LTS

I'm admittedly not certain who will be up for consideration for the Calder next year. I mean, the Sabres should have two players at a minimum up for it right? So their potential is tied to the Sabres turn around. But, I think he'll be a very good defenseman next year. I'm assuming he will get burned a few times as well. Over time I think he will be considered one of the best D for the Sabres. I am hoping he's an All-star but that event is so finicky that anything is possible. I'm not going nuts over the guy until he starts showing it. It's the best possible outcome for the Sabres, a team that needs defense, so in that regard as a fan we could ask for nothing more. Let's hope it holds up.

Hockey Housewives of Ottawa? Dang. Of course Turris is gone now...

You know... the Caps may be generating interest in hockey for a whole new fan base... picking up where Happy Gilmore left off. And I like it. Wonder how much Budweiser paid them...

It's a strange thing about Bourdain. I was just always drawn to his television work. I read a little bit about him here and there but his journalistic style was what I found compelling. I'm no celebrity chaser (I had no idea he had a daughter) and some of the things I am reading about him now really only impress me more. I've read a considerable amount of tributes and stories over the past few days. One of the most compelling has to be his connection to the #metoo movement. I'd say just do a search on his last name and MeToo to see the kind of person he was... I can't find the original article, but here's one: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/06/08/how-anthony-bourdain-became-one-of-the-strongest-me-too-allies-im-reexamining-my-life/?utm_term=.72651e5e8372 He was dating Asia Argento who was harassed by Weinstein. The story of his advocacy though is much deeper than that relationship and goes back much further. A friend of mine posted on Facebook some negative things about Bourdain. Culminating in that "I'm not surprised he killed himself, he's a ####." I think a lot of people had this concept that he was like some other blowhards on travel/leisure TV shows. Perhaps like Gordon Ramsey? I don't know. By accounts he was demanding to deal with but he wasn't disrespectful. Who knows, perhaps in a few days there will be inevitable response by those who really didn't like him. All I know is that he made some compelling television that told the story of the regular person in countries we barely ever get to hear about, even West Virginia.

Mike Maniscalco has been slowly rising up through the Hurricanes media ranks. He's a Kenmore East alum. We went to high school together. I would imagine he would have knowledge of these things.. he's a genuine good guy.

It would appear you used the wrong bait. You might want to try something trashier to get an inkman to bite. :w00t:

So you hate her now... given that you have so much angst for the Vegas pre-game pomp and circumstance? :)

Openly admitting the Sabres obtain Lucic should be grounds for an instant ban right? I mean, I would say the same for Marchand but he actually has talent.

I agree. I've remained optimistic and enthusiastic as much as I could this entire time. I suppose perhaps bordering on excitement, but not quite? Never too high, never too low. That's the way I like to flow. Completely understand where you are coming from... the hype train can be very appealing.

Yea.. Lucic and McDavid for _________. Who the hell is going to take Lucic otherwise?

no need to impose restrictions on your excitement... with this team you need as much reason as you can get.. and as early as you can get it.

Absolutely. For those who are in this position they have to work harder early on and I believe that if they can get over being turned down from ages 5-18 they will come out as the better player in the end. Unfortunately many kids stop playing sports around age 12 these days. There are a multitude of reasons for this of course but the emphasis on winning as opposed to skill development and learning to enjoy the game is a large reason for it. The insistence on winning is what drives coaches to only select the bigger kids and leaves the younger/smaller kids behind.

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. :)