LTS

While standing up with a cell phone stapled to his head looking back at the camera when the puck by him on the ice.

He's wearing a #69 sweater.

This is the it's only a matter of time play we've come to hate from Buffalo. And a goal while I type it. Eichel needs to see the bench for awhile.

Can anyone explain this Volvo commercial to me?

Ummm. Holy crap!

Okay. A few beers in and I'm not going to hold back. I'm kind of bummed my Capt. Obvious picture didn't draw any comments. I have no faith in you people anymore.

That's how you block a goalies vision. Luongo had no chance. Beauty!

Ok. I'm done folding laundry and doing the dishes. It's game time. Well it's been game time.

Yea.. I'm torn. If they can quickly shore up the defense without trading Kane and are able to sign him I am going to be happy with that. I'm happy Kane has just played the game for over a year now and there hasn't been any off-ice "antics". He's having success and he does a lot for the team.

Yea... that's awesome. Thanks for finding it.

You are missing two key points in the argument. First, the difference between an RFA and UFA. Reino and Eichel are/were both RFAs. They couldn't go anywhere. Second, that no contract talks have occurred, at all with Kane. Eichel and Botterill had been having conversations on the contract prior to its signing. I don't know if they've had conversations with Reino but that hardly matters since he's an RFA.

I believe DirecTV Now has it as well. I don't know where it sits in their "tiers". I don't currently have NHL Network with Spectrum and I don't miss it really. When I was going to cut the cord (before they offered me an expanded channel lineup for less than the cost of my normal Internet) I was just going to buy the NHL package and stream games.

I blame the negative energy. ;) He was used like this last year and didn't have this kind of injury. He's been pretty solid. His in game abilities might be hampered by playing so many minutes but I don't see the fact that he plays lot being a direct factor in being injured.

Sigh. yet another site that has an anti-US prejudice. :( Video not available.

How do I respond to this? You provide no counter discussion. You essentially are dismissing what I've said and yet that is basically the story line that comes up with every UFA, regardless of team. It's not my narrative, it's the league's. If the two sides are not talking then what ray of light exists that they are interested in pursuing a longer relationship?

I have to wait a whole day to see this game? And there's snow on the ground? I have no idea why any of that matters. Can't wait.. here we go.... in 11 hours.

All scenarios where Kane is on the Sabres next year favor Botterill discussing a contract now. The longer Botterill waits without ANY communication the more Kane thinks the Sabres are not interested or don't want to pay him. The longer Botterill waits without ANY communication the less Kane has to wait to test the market. Botterill can wait as long as he likes but by the time the cap is set the trade value for Kane will have diminished unless you can find someone who will sign him to what Kane wants and is where Kane wants to be. The less time another team has Kane under contract the less valuable he becomes in a trade. The longer Botterill waits the more another team may rightly assume that Kane is not interested in signing with the Sabres and they can low ball the trade. If Botterill wants Kane on the team then he has to offer him a deal and make Kane think about the guaranteed money in front of him versus the market that's months out and that ANYTHING can happen between now and then to diminish his value below the contract offer. if Botterill offers him a contract and he refuses then he knows he can trade him now for maximum value (or very soon). I don't see any scenario where the probability of Kane remaining a Sabre is benefited by Botterill waiting to have a discussion.

I also think this is the case with Pouliot. He's going to be able to flip the two of those players for assets. I think Kane goes earlier and grabs much more but Pouliot will pick up a draft pick or two. It's possible. However I think they would have had to have conversations and there are NO indications of that yet. You won't know what you need to sign Kane unless you ask him first right? I'm going to say that Moulson still doesn't move until the off-season (if at all) until there's no chance he can influence a signing of Tavares.

Eichel was an RFA... he had no option to leave. Moreover, I certainly don't believe that the contract signing of Eichel was set long in advance and that the signing announcement was planned.

Well, he's now listed as the top trade prospect on most NHL media sites. I think those who hang around and talk to people have a decent take on the probability of him signing with the Sabres. I believe it was a TSN article that mentioned Botterill and Kane's agent haven't even had talks about a contract.

Well, if you were looking for some supporting evidence on today's game: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2017/11/06/empty-seats-pistons-wings-home-games/107393976/ In short, arenas are TOO nice these days and fans don't have to pay attention to the game because they can see it anywhere, checking out other distractions, etc. In other news about talent. I was listening to NHL radio on SiriusXM and they were talking about the Oilers and their lack of depth scoring. They were making a point that right now McDavid and Draisaitl feel compelled to do more than they should because they are the only one's scoring. So rather than play that extra second of defense they are looking to jump out of the zone because they feel compelled to get the puck and go score to help the team. It was said it's not uncommon and of course the exact opposite happens. The puck never comes out of the zone and it only makes things worse, not better. Essentially, by trying too hard to do one thing they are screwing up the other. The Sabres are in that boat as well. The offense is lopsided and while I think that's changed a bit over the past few games with ROR and now Pouliot adding some scoring the rest of the team has not really helped much, the D especially. I think that's part of the problem with Ristolainen. He's trying to do too much and as a result is not doing what he should.

It's been permeating sports at all levels for some time now. Of course you still have to point out what people are doing wrong, but it's how you do it. Talking about something negative doesn't make you negative, you can't change the subject matter. For example, it's not being negative to talk with a player being out of position. However, you can be negative in how you tell them about it and only focus on what they do wrong. Now, if they do nothing right.....

These players are generally their own worst critics. They know if they mess up and hearing about it won't help the situation. I think the coach does have to provide a viewpoint that doesn't harp on the negative and provides different viewpoints that emphasize good. No one tunes out the sweet sounds of Mozart but if you had to listen to a dude banging a garbage can all day you'd become desensitized to it quickly.

Wait. ROR saying it doesn't mean its him. You could very easily interpret that as there are players on this team that are fragile and the leaders are going to have to carry the team more [than they should have to]. I don't see ROR quitting and being fragile. More often than not he's the guy who has responded as the team slips away. Eichel might be the fragile one here. He's the one who you can see stop trying at times and look to the rafters as through he's asking the kid above with the Xbox controller why he made him miss a goal.