PerreaultForever

Oh come on, the World Championship is a couple weeks long and then he gets months of rest and rehab before September/October. Having as many of our players as possible experience some high level competition is a good thing for them.

Fleury's not coming here. Just forget about that. I suspect he stays in Minnesota, but if they can't make the money work he goes to a cup contender only. Subban is one I hadn't really considered but I wonder if he'd take a pay cut to (sort of) play with his brother (and by sort of I mean Malcolm would be in Rochester instead of Dell). He's not worth the money he makes now but he could fit with how we want to play for a few years. Not sure. the guy I really want is Copp, but I suspect he will have many suitors so the price might get too high. Acciari would certainly be welcome.

re Power: I can't blame him, but I was hoping he would. Really hoping Mitts takes part. Want him to take a leap forward and this might help.

I wonder if Jack didn't even speak to the media at all end of season? Wouldn't surprise me.

So everybody then right?

meanwhile, from an article on the Flyers failure by Charlie O'Connor in the Athletic: "The Ristolainen extension, especially, looms large as a symptom of this. For a team in the Flyers’ position — way down the standings and so far from contention that they would trade their longtime captain (and best player) just a few weeks later — the logical move would have been to ship out Ristolainen for picks and prospects. His value around the league was high, as a physical rental defenseman perceived by many GMs as having a game tailor-made for the postseason. Ristolainen’s pairing with Sanheim had been fine relative to the rest of the team, but far from dominant. It only made sense — bad team trades away expiring contracts for future assets. Instead, the Flyers doubled down on him, paying him like a solid second pair defenseman when every objective metric grades him out as a third-pair guy at best. The reason? Well, it’s true that Fletcher has liked Ristolainen as a player dating back to his time in Minnesota. But it’s a near-certainty that Ristolainen’s size and physical style of play was a major factor. And it’s also a near-certainty that the older voices in the brain trust were very much in favor of bringing back a player who screams the traditional notion of what Flyers hockey should be. During a season where scoring is up to pre-neutral zone trap levels and offense and skill are very much in vogue, the Flyers are spending $5.1 million per year on a defenseman who embodies the opposite, from his throwback mentality to his consistently awful performance by analytics. In large part because of Flyers culture." Remember when we used to argue how he wasn't a top pairing guy but would be better as a second pairing guy? Risto redux. Flyers are a disaster.

As usual, Eichel put up points in the game that didn't matter, after failing in the games that did. Vegas 0 for 17 in those shootouts. Amazingly bad. Can't blame injuries for that. I couldn't find anything but if anybody sees a locker room clearout presser with Jack please post it. icing on the cake.

Last summer (and earlier) we spent a lot of time arguing about whether there was a cultural problem, whether or not certain stars were the problem or not, coaching and lack of talent, which was the bigger problem and should we add or tear it down. I think it's pretty clear now in hindsight that tear down and removal of certain pieces was essential, the culture was bad, even toxic, and it was impossible to build on that. Now I think it's also pretty clear that the culture has shifted, the tear down worked, and we can can now build on a new optimistic foundation. People do and will want to be here again and things should get better and better. The question will really be one of how fast. Do we make big moves and try to rise faster or do we do that slow and steady climb not to upset things? We, as fans, will be impatient as a whole, but I think as long as it keeps going in the right direction we will be okay. It's just a joy to see smiles and good positive comments from the players. Anderson saying he wished he was younger to stay part of it I thought was really revealing and says its a real thing. Its nice to go into an off season with hope and optimism for a change rather than who/what gets the most blame. That'll be a culture shift for sabrespace too. We're going to be good again. Just a question of how soon and how fast. (I didn't disagree with the rest of your post, just wanted to focus on this one question)

"Change the culture" - check Finally.

Dud game to start but they cam alive at the end, dominated the OT and RJ got a proper send off. Nice to see some pure joy on Sabre faces. There is hope.

You can't blame him. Hall and Lazar were both gushing with praise for the place and saying how much they loved it there. He probably knew others as well. There was no glimmer or inkling here that things would change any time soon and hate them all you want, but he's extremely happy there even with the early season criticisms he faced and apparently him and Swayman are already best buds. This, was never going to be invented here:

You have a friend???? hey, didn't see this before. Good to see. I take back part of what I said in the other thread.

