That Aud Smell

I appreciate the analytical love for Larsson from @Randall Flagg and others. The guy can defend like a mother-f. But isn’t the consensus that the Sabres need more offence from their bottom 6? Larsson had a d-zone start rate over 80% last season (or so I heard). Is that why he had virtually no O-production?

My complaint on the stationary bike this morning: The catch all thread - “around the NHL” - is closed for reasons.

And if a frog had wings it wouldn’t bust its a.ss a ‘hoppin. Also, if you read the excerpt upthread, you may have noted that she’s from Korea but likely of Japanese descent. Your objection to her on this diversity council is perplexing. They needed an owner to chair it. Who were they gonna pick? Jacobs? Melnyk? C’mon.

I’d say “touche’,” but that was more of a duck. You’re accusing others of being obtuse, but you are not (presently being) forthright about the basis/bases of your misgivings on this subject. On questioning, you have been in the past.

Um, you're welcome (?). There's no mystery here. I've come some distance in mistrusting and/or being skeptical of the Pegulas, but this stuff is still a bridge too far. Pish posh. Please focus instead on how she pushed up her modest breasts while waiting tables at that southern tier restaurant and thereby caught the eye of a middle-aged oil and gas speculator.

^ Good content on the Hayes signing. I agree with those who are saying, in essence, "the money is a function of the position he will (be expected to) occupy on a team's roster." Maybe as much as anything, this reflects the extent to which an NHL team wants/needs a 2C to be on a cost-controlled contract. Muh-muh-muh-Mittlestadt?

Maybe not necessary, but it was funny. Because it's a diversity and inclusion council formed from ownership ranks (or, I guess, their equivalent (like what Ted Black used to do as alternate governor)). Kim's from at least 2 demographics that, we may infer, the NHL is seeking to include more (women, people of color).

What other minority women do you have in mind? Do they own an NHL franchise? Seriously. Who mods the mods?

[hikes up black socks while wearing shorts]: He's gotta earn his spot! I really do believe that, though. He's got to establish himself as a Sabre with his play -- not with his potential and pedigree.

but the picture still looks navy-ish?

Hmmm. Ya don’t say? Totally misunderstood (and was confused as a result). Thanks for clarifying. My theory on Eichel is that, a combination of natural talent, a strong desire to win, and just plain ol’ temperament and personality, are combining to create the player we’ve seen so far. A wonderful talent who does keep improving. Does he hate to lose though? Or does he love to win? I think there’s a difference in there.

I missed that. Interesting. Of course, Gionta would have been coasting for a different set of reasons at that point, yeah? My sense with ROR is that he is, in the football coaches' terms, all about ball. If he was miffed at Sam preferring to hang with Eichel, I infer that would have been more from a place of "that guy can't/won't show you the way; I can."

Same. What exactly was ROR's insoluble problem with Eichel? I don't think it was something as facile as personalities that didn't mesh. I theorize that ROR saw in Eichel a guy with far more natural ability and talent than ROR ever had, but who, quite unlike ROR, was unwilling and/or unable to do the incredible amount of work needed to hoist The Cup. #Floating #Coasting The story is not yet written, though. There's still time.

This is a good post - for at least a couple of reasons. The absence of an active market for the eventual Conn Smythe winner reflects horribly on several GMs. People here have posted to the effect that the Tim Hortons incident and Cal O'Reilly's rough handling of Nylander may have contributed to the Pegulas being done with 90.

Let the church say “amen.” Also: I’m legitimately happy for O’Reilly. And I fear for the Sabres. Hamilton reported that Jack had no issues with ROR, but that ROR had issues with Jack. I’m starting to wonder anew over what that might have been about.

ROR was apparently the first player ever to score in (sequential) games 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the SCF. Seeing him win the Conn Smythe ... well, like some song lyrics: “Hurts so bad. More than I expected that it would. Worse than that: It seems to be taking a little longer than it should.”

It was a brutal slog, no doubt.

For sure. Other sports with similar competitions do a better job, I think (rugby, cricket -- even hockey, I suppose). Of course, FIFA can't resist the almighty dollar (or legal tender), so expand away they will. Something similar may happen at the next (?) men's World Cup (which is expanding).

I saw that formulation. I just can't get past thinking of Bobby Kennedy.

I really only weighed in so that I could make a Foghorn Leghorn joke.

never figured muffy as having much in the way of hips.

an out of the box coach hiring by Bottsie.

Raahhhhh Kruuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

^^ This is the good stuff. It probably warrants its own thread in the wake of Skinner's signing. Or maybe it makes more sense of wait a bit. What are their in-season options with Reinhart in terms of extending him?

We're now charting toward a core of Eichel, Skinner, Dahlin, and presumably Reinhart. Anyone else belong there? I know it's a fallacy to blame a team's best players for its failures, but I can't help but be anxious about this. Perhaps it's the unpleasant memories of the "rotten core" that followed Black Sunday.