Dr. Who

Efficiency is boring as hell.

Saw an opportunity for a joke that included quantum physics and took it.

I feel like you are struggling with the concept of these threads. OTOH, you've given voice to ambivalence with a low hum of perduring disgruntlement in an intelligent manner. OTOH, you've failed to grasp the polar-dichotomy of point-counterpoint represented by two diverse threads of this particular nature. In reality, you want to occupy an ambiguous quantum state between two universal polarities, which places you high on the Heisenberg scale with a relatively strong undercurrent of Schrödinger syndrome.

If Atlanta gets another shot (I'd be surprised, but I've read your reasoning and it's not implausible), I hope they go with something other than the Thrashers. The Flames were just perfect. (I was a kid then, but that team was very likeable and I loved the sweaters.)

Yes, but KA is going to sell him as a 50 point player. I thought that was the point, but even if it isn't, that should be the take away. Personally, I hope VO is still part of a package that brings back a veteran goalie. That concerns me way more than where we're going to find goals.

The fella who is possibly related to KA or possibly a scout or just a fake insider posted the following at that wretched Hockeybuzz site: "Another Defenseman is coming + more . They're not playing around this year" He sort of drives by and drops these bits and disappears. We'll see if it happens. If they are adding a top 4D to what they've already done, that would be pretty impressive. The + more could be anything, but I wouldn't assume that means goalie.

That would be ideal. To me, Clifton is a 4-5 tweener. He might rise to the occasion and be an excellent partner for Power, but I'd prefer to have more options there. If you truly bring in a top 4D without question marks and slot Clifton to third pair, the D would be strong, but as others have pointed out, we're reaching a level of investment cap wise on D where you're probably not paying another big salary.

Maybe complaining is his form of enjoyment.

I haven't entirely given up on a trade for Hellebuyck. The price would have to be something KA is comfortable with for a one-year rental.

You always have that nagging feeling. I sincerely hope you are wrong. (I know you do, too.) I am expecting that 4D at minimum.

What I learned over the past few weeks is that Big Macs are super expensive in Winnipeg and that there may be some correlation between how much you pay for a hamburger and how much anxiety you have over balancing handedness on your blueline.

It's a gamble. The likelihood that Michkov is there at 13 went up this weekend.

I think Kincaid is special. I was advocating for his selection over a mediocre WR class over on the football side of this board for over a month before the draft. I just don't know if you can count on him in his rookie year to be that dangerous second receiving weapon we need. I think he will make some immediate impact in opening up the entire field as something the D has to pay attention to. I think Josh will have confidence he'll catch the ball. Hopkins would help on that front. He's a much more reliable receiver to compliment Diggs. Davis should be WR3 or 4. They've done enough to bolster the IOL that I am fairly optimistic it won't be the massive open border it was for much of last year. Just getting rid of Saffold is addition by subtraction. Wish I felt better about the tackles. Dawkins was below average last year and Brown was a disaster. There were mitigating factors. I think Dawkins was affected by poor guard play next to him and Brown never got past the lost development incurred because of back problems. Beane did bring in modest competition and Edwards can play some tackle. It's possible Doyle may surprise. I hope Josh is fully recovered from the UCL injury and I also hope his inability to be accurate on short passes exacerbated by injury is the reason Dorsey did not make use of Cooks' pass catching abilities out of the backfield. You don't select Cook and add Hines if you don't plan on making that element of the game part of your habitual arsenal.

Nope. KA has to bring in a top 4 D and there are enough out there available through trade and free agency to get one. There are teams with cap issues that won't be able to retain players or will be more willing to part with one. It doesn't matter if some GMs are going to try and pry more value from the Sabres because we are stacked with good developmental players, they're not all going to be that way. I'm fairly confident KA will be stubborn about value and I'm glad of it. Nonetheless, various combinations of draft picks, tradeable NHL players (VO has some value) and overall level of depth at the forward position in the organization means there is a deal to be made somewhere.

Pleased to meet you.

That claim about 13 seconds is pretty widely discredited. It is an important year for the regime to go considerably further in the playoffs. I think anything short of the Conference Championship puts McDermott on the hot seat. Stress always exacerbates tensions and tensions always exist, even in the most amicable relationships. It's the human condition. I wouldn't bet a lot of money on Tua staying healthy for the year. I'd still favor the Bills. We are the better team. Last year there was an unprecedented combination of injury, tragedy, and weather related issues that cumulatively took its toll. I don't expect that level of adversity this year. As long as key players avoid serious injury, the Bills are just as much a Super Bowl contender as last year without the hype.

Not really sure where to put this. Fella named Gabriel Foley writes a Substack called Rinkside Reprisal. This was in his mailbag on the draft. After talking about Teams Trading up or down, he wrote the following: Trade… Anything: The Buffalo Sabres are going to be very interesting to watch. They’ve made it seem like they’re in on just about every open market player and Victor Olofsson being recently dangled as trade bait throws a curveball at anyone trying to predict which way they’re leaning. I could see Buffalo sacrificing Pick #13 in a larger deal, if it means reeling in a player that their staff feels really confident in - they’ve been looking for a truly solid addition. But I also know that Buffalo is very eager for this draft class and excited to see which players end up falling, something that could inspire them to trade up. After a season of relative success, it’ll be interesting to see how excited Buffalo gets.

Interesting. UPL is fine as a backup to a veteran goalie. Don't really like pairing him with Levi. KA better either sign an UFA or trade for a top 4D. If slow play means waiting on that, well, I don't believe he will, but there's no strategy that foregoes improving the blue line that makes sense in any scenario.

Seems like we're all agreed. Whose going to call KA and Terry and tell them what we decided?

I'd be shocked if that's all it took.

I think the fan base would walk around in a state akin to the mildly concussed if you traded Levi at this point. I don't like any of the options I have heard as the ask for Hellebuyck. I am willing to trade 13OA and UPL for a year of Hellebuyck. I'm not adding an A prospect or Krebs, but if the option were add one of those options to the preceding list or just trade Levi straight up, I'm keeping Levi.

I would not pay that for one year of Hellebuyck. I'm sure there are folks here who would, including you apparently. (And I like Hellebuyck. Krebs is what makes that package too much for me.) I wouldn't pay much more than a 2nd, UPL and a B prospect for Hart. Eleven made a point that Briere may overplay his hand there. If Hellebuyck and Saros are both on the market, not really sure about Saros, Hart is the third best available.

I think I liked you better when you were Hellebuyck's agent.

I just copied it from the other site I look at. I don't have a source. I don't think anyone would have a problem paying that price. I doubt Philly goes for it.

No idea where the post is coming from. I thought it was a joke or a drunken Flyers' fan behind it. Said Power for Hart, Grans, and 2024 CBJ 2nd.