LTS

Provides a continuation of the woody feel without being wood.

Your words so fit your name and remind me of all the chatterboxes who play EASports NHL series. He's undersized right now and that's the problem. He may be tall, but he's a feather. He'll need to add 15lbs to really get formidable and i hope he can do it. He's 20 years old so if he doesn't get a little more muscle mass soon he might want to think about a career in beach volleyball.

The camera settings on the lower angle were awful. As for the broadcast looking washed out, I understand what you mean. I do wonder, and perhaps I will test, if they are broadcasting a flatter image to accommodate people who run their television picture settings on "Vivid" or the like. It wouldn't surprise me in the least. However, that picture you saw from that one camera was an indication of someone turning up the saturation waaaaay too much. This is the problem with analysis. People blame the messenger for being negative when it's situation that is negative. If you saw it in that game but want to ignore talking about it, that's fine, but it doesn't change that it happened. The Sabres were lucky the Coyotes don't score more. They had plenty of chances and the Sabres were in their own end far too much. The win is great but after the game there's undoubtedly going to be a focus from the coaching staff on defensive zone coverage. It doesn't help that they backed off the high pressure game early on (2-0) and that helped Arizona get in the zone. The Sabres are still struggling against a strong forechecking team. They will need to improve. The good news is that they are showing the capability to score. The positives are that this team is producing enough positive moments on the ice to overcome the negative moments. Recall the Vegas game where they scored on 3 of their 4 shots in the period. Most of the time if you get 4 shots in a period it means you are getting thoroughly owned by the opposition. However, the Sabres 3 goals were all absolutely grade A shots and they ended up in the net. At 3-2 there's little doubt this team is trending in the right direction and if they can keep bending on defense while still getting timely goal scoring this will continue but to beat the better teams in the league they will need to improve their puck possession, breakouts, and defensive zone play.

No one's making money with 900 people in the seats.

It doesn't... not every coach is the same either. You prefer one style, there are other styles out there. The real question will be is Housley is the style of coach that works for the team. It doesn't matter if he works for the fans. I'm not saying he is or isn't the answer. I don't think we know yet.

Well, it was an interesting addition. But overall, yeah, the name calling should stop. I don't mind people being called obtuse, but there's no need to call people minions or sycophants... unless it really fits of course. Like most things, the value and impact is not fully realized for years. This is why I generally never get all bent over these things or claim any victory/loss. Economies adapt to changes like this such that in a few years the waters are level. The reason for this is that the nature of things prevails over whatever false rules people want to create. They are band-aids to the problems and like all band-aids they will fall off eventually and either be replaced with something new or leave the festering wound exposed. The problem isn't solved, it's only moved.

You can be you. Whoever you want to be... that is all. There's nothing more to it. You are beginning to now go into your attack everything mode and just look for any word you can jostle around to try and further whatever agenda you have on your mind. (see the bolded above). I've no idea what you are even getting at with that and it comes across as just trying to fabricate some kind of attack on me. I know you never said anything about Dahlin's skin, I said that in my first response to you. It's helpful if you remember that rather than bringing it up again in a misguided attempt to justify your indignation. You'll note that Dahlin's skin has looked good at the draft as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he's had make-up applied because he's on camera. Even more interesting, in these situations, is that in person I bet it's not as obvious either. However, many digital cameras (video, etc.) have algorithms that over-sharpen images. This accentuates the problem so that when viewing through a camera it's likely more obvious. This happens to me as well. I have scarring on my jaw line from it and on camera it is far more noticeable than in person.

The guy who runs LetsGoAmerks posted that Delaware North is giving Amerks season ticket holders a $15 gift card as an apology for screwing up.

You know they aren't the same organization right? Delaware North doesn't handle the uniforms for the Sabres. Shrug.... we shall see what the future holds.

I needed that laugh...

Yes. You can continue to ignore the body of evidence that is the history of how the NHL operates or not. It doesn't matter to me. This is not my opinion, this is what happens. The business aspects of handling roster assets often interfere with what the "BEST" line up is on the ice. Arguing with me will not change that.

Now THAT's how you respond to this situation. Well done. Very well done. We've ALL been there. ?

Statistics never account for the concept of managing assets and contracts. They help guide the decision that should be made, but there are times when the "wrong" player needs to play in a game because of a greater benefit to the organization than winning that one game (or winning by more). It's how the business side impacts the game.

Angry Eleven showing up! I'm confused, my friend. Did you use those phrases because someone else did and then say let's never use them again? I agree with them not being necessary but I feel like this is the first time I have seen the phrase "Russian pee-women" anywhere on this forum. I have not looked at reports on the updated agreement, but since I am traveling to Canada in 3 weeks anything that is improving the Canadian dollar versus the US is only going to make me mad. My hotel room will now cost me more. The conversation might be best served by pointing out what economic pundits are saying and then agree that people will have different opinions. Sadly the long term nature of these things usually mean that no one is really right about what happened (and also really wrong, unless you claimed alien intervention). I look at economic improvement and decline a lot like how a start-up operates. In many cases, the managerial talent necessary to make a start-up successful is not the same talent that it takes to maintain a start-up once it has progressed past start-up stage. I believe the US economy works similarly. Neither side is capable of creating a sustainable growing economy and so they end up trading off and each performing their necessary work on the economic machine to keep it generally growing. Every now and then there's a big problem but that's normal.

https://www.sla.ny.gov/definition-of-license-classes It appears there are many more classifications. There's even a Ball Park Beer license. Didn't know that! I know Tap & Mallet, a normal bar, only has a Restaurant Wine license. If you have a liquor license you can sell beer & wine as well but there is a lower license for not selling liquor.

