Campy

I'd love to agree with you, but I don't recall ever seeing "greatness" from him. He is an effective #2 or 3 possesion WR that is asked to be a #1. He simply isn't good enough on Sundays.

Will this do? http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/5215166-74/orpik-fight-penguins#axzz2mzVKi9JY

Interesting. I don't think punishing for player selection is appropriate either, but as we know, that ship has sailed - provided the coach in question is not from Boston, evidently.

Having seen the knee to Marchand, I feel badly about what I said up thread - it was not part of a hockey play as I assumed it was, it was an unnecessary and cheap play by Neil and I don't think anybody, even a ###### gobbler like Marchand, should have to deal with that crap. This video of the Erikcson hit is pretty interesting. Orpick blew him up and it didn't look to me like he had the puck, and then note Charra going head hunting at 18 seconds, leaving his feet and elbow out - but of course it was Charra so there will be no call from the league. http://ndgoon.blogsp...-after-hit.html The NHL, and the players themselves, need to reign this crap in before somebody gets killed. I love the physical nature of hockey, but this stuff is getting out of hand.

I was going to watch one of the football games after the Sabres, but I think I might watch that game. Charra picked up a double minor for butt ending Kunitz, both Lucic and Engullend got majors at the same time for boarding each other (and I have no idea how that call could have been made), Marchand picked up a double minor for high sticking Kunitz (he must have a bullseye on him), and Despres picked up a headbutt on Krejci, and 2 minutes later Iginla picked up a headbutt on Despres. Sounds like it'll be entertaining. Plus, Marchand got kneed in the head, and that makes me smile.

That's something of a letdown, but you have even more time to prepare, and that can't be a bad thing... Good luck!

I believe the US roster will be announced on January 1st, and I'd imagine most other countries will be right around there - I'll vote then...

I saw the name and thought it sounded familiar - he was an Amerk, wasn't he? :clapping: ...and I'm just looking for a league to sue so I can retire in the lap of luxury! How could so many professional athletes be so totally devoid of rhythm? I have that CD and I dig TSO (and Savatage), but that song has been ruined by the gotta go getta Garmin xmas commercials. It's all I think of when I hear it. Bastards...

The Toronto Bills would be just okay - I wouldn't have anywhere near the emotion with which I root for the the Buffalo Bills. If they move someplace else (LA, London), screw 'em. And you're right C_V, it would be nonsensical for them to keep the nickname and logo. The only scenario in which I can see them doing so would be if they named the team the Buffalos or Bisons as some sort of homage to WNY fans and the club's history. And let's face it, it'd be a smooth marketing move but it's highly unlikely. All this thinking about the Bills leaving Buffalo is bringing me down, but it very well could become a reality within a decade....

I sure didn't see this coming, and honestly, that's where I kind of thought hockey players were different. As a kid playing from the late 70s until the mid 80s, I was well aware of the dangers involved with the game. I had 4 diagnosed concussions and likely several more where my bell was rung that were undiagnosed concussions. But I knew the risk and like any person involved in a high speed and/or contact sport, you never think it will happen to you. But when it does happen to you (it's got to happen to somebody, after all), you can now sue? Ridiculous

“The NHL persists in this conduct to date by, among other things, refusing to ban fighting and body checking and by continuing to employ hockey players whose main function is to fight or violently body check players on the other team (“Enforcers”).” On twitter, Pierre LeBrun says it's Gary Leeman, Brad Aitken, Darren Banks, Curt Bennett, Richard Dunn, Warren Holmes, Bob Manno, Blair Stewart, Morris Titanic and Rick Vaive.

3 Yep. And I'm pretty sure NFL bylaws prohibit a corporation like Roger's or MLSE from being a majority owner. I don't consider this type of talk during the run up to be a necesarily bad thing as it could potentially lead to Torontonians one day showing up and cheering for the "home" team. IF the Bills were to end up in TO with the same colors (colours?), nickname, and logo, would any of you still consider yourselves Bills fans?

Get real weave. He was a Jack Adams winner and was offered a frickin' 1-year deal. Yeah, it's not being fired, but it's about as close as you can come to being told "Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya." Yep. Anything more than 10-14 days and I'll be surprised. Nolan's game was a lot like Kaleta's. If anybody can bring Patty K along the right way, I gotta think it's Teddy.

To be fair, it should also be noted that many hockey people believed Nolan was blackballed for having the gumption to stand up to the wanna-be "legend" John Muckler, who is perhaps one of the most over rated men in hockey. And then there are theories about his heritage that are well-documented from his playing days. But I personally think it had more to do with Muck's good ol' boy network than anything else. It might take a few weeks, and it might cause some pretty messed up lineups for a little while, but I'm looking forward to watching guys figure out that if you aren't competing every shift, you won't be getting a shift. And I suspect Drew Stafford is crapping bricks.

Okay, we can play the semantics game if you'd like. But a lot of potential is better than having a FA leave and getting nothing, is it not?

Darcy got two top picks next year and an underrated goal scorer who they may or may not be able to re-sign, the Isles got Vanek's services until he signs with Minnesota in 8 months. I think it's a terrific trade. Say what you will about Darcy, he gets A LOT in return when he makes trades.

No doubt I am a homer - it's really hard for me to be objective about my teams. That said, why is he suspended? For making a hockey play? I wholly appreciate trying to take the hits that cross the line out of the game, and I'm fully aware that Kaleta has delivered more than a couple of those hits. But I just don't see where he did this time. I believe he was trying to light up Johnson, no doubt, but it wasn't a cheap shot and he wasn't head hunting. Not to my eyes, anyway. And I voted keep him. He has heart, hustle, and entertainment value. This year's team needs all of those things.

Unbelievably, almost bizarrely, saddened by this news. Thanks for the great work over the years, Larry. RIP.

That right there is the line of the night.

True, but if the players don't step it up, it may be just a question of time before he does. In the article he mentioned players resting during their shifts. I wonder who he was referring to. If I had to guess, I'd wager Stafford is on that list, but who else?

Not new-post worthy.

Hopefully the new guy making such a blunt obervation right off the bat will wake them up. There is talent on the roster, but talent without effort means zilch.

"We're the team that blinks first when you have a stare down." Sounds about right to me. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/22/rolston-on-sabres-were-the-team-that-blinks-first-when-you-have-a-stare-down/

It's odd that we watch the same games and see something completely different. Unless you're taking a trip to Va Beach soon, It won't happen, but I'd love to watch a game with you so you can show me what you're seeing as it happens. Who knows, maybe I'm missing something... What I see is a D corps that has been as bad as I can ever remember a Sabres D corps being. They get pinned in their own end, make very few good first passes out of the zone and more often than not are weak on the puck and weak along the boards. At times I see them having no desire to block shots, and even worse, they have probably screened Miller on what, 4-5 goals already this year? And if that's not enough, they chase and allow themselves to be pulled out of position. Maybe it's because I played D so I notice them more, but if I see one more Dman leave an opponent sitting at Miller's doorstep to go below the goal line when a forward and another Dman is already there, I'm going to pull what's left of my hair out. I've seen play that would make an ECHL coach cringe, and it must improve or it won't matter who they have up front, in goal, or behind the bench...

I'd probably say he's a 5-6 on some teams and a 7 on most (semantics). But so far, he's been among the best Dmen on this team. And that's my point - it has less to do with praising him and more to do with damning the others. But calling one of the team's better performing Dmen "dead weight" doesn't seem accurate, expecially given the amount of non-performing dead weight currently on the roster.