Well there's no way to tell which one of you did it is there, but you obviously agreed since it wasn't reversed. As for falsehood's not a single one. But no point in arguing with you. Just treat everyone the same and you won't have any issues from me. Some can. Use of that word got me muted for a month. Just that word. But whatever.

Kind of already processed it with the tribute night so this is sort of anti climactic. It's an ending, but given the optimistic position the team is now in I prefer to view this as the end of one era but also the beginning of a new one.

Taylor Hall is a perfect Bruin. Unlike when he was in Buffalo where he did nothing, in Boston he fits in the culture, works hard, back checks, plays solid D, uses his body constantly, drives the net, hits guys even and defends team mates. He is a Bruin and he is popular with the fans. He's not a Hart trophy player any more and maybe never should have been seen that way but is he earning his salary? Definitely, like it or not. 12 points in 10 games vs. the Sabres since the trade I think.

why wasn't it "obnoxious" when it was done to me? No, when that happened you let it escalate until I shut it down and exited saying the guy was an "a.." but then you banned me for a month not him. Can't win with you can I? I'm just responding the way you permit others. Maybe I need to use a meme next time would that make it okay? Face it, you just don't like me so you exercise a double standard. That's a fact.

perseverance - so insisting on one medical plan over another and not bending, is that perseverance or just stubbornness? dedication - to what? Himself? Definitely wasn't dedicated to winning in Buffalo or to Buffalo fans. Ya, that's definitely an aspect players, agents and union reps would want highlighted, but the nomination still seems like a PR move by Vegas to try to show their fanbase what a great guy he is. So sure, Lehner got one so give one to Jack too and they can swap stories of who's the greater.

idk, the refs viewed it as I did. Rob Ray said Granato would lose the challenge as soon as he saw the replay (I know, it's Rob Ray.....) so I'm not sure why Marty sees it this way but in the end that one goal really didn't matter anyway. We were never going to score in that game regardless.

Vegas nominating Eichel is telling me that either they are already feeling the need to try to make Eichel into something he isn't, or that team is devoid of leadership and an actual worthy nominee. Explains a lot either way.

I don't really disagree, I just think it's a bigger step to "Granato will need to get the team to learn to play against defense like that" than you think. A lot of players struggled tonight including Tage. Mitts was horrible. Vinnnie might bot be here next year but he was also struggling big time. Cozens and Krebs gave effort but looked like the kids they are. On the plus side I thought Muel as our best player and Power had some good moments so it will get better. As for the 20%, well maybe, I'm not going to try to list them off, but in playoff hockey that number is much higher and that's what I want to build for. Getting in the playoffs one day will be great, but I don't want years of early Leaf style exits either. That'll end up almost as frustrating as this decade was. best way to avoid that is to start working on that now, and I'm still not sure Granato (or this roster) will give us that.

No I don't think so. The one foot was up in the air and the other skate blade was out over the blueline. He turned his skate blade to make sure. Clearly onside.

Absolutely. This team can't be just about building for the future next year. It has to be about winning now or it risks letting the losing culture slip back in. We rebuilt the base this year now these guys have to go in each night thinking one thing only - win the game. Any loss should be viewed as failure and a need for improvement. It's time, and we need a reliable goalie to try to do that.

wrong.

In a few other threads I was asked by some people what I meant by "team defense". Well, that was textbook. We didn't play a "clunker" as some think, they simply didn't let us do what we have been doing. Easy easy shutout for Ullmark. I think maybe 3 saves of any difficulty all night. As I suspected, we cannot (yet) play against good team defense. We have much to learn still . Whoever spots for Granato needs an eye exam. Those were bad challenges. Chicago plays a more open style so tomorrow's game should be better.

Funny. I get the hate. Obvious why Marchand is reviled. Don't forget to hate on Hall too, but give Lazar a pass. Sabres should not have ditched him in the deal. That is on them not him. But that haiku should have "chowder" in it somewhere..............