JoeSchmoe

Every thread seems to have Kulich penciled into the Sabres lineup next year. Some even hint at Rosen cracking the lineup. Here's some food for thought. Quinn and Peterka's AHL season before making the big club: Quinn: 61pt in 45gp Peterka: 68pt in 70gp Kulich and Rosen this year: Kulich: 46pt in 62gp Rosen: 37pt in 66gp Peterka (and even Quinn) struggled at times this year coming off a ppg season in ROC. Clearly the latter are a step or two behind being nowhere near ppg. Given his age, Kulich looks to like he'll be an impact player... Just give him another year to marinate and work on his 200ft game. Next year in the A I could see him putting up Peterka or maybe even Quinn-like numbers. Rosen in my long standing opinion isn't tracking to be an NHL player of any significance. Even after potentially another year or two of putting on some size and gaining skill, I question whether we'll need more of his style of play in the lineup. I'd be packaging him pretty hard this offseason.

I can't believe I'm in the minority of people that would rather have KO than Girgs (though I also would have been good with neither). Besides being the undisputed leader of the team, KO has actual hockey IQ. Comparatively, Girgs has a hamster wheel upstairs. I don't care that he can hit... He just doesn't make plays... Too many times it looks like he's about to make a play, then he just doesn't. Sick of watching it. I think anything he has done is because he's been the benefactor of being so closely tied to a much more talented KO for a few years now. More importantly, we can do much better than him on the PK, which seems to be his default role. I'd like to see a skill guy given a shot there similar to what Boston does with Marchand. Sure KO has lost a step, but hopefully with the new hope for the team, he'll put in a little extra work this summer and serve the us well in his 12F role.

Is this a fact? Seems nearly impossible. For every 20yo fan you'd need 3 or 4 80yo old fans. Not what I'm seeing at the Jays games I go to. The games are better now. More balls in play, less dead time. I don't see it overtaking the NFL by any stretch, but I think baseball is here to stay.

I think this year's rule changes are going to help a lot with that. Also, I see some steps in the right direction as far as marketing the stars of the league. Still a long way to go, but this year's record audience for the Baseball Classic tells me there's hope... Even though it sounds like it'll never be your thing.

It'd be good if we could get something back for him ASAP... Especially if it's part of a package for an NHL top 4 defenseman. That said, a 2nd round pick is worth more than what he's worth at this point. If we can't trade him, let him walk if that's what he wants.

Tapping my first post. It's not an All-star game anymore. You fixed the All-star game by doing something better instead. This would be must see hockey for all fans globally. Maybe the lack of success of the US program makes watching their team a less attractive proposition as here in Canada. 😜🤣

Maybe I wasn't clear. This is one game per team per year. And realistically, it's not an all-star game anymore, but it's a chance to see your national team in action for one game. In effect, you've fixed the all-star game by not having it. It's an NHL backed international day of hockey instead. Maybe most of the US based posters here don't have as much interest in this as Canadians, but here the ratings would be through the roof.

Year 1 I'd set the following matchups based on timezones: 8am EST 5 vs 6 - Russia vs Czechia in Russia 11am EST 7 vs 8 - Slovakia vs Germany in Slovakia 2pm EST 3 vs 4 - Sweden vs Finland in Sweden Primetime Canada vs US - in Canada 😉 I'd be willing to take that risk. Eventually it would take on meaning much like soccer internationals do.

So you'd have zero interest in watching Canada vs US where the players are actually trying?

Had this idea percolating in my brain for a while... Just thought I'd put it to paper here. Instead of an All-star game, you turn it into an international ladder style "tournament". 4 games back to back all day with the international teams, starting in Europe, finishing in North America. Set it up so that there's hockey all day long. Matchups go: 1 plays 2 3 plays 4 5 plays 6 7 plays 8. Win you move up a rung for next year, lose you move down. 8th team is hand selected by the league by some TBD criteria. Odd team plays at home. The risk is neither Canada or the US get a home game, so there could be a North American veto to ensure at least one game on home soil. Also, some of the smaller Euro teams might have to recruit a few players from outside the NHL, but NHL players get priority on the roster. 1st place team gets the Wayne Gretzky Trophy for being the league's all-time All-star and keeps home ice advantage in the championship game the next year. Picture a couple of silver 9's mounted on some Canadian maple... Possibly sourced from the Brantford homestead. The skills competition could be held with a virtual connection between the 4 rinks on the day before the ladder. The way I see it, the revenue potential is way up (quadruple), the player and fan interest would be way up, and getting Europe in on the NHL product would be a side benefit. Thoughts?

