PerreaultForever

Well I haven't seen Sam in this preseason but I watched the Washington Philly game and Risto was dominant. Player of the game. He is where he always should have been , 2nd pairing D, and at the moment he appears to be thriving and Philly fans think he was a steal.

Well anything's possible, but I doubt it. I don't think the non move clause would hold up in court at this point. They've been in Buffalo long enough to provide counter arguments to that but I'm no legal expert, I just know when super rich people want to circumvent old agreements they usually find a way. But I don't think that's it. I think the answer is simpler. They spent money and it failed miserably so they simply have decided to start over from scratch. Relationship with Eichel souring maybe tipped the scales but Hall and Skinner giving them nothing for their money probably soured them more. Going to lose anyway so why spend? Why not fully tear down. So tear down and tank and start over. If they win the lottery and get Wright it might seem like genius. If not, well maybe this time they get Draisaitl instead of Reinhart. or they suck for another decade.

lol, Houser was the only name on there I knew.

What to expect? Probably a lot of post game similar to this but it was sort of nice to see Ullmark totally blow the game for the Bruins tonight.

I expect an occasional flash of who/what he was but for the most part a step behind. His mind will make the right play and save but he just won't get there on time and he will burn out and fade fast.

Or did it happen after he signed the big fat long term guaranteed contract? The trail off stat is meaningless as the team trailed off, the supporting cast trailed off, and he already had his numbers so he didn't want to get hurt, whatever. It actually can back up my argument about him playing or not playing when he wants to.

I hear what you're saying, but looking at him his skating seems fine. I don't see any signs that he is on a bad ankle or anything like that. Skinner's never been known as a hard worker and if you were him, would you put out your all on what is clearly a dismantled tank team that will likely suck for multiple years before the kids all step up (if) or would you just float and cash your cheques and maybe even hope for a buy out so you can go play for the Leafs for cheap? or just cash the cheques and stay home. Either way, I don't think it's an injury, and certainly not a permanent one which would be what it would have to be after 2 years.

Well there's been a number of theories and excuses for Skinner but the simple fact is he has sucked since he signed the fat contract.

and you're not getting me. We disagree that's all. Look, I don't want to keep defending this as it's going to seem like I'm defending racism or something and I'm not so let's just leave it at that.

my level of engagement with the game was subpar because it was horrible bad boring hockey. Yes, it's preseason, but I didn't see a single Sabre that impressed me or seemed to be giving their all to make the team. This could be the worst team EVER. As for Skinner. You explain it. One good year playing for the contract and then crap ever since and crap tonight. So go ahead, if my idea is wrong, explain it.

Maybe, but I'd say at least half of it is. You had your goalie, 2/3 of your D likely and at least half your forwards. Starting the season, likely not ending it. He's too young to be washed. The only conclusion I can make is he doesn't care and likely never did. Only plays when he wants to, and he doesn't really want to, he's just in it for the cash.

No I got that. But it's also an assumption. I might be old school, but I still hold to a 3 strikes and you are out kind of mindset. First offense you get punished but you get a chance for redemption on a short leash. Second offense you get a big punishment. You're going to have to convince and beg for another chance, but you can still earn one. Third, we don't even discuss it you're done. You can argue for 2 strikes I'd see merit in that, but just 1, no, I'm not on board with that cancel culture mentality.

the apologetics of the announcers is even worse than last year. The bar is being set really really low. there's a lot of Penguins I've never heard of but we've got most of our starting line up playing sad to say.

I've noticed Skinner twice. Both times going it alone trying to get past 2 defenders and turning the puck over. I hear he thinks he's an impact player though.

Hagg is a Jag and Dahlin is awful in this game. I'm not sure this team could win in the AHL .

I'm not firing a guy for taking 20 bucks.

That's what I thought, and then it was aggravated in that islander game but what actually happened in the off season is still vague as far as I can tell.

Here's my question. Has anyone credible actually ever confirmed where/when/how this injury occurred and what exactly it is? Seems to me nobody will trade for him without medical guarantees, and Sabres won't provide those and so this just gets uglier and uglier. I suspect at some point the league will quietly step in here (behind closed doors maybe) cause this is bad PR all around.

Ummmm, because they didn't have a scouting staff?

Nothing. very little. why is this even a question?

I notice how you glossed over my comment on worshiped hockey players from the past, and completely ignored my comment about how for years (and still) the NFL excuses and forgives much worse offenses than this. Point being, the crime and the punishment should be in proportion. The main point here being that banning this guy is a feel good response that has very little effect and simply ruins this guy's life for a dumb (and offensive) incident. NOBODY emulates this guy, or follows him or worships him. He won't be in the hall of fame anywhere. He won't be a pro broadcaster after he retires, he won't be someone young kids look for footsteps to follow in. Banning him just makes people like you feel good. It does nothing. You want that sort of thing out of sports? I'm with you on that 100%. But if you don't start with the "stars" and the "pros" that do these things you're really skirting the issues for money etc. and thus nothing changes. My many excuses are just possibilities to explain the guy. Might be true, might not. I don't know anything about him, and neither do you. Some moron bullies need help, not just a beat down. The only point I give to you is his age. I assumed he was younger. 23 makes it worse I agree. He should be better at that age, but it doesn't change the argument. But honestly, I don't care about this guy. You want to have at me as you like to do keep bringing it but you are right, we will not agree.

We had a Zack, and a Zach, but no Jacks.

Well I guess we have a better shot at Wright than the Dead Things.

Where did I call him a "sad and poor kid"? I'm not a big fan of drawing a line at any person's expense (no matter how vile they might be as an individual). You want that stuff out of the sport, have the league make a ruling that any racist gesture will be met with punishment X (be that a ban or whatever) but do it in that order, not after the fact in some PC culture way. The hockey hall of fame is filled with racists, homophobes, wife beaters, you name it. You want them all removed? No, we evolve as a society but we do it without singling out any one thing or grandstanding an incident. Punish the guy yes, but a lifetime ban is too extreme. I mean come on, hockey is way ahead of the NFL on these things and nobody lifetime bans anybody in that league of thugs, criminals and rapists.

I have two problems with this idea. 1) I believe in redemption and giving people a chance to change. lifetime ban for repeated offenses I'd be fine with. Lifetime ban for one, that's too extreme. and 2) If there is a clear punishment code BEFORE the incident then I also have no problem with it, but to decide something that extreme after an offense, especially when similar earlier offenses have occurred with lesser punishments seems wrong. Having said that I do think what he got wasn't enough. The season plus some sort of sensitivity training courses as a prerequisite to reinstatement would be a minimum imo.