LTS

I didn't like the coaching of the US team from the limited game time I was able to catch. The team seemed to be too tight. They played Eichel far too much in my opinion. I wasn't overly impressed by him. He had some nice moves at times but at the same time I think the team was too deferential to him as well. I thought this was especially true in the US v. Can game. Larkin is the hot hand, he scores again after the EN goal and they pull him immediately. Stupid, stupid, stupid. A lot of sloppy play with passes bouncing off sticks, etc.

Go figure. IE is working SMOOTHLY. Chrome failing me today. Back to the game I guess. :)

Then I guess it's work borking me. Awesome.. This should not happen when working for a company that sells business class network. Hell, I'm the product manager for carrier grade Ethernet.. sigh. I wish I had some pull.. I am getting the worst possible video right now. Blurry, choppy... sigh.

Are you referring to the choppy as hell stream? I can't even stand it.

Sigh.. more like 65. I love how unrealistic fans are...

Hey.. it's better than the guy who sat behind me at the last game. Two hooking penalties called and he yells out "Hey, we got a hooker on the ice!" Sigh.

Not commenting on the trading thoughts and this was a really well written first post. To counter your argument on Nolan being the fixer of all bad things I present Cody Hodgson. He seems to be a bit more interested in things these days but also seems to be passively holding out against the system and commitment. I would say Nolan can get a lot out of anyone who is willing to be engaged like that. There will continue to be those who aren't interested and will think of themselves first.

What the hell will Amerks fans do now that they can't yell out "Good job Puke!" all the time? I remember D'Amigo from WJHC.. I think. He's tenacious. He's a young Matt Ellis probably. So... there you go.

I certainly think he was ready to fight someone. He could have not engaged and Strachan still would have been given some extra minutes. Agreed, probably not Hodgson. Leading the league in fighting majors and we got rid of John Scott? Hmmm.. :) It appears they are getting tougher.

So, if I follow what you saying... They had an opportunity to call up a player. They know they are going to trade some players at some point. They called up the player who should be on an NHL roster at some point. They hope to learn some information on how he has progressed to date. Okay.. if that's it.. we're good. Sounds like every day in the NHL. (I'm not picking on you, using your post as confirmation against the conspiracy theorists floating around here.) :) Now, on the bright side. We all get to analyze how he plays tonight! So that should eat up some precious board bandwidth.

I think, actually, there are 23 year old players who do what they have to do. A leadership tag should never be distracting. If it is, they probably aren't leadership material. Leadership is natural. No one listens to fake leaders because they have to try too hard to be seen as a leader. I just wouldn't go trading much for the guy. I get he's good. He's been injured and the attitude issues are something to be concerned about. The Sabres poised themselves well to build into the future and short changing that would be crazy. Giving up 2 first round picks for him is just not worth it in my opinion. Whoa there... don't you go casting stones there pal.. Glutton is a strong word. :)

Yep, slap him on the plane and don't let him touch the ice unless they need to actually recall him. So he's with the team, but not recalled. No official move. But the (over?) reaction to this move up to this point has been entertaining. if the Sabres called up someone from Girgorenko's line in Rochester then they'd still be inhibiting his development, so.. why not just bring him up in case you need him. He gets to be around a group of guys who really have come together as a team... moreso than the Amerks at this point. No downside here.

Normally I would agree. However, (and I did not see the game as I had other commitments) the Sabres were down 1-0 at the time. Perhaps he decided that he should use that moment to try and get his team fired up and turned around? He decided that Ottawa didn't deserve to give a hit like that and he might as well do something about it. I think being down at the time provides a reason for it. I'll certainly accept a response to a big hit as opposed to some stage fight off a face-off when a team is trailing. That just screams pointless.

So Hall is in a leadership role and doesn't want to adapt and you think he'll suddenly change when he's not in one? I'm not sure the logic plays out. I wouldn't trade the stable for him. Hall is a very good player but right now the Sabres have put themselves in a great position to set themselves up for awhile. They are already competitive and they should improve. Trading away 1st round picks, in a deep draft, is insane. If it's possible to pull talent like Perry and Getzlaf from this draft I would not trade those away to Edmonton for Hall. I just don't see the Sabres giving away their #1 picks this year unless it's something amazing. Certainly not their #1 picks AND players for 1 player.

Perhaps.. but McCabe might have been worse. The entire team doesn't look like it has any chemistry whatsoever. They look like the Sabres did at the beginning of year. Missing passes, passes into feet, missing the net. Only a few looked good at all. Grigorenko looked good. And I don't care what people say about Ellis.. that guy just plays hockey. He continues to show more hustle and pride than most players on the ice on any given night. It's unfortunate the wasn't gifted with more skill.

I'd take Pysyk or Ruhwedel at this point. McCabe did not look good last night. He made a ridiculously bad play and got pick-pocketed on a play that should never happen and it turned into a goal. Ruhwedel had the OT game winner.

Was at the Amerks game, and my phone died, so I had to rely on really late updates and some comments from people around me. Watched the highlights.. Another good win. This team works hard, there's no doubt. The Amerks could use some of their team chemistry.

Colorado? You mean that team with MacKinnon, Landeskog, and Duchesne? Good thing they had those high draft picks. Funny how crappy they've become since they traded Briere (remember how important he is to winning) for Stastny (not worth the money?). Sorry, just finding humor in the fact that Colorado had the tank and they are back again and that one guy who wasn't worth the money he was paid is no longer there and the team suddenly blows again. Oh.. and Buffalo won. Bottom line. And.. someone tell Rob Ray that #4 is Gorges, not George.

Remember when Garth had no idea what he was doing?

Well, the guy they had before kept rating them so poorly it had to be tough on morale.

Look.. if they are going to play like this and beat teams like Montreal and Tampa before their deep prospect pool gets there then why are we worried? The Kings model has worked well hasn't it? Just remember, no matter what happens. They have 3 first round draft picks, in a deep draft.. the kind that see players like Getzlaf and Perry taken with those kinds of picks.

If you go, bring cash. They don't take cards. There are a LOT of great restaurants in Rochester. But when it comes to a grease pit... As it were, I hate all the grease pits for their plates, etc. The local pubs have better. In some cases they are almost the same price. The plate at The Cottage Hotel in Mendon is huge, way better quality, and about $2 more than Wahl's/Gray's.

Please... there's a motive to this lack of suspension. The NHL wants some headlines and having the same two teams playing tonight is a good way to get them. The Sabres will be out for Emelin and I can picture a dump and chase scenario where Deslauriers destroys Emelin as he goes back for the puck.

I wonder how many people think he's involved with the grease pit he shares a name with in Rochester? Good for him. Everyone loves a good story.. so perhaps he can score in his first shift on his first shot?

I suppose. They said that the puck hit near the zamboni doors. I'm guessing Ennis knows there's a spot there if you hit it right you get a bounce. Most rinks have something like that, the trick is hitting the spot just right. In the rink my son plays it's a well known fact that if you run the puck just right around the boards there's a slight bubble in the boards near the zamboni doors that will shoot the puck out right in front of the net. The trick is hitting it. The good news is that even if he doesn't it's the right play to dump it in there. DING. WINNER!