I'm surprised the Pirates or Guardians don't have any Buffalo fans, despite the affiliation history with the Bisons, and the relative close proximity. I'm also surprised to see the Mets beating the Yankees. It is really too bad Buffalo can't get the Jays games on TV. That said, if you scour the internet for TV ratings you'll see the Jays actually have double the viewers of the Yankees. They're the biggest market in all of baseball, but won't spend like they are. Because of this, I actually tried switching allegiance to the Tigers maybe 10 years ago, but without the hometown TV deal, I couldn't get the emotional connection.

Just wondering who the #1 baseball team is amongst the Sabrespace crew. I tried to put in the more obvious choices and left an "other" option for a write in candidate. If there's enough write in's I'll add it.

Steeltown is still pretty popular. The city's two AAA minor hockey franchises (the Jr Bulldogs and Huskies) just merged and called themselves the Hamilton Steel. Also, Stelco may have left town, but steel is still huge. Dofasco is making major investments to electrify their steel production and are here to stay. There are also a ton of processors along the East Hamilton and Stoney Creek corridor.

After they paid PJ boy, they had to pay the rest of them.

The really like when you call it Frisco. That’s also very popular there. They sound like fun people! Its also called Steel City.

To help celebrate the yearly tradition of Leafs playoff exits, I like to post this article written by a Toronto journalist predicting parades in years to come. https://torontosun.com/2017/09/11/simmons-vaulted-by-big-3-this-maple-leafs-team-is-a-champion-in-waiting

Wow... A year ago I recall half the Sabrespacers wanting to give up assets for Kane. I was vehemently opposed to that. Now we can get him for nothing and not a single board member wants to kick the tires. I'm not sold on the idea one way or another, but I thought there'd be some back and forth. I guess not.

I think both of these guys need another year before being effective NHL players. Peterka's numbers in ROC were must better than Kulich's and he still struggled at times in the NHL. I think Kulich would struggle all year long as a 19yo. Savoie has come on real strong as of late, so maybe he has a chance, but it's tough to ignore how he started the season. Maybe Kane can keep a spot warm for either of these too? No... But it opens up the possibility that he'd sign a contract that was friendlier to the team vs what he might get on the open market.

From an on ice perspective, I think I'd be for it if he were to sign on as a 3rd line winger on team friendly short term contract. I'd also tell him he can move up to the Cozens line if his play warranted it. Off the ice, I can't pretend to know the implications of bringing him in would be. If KA thought it was a net positive to have him in the room, then I say go for it.

Just turned on After the Whistle and they're talking about it. Thought I'd get the thread started. ATW guys think he'd be good with Cozens and Quinn. Seems like an okay idea at the right price, but is he going to hold up another players' development? I don't know, but surely some of you that thought about it more than me might have some discussion worthy opinions.

Why a core 5? Seems obvious we have a bigger core than that.

Yeah... Coming off injury too.

Too lazy to start a new thread, but it looks like Tuch is playing for the US. Somehow Bjork made it too. Is it possible he knows something about somebody and that's why he seems to get limitless opportunities to suck?

I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I grabbed a picture off the Tim and Bonnie's pizza Facebook page of their Steak Deluxe sub. I'd like to try one side by side with a Philly Cheese steak because any time I've had one, I've always thought it can't get much better.

Love the Bills, but couldn't give two 💩's about the draft. Hate the months of hype on WGR and the rest of the talking heads in US Sports Media. Hate the Mock Drafts, but more than anything, I especially hate the term "best player available". Like anybody knows who's #25 and #26 when neither of the two players play the same position, nor have they played against each other, and likely... haven't played against any of the same teams. Its a total crapshoot, so just pick the player who's left you think can help your team the most.