That Aud Smell

This is Eichel's long game - to steadily work his way toward Boston. 😏

More in-arena eyeballing: The Thompson line generally kicked the snot out of whoever the Islanders sent over the boards against them. They did concede that second goal (not sure which of the forwards blew that assignment), but, on balance, they dominated.

As for the game: It's just the eyeball test, but good lord did the Sabres dominate that game. There were several times when the crowd would cheer a line change that was occurring while possession was being maintained or would loudly cheer a line that was coming off the ice after a strong shift. Buffalo hockey fans are real ones. Strangely, it seemed like, when the Islanders did have possession in the Sabres' zone, they were always on the verge of scoring -- it just seemed perilous. Some of that has to do with UPL, I think. He's still got a little cah-razy in his game. I'd like to see him calm down a bit, become more economical and measured with his movement. On the other hand: That save UPL made at the end of the third was ginormous. The crowd went berzerk. One last crowd comment: From the second period onward, the crowd was regularly continuing to sing along - pretty loudly - to the song that had been playing during a TV timeout. "I Want It That Way," "Take On Me," and ... whatever that Avalanche song is. That was the best atmosphere I've experienced at a Sabres game in a long, long time. I'd probably have to go back to the 2006 playoffs to find a better one.

Checking in after attending last night. The Miller ceremony was very well done - full marks to PSE. Miller spoke for a little over 15 minutes -- I had forgotten what a flat affect he generally has. Not unpleasant, mind you. Just presents as chill and mild. A couple of things about the ceremony, one serious and one lulzy: (1) There's saying "mental health matters," retweeting the content from Bell in order to raise money for the It's Okay Not To Be Okay cause, and then there's inviting your shrink to attend the ceremony where your number is being retired. I can't readily find a reference to her online, but her role in his career and life was unmistakable when Miller thanked her. That was moving to me. I love the guy that much more for having done that. (2) I sorta hate myself for including that content, as I'm not comfortable with the IR jokes at Connolly's expense. That said, it was such a weird moment when the camera shot to him already seated when they announced his name. There he was chawing on a wad of gum, looking sorta surly and sour, like he was ready to ***** (the filtered word is s.natch (c'mon)) a late-night steak sandwich right off someone's plate at Mother's and eat half of it in one bite. Did he refuse to walk out to his name being announced? Did he not listen to directions? I have questions. EDIT: Holy spit. I JUST noticed that he had crutches. That explains the early walkout! That much funnier now.

Got my "What you need to know" email from the Sabres - this is definitely a 7:30 puck drop.

Also helpful context. At this point, I honestly feel a bit (maybe significantly) better about the potential connection between Kim's health and the Bills' future in Buffalo. I appreciate those who've helped explain why there may well not be a worrisome (or, as I feared, potentially catastrophic) connection between Kim's health - or Terry's, for that matter - and the Bills' future in WNY. I hope that the next time I post in this thread it will be in connection with some encouraging news that the family has released.

Let's Go, Buffalo! I'll be in-house tonight. Looking forward to it.

But we do not have the proverbial game wrecker on D. Even Milano, who had a career year and is an excellent pro. He is not a game wrecker. I enjoyed how Von Miller, in the games he did play for the Bills, would occasionally bide his time and pick his spot. And then BOOM - a 3rd down sack or what have you. That sort of thing is crucial, especially in the playoffs.

Posting about Spanos above prompted me to consider: I like this idea that the everywhere-ness of the NFL product will defray some of Buffalo's small market problems. But Spanos's recent relocation of the Chargers to L.A. seemed like a clear expression of the league's continued desire for franchises to be present in large, powerful TV markets. Imo, there is no franchise that's more irrelevant from an NFL brand standpoint than the L.A. Chargers. Does anyone actually give a sh1t about that team? Not as far as I can tell. But I suppose the league and the franchise are banking on that dynamic changing, and quickly.

TIL, btw. This strikes me as strongly indicative of what the Pegulas are presumably doing. (And then again, Spanos moved the team to L.A. 🤪 I'll be forever grateful to have Bills' owners who would plan like Spanos did and who are committed to WNY like the Pegulas are.)

I gotchu.

What are you - like a mod, or something? Hmm. Interesting. Please no more j1zz hats, though.

Thanks - but we gotta hat tip @GASabresIUFANfor that inventory of woe and limitation. And I agree with this 100%. It's impressive what they've been able to accomplish with a roster that is lacking the special talents that other playoff rosters boast. When I look at the 49ers and Eagles? Sheesh. Come to think of it, I think the Chiefs can make a similar claim to having an elite QB, a stud WR1 (he's a tight end), and a hodge podge for the rest of the offence. Thing is, the Chiefs also have Chris Jones on D. The Bills just lack that sort of playmaker on defence. (Miss you Von.) Oh - and the Chiefs also have an all-time great offensive mastermind at the helm.)

COO roles vary widely. In my experience, the role tends to proceed from that person's strengths and background. New COO cut her teeth in sales? She's probably focused more on the sales side of things. New COO is a CPA? They may be spending a lot of time facilitating comms between the CFO and other operational directors. New COO is just a grinding worker bee? They may effectively be the "inside CEO" and thereby allow the actual CEO to be an external face of the company and brand. New COO is an expert with investments and finance? He may, as @Taro T noted, be focused on something like real estate development inside and around the existing arena. That is not how it is, in my experience. Private for-profit ventures - being as concerned as they are with making money - do not, as a rule, accumulate meaningless C-level officers.

Loved this post - great stuff - and then was bummed out by this closing shot. "Truly ridiculous" is tantamount to "frivolous" which is tantamount to a position being taken in bad faith. I've been as open and transparent - and as rational - as I can be (on a message board) about why I think the Pegulas should offer their faithful public some insight into how Kim's doing and how she's apt to do in the coming years. (By way of example, an issue that I continue to worry about: How's her cognition? I should like to presume it's fine, intact. And yet.) People disagree with me - some quite strenuously. And I get that. I see where they're coming from. They have every right to that opinion. There are good grounds for it. It's discouraging when people who disagree take the view that the position I'm taking is not a creditable one. That it's ill-conceived and based in nothing more than a sort of prurient interest in someone's private health information. And with that, it seems like we're back to a meta-board debate of auld about whether it's kosher to deploy the word "silly" when describing another poster's take.

It’s so good to have those high pedigree players in the bottom half of the lineup. They can do stuff.

I used to say that Skinner was a slightly less than average passer. I used to say that.

I reckon this is true - give or take a couple hundred million in amortization as well as unrecoverable lost opportunity costs.

Ha - it’s okay - you can mother eff me - I can take it. There are some good theories on what happened to her. It would be good to have a very basic understanding of her prognosis. Whomstsoever? I think that’s me. I’ve thought about this more than twice. Probably 50 times.

Buffalo looks like they could boat race this team. Let’s get it!!

Also: Many people here disagree with my view of the matter.

It’s not a legal contention. Nutshell: Public figures who own the most important private institution in WNY and who are the recipients of $850M in public money should provide the affected public with some information about the prognosis of the presumed surviving owner after she suffers a life threatening medical event. Private citizens have a fairly ironclad interest in the privacy of their health information. Public figures not as much.

They won the last time they wore the pajama uniforms, right?

I’ll add: Job descriptions for COO positions vary widely. Sometimes, a company will have a COO leave, hire another one, and the new COO carves out a largely different role than their predecessor.

I reckon it’s right that Raccuia’s EVP title at PSE trumps Roth’s COO title with the same organization. However, we know how Terry feels about flat org structures. Good call.