That Aud Smell

Man. Glad 23 is okay.

^ Not sure. Looks like members of the Buffalo diaspora are bickering over semantics.

Sorry, fellas. It's too overwhelming a meme. Is that really a thing? Is it really a thing? It can't really be a thing. The kid grew up in Boston, ffs. Of course he loves the Pats. I scoffed at the Toronto mouth-breathers when they tried to e-climb up Auston Matthews' arse for cheering on the U.S. in the World Juniors. But I guess the lowest common denominator in Buffalo is no different, no better.

This take is more fair than the other one. I agree with his tone on the "oh, they love us now, don't they?" Not a good look. I think he'll grow and learn. There are 19,000 something people in that place most nights. If even 5% of the people decide to start booing, that's damn near 1000 people. It will sound loud. The vast majority of people there (90%+) are not booing. He needs to understand that, and let the nonsense roll off him like water off a duck's back. ROR needs to have a sit down with the kid.

FFS. Seriously. I know you don't post much, and I'm reluctant to take a dump on a some-time poster, but this is just an awful take. Schopp's take on the matter was fair. It's at the very beginning of hour 3 from their show yesterday. It's measured, and fair. And a little sh1tty with young Eichel. But fair. I saw the quotes today from Eichel -- about how he wasn't intending to say anything other than the fact that, when the team is good, the building is good, and when the team is bad, the building is bad. He said he was only stating facts, and not intending to offer any opinions. Which I would be willing to accept entirely, had he not seemed a little pissed off when he said it and, more importantly, had he also not said something like "funny how it works that way." Funny. As in, it's not funny at all. As in, it's fahkin' wicked stoopid. Maybe a little cash me outside, howbow dah? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu10IiXVNBk Look. I don't entirely agree with Schopp's take. I agree with a lot of it. But I also think Eichel is entitled to be a little pissed off that fans boo the team when they're struggling. He has good reason and good cause to get pissed off at that. In his mind, I am sure that he truly and honestly thinks that he is getting after it as hard as he can at all times, and that sometimes, things just don't work. And to be booed for that failed effort must be insulting and discouraging. There's part of him that probably wants to say: "Please. Just don't boo us when we're having a hard go of it. We're trying, even if it may look like we're not." Having said that, I also think Eichel just needs to grow up a bit and let that sort of stuff go. Schopp is right to say that there is precisely zero upside for Eichel in venturing into such issues, and a whole lot of downside. At the end of the day, I just really like the guy. (Eichel, not as much Schopp.) I like his game. I like this attitude. I like his personality. He's fun. He's not polished, and he's far from perfect. He's going to get better, and more consistent. And watch the funk out when he does, rest-of-the-NHL.

As you can see, my skepticism may have something to do with my small ... well, you get the picture.

FTFY. GO, BILLS! 10 wins. Comin' atcha.

I saw that as well. Also: Good call, Blue, on the Marlies being a really good situation for William Nylander. Word. I found this so helpful, and insightful.

Always loved Pominville. Also: No way of knowing whether it will happen, but I've heard (third-hand, but ultimately from a reliable source) that the Canadiens are going hard after Duchene.

PLAYOFFS OR BUST, BABY!

Well, his brother, for one. But it appears that William played two seasons (40+ games (?)) of pro hockey with MODO before moving to the Marlies in January 2015 (and promptly lighting it up). Alex, for his part, played a year in Juniors, and then went to the AHL. People just need to chill.

Man. This is a rough crowd re A. Nylander. He's young (turning 19 in a month or so). He's almost certainly not as strong as he needs to be. It's his first year as a pro (and most players his age are finishing out their career in Juniors). It appears that he's a different sort of player than his older brother. Patience, people. Patience.

Another west coast team. Another home game. Another two points!

NHL.com posted some "found footage" It is glorious.

I know little to nothing about Nylander's game, but I wonder: Does he project as a sniping finisher? I've read and heard that he may be more of a player who likes to have the puck on his stick. But, to your point: I think that has to be the case. That they took another forward - when they clearly needed more D - because they wanted to get a highly skilled player to play with Eichel.

I know they enjoy playing on the same line, but, in order to reach his ceiling, Eichel needs someone who's more of a sniper/shooter than Reinhart is. He doesn't need the second coming of Mike Bossy, but maybe someone along the lines of Vanek or Andreychuck? Or, heck, Sheppard or Audette.

I've heard from a couple of different people who were at the game that the boo's after the second were LOUD. I'm guessing that Jack was, in fact, expressing displeasure with hometown boo-birds, and not making some more subtle point.

Hmm. And what of Matthews?

It does - I'd take that in a heart beat. And, holy - I'd take that as well. But I think that'd be a significant step up from being better than Tavares.

I heard Marty Biron (on the radio) talking about this very thing a while back. Per Biron, goalies from North America are generally better than Euro goalies at catching pucks like a baseball player would (because most of them grew up playing some baseball - even if only on a rec basis). Biron said that many Euro goalies have odd habits and techniques when it comes to stopping pucks with their glove hand. He said this became most apparent to him when he backed up Henrik in NY.

I think that's right. He's no Jordan. But, then again, who is? Damn few.

PREACH! Speaking of the Spezz. Does Eichel have a higher ceiling than him?

well, if you're firmly resolved in your opinion and it's apparent that the team is not going to do something to change a situation you think is doomed to fail, i guess the only thing you have left is looking forward to a time when you can say "see? i told you so!"