That Aud Smell

TB thing? Not sure what that is. I've read accounts that Brandon had a role in ownership's decision to move on from Murray, and that the process of disenchantment dates back to the start of this season. I'm not inclined to repeat the many specific things that were stated upthread. Nor am I inclined, right now, to get into details of the lurid stories I've been told. In terms of him doing specific things to hurt the team, how about: It was Russ Brandon who decided to extend Cody Hodgson. I HAVE PROOF! C'mon. There's not going to be that level of transparency with this guy. There's going to be whiffs, hints, tidbits, atmospherics, and inference. I'm satisfied that he's consistently exerted his influence into realms where he is out of his depth. And based on what I know and what I think I know and what I feel, I think he's a bad guy who should be sent packing on the next slow boat to China. That's not a witch hunt. That's a take. You have yours. I happen to think it's a bad one.

Oh, and alla this too.

I'm not sure where you land on my having nothing. I'm comfortable forming an opinion with the information I have. I've heard stories from people I know who have first-hand knowledge of ... things our hero's done. I've read accounts of team insiders who say that he's as insecure and self-advancing as you might fear or think he is. There have been reports that he remained actively involved in matters of player-personnel decisions, while he publicly stated he has nothing to do with that side of the house. And now there are reports that he helped poison the well on this cleaning of house with the Sabres. If it better suits your world view to think that Russ Brandon is just a good money-making dude, then, as I've said to others, fair play to you. The house of illusion is cheap to build, but drafty to live in.

Well, I'm hearing that he was in the Pegulas' ears to s-can GM TM. I'm reading screen caps of texts from a team source who said Brandon was envious of the public popularity that GM TM enjoyed for his quirky style. He's a bad guy who continues to exert his influence where it has no place. Is she not a co-owner of the Sabres? She might not be, strictly speaking. Those are GM TM's guys, I reckon. A fan of facts on a message board, then? Haha - yeah, definitely good luck to you, then. Fwiw, I've met Brandon twice. Not like a one-on-one sit-down, but peripheral interaction. The more extensive of the 2 meetings was at a 10-person (round) table under a tent at St. John Fisher. My own personal opinion (not a fact!), based on a mostly visceral reaction: He's not a good guy. Is most likely a bad guy. He's not a guy I want involved in managing my favourite teams,

Yeah - no thanks. Maybe another time - after I've had a few pops. I'm fully anonymous here, but they are not the sorts of stories I would generally repeat. Btw, they're not totally aberrant either. They just indicate that he's a total, complete Delta Bravo. A fan of Brandon, then? Good luck to you, sir.

Dear Lord. Dude. Nice echo. His various misdeeds and oily sycophantic ways are too many, too pervasive to detail. Also, if you've spent some time in any number of southtown watering holes, you'd hear very credible stories about that guy to make your skin crawl. He is a feckin' nozzle. One quick item I have in mind: There were confirmed reports that he coached up Rex Ryan before his interview so as to school him in the ways of shmoozing TPegs. If that ain't making sure your bread is buttered on every which side -- costs to the franchise be damned -- I don't know what is.

Holy crap - they need to get moving on this. Really. Lacks credibility, but is still highly believable. I don't need convincing, anyway: Russ Brandon is a cancerous POS who is holding both franchises back. Any success those teams have will be in spite of him and his oily awfulness.

There's part of me that feels like, if they thought it was possible that they'd clean house today, they'd have already started the process of identifying candidates.

I'm well aware what you (and Harrington (I saw a RT from him)) think they should be doing with the process of filling these positions. If the past is prelude, they will not do anything like that. They will be intimately involved. We need those blind squirrels to find us some chestnuts. FFS. One of the most dominant dynasties in all of modern pro sports arose from the utter happenstance of taking a flyer on a QB in the 6th goddamned round. We need some luck. (Not for nothing: The Sabres caught a bit of lightning in a bottle back in 2005. They had non-first-round guys blossom into quality NHL players. They had a late round draft pick become one of the better net minders of that time.)

The team can look forward to many bland chicken dinners. I think the distinct ongoing possibility of getting fired is just part of the job for pro sports FO types. I don't think an owner's track record of firing his FO people discourages anyone looking to fill a vacancy. On the contrary, I think having owners who are restless and feel an urgency to win is attractive to candidates. As is the owners' willingness to spend money on players. As is the owners' willingness to hand out 5-year deals to coaches and GMs like they're going out of style.

Who pointed out upthread that the Pegulas were recently bamboozled into hiring the bloviating windbag Rex Ryan? We need our blind squirrels to find a chestnut. That's what we need.

I mean: HFS.

HFS.

Yep. Nope. On the contrary, I get the distinct impression that, as elite players go, he is about as fun a guy to have on your team as you could hope for. This video still amuses me.

Totally plausible. Ftfy.

Hmmm. I'm not so sure. He clearly has a source. How reliable that source is -- we'll see soon enough. We've seen this movie before, folks. Different factions of an organization have different members of the media through whom they communicate things. It doesn't mean the reporter is untrustworthy, per se, but it may reflect whose sources end up winning a power struggle. Good take. This is precisely where I am with him. Straight shooter. Almost too straight, at times. Another good take. My sense is that, whoever Hamilton's source is, he/she has heard Eichel say things that are unambiguously negative about Bylsma and has heard Eichel pretty plainly hint at a desire to play for someone else. The agent can do all the interference and covering he wants -- and I think he did a fine job of it -- but there's something to the story, I think. I think it's gotta be more than just "someone in the organization sees that Jack is upset, has an ax to grind with the coach, and starts a rumour." Which is what the agent s aid, more or less. This topic is bring out the best of many here.

This is a welcome bit of fun.

The kid's mistake was in timing the email?

That second proposition made me laugh - even if I don't quite follow you. I think Baker was suggesting that the Leafs' success indicates that the Sabres are close to being a playoff team. What his take may also imply, or fairly be read to imply, is that, if the Sabres had one of the game's best coaches, they'd likely have been a playoff team this season (or close to it).

The ever level headed Kris Baker Tweeted to the effect that the Leafs' success should be giving Sabre fans hope, not anxiety. Interesting take.

Yeah. I've been on record around here plenty of times to the effect of "I don't really hate the Leafs like I do other clubs -- I even used to sorta root for them on off nights when they played in the Campbell Conference . . . ." But their success in this year's playoffs is hurting my soul. I am growing to hate the effin' Leafs.

Good post. I am now 50-50 on this being true.

Da fook?

GASabresFan?

Fingers crossed.