LTS

Can't go back and quote everyone in the thread... but here are my thoughts: When we begin debating the value of draft picks I understand the desire to point out the statistical hit rate. The problem is that you have to also account for the depth of talent in a particular draft year. This is why it's critical for the scouting department to look a few years out and try and project. A 2nd this year might be more valuable than a 2nd next year if the talent pool is deemed to not be that deep. If we just keep arguing over the generic "it's bad to move this pick or this pick isn't worth getting" we'll never get anywhere without also discussing the players available with those picks. I don't see a player like Panarin being available unless CBJ wants to drop themselves from the playoff race. They would have to essentially kiss the playoffs goodbye if they wanted to move him. They are likely stuck keeping him for the season (unless they begin to drop in the standings of course). I don't think Botterill will be looking to upset the trajectory of the franchise this year.

I've no problem with them winning tonight. I might even enjoy it. Errrrrr Go Sabres. Amazingly enough this is one of those games where the Sabres have been the Penguins over the past few years. Bottom of the basement, playing a top team. Time to collect on all those losses... gotta win this game.

How are you justifying discounting assists when assists can only be tallied when a goal is scored? I understand your point about 1.7 assists / goal but I am failing to understand how that applies to the players being evaluated. Both are responsible for the exact same number of pucks entering the net. Neither of them have earned an assist anywhere else... they can't. You can't earn an assist if a puck doesn't go in the net. You don't know what other players have done nor can you assume what they've done since you don't have that information. Player A directly scored 35 of his teams goals and he indirectly assisted on 55 more. He had no more or no less impact on goals entering the net than 90. The rest of the players on the ice could have scored 0 or 1,000 goals and A would have no more and no less points than 90. Player B directly scored 20 of his teams goals and he indirectly assisted on 70 more. He had no more or no less impact on goals entering the net than 90. The rest of the players on the ice could have scored 0 or 1,000 goals and B would have no more and no less points than 90. This 1.7 number is not applicable as they earned the assist. It's not projected, it happened. If you were trying to project how many assists players would get based on the number of goals scored you'd apply the 1.7 number by the number of goals.

I 100% agree with PA here. He shot it wide. I know we've questioned his shooting accuracy but he's not missing a wide open net with no pressure. He just got rid of the puck. He could have shot it earlier if he had wanted to score. The Wild had already backed off him. He waited for the horn and shot right as it was about to sound.

I'm not entirely sure what you are getting at. Those two stat lines are responsible for the same amount of goals as it pertains to those two players directly. I don't care how they balance out if they are both responsible for the same amount of goals that go in the net. If you bring the third player into this it doesn't really change anything for me. In order to get an assist, someone has to put the puck in the net. I only care about the goals because those are what go up on the scoreboard. If a player is generating assists it means someone is scoring. Whether it's Player A, Player B, or the "other players" who comprise the team. the point is that goals are being scored... and that matters.

It'll depend on Skinner's willingness to sign. Also, I think the looming Seattle expansion draft will play into what teams are willing to do. They're going to know that they need to protect parts of their roster for it. I half wonder if Reinhart is being set up to be the guy that gets moved in that expansion draft.

It's a classy move. They know they've won, the Wild backed off even trying to come back. No need to show them up. Burying that goal gets all manner of players taking a run at you in the next game you play.

By whose judgment? It's a bit presumptuous to be telling anyone how they are supposed to feel about the situation you described. In the end, Jack Eichel will be involved in some percentage of the team's overall scoring. You want him to drive that number. If he does and the rest of the team isn't coming along such that he's somewhere near 45-50% then it's a huge issue (but not with Eichel). If he's in the 30-35% range and the team fills out the rest then that's a good thing. I don't care who puts the puck in the net, I care that the puck goes in the net. I care that it goes in the net more than the other team puts it in the Sabres net. Those are the real metrics that matter.

Damn, that's a great read. It's interesting though because some restaurants pay to get on those lists just so they can have too many people. I wouldn't blame anyone but our society which feasts on being told what to do and constantly making decisions based on what others think is a great idea rather than researching and taking our own risks. Worse yet, when that "great idea" turns out not to fit the person they blame whoever told them about it. I've visited some restaurants that are on "lists". I don't go out of my way to find them but if they are on the way I might try and stop. Most of them have not had the problem that Stanich's had. Thankfully. Thanks for sharing, and the carpenter you have is a keeper. Working only from referrals means he'll do the job right or not have a job to do.

I agree. If this team were losing and Eichel had the same point production people would question his leadership, etc. The team makes everyone look better than they are. I happen to be a fan of Toews but he's not worth $10.5M. He happened upon the right situation at the right time, just like Eichel did. A team that needed to sign him or else risk losing what they were building. A few years later and that contract is looking real bad. I don't think that's going to happen with Eichel. I wonder how many teams are scoring as prolifically on that one-timer play these days. It seems so many teams have tried to go to it that teams might find a way (and goaltenders) to lessen the percentage chance of success. Granted he's not hitting the net much either. Could be the stick change? The good news is that a talented player has a better chance of adapting to those kinds of changes.

