PerreaultForever

as it's been for a decade or longer.

This "trap game" thing is nonsense. It presumes the team in question, the Sabres, is a winning team and a substantially better team than their weak opposition who they take too lightly because they are too focused on the "real" opposition coming the game after. While they may indeed be thinking about the Eichel game, none of the other aspects of that hold as true. You simply don't run into a "trap" game when you've come off 2 straight losses, it's not possible.

Risto back on the ice tonight. Flyers beat up on Blues.

Ya, they paid tribute to him before yesterday's Bruins game. I always liked him as a player and he seemed like a class act. Too young. RIP.

Yup, I'd say we are firmly back in the suck hard for Bedard sweepstakes. I said a while back I thought the culture was fragile and an effort (or rather lack of) looks like last year and the year before and is right back to coasting complacent acceptance of losing. We went down 3-1 I didn't see any digging down, any extra effort, anybody giving it their all. Just same same all around the perimeter, little in front, little extra effort. Just a big bag of nothing. Rob Ray calls it a "good effort" when the most entertaining moment of the night was when his papers got soaked in ice spray. On nights like this I hate that I became a Sabres fan. I'm watching the Kraken right now. Far more entertaining so far.

I disagree. I think it's pretty clear that he isn't going to be a top line offensive talent. (I could be wrong, but it's my assessment) With that in mind, I still think he does have speed and skills and a good hockey IQ so I'm sending him to the AHL and instructing the coaches down there to try to turn him into a role player. I want him on the PK, in checking scenarios, practicing face offs, defending leads, NOT on the PP and not in a scoring offensive role. See if he can become a solid checking 2 way guy rather than a bust. trying him in those scenarios in the NHL will be too difficult at first and will lead to losses. Nothing wrong with going back down.

I think they were both done at that point. I just enjoyed that one because it was a 2 for the price of 1 deal . You don't see that very often in today's league.

I don't want to keep talking about this kid. Even if he did that and won, there's no way the Bruins will side with him ever again. He'd get some money and be banished somewhere. He will never play in the NHL.

Brandon Montour is logging the most minutes on the Florida D. Need I say more? We have way more skill and speed but they are more physical by far and if that throws us off our game we could have trouble, but it shouldn't and we should win imo. So the line juggling looks like it's going to happen. Not sure how that will play out. Some of those combinations seem weird but we shall see.

Oh yes, I'm friends with some Flyers fans and they all hate Risto (and Hayes and JVR and their entire front office) and they tell me it's pretty universal in all the fans want him gone and many think Fletcher should be fired for signing him. They are loving Torts for sitting him. My own view of Risto is he's talented but really really dumb and thus kind of "uncoachable". I think Scotty Bowman would have turned him into a 4th line forward/irritant/agitator and only ever let him play D if half the team went down with injuries or something. That's about all he's good for.

Can't imagine that would go well for him. Bruins would get to reclaim the moral high ground as well.

Byfield just sent down to the minors. Remember when people wanted him in an Eichel deal? Then again, it's still too early on him, Wright, Jirichek (also sent down yesterday). None of these people have passed their expiration dates as prospects yet. Way too early.

So you're saying brutal career ending violence is okay if it's retaliatory?

That's definitely mixing it up in terms of lines. Mitts going to take the draws for Tage? idk, seems like a lack of identity but we shall see how they fit I guess.

can't stand the goat head with these colours. The whole thing that worked with the goat head (imo) was the red eye with the horn. Gave it a nasty sort of evil/devil look and fit with the physical era we had. Without the red it looks stupid.

Ya, that looks very deliberate and he's got a kind of smirk on his face after it too. 10 game minimum imo would have been appropriate.

My preference would be kicking them all out. For example I really want to know everyone who was in that locker room for the big cover up. I want every single one of them gone. I don't think Evander Kane should have been let back in. I think every cover up and gag order should be exposed and I think there are people who should be taken out of the hall of fame. Blackhawks didn't nearly pay a high enough price imo as another example. The list is long. But if they aren't going to do that, I think they have no right to act all high and mighty like Bettman did in his comment. It's easy to talk tough on a kid like this. It's also empty imo.

This sums it up fairly well I think.

I get your point, I do. I don't disagree with it in theory, (and it's moot now since the Bruins ditched him in a mea culpa move to appease their locker room and fans) but I still have a little bit of a problem sanctioning this kid when you and I both know we have bullies, rapists and abusers currently playing in this league and earning millions. It's just hypocritical of them.

well idk what he's currently doing OR what the Bruins will have him do. Obviously, as I said at the outset he has to do a LOT of community service and charity work and so forth to earn his redemption so I will simply keep an open mind on that possibility.

Well ya, I certainly don't want to die on that hill and definitely wish they hadn't signed him, but one question: No belief in redemption at all? We don't allow that?

But when did the NHL become the bastion of morality and good behavior? There's abusers and rapists and I'm sure a ton of former bullies all playing in the league right now. But yes, let's not look at any of them, let's show how good we are by punishing the kid in an exercise that doesn't cost us anything. It's hypocritical and easy for them. Is there an NHL rule/bylaw that says if you are shown to have bullied someone in your past you do not get to play NHL hockey? There isn't. But if there was, I guarantee you there'd be some big holes opening up on numerous rosters.

It's not the same old Sabres. There are still weaknesses, and there isn't enough depth to overcome all these defensive injuries but there are many positive signs. He shoved him a bit but imo it was not enough. I'm really waiting for the game where we target Kucherov and hit him first. I've been waiting a long time............................

Ya, not really. I don't see how adding him at this point fits the plan or makes us significantly better. KA clearly isn't adding a D man (or two) and that's all that really matters right now.

I hear ya, but do you really see that happening with this team? We STILL haven't paid back Kucherov, and we had a rationale to do it tonight too.