LTS

Read both... and as a coach I have experienced it. My son (March) is a good age for hockey and a bad age for baseball. His luck has been that his genetics have placed him in the above average growth category. So, in baseball, he had his opportunities. However, friends of his, and other children I've seen in various leagues, who are born in the same time frame have not received the extra coaching. They did not make the advanced team, etc. However, once in high school they suddenly find the playing field a little more even. They catch up, and it's amazing what happens. Our predisposition to winning above all else is what drives it. I was reading that Norway bans all score keeping until the age of 12. As a result, children learn to love the game first and then to excel at it later. There's a lot to be said for that approach.

His childlike exuberance is absolutely invigorating. His emotional state in just achieving the chance to play for the Cup was inspirational. It certainly inspired his teammates. There is a phrase that is uttered... "This is your world, we're just living in it." I think it's hard to find a truer application of this phrase than right now, with Alex Ovechkin. Good on him. I can only hope that some day we see the same out of one of the Sabres players.... I know that the Sabres fans will be up to the task.

I would disagree. I think they care, but they don't understand it. It's hard to fully appreciate and care about something so abstract. It's easy to say that suicide is for the weak or the coward's way out. Hell, I attempted suicide and on the path of recover even *I* thought that. My ignorance was that I pretended to understand what everyone else who felt the pull towards suicide felt. I was ignorant enough to believe that my situation was like everyone else's situation. What I learned of course is that the brain is a highly complex organ and we are fools who attempt to understand it. We all perceive in our own way and the best we can do is attempt to understand others on their terms, not our own. The more we can do it, the better. Understanding and trying to view the world through the eyes and brain of someone else is tough. It can also be immensely depressing... and that's why people don't want to make the attempt to do it. That said.. people want others to be better. They want them to not suffer their demons. They just don't (or more likely cannot) wrap their brains around what someone else is feeling and therefore choose to only spend the cursory moment paying lip service to the ideal.

He's a December birthday.. that's a knock right there. His entire career until the pros he'd be playing against kids that were bigger than him at the same age. Until the age limit is removed and he has a chance to settle into the mix, he'd be fighting nature.

Meh. Call me when his name is Leeeeroy. :)

A very true article... I could probably wax on about suicide and the feelings that surround you when you are considering it. I won't, not now. There are a lot of things that play out in those moments and there are a lot of reasons that make those moments happen. Honestly I think it would be insulting to try and paint it with a broad brush. I wouldn't pretend to know why someone got to the point of considering suicide, I would only be able to know what it feels like once you get there. In that, those of us who have considered it, attempted it, can all share a common thread. The recovery isn't the same either, because the path the leads us all to the same center is the same path that leads away from it and we all took different paths to get there. But in the victim discussion, those left behind. One of Anthony Bourdain's guests on his shows in Russia was Zamir Gotta. Zamir lives in Buffalo. I have the good fortune of knowing Zamir and watching his pain during these moments is truly difficult. I shall toast Mr. Bourdain this evening.

Last night I deviated from my intended routine and felt compelled to catch up on "Parts Unknown". I grabbed a glass of whiskey (I almost always have something when watching this show) and loaded up the episode on Armenia. This particular episode, for whatever reason, really stood out to me as some of the best work Anthony Bourdain had done. This morning I woke up (after staying up until 1:40am talking to a friend whose mother died yesterday) to the announcement that Bourdain had committed suicide at age 61. I'm know some people didn't like his style, his delivery. I found him to be pure genius. His approach to covering life in the world resonated perfectly with me. I found myself continually watching anything he created. The man had a rough life, he pulled himself through a slog of crap and came out on top but it was clear he never fully shook his demons. This really sucks.

That was classic... The whole series you could see it too. Him winning the Conn Smythe has as much to do with him laying his body on the line to block shots as it does his scoring. He provided the foundation for his team to win. Every time I saw him he was like a kid, pure emotion, his expressions constantly mirroring what was happening on the ice. I'm glad they won. I'm happy for Ovechkin. I'm glad we can now get onto the business that is the Buffalo Sabres 2018-2019 season.

Eleven after reading that take down...

I think it's reasonable to think that Buffalo goes for: Tavares (if available) JvR Carlson (if they are moving Risto) Perron Hutton (I think this is highly likely) Grabner Hickey de Haan Comeau From that list I think they only get 2-3 players...

Look.. I'm pretty easy going. But a player named Jett Woo? It's either going to be the perfect match or perfectly obnoxious for him to land in a city where they do the Ric Flair after a goal right? I'm not sure which side I land on... I think obnoxious.

Extensionz.... :)

Let's have all kinds of fun... JT and Islanders agree to sign & trade. Tavares, Leddy, 11 & 12 to Buffalo ROR, Ristolainen, Girgensons to Islanders Buffalo flips 11 & 12 to Arizona to get Brady Tkachuck. I love making up stuff. I've done no research on this. :)

We got ourselves a Flow Down on our hands! Who else is in? (haha)

Let's be realistic on this. If politics is injected into a different subject then which thread does it belong in? Let's say that the same thing that is happening in football happens with the Stanley Cup. Do we not discuss it? Do you put that in the politics thread, the Stanley Cup thread, the Around NHL thread, it's own? I mean.. Eleven has a point in that politics can and usually does get injected into all areas of life. More relevant is that much of this is less politics and more awareness of our everyday social issues (which inevitably bring politics with it). I'm not a fan of censoring topics because people can't behave civilly. I am a fan of banning people who are the problem. If you can't be a decent human being then go away. Sure it's a pain to moderate, but being a moderator has its responsibilities. And i rarely go into the Bills thread anyway.. because.. football. I just want more good talk on here.

I'm not up for that. I think Housley will be a very good coach. There's no denying the offense that the Isles had last year and I am sure Weight can bring that experience to Buffalo. If he also curries favor with Tavares and/or one of the UFA defensemen from Long Island then all the better. I loved Weight as a player and so did other players. I seem to recall hearing that players really liked him as a coach as well. He's a no BS guy. Botterill should have already made the call.

Doug Weight.. your new Asst. Coach of the Buffalo Sabres. I'm in for that.

Cool. So I am living more in the past... thanks for the updated information.

I have interest, but until I know the dates and my son's hockey schedule I can't commit. It'll be like last year for me.

Florida is what I meant. They would have to give up much of their talent I would think. Sure they came on strong in the last part of the season last year, but what do they have to move to get Patches? I don't want Skinner on the Sabres. My recollection of Skinner is that he is injured... a lot and has a history of concussion.

It's not just you. Thanks for sharing that information. I love what is seemingly useless information to most people. Well.. if the NHL wanted to eliminate that crap, it should be a major and a game. I wouldn't suspend him. But this is the NHL...

I can't even imagine what Florida would give up for him that wouldn't make them the worst team in the division next year.

Pamela Anderson was on that show? I must have blocked her out. I barely remember anything from that show.

Well, I think it's more than just copying Pittsburgh. I think there are factions inside that group that helped cause problems. Enter in Russ Brandon who is not part of that group and it only exacerbates the issue. It would seem that a lot of that riff raff has settled out at this point so it might actually pave the way for a greater stability in the front office.

Might be best that you don't ask that question?