Pretty sure he won't be in the running for it this year. It's amazing what the team around you can do for your stats. But, whatever. Jack is fine. He's worth every penny being spent on him (when using NHL economic value rules). He makes the Sabres go right now and they are going very well.

You can turn that feature off. ?

This is a tough read. Emotionally and logically it seems like there is only one path forward, allow the donations. However, this creates a slippery slope of precedent for the NCAA where other athletes could end up attempting to create similar situations.

Only a foot of snow here. Cleared the driveway, fire hydrant, paths in about an hour (moving cars around, etc.) I felt great, I wanted a beer. Then I realized it was 7:30am and I had to work. Winter Sucks.

As you said with regards to other players who are overachieving. Their totals will come down. Jack's totals will go up. I'd worry about it at the end of the season or if the Sabres fall off their current pace. Right now... the team is winning. Jonathon Toews.

Sixteen years create so many memories. We had to put our dog down a few summers ago at the age of seventeen. At the time my wife and I had only been married 19 years so the dog was pretty much there with us for our entire time together. I relived the moment in your words and I have nothing but the deepest sympathy. Remember her fondly. CSS will be the key. Ruby won't be all that important. There are far too many web "developers" and not enough web "designers". If you can master UI/UX and bring solid design decisions you'll be able to free lance like a maniac for all the developers who can't design anything to save their lives.

8pm game on a Friday... I figured I'd be busy and miss the game. But Mother Nature delivered a foot of snow overnight so I'm already in "staying in" mode. Let's go Buffalo... I kinda want chicken wings tonight. (random thought)

I didn't say he would perform the same. Not sure what you are laughing at. I didn't say he could be a good NFL QB.. I said decent. And the Jets D, despite whatever "decent" personnel they have.. still got lit up by a team that sucks. My whole point is that using the Jets as a measuring stick for your "schlub off the street" isn't really saying much. The Jets blow... hard. How much better do you think the Bills would have been with your schlub if he had played against the Bears?

And that's the thing with Thompson. He's not clueless on the ice. He's more like "helpless". He just doesn't have the strength to move the frame he's been given. I would bet against lower skilled opponents he'll do just fine. He's gotta beat NHL players to be successful. If he can get into that frame he'll be a solid player. I do want to see more of that top end shot he has though.

Damn.. with no karaoke music to help them. That's brutal. Glad they are good at playing hockey!

I can answer this question. Jack's shooting percentage is fine. I know this because the team is winning and he's not the one scoring goals. The Sabres are winning without their most talented player being the one who has to fill the net. Yes, his shooting percentage is fine.

I do think it speaks volumes as to what passes for entertainment these days. The fact that SI feels the need to go in that direction is a testament to what people look for out of their media outlets. Nathan Peterman deserved a wrap-up article describing his inability to perform as a QB in the NFL. He doesn't deserve this kind of treatment. He was never supposed to be a gifted football player. He was never supposed to be a starting QB of the highest order. He wasn't drafted #2 overall. He was asked to be a QB of a pathetic football team and when he failed he was mocked. The O-Line is crap, the WR are crap, the offensive coordinator is crap and the coach like to clap. Sadly Nathan Peterman is being made the punchline of the joke that is the Buffalo Bills. The way I see it. The guy had a dream of playing in the NFL. He achieved the dream. He wasn't good at it. He might have been able to be decent at it if he was on a team that wasn't loaded with non-football talent. He might not have been. However it works out, he made it to the NFL. Move on. Mocking his performance does nothing more than remind all fans of just how sad their football team really is. Against a pathetic team. Let's be real here. The Jets are a bigger joke than the Bills. The Jets had the ultimate in never gonna make it QBs playing for them. McCown is the measuring stick of Nathan Petermans in the NFL. They have no defense, no offense. It's not like there was much to overcome.

Yeah... my fantasy team is well aware of the Patrick Laine impact this season. While this would be good for my fantasy team (assuming Helly is in net) it would be bad for me personally. So, I have to root against the Jets. Tough week, my goalies are Tampa and Jets. At least the lightning didn't play Vasilevsky.

If you stress over the number you'll harm yourself in so many ways. Glad to see that you don't anymore. Judge yourself on your the effort you put in as you are and you'll be happier and healthier. ?

No, he's slow. He started last night faster than usual but it quickly regressed back to the norm. While I disagree that he skates just fine and I partially allow for 21 and 6'5, the problem I have is that regardless of all of it, his "just fine" skating is not NHL caliber. Noted that right away. It was a smart change and I think spells the end of the Thompson lineup experiment. He's just burned out of the 4th line. The only place left is Rochester and I wouldn't even guarantee time there at the moment. Until he got pulled because he had slowed to nothing, couldn't control the puck, couldn't make a pass, and couldn't body guys... She was rough to start but it cleaned up as the game progressed. I had heard her on other games in passing so I was surprised at the beginning that she was fumbling the words and not doing a great job of providing insight. Even the insight portions really cleared up by the end. It's certainly a change of pace that takes the ear/brain a few moments to adjust to. That said, I think she does a very good job given her experience and I do suspect it will only improve. As for some of the things she says, I always wonder how much of it is "storyline" from NBCSN directives.