Dr. Who

I kind of think it would be shabby of Reinhart and Montour, but I suppose that is possible. The regime under KA is clearly better and I surmise that gets whispered about, too. I guess we'll see. I will be surprised if they are as limited as you believe, but if they don't sign any higher level free agents I'll begin to wonder if it is process related or the continuing stigma you suggest.

Why do you think the Sabres have been circled in red so to speak? If it was because they were a losing culture or terrible team, neither is operative now. Do you think the NHL players are too dumb to figure out when a situation changes? If there is another reason, I cannot fathom it. Some players might prefer a bigger city, but I doubt that is as widespread a phenomenon in the hockey world as in other sports.

And you think among the fairly large number of reasonably good FA defensemen available this year that none of them would want to play for the Sabres? Just because some folks can't let go of their bitterness over twelve years of not making the playoffs, I doubt the rest of the league is looking at the current Sabres roster and thinking they're not an up-and-coming team. I expect we will sign one or (gasp) maybe even two FA defensemen. I even expect them to be a higher caliber than marginal players just looking for a spot at the bottom of a roster.

I read your response as questioning whether the Oil would take games 5 and 6 as asserted by Thorny. I did not perceive the further context that you clarified above. Of course, you are correct, though it's probably asking a lot for restraint when the provocation is blatant.

Alright. But in terms of the effect of Nurse's absence on the game, it would seem to me that if Pieterangelo is not playing for Vegas, the advantage is nullified. Maybe you think different.

Not so much if Pietrangelo also gets suspended which he absolutely should.

I think I prefer Simashev who is pretty variable on the draft boards. There are too many good FA D not to grab at least one without using assets in a trade. While D makes the most sense and we have to stock the pipeline, I'd be tempted to trade up for Michkov if he falls within range.

It might be a general people problem.

If he's there, you have to take him. Even though GASabresIUFAN gave a somewhat plausible scenario where it could happen, I just doubt he drops to 13.

It really does feel fixed. Fella revealing the picks even had the Ducks card backwards, adding ridiculous insult to injury. Sabres miss out on McDavid, get the sulky Boston Eichel, and get lambasted for tanking, but it will all be laughs and congratulations for an original six.

I think they're entirely focused on their own process and feel good about the current rebuild, as they should be. Fans who want them to feel embarrassed or share the bitterness of those angered over twelve years of frustration are missing the forest for the trees. Nothing good can come of that -- as if ownership/management would somehow be more motivated to improve the team by indulging such a frame of reference or that it would be their just deserts to do so.

None of that negative juju talk. Leafs ought to have lost in the first round. They've already abrogated the natural law. The universe is going to restore order and Florida is just a hammer of Necessity.

The fella who is supposedly related to KA hinting on another site that Östlund may be in Rochester next year if I am interpreting his rather vague statement correctly.

That's no excuse.

I tried searching for a particular comment, but I'm not terribly adept at such and can't find it. Or maybe I'm imagining this, but I recall someone stating they thought the Flames would be less inclined to take a deal that would include VO as part of a package for Hanifin if Sutter was the coach. Whether true or not (and I suppose we'll have to wait and see who replaces Sutter), I am curious what players become available on the Flames roster.

Sweet, sweet Boston tears.

Love Bobby Orr. Hate the Bruins.

Bryson is the one that simply can't be on the roster. If he's there, KA has failed the off-season because it means he hasn't brought in enough quality veteran D. Olofsson next. He should have some trade value, more I think than some folks imagine. I don't think you have to include Anderson. He's done and it would be just mean to kick a fella on the way out. I'd like Okposo to retire, but if he wants to stay he's going to get the year. I agree that Clague is good enough to have a place in the organization. I thought this thread was going to be about posters. Though I mainly just lurk, I had a list . . .

Living in Philly explains a lot.

That's in line with another fella here who prognosticates the same kind of approach. Why wouldn't you bring in a FA like Ryan Graves, especially when one knows Mule plays a game that accrues injuries and the difference in record when he is missing? It doesn't take much to make this team much harder to play against, but it's more than this scenario. I think Savoie is very likely to make the team, and probably Rousek as well.

I prescribe, as I invariably do, a pint of Guinness, listening to relaxing music, and contemplative prayer which allows one to properly gauge the importance of various aspects of life. The last is the most important and the least followed, but the first is pretty easy to pull off.

Jack Eichel is not worth long ethical disputes. It's fun to make fun of him until one has to provide moral justification for frivolous umbrage.

Well, the West owes more to Athens than Sparta. I agree though that the Klingons are a more robust culture than the milquetoast Federation and all their boring peace talk.

There's no way to rationally make it work. They are either lying or deceiving themselves. The three goalie thing is intrinsically a bad idea. They need to get off it. It's alright to bring back either Girgensons or Okposo; it shouldn't be both. They need to trust that the vibe in the locker room that they love so much can absorb some change, because more of it is coming down the line.

I'm pretty old. When I was a kid, one of my favorite players was Yvan Cournoyer, and then we had Danny Gare, and later Daniel Briere, so I am perhaps biased in the other direction. I'm excited about Savoie, in any event. Let's hope he's one of the genuinely good ones.