bet the 3rd's next year will be a royal design that they will then transition into as the regular for the 50th anniversary season. During the 50th they will have a different 3rd to wear as well. They can reverse the colors and go all gold with a little blue.. ?

Even companies with a good HR department. It's happened to me numerous times. Literally just stopped responding, to anything. The hiring manager, HR, anyone I spoke with and had contact information, all of them just stopped responding. This has happened at least 5-6 times for me and most of those were after second interviews no less. My summation is that I don't want to work for a company that conducts its business like that.

I'll miss it tonight. Watching Varsity hockey again... Although, if we end up in the bar at the rink I will glance up at the screen here or there. Let's Go Buffalo!

Reading the article in the BN about him.. his quotes...those are vintage RJ. "Still Kickin" "bolted to my lazy boy". It's never about him. In his mind he's just a guy who talks a lot. He's great.

I'm glad I've never seen the movie.. because I found that pretty damn funny.

I'm with you there. Sure, but we know he has a heart issue. He's come back after beating cancer. I'm not going further than that. RJ is making the decisions he thinks are best. The man has given so much to the Sabres fan base for so long that I can only support anything he decides.

Well, I mean that's just my read on it. But I've been told I was wrong before. Hell I think Donald Trump told me that a day or two ago on here. DISCLAIMER: This is not a political post. Literally someone used a Donald Trump to tell me I was WRONG.