erickompositör72

And Bills bye-week is after the NHL season starts ?

We also have Logan Thomas

I thought he was vegan

We are very lucky Reinhart played poorly the first half of last season. Not only did it help us get Dahlin, but it will allow us to sign him long-term for less than he's worth. We may get up to 8 years of 2018 Reinhart, and I really believe that's just his new floor. Very high ceiling.

Some guys take time to click, and can be very effective after they click. Some guys will never click. I takes more than a period to find out. Hopefully such won't be the case for all 4 lines, but if it's just giving one line some time/patience, it's worth it.

I know this is probably a joke: And you're probably serious: ...but last year, it's not like we had many good options. We have a lot more versatility and variety of players this year, so the line combos will be very interesting to see.

I'm with you. The later Regier years and the entirety of the tank (until now) have seemed to demand players play way over their head (Zemgus 1C, etc), and have perfect development curves and/or career years for us to even be competitive. This is the first time in a long time that our roster is filled with players who will be playing on the line that their talent would suggest is appropriate.

Because of this: ...this:

Am I the only one who feels that Samson's game finally just "clicked"? Meaning, he's figured out how to use his skills at an NHL level, and he's established a new floor for himself? My observation of him lead me to believe it wasn't just a blip or a hot streak, but he's now playing a totally different game that will be consistent and effective, and he's poised to build tremendously off of it. I have high hopes for Samson.

I don't think it's out of left field to speculate that ROR asked to be traded. One could even suggest he did implicitly with the "losing passion for the game" comment

I thought the same thing. What struck me as "proper context" was characterized by PA as "a lot of hoops"

brief climaxes followed by tears "no, I don't want to talk about it"

I remember watching the Umberger hit in my college dorm lounge, with the only other guy from Buffalo and a few casual hockey fans. We all lost our minds- we thought it was the greatest thing ever. I showed the replay to my wife (who works in the ER) not long ago, and her response was basically "your sport allows this?!" Shes watches hockey with me, but I realized how much less of this we see today. And I'm glad- speed and skill is watch attracted me to the game, and I never really enjoyed the fights. Times have changed, and I'm glad that hockey can evolve this way with much less fear about "ruining the game" than, say, the NFL...

It can work as long as the room perceives him as genuine and not just trying a new schtick. I could possibly appear that way to those that know him, but if the vets buy in, it could be effective.

I hope he's lying, because a) that's our narrative and b) it shows Jacks' become a true professional

I'm intrigued by the idea of Housley being poised to take a new approach to the team this year. Normally, a coach doesn't have this luxury, as the players have already made up their mind about him. However, in our case, the locker room looks so different that Housley actually has an opportunity to make a first impression on a sizable amount of our roster. I think much of our success will depend on the impression Housley makes on the newcomers. He has an opportunity coaches rarely have. Let's hope he's learned a whole lot his first year and is ready to be better.

I think, if Allen's doubters at draft time are not starting to feel (at least) cautiously optimistic, they are severe pessimists and probably need a hug. I was neutral at draft time (maybe "ignorant," as I don't follow college ball); at this point, I'm quite excited.

If I'm not mistaken, that's where he was in Colorado (top line wing) when he wanted a "larger role"

Ouch- not the large role ROR likes to have... this may make him feel even more useless...

Many are very reluctant because it would mean having to disavow #footballfancystats

I like the theory that if JA had a full career with a top college team, he would have gone 1st overall. Maybe not true and/or hyperbole, but it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling ?

I love RJ's call when the opposing team scores. It's a clear, excited/surprised disappointment then there's the Minnesota guy, when the opposing team scores: TWO-ON ONE, PASSES IT ACROSS AND they score

I think it's been tempered by the expectations we put on Eichel early in his career, and the lack of team improvement. While I think Eichel is our franchise-center and can be a top-5 scorer in the league, Dahlin truly is a generational defensive talent.

absolutely love the announcers for Darnold: "Look at the feet of Darnold to escape and throw the ball away! That was a highlight-reel throw-away!"

I think by the time Samuelsson is ready, all Dahlin will need as a partner is a warm body, and he'll do the rest ? I think we don't even realize what we're about to get with young Rasmus. This is going to be an exciting year.