That Aud Smell

Oh, no - for sure there's arbitration regarding things over which the players are aggrieved. I do wonder whether the arbitrator assesses the medical issue "de novo" (basically, with a fresh set of eyes) or whether deference is given to the team's physician. I haven't dug into the CBA that deep to find out. My point is that the majority of cases will probably exist in grey areas, where reasonable minds can differ. And, in those circumstances, what the team doc says goes. And that is some sh1t. Edited to add: A player could elect arbitration in a situation where reasonable minds can differ. But, in such a circumstance, I tend to doubt he would prevail in an arbitration.

It's not so cut and dried, as I read the provisions in the CBA. Eichel's situation seems like a peculiar one (as if we didn't already know that). And the absurd example that you provide is just that. The paradigm is set up such that the team's physician makes the diagnosis and sets the course of treatment. The player can then bring his own expert to the table to discuss the plan with the team's physician. The player can then ask that a third expert be consulted. But, at the end of the day, the team's physician doesn't have to listen to either the player's expert or the third physician - there's some process there, but not a lot of substance. In many diagnosis/treatment scenarios, reasonable minds can and will differ. For NHL players, there's only one reasonable mind who controls what happens to them. It's pretty remarkable, to me. Now, as you say: This is about the owners bearing risk. But this sort of system tends to drive the point home to me that these athletes are effectively treated like livestock in a lot of ways -- exceedingly valued, prized, and cherished livestock. But livestock. Actually ... maybe it's more like that they're treated like thoroughbred race horses.

Just FYI - you misspelled "a collectively bargained for allocation of rights." Jokes aside: It blew me away when I learned just how much control the NHLPA has allowed the owners to have over the healthcare of its members. And I'm unaware of how other leagues deal with it.

Is that true? Wow. Interesting.

I'm not sure. I probably need to look at a better overview of what's alleged. I read one summary of the civil lawsuits, and I didn't infer that acts constituting rape were being alleged.

Looking back at the substance of the allegations, I tend to agree with what you're saying. (I'm not condoning that that's how it is - I'm just agreeing that's how it is.) Food for thought: Star NFL players get more latitude than star comics. What Watson is alleged to have done is worse than what Louis CK did (and ironically similar in terms of the many victims involved). Louie got canceled, and now works with a much lower profile and performs only for his ride-or-dies.

There's no team I enjoy seeing the Sabres beat more than the Bruins. And that includes the Red Army. Let's Go, Buffalo!

I agree that this is a big factor in all of this. Maybe among the very biggest. Eichel fiercely wants to play in the Olympics.

for that lightning game, anyway, he got roughly 2 out of 3 starts in his own zone, and yet had a raw corsi of nearly 2/3 (67%). neat trick that, flipping the ice.

The assist he had on his rookie center's goal was a thing of absolute beauty.

Not segg-zee ... but this strikes me as a big fookin' deal. More and more, I think that the Sabres are headed in a good direction.

Are they as pitiable as the one you did share? The image of a pro athlete holding court with men from a local subdivision neighborhood, while leaning on a sports car and drinking beer, is ... really something. All around.

The Kubiak column from the local paper is a good one (although I regret how it's of a piece with management dismantling a news room populated by actual employees). Anyway, I appreciated his overview of what the Tennessee D did because it captured the feeling I had after the game: "The Tennessee Titans entered Monday night’s game against the Bills with one goal: To disrupt Josh Allen. Despite the fact that the Bills had a chance to win in the final moments, the plan worked. Allen was sacked three times, had balls tipped at the line of scrimmage, threw an interception due to his arm being hit and was heckled by blitzers. The combination of unusual defensive fronts and blitzes packaged with zone coverage in the secondary made him uneasy and impatient. Still, Allen again was the most exhilarating player on the field."

There were some weird story lines from that crew, presumably pushed by the show’s producers. How many times did Levy essentially mock the Bills Mafia takeover of Nashville? I counted at least three times.

I saw one of the film-break-down Twitter accounts post content (images) indicating that it looked very much like the thing was intended to go right. That said, my feeling is that if Allen goes left and doesn't slip, he gets a 1st.

Allen got numbers and the Bills scored 30, but … They did enough, as indicated above, and punched above their weight class (based on prior performances). Moreover, they made big plays when they were needed - none bigger than that last play at their own goal line.

I think this is substantially it. Credit to the Titans D - they came to play. And that allowed Henry to rumble. What a beast. And he did a lot of that after one of his key linemen got carted off (hope he’s ok). If the Bills run that final play 10 times, I think they make it 8 times. Bad execution, some bad luck. Squish the Phish!

Also, if the Bills O. can make hay against a sub-par Titans D, then game script will limit Henry's usage.

^ Good stats, @Hoss There's no sports cliche' that I endorse more than the NFL's "this is a week to week league." I think that it's generally true that each game's outcome depends so, so much on how each team plans and prepares for their opponent in that given week. (Sure, superior personnel play a big role as well.) Sometimes, it just seems that a particular coordinator's plan winds up being a "direct hit" on the plan that the corresponding opposition coordinator comes up with. In-game adjustments can be made, but then you're scrambling to react (far from ideal). That's a rambling way of saying that I am not sure how much past is prelude in the NFL. The Bills gotta stop D. Henry tonight. The fact that they've stopped him in the past means dip squat. Also, I am guardedly optimistic that this Buffalo D will come up with a big performance! Go, Bills!!

Is this the thread where we keep tabs on Reinhart and Risto from time to time? Risto hasn't been able to get into the lineup yet owing to preseason bumps and bruises. Reinhart looks to be getting second line minutes. No points yet - this despite a 75% share of o-zone starts.

pretty def. otoh, next time someone (a boomer, likely) asks me what the term "euro trash" means, i am going to show them this.

^^ Hear, hear to the above. I know from fantasy football that the Titans D has not been good (they killed me with the Jets!). However, the Titans have had Allen's number, so to speak, in all 3 of the teams' meetings during Allen's young career. Might that continue? Or are the Titans coaches/personnel so different that the past is largely irrelevant? Go, Bills!