TrueBlueGED

I agree there's a gap, but without Crosby, I don't think it's that large.

He didn't, but he recovered enough to deny the pass, so it wasn't that bad.

The bad news is we currently look allergic to the puck. The good news is Hutton seems on tonight.

Pucks, pucks+, pucks, a lot. Respectively. I'd suspect the Hawks would be looking for the return Duchene got, if not more.

Right. Somewhere in the front office makes sense. But head coach? Only the Browns.

I'd say this can't be real life. But it's the Browns. It's definitely real.

I thought we had something ?

I think he's the best Dman on the roster, and I don't think it's especially close. He's freaking unreal with how he thinks the game.

Wow.

Dahlin can have my children.

Part of me thinks it depends on how long it takes them to come to their senses and toss Yeo overboard. The goaltending has to come around too, but Yeo has to go.

Certainly possible. I guess I'd just trust Skinner to figure it out. But anyway, I'd put Risto or Dahlin out there before Thompson. Anyway, hooray for 4 in a row!

So I disagree with a lot of this, but it was a good post. So credit where it's due. One thing that simply has to be acknowledged is the team had so many holes to fill because of choices McBeane made. McDermott declined Watkins' 5th year option, and collectively he and Beane decided to move Watkins and Darby for a pair of expiring contracts they decided to let walk. They chose to trade Glenn, Dareus, and Tyrod. It's not like they were just handed a bunch of holes--they actively created some. Now, maybe that works out long term and maybe any kind of "culture change" truly was necessary, but I think it's important context to note that several of the holes were self-created. I don't think Benjamin was ever a top-25 WR. He was certainly better than he's been for us, but he always had problems creating separation and catching the ball; his total stats have declined every year since he was a rookie. He also had a bum knee when acquired. It's not shocking that he isn't a #1. As far as credit elsewhere goes, Foster has had 1 single decent NFL game, as has Wyatt Teller. Mayhaps it's a bit premature to give credit for them? McKenzie has done squat, and do we really want to give Beane credit for Thompson when he was like choice #15 at WR? I don't think so. McDermott and Beane have done some legit work on the defensive side of the ball. But their offensive decisions remain highly questionable, and they've objectively made the team worse through their decisions since last season ended. It may well work out long term, but right now, there's more to criticize than to celebrate.

Well, Jack was 1-9 and is now 2-2. Maybe it's not Skinner's jam, but I dunno, if I were coaching I'd put him out there before Tage Thompson and hope skill wins out in the long run.

So, this was taken quite a bit differently than I intended. My point, succinctly, is that you're way too certain about the value of picks/prospects with innate high uncertainty. Agreed. I've written before that "top-6 v bottom-6" is a pretty antiquated notion, and you really want 3 lines you can roll without a ton of discrimination.

Awesome to get the win. However, is Skinner the worst shootout performer in history? Has he never hit the net in practice or something? I legit don't understand his continued absence in shootouts. Tage freaking Thompson got to shoot FFS!

No, it wasn't a wash, you were spectacularly wrong in your assessment that Girgensons would become O'Reilly. You dug your heels too hard on potential, and you might be doing the same here. To dismiss trading a late 1st out of hand because you might win the (figurative) lottery and snag a Barzal is simply digging in too strongly again.

Remember when you proclaimed we didn't need ROR because we had Girgensons? Learn from your mistakes, my friend!

Not at all. Ovechkin was the opposite of lazy when he came into the league. He played every game like it was his last.

Wait, what? Ovechkin was lazy when he was playing with his hair on fire with over 100 points 4 out of 5 years? You're out of your mind.

Won a ticket lottery for the right to purchase Hamilton tickets. More than a little excited.

At this point, I kind of want to see how many posts in a row we can go with Pi only responding with that gif. Austin Matthews will give Toronto a discount to help them ice a better team while he's there.

Whenever @pi2000 tells me I'm wrong I become more confident in my position.

Assuming we re-sign Skinner, it already is. The 3rd wheel on that line isn't especially important.

That is one hell of an exception. "I think my friend is a really good driver, except for that time he drove off a cliff and barely made it out alive." This regime took an average team and made it bad by fielding one of the worst offenses since the merger. Heavy criticism is warranted until they prove they can join the modern NFL.