Richard Noggin

Only advice I've ever given to gamblers: in a survivor pool, NEVER look ahead. Simply make the best/most obvious pick each week, according to which teams are still available to you. The pool I belong to is already down to 4 players from an initial 26. It's difficult enough to survive a single week WITHOUT worrying about future matchups. FTR I'm considering the Bills this week. By week 5 in the NFL, NOTHING is a given. Gotta just ride the most convincing chalk. I do hate the confident energy Pickett might bring to his team's stagnant offense (Pitt has lacked aggressive QB play for years). I hate any opponent's approach that might rely upon 50/50 balls down the field with our DBs singled up (Pickens and Claypool have jump-ball potential). I hate the way the Steelers controlled the LOS against us last season. That last point is probably the crux of it all: if the Bills can control the LOS, or at least be competitive...they should be fine. Last year in the opener the Bills o-line got owned all game (minus maybe one or two 2nd half drives where Daboll actually mixed up his play calling).

Is an NHL team drafting Cs who can also kick outside analogous to an NFL team drafting OTs who can also kick inside?

Historical data is almost as good, or better, than any hypothetical chart. Thank you.

Follow up question: is there a widely-circulated NHL draft pick value chart that can ballpark potential trade values? I'm more familiar with NFL drafting and the competing value charts referenced therein.

APOSTROPHES NEVER SIGNIFY PLURALITY. [I'm basing this on my former career as an English professor, but I'm in sales now, so take it for what it's worth] Apostrophes are used to indicate two things, essentially: 1) a contraction combining two words, wherein the apostrophe signifies the splice point and place where letters have been omitted, and 2) possession; an "apostrophe-s ('s)" tacked onto a noun signifies that noun's possession of what immediately follows. Despite WNY's obsession with apostrophes, they NEVER indicate plural. Therefore: game 7s is correct. Same as game sevens. The Bills broke my heart repeatedly in the 1990s. NO APOSTROPHE.

Such delicious kibble.

Did someone (well established as a poster) in this thread slot Peterka in as a 4th line winger next year?! That just doesn't make sense.

Maybe been mentioned in this thread, but who here remembers T. Pegula emphasizing early on the importance of drafting a goalie EVERY year because of how important the position is? He had read a particular book about it, I believe. So it seems like they've actually done that, recently, but now are being curved by those high-end prospects? What's the solution?

No judgment. This is a safe space.

Agree with your entire list except Anderson. You don't think he would make a decent #2 goalie while the franchise tries to add more depth at the position (given the less-than-great news about Sabres' prospects going back to school)? I didn't watch today's game, but in general, he's played winning hockey when healthy. And he's a "well-seasoned" vet. Sounds like a perfect #2 candidate until the franchise restocks the cupboards. Let the younger guys (whomever that might be) get #1 playing time in the minors and juniors.

The ginger mullet had a gem, for sure. Some misfortune in how adeptly Teravainen handled the turnover, but Anderson's demeanor following that goal says it all.

Not to mention he showed some jam prior to that play, even bodying a guy off the puck (the color guy, was it Roenick?, oddly referenced VO's imposing size?)

I'm definitely more locked in lately than I've been for a LONG time. Texting friends during games, actually getting excited like I did in the past. Mind you, I was away from the region from 1996 to 2012. And as fortune would have it, I moved to Dallas for a couple years, and even worked briefly at a restaurant on the same block as Hully and Mo's. The front page newspaper reports of that Hull goal were literally plastered to the walls. My manager was the lead guitar player/founder of Deep Blue Something (Breakfast at Tiffany's one-hit wonder). Restaurant stories. I was geeked when LaFontaine took his job in the front office. He had been a hero of mine, and it turned out that he had become a kindred soul with respect to great wine and food. He did a nice job of spending Kim's pocket change at Tempo. Let Pat LaFontaine order the wine, and try to get Kim P to pay the bill. That was my gameplan. Kim Pegula is an excellent tipper. Unfortunately that partnership didn't exactly pan out.

So, if we don't lose in regulation again this season...playoffs?

Pollen flaring up

Ahhhh

Appreciate the input. I'm a lifelong fan, but not on the level recently that many of you all are. I've been trying to reignite it for years.

That's two quick mentions of Quinn. Love to see confidence in the pipeline. Definitely room under the cap to "supplement" in FA, but are any #1 centers available? AND willing to take a chance on an upstart team trying to end an unfortunate drought?

Got any guys in mind? While we're at commercial...

Is Tuch avoiding contact on the forecheck tonight? Or does he generally play the puck instead of the man? Seems to be doing drive-bys...

Well, sure. That would be great. But is it likely the Sabres can bring in THREE guys who are more 1st line worthy while we still have these other three? I'm all for it, of course.

A bit simplified, for sure, and even naïve, possibly, as many successful organizations have been built (especially early on) with cultures of ruthless growth/success at any cost.

He's been through a lot?! Really? He's been a pampered prodigy for a LONG time. He's rich. Other than a neck injury that's apparently already behind him (I've seen much worse in many family members), he's still healthy, young, and living a dream. Let's not expend empathy for this particular, permed prince that we wouldn't extend to so many other human beings who have it much rougher. He's an arrogant arse. Doesn't make him a criminal, but it does make him hate-able.

I'm Twitter illiterate, so where do I find the text or reports gathered from Peters that help me stay big mad at the pompous, ginger chowdahead Jack Eichel. Sincerely, though, eff Eichel. I've rubbed elbows with him enough to know he's a grade-A doosh.

Confirmation, is what that is. Straight from the nozzle of the doosh.