Do you really believe that having Elie in the lineup is what made the team work? The fact that Elie is a waiver wire pickup and has been with the team all of about 10 days does matter. He won't have the same knowledge of the system or as much chemistry with players. He is clearly someone another team didn't want on their starting roster. Larsson isn't being inserted for Reinhart and as such that's what makes it a difference. Elie may prove to be a better player than Larsson. But in the world of managing hockey assets, Larsson plays. This is not a Phil Housley thing. This is how rosters are handled in the NHL by every GM and coach who have come before and those who will succeed them.

Hurt might be a strong word... it bothers me yes. It bothers me, not so much directly, but that we continue to act in such ways about things like this. IC has clarified his position as well on this. And I did post about it... My favorite "used to". Ever go back and watch old Tom & Jerry cartoons? There are some they don't show anymore and it's pretty obvious why. It's okay to evolve as people. There's a fine line to all of this without a doubt. You claim there is a lot of overthinking going on here, it could just as easily be asserted that there is a lot of underthinking going on here as well. Either way, you can still be you.

We'd get there eventually. I do the same. It's a better conversation with a drink in hand. ?

It's possible they have a beer and wine license but the liquor license isn't completed? I don't know. Their statement would be something that could be expected if they had never done this before. But that's their core competency ... no excuses.

It's probably not worth continuing to pursue. Let's just see what happens and we can discuss when there's more evidence.

Right now I think the 3rd and 4th lines are somewhat interchangeable based on who has their feet going and are producing in the game. Larsson being in the lineup should not surprise you especially since he's inserted for Elie, a waiver wire pickup. This lineup will continue to flux in those areas and this is what should be happening this season. I would hope that Larsson shows well enough that some team wants him so the Sabres are confident they can ship him out and insert Elie or whomever back in and not lose anything in doing so. At the same time, if Larsson bombs then I would expect him to get waived or be switched with Girgensons. It's roster competition. As for Thompson and MIttlestadt, I think the hope is that they learn in the NHL right now so they move themselves into the second line positions or make themselves a viable scoring 3rd line.

Can you STOP ignoring that I said "on paper". If I handed you a list of standings with the team names blacked out and you saw a team 3-1-0 and a team that was 2-1-0 would you say that the 3-1-0 team was significantly better or light years ahead or draw any inference? No, you wouldn't. That's my point. Right now, for all the Leafs have done, they aren't any further ahead. Even last year would have shown something significantly more separated, but this year it hasn't shown, yet. Is making the playoffs competing for the Cup? I seem to recall how irritated everyone was getting on here when the Sabres kept finishing in 8th and "competing for the Cup". As for being further ahead, they have made the playoffs, but if all that comes crashing down next year because of them over-extending themselves then what will they have to show for it? I wouldn't consider them a success until they reach the semi-finals. Until then they are just one of the many teams that make the play-offs and have nothing to show for it. Let's examine the goals against stat you referred to. The divisions they are in are somewhat responsible for skewing those numbers don't you think? The Caps divisional opponents totaled: 1,712 The Leafs divisional opponents totaled: 1,638 It seems to me that given the strength of their divisional opponents and the extra games against them it might be expected that the Caps would give up more goals overall. One more angle at this. The finish line is 26.2 miles away from the start. Runner A has a 2 mile lead over Runner B at the 15 mile mark. It appears that Runner A is superior but the finish line has not been reached. Runner A suffers a problem at the 23 mile mark and Runner B catches up. They cross line anywhere near each other, who was the better runner? That's my point. The Leafs may have shot forward fast, but they haven't reached the finish line. He has a history of starting fast, doesn't he?

Yea. I think Hutton tonight.. I could see Ullmark against the Yotes.. Looking forward to tonight...

If Larsson plays it damn well better be followed by a trade. That's about all I would accept at this point.

They could very well be this years Islanders. All the goals scored, both for and against. I'm not sure, perhaps the phrase, "on paper" is not translating. The simple facts are that the two teams are separated by 1 game in the W column and that's possibly because the Sabres haven't played that game yet. So, yes, at the moment, the comparison is very real, on paper. Now let's play out where things can go from here: The Leafs win the Cup and Buffalo finishes last. - yes, then the Leafs are clearly ahead and have succeeded. The Leafs make the playoffs and Buffalo finishes last - I'll give them the rebuild, but they might be torn down quickly too. The Leafs win the Cup and Buffalo makes the play-offs - I'll give a nod to the Leafs but not light years ahead given that most of their advancement may come because of Tavares The Leafs make the play-offs and Buffalo finishes close - perhaps they are ahead, the following season will determine if they shot too fast for the top. The Leafs don't make the play-offs and Buffalo does not - not ahead. The Leafs don't make the play-offs and Buffalo does - Buffalo clearly wins. This is not likely. At this moment in time, you can't look at the standings and tell me the Leafs are a far better team then the Sabres. Yes, it's 4 games. The opposite position seems hard to make as well. The Leafs are light years ahead because they are 3-1-0? The same 4 games. I know what they did last year, but I don't put them light years ahead as they still got bounced and they haven't fixed their biggest problems, they are simply going to try and outscore everyone... which, in the playoffs, usually isn't the recipe for success. Fine, I am in denial. What's the goal? Win the Cup? They haven't. If their plan never equates to competing for the Cup let alone winning it, do we consider their rebuild a success just because they made the playoffs and fizzled out?