LTS

Jul Must... Look it up.. MODO suggested we try it while in Sweden. Woody wasn't a fan.. it grew on me.

I thought @ was how you got someone's attention? I'm confused.

It was warmer in Stockholm... 41 on Tuesday... I came home to 22 and snow.. sigh.

I only saw him the first night. I don't think much has changed for him since pre-season when he was seeing the bench because of his turnovers. He is, at times, trying to retain possession in the defensive zone rather than chipping it out. It results in turnovers and those end up in the net. Other teams are trying to get him to be the one handling the puck and using the 2 man forecheck to get him to cough it up. Kind of like blitzing a young QB, you hope for them to panic. As for positioning, he's a little loose on it. I seem him too far up the ice at times and rushing to get back. Now, I've seen that from a few Sabres D so I think Krueger is pushing that, but Dahlin does not seem to be able to get back as well as a few others at this point. None of this gives me panic. The first issue is a byproduct of what other teams are doing to the Sabres. It seems to be the trend across the league on how to handle the change in style of play. More teams are pushing the concept of get the puck up the ice fast, so now more teams defend by trying to drop back and cover those quick/longer breakout passes. I need to watch some more games but I've noticed this in a few games this season (multiple teams, not just Sabres games). The concept is to try and 2-1-2 forecheck but if the players don't think it's there then it's revert to an almost trap style 1-4 or 1-3-1 to slow up the breakout and compress the ice.

I watched Jack Ryan on the flight over and back home. I definitely thought Season 2 was weaker compared to season 1. They tried to do too much with Season 2 and unless that somehow plays into Season 3 it was pointless. Also, it was really nothing more than an action series... Id rather see more of the analyst side. I don't want to elaborate too much so as to not ruin things for people.

I'm back in the US. Sigh.

Well, someone is likely wanting to see Scandella and how he looks after returning from injury. What if draft picks are all that's being offered? Should he not make the trade and keep the player? What if those draft picks can be turned into a player at another point in time? Who's he moving out that is going to bring back the player you think he should be getting?

Flight to Europe had dinner.. Turkey, Mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and caramel cheesecake.. along with red/white wine (and beer). I had the white.. a few glasses. Flight back had some form of INdian Chicken with rice, and a mango,corn salad/salsa. Got ice cream (belgian chocolate truffle) and then a turkey/pesto sandwhich as well at the end of the flight. Had red wine on that flight.. Both were reasonably good.. far better than what I was expecting.

Back home.. and in time for the next game. Let's go Buffalo. What else do you want me to say? I am still unbelievably mellow from the trip.

A few things here. 1. The first attempt to motivate or change a person may not be successful. 2. Not every person will respond to everyone. 3. Not everyone wants help. Bottom line for me is.. Dahlin is scary bad right now. Sitting him would not be the worst idea. One game, two games...might not take much more.

Perhaps... we have to wait and see. One possible scenario, letting the team fail on their own without the structure so they can better understand structure when it’s applied. I’m not saying I believe it... I just allow for the possibility. It’s not about having it all figured out before you start, it’s about fixing what breaks when it happens and moving everything in the right direction.

I was just in a killer coffee shop in Stockholm. Sara’s Art & Coffee. She had a gallery right next door. I thought that was smart. She’s pulling in a crowd that would be more attuned to buying the art selling excellent coffee and pastries. The coffee shop had maybe 15 seats in the whole place. Josie’s Java Joint.. coming soon.

I’m done tomorrow morning... or at midnight for you east coasters. i don’t want to go... but I can’t afford to stay...it ain’t cheap here... perhaps if I lived in a place that paid for the adjusted economy? Oh well.

He might. I’m sure it’s available, just the RK isn’t forcing the sessions on the team, or wasn’t. Who knows what’s happening now.

When you are the last one left... now is the time to ask. Of course.. you should also be prepared to leave.

Just remember...the same freedom you want Don to have in speaking his beliefs is the same freedom others get in speaking against him. In the end, it’s business, and the impact to HNIC is that if Cherry stays, viewers may go, or sponsors may go. everyone is entitled to their opinion... and the repercussions of sharing it.

Clearly. I mean RK preached about supporting the creativity of players. He doesn’t want them thinking too much. They barely use video review. I’m going to have to say that your narrative is not going to hold up. Dahlin is lost... that’s not coaching. His confidence is crap and he’s trying to do too much. His turnovers are largely when he tries to hold the puck To retain possession. It’s admirable, but the probability of maintaining possession in those situations is too low and he’s not recognizing it. That’s not coaching... that’s all the player. He needs to relax and not try to be more than he can be.

Because as anyone who was here could tell you. Hedman was the star attraction of this event. 75% Tampa Fans all cheering for Hedman. Friday night, during the introductions, he had the loudest cheer..by far. He was the one interviewed 3 times by Swedish tV. It started at 8pm. I think if you want to be a smart ass about timezones you should probably get it right.

I believe the point you are making is that people, in general, might be losing the desire to display the-poppy. That’s a perfectly good take. Saying that immigrants are the ones who are being disrespectful is the problem. Because as you pointed out in your anecdotal experience... it wasn’t just immigrants. seeya grapes... you damn old fool.

They messed up Dahlin? His decision making on the ice is poor and much worse than last year. How do “they” get the blame? I mean if you want to say he should sit a game that’s fine, but I don’t think “they” are the reason he’s playing so poorly. I’m not sure who “they” are specifically. I assume you meant the organization as a whole.

Vegas had the benefit of an expansion draft where they could pick and choose from known players and/or make deals with teams who were desperate to keep players. This is not even remotely the same as a normal draft. Furthermore, it’s one time. They could have just as easily screwed up and been bad. What happens if Vegas doesn’t get Fleury from the Pens? not arguing the other points, but people (not just you) like to throw Vegas out there as an example... I don’t think it’s the same thing.

I vote no. It’s has nothing to do with the compressed schedule or how the Sabres played. It has nothing to do with me making a trip to see the game. Hell, it has nothing to do with the Sabres. The NHL sucked at promoting this. Saturday night there was NOTHING going on around the arena, it was a ghost town. There was activity Friday night but nothing to do with the NHL. There should be more going on around the arena. An entire “experience”. The in-game production was terrible as well. You don’t play a goal song for the visiting team, period. Bottom line, unless the NHL can be better at promoting it, it’s not worth it, for any team.

This is hardly the first time I’ve called out Eichel. Crosby was labeled a whiner when he started. He finally learned. He plays with an edge now and has gotten into a fight or two. This is where Jack needs to get to. If he gets up last night and pushes back I think it changes things. Right now he’s looking around for someone else to stand up for him or to complain to the refs. He’s gotta stop that and show a different side. His scoring is fine, but there is more to it. Dahlin should sit a game, it might help him at this point. I’ve no problem with Mitts... he’s got a ways to go still but he’ll get there. They’ve always been around. The problem right now, for me, is not that they are losing. It’s how they are losing. The roster has shown it can play better... it needs to do so. It’s not talent, it’s everything else.

I think he can be the right guy... I think someone needs to call him out... I would hope certain Sabres alumni might... if he doesn’t listen to that.. then we are screwed.