That Aud Smell

Huh.

^ Good take, and instructive rumour/insight. I don’t think there can be any dispute that something significant motivated JBOT to make a very difficult decision on ROR. From a strict on-ice hockey perspective, it made little sense. So ... something was obviously afoot.

I think it's misleading to state it that way. He was doing yeoman's work when aspects of the team were struggling around him, and he's still doing that work now that reinforcements have arrived. Edit: If you'll allow it: Aragorn (from Lord of the Rings (sorry)) is slaughtering every orc in his path during a lengthy battle, but his fighting unit is ill-suited to the battle and losing. But, lo. A cavalry of men arrives (blowing the horn of ... something) and the tide steadily turns. Aragorn continues to do what he'd been doing. Good guys prevail. Aragorn may not have been the moving force in the turnaround, but he was instrumental to the victory. Gah. I think I hate myself for that one.

If true, those stories may continue to dog him. If not "his," "whose" team is St. Louis?

I'm not sure what it would mean to him, to be the guy. I suspect that getting top-line minutes and being the team's leader (captain?) are all part of it. The Sabres were clearly gonna be Jack's team. Perhaps he just found that untenable, in terms of what his aspirations are.

This is a good take. I don't disagree, entirely. And I certainly won't dismiss whatever it was that led a rational person, and experienced NHL FO person (JBOT), to trade away an on-ice performer like ROR. Look at those numbers, though. He's having a really good year. And now the team around him is coming together, and they're are on a helluva run. Occam's razor: The widely held theory that he wants nothing less than to be "the man" on a team is true. If he can slide into that role with Le Blues ... maybe it'll work?

Quite. From what I can tell, ROR is having a great year (on the ice).

I know. So stupid. Lulz.

Well, poison or not, there must have been a real and significant inter-personal conflict involving ROR for JBOT to trade him as he did. Because he’s proving again to be a damn effective hockey player.

The Blues are rolling. The talk of trouble following ROR was ... premature, I reckon.

Fair deuce on Hunwick not being on the ice for Dahlin's major gaffes. But, overall, Hunwick is an anchor. Dahlin had managed to elevate just about everyone's performance when he played with them. Not Hunwick.

I'll beg to differ. He was an absolute tire fire, based on what I was seeing at the game (live). And, I just checked to see if the stats match my untrained eyeball test. Yep: Hunwick had a horrendous 39% CF. The fact that he was paired with Dahlin contributed to the rookie having one of his worst games in memory.

What's up with Bogo? Hunwick was atrocious against the Jets.

Blechk.

Holy smokes. Dude was 31 when he was first with CHI. Thanks for the 411. Ah, right. Rian Smyth. My bad.

I like Guerin as an example. Hossa was still pretty young when he came to the Hawks? Or nah.

If I knew how to spell his name (getting Gilmour was tricky enough), I'd have dropped it in there as well. Did Ryan Smith never do such a thing? Are there other examples?

I feel like it's cliche', but they'd be looking for that Doug Gilmour type. A guy who was really, really good in his prime and is a natural leader, and can still do some things on a great young player's wing.

I think that's about right. As for Pominville, he just doesn't have enough wear on the tread to play on Eichel's wing night in and night out. I'm also not sure that, even 4 or 5 years ago, he'd have been the sort of guy to fulfill that role.

Let's go, Buffalo. Play like you did on Sunday and you should get 2 points. Honest question: I feel like the Islanders have been up and down the past few years. They brought on a veteran d-man from Boston (?) and they were really good the following year. Then they stunk and were gonna hafta trade Tavares. Then Tavares left. And now they're really good.

He will if he can. He won't if he can't. I'm not trying to be overly Yoda about the matter. But that's all it is. My money is on him improving in a few significant ways and becoming a top player in the league during his prime. I'm just hoping that the franchise doesn't squander that prime by not surrounding him with a solid supporting cast.

A post script on Dahlin's rough game against WPG.

Overall, they are. I agree. I saw them as a bubble team that would not make the playoffs. It makes me antsy that, outside of the win streak, they've been playing bottom-5 hockey. But I suppose that's why there are 82 games -- sample size and all. When I re-watched and listened to some learning from others, I came to the same conclusion. Eichel is made to look bad, but that was Dahlin's responsibility.