That Aud Smell

Ha. Yeah you are. As are we all. Hell - we are online discussing a game, or games. This is definitely a game, of sorts.

I think this is really well put - especially the bolded bit above.

I'll play. I didn't watch any of the game, and and only saw the fight (actually, the beat down) on Twitter. I think it may matter because Cozens showed remarkable energy, heart, and bravery when, as a 19 year old rookie, he scrapped with a young veteran who apparently plays a physical style and can presumably handle himself. The fact that Cozens opened up a can of whoop ass only adds value. Those are intangible things, but I'd say they're important -- especially to a hockey team (maybe even more so than to other sports teams).

It would make sense that they won't brew on-site -- that they'll have a retail establishment without brewing, like the ones @inkman has seen brewers use in/around Roch. I do wonder what kind of licensure they'll be looking for. Some sort of extension of what I presume is their farm brewery license. Which in turn prompts me to ask: How are they gonna offer a full bar in that space? That could be a sticky wicket for them. I realize that they could offer their own spirits (as well as other NYS-made spirits, I think), but the masses are going to want to order what they're accustomed to ordering.

I'm glad to hear that you had good experiences there. I will add: The times when I was most disappointed at (716) was on a day/evening when there was no hockey game going on. I have little to no use for Pearl Street. I will go there in a pinch, but I know what to expect. Shoot - even the beer they brew there isn't anything to celebrate, and I'm not overly fussy about the house craft brew.

Right. I hear you. I guess taprooms are typically (?) connected to nearby brewing activities, but not always. The facility was (is) pretty sweet. My experience with the food and service was fairly mixed.

So - a taproom. That seems to imply that they'll brew on-site (?).

That sounds right, although I would imagine that Labatt USA, as PSE's tenant, would have asked PSE for assurances that PSE would not enter into a sale, lease, etc. that would allow another brew pub to compete within a certain distance. But maybe not. Do I recall correctly that PSE moved its headquarters into that building where the Labatt brew house is?

It occurs to me: The Labatt brew house is a PSE holding. It would surprise me if the Pegulas would allow Southern Tier to brew on site at the former 716.

BIGGER nets, with rounded points of joinder between posts and crossbar. Sheesh. Didn't you listen to Larry Quinn??

This theory is gathering steam on Sabres Twitter. Is it all just inferential? Or is there something sourced to indicate that RaKru has beef with Guy Smiley?

I really enjoyed this post - especially that middle part.

Lol - actually, maybe they are about equal! Taking ~10% as his average SH%. +/- 6.

Good fortune tends to even out over time. ~16% SH% is/was an outlier for Eichel. Not as much as 4% is.

1. Thought I got Hank'd. 2. That is really something.

Dude - he would LIGHT SH1T UP in your beer league.

I positively *gasped* when I read this as I am squarely in the midst of such an experience myself. #YesDear #WhateverYouWantIsGoodWithMeHon Yeah - the ROR thing seems almost like received wisdom. I'd never heard the Skinner one, though. Then again: The Kitchen Reno Theorem. Healthy scratches are a way of grooming a former 40-goal scorer for a LW1 spot?

There's gonna be pain involved, for sure. I was bemoaning this contract with someone IRL. I blamed Botterill. The other person then said they'd heard that the Pegulas forced his hand on re-signing Skinner. I don't recall hearing that. Anyone?

Eichel's SH% from the 5 seasons contained within 2016-2020: 10.1, 9.6, 10.2, 9.2, 15.9. So, last season he was fairly lucky. (Yay!) This season he sits at 4%. Unlucky. (Boo!)

I'm gonna say it: This is ... silly. /ducks Pshhh. Whether you're watching our counting, you'd know the Sabres have been fairly unlucky. As is generally the case, the stats can help confirm what you think you're seeing. There's only one objective reality out there on the ice. Watching and counting help one to confirm that one's understanding of what's going on is accurate.

Let's make hay while the sun does shine ... or, while the Sabres are playing the Devils. Prediction: Eichel hits another post tonight ... and pots 2 (one on the power play). Sabres may need OT/SO to get 2.

Evidently. These are stats that the NHL maintains.

I had it on the radio at that point, and lordy, the sound of those in an empty arena. They'd actually be cool as hell, if they weren't so frustrating.

There has absolutely been some bad player evaluation. And some awful contracts. I infer that Krueger is really the guru, motivator in chief, psychologist, big picture guy. And I think he's probably pretty good at that kind of stuff. The X's and O's, again I infer, are handled by the assistants. It's not a leap to say that they're not getting the job done. It makes me wonder whether this model of coaching can work in the NHL.

I don't think a team has to be filled with pals and buds in order to win. They do need to respect each other, and not be afraid to hold each other accountable. Anyhoo. The team's PDO* is second-worst in the league. I keep saying it: They're not a truly good team, but they are also not (quite) as bad as their record indicates. But even accepting what I say as true: The frustrating conclusion is that, even if their luck were more normal, they'd not be any better than what they have been (at best) over the past few years -- a playoff bubble team. * This is the sum of your team's 5v5 SH% and SV% -- aka "puck luck."