GrassValleyGreg

Reinhart playing at full confidence. Getting better by the night. Also, Ennis thinking too much out there.

Agree on the splitting of Evander and Eich. Would love to see Jack play with someone with a bit more feel to their game. DB shaking up the lines at the end. Spotted ROR with Gionta and Girgs. We may be at the snake bit point of breaking up our duos.

Our PP has the potential to be dangerous but it looks like DB prefers two equal units. I hope he changes his mind about this. Mouls has no place on a top PP.

The commonly flagged issue with Kane is exaggerated on the PP. Stupid shots are as bad as turnovers.

Same. Let's judge the value of trades by one regular season game.

People who overreacted to a guy coming off a concussion and getting his legs under him in preseason were panicking. Anybody who has seen this guy play at full confidence knows the talent he is. And he showed it tonight. Huge loss.

O'Reilly is such a heady player. Will be a crowd favorite for sure.

So many turnovers on the backend.

Samson kind of looks like ET.

Agree with this

Appreciate it. Eich's backcheck will disrupt. Great example there on the PK.

Hey sorry, could someone recap in a bit more detail the last two goals?

Eichel - O'Reilly - Kane - Ennis on 4 on 3. Dear God this is entertainment.

That acceleration to top speed glide is really unlike anything I've seen. Stupid grin here and a loud laugh at the office!

I don't see Sam flanked by two of the smaller guys on the roster.

Samson gliding and getting lost in the play. I know its not his game but gives no effort in the corners. Not so sure his spot is guaranteed.

Kane - O'Reilly - Ennis Moulson - Eichel - Larson Reinhart - Girgensons - Gionta Foligno - Legwand - McGuinn What center depth. Does Reinhart get his start at wing? Does this portend 9 and AHL? Does Legwand or ROR have ability to play wing?

Definitely excited for the tournament. My point was the sport and the rules that govern it have changed less in 10 years than the NHL and NBA. My larger point was F*** ESPN.

Missed this before and didn't realize ESPN wanted back in the hockey business. Put me in the not happy camp! In an era where most major North American sports have significantly altered rules under the guise of "broadening" fanbases, hockey has been able to maintain it's integrity. Some decision makers have found it profitable to sacrifice defense for the sake of increased scoring (DB rules in football, the joke of NBA refs, etc.). For the most part, hockey today is the same as it was post '05 lockout. Now part of the reason why hockey has been able to insulate itself from this short-sighted trend has to do with the types of players and fans the sport already attracts, and the culture of hockey as a whole. These guys would be just as happy to make 100k a year. But the almighty dollar is the ultimate corruptor. And keeping a healthy distance from the greedy giant mitt of Mickey Mouse has, in my opinion, only strengthened the sport. Plus, I remember the divorce of hockey from ESPN as acrimonious, as if ESPN said go ahead and try to succeed without us. And hockey did just that. Nice to see a multi-national corporation come crawling back, but I'd much rather keep a healthy distance from the disneyfication of sport. Obviously this is just one tournament. But I don't like it!

I know, it's crazy. When you hear comps for Jack, it is almost always two players - a size and body separation guy like a Thornton or Getz and a quick, agile high top-end speed guy. It's pretty tough to find a single guy that captures his assortment of skill.

Good article here on Jacky boy. Includes video of his dominant combine. The legend of Jack's weight-room prowess continues to grow. I could barely lift the bar as an 18-year old, let alone clear 330 pounds. The World Junior video is well-edited also. His strength is on display as he continually uses his body for separation especially along the boards. What a combination of quickness, speed and power. Jack!!!

Also in the Russian news department, from Bob McKenzie, the Sabres are waiting to see if there is any validity to "speculation that soon-to-be restricted free agent Mikhail Grigorenko is signing a contract in the KHL."

From the lowly Oilers! 2008 at 12, 2009 at 10, and the first overall of 2010 and 2011. :o Never fun to rehash but at least it appears we've rediscovered the importance of early draft picks.

Here is the Hockey Writers' Mock Draft released this morning. They peg Sprong at 21, and have Andersson flying up the board to 24, right on cue. 21st overall: Buffalo Sabres (from NY Islanders) (Mike Straw) – F Daniel Sprong – Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) After the Sabres took franchise center Jack Eichel at number two, it was clear that the second first-round pick was more of a luxury than anything else. While it’s likely that the team would rather trade it than keep it, the ability to add more first-round talent is never a bad thing. Sprong is a player that is rising on draft boards due to his strong passing game and incredible hockey sense. His overall strength and play in the defensive zone need to be improved, but he’s definitely a prospect that could turn into a nice role player for the Sabres down the line. 24th overall: Toronto Maple Leafs (from Nashville) (Andrew Forbes) – D Rasmus Andersson – Barrie Colts (OHL) Andersson could be a late first round steal for the Maple Leafs. His size and skill set makes him a solid pick for the blue line on Toronto. He may be one of the most underrated players in the first couple rounds of the draft with his quickness and ability to read the game. Look for him to move up and be a possibility for the Leafs at 24.

Thanks Hoss. I think this is going to be our next coach, and I'm totally fine with it. It's a relief all of this drama is now behind us. Also, since you changed your avatar, I was trying to figure out who the youthful howling Rick reminded me of. Finally figured it out...