That Aud Smell

Okposo's observation that there was something amiss with the Sabres as early as October, November is one that any of us could have made (and, indeed, did make). What rankles me anew is how this same player, Okposo, led (or at least approved (which, as captain, is leading)) the no-salute policy when the fans were chanting "fire Donny" in mid-December. Those fans (just a segment of them, btw) were reacting to the same sh1t that Okposo says he perceived in October/November. But his response to the fans' chants of unrest was still "yeah, f**k them fans." He seems like a nice guy. Please never come back. Not even for a Bills game or wings at Elmo's.

It's bickering over semantics a bit, I'll admit. It's just that a stereotype is something that is generally understood to be misleading, fallacious, or simply incorrect.

I'm not sure I'm down with the use of "stereotypes" here. More like "modus operandi"?

sorta wack of you not to mention his brief stint at trader joe's.

at least a good ole boys club tends to have some success owing to its retention of power and privilege. the sabres more resemble a feckless reboot of the he-man woman hater's club or some such.

That is not an encouraging announcement.

That’s part of it. Far from all of it. And yes, all NHL players have done incredible things and sacrificed greatly to get to where they are. Congratulations to all of them. As a cohort, they all still shake out along a continuum. This isn’t Lake Wobegon. Not every NHL’er is above average. I guess I’m glad (?) to have precipitated so many responses. I think there’s a nuanced conversation to be had on the topic of who and what this roster is (and maybe isn’t), and whether GM KA is more an assembler of talent than he is a builder of a (good) team.

True for Marner? True for this Leaf team generally?

Nor would they be able to sustain the pace.

Came here to post this - was delighted to see it already here!

Posters are picking me up here. I’ve been somewhat inarticulate on this subject on this go around (although I’ve explained it better elsewhere). I feel like I was getting a proverbial “nothing to see here.” To which I say: Nah. There are things to see. And changes that need to occur.

🎶 and it feels good - to be known - so well 🎶

It’s a run on, for sure. But most of what you need is there. The picture is, to me, suggestive of a (metaphysical?) problem that I think will plague this team. The fact that other NHL players take a similar photo is irrelevant, to me. That is, perhaps, unless they are on a team with a similar problem.

I’m debating whether I’m being punked or whether reading (comprehension) is just lacking. In answer to your question @LGR4GM: No.

Do you likewise find pics of one young centre who got a 7-8 year deal based on a small sample size (career year?) congratulating a younger teammate (also a centre) who similarly got extended (big term, small sample size, big year) on a team that missed the playoffs and then regressed and a franchise that is continually setting a record for playoff futility? Context matters. And my theory and point go beyond the mere fact that they’re pictured in the Caribbean together. I want to be proven wrong. I want them to grow up, get tougher, become more accountable, maybe even become a bit less chummy with each other (?). I’m not optimistic — not yet anyway. Oh, and shoutout @Demoted: THIS is a narrative. It’s mine, for now.

I have a theory that the Sabres have too many of the same kinds of guy — that they’re too comfortable and too cozy with each other. That photo is, to me, emblematic of that theory. A theory. I also don’t think what my kids or kids I know are putting on IG has any relevance to the issue.

Ducking a body check may be bad form, but ducking a match penalty for elbowing seems fine by me. I mean, holy hell.

He can certainly look busy out there. For the most part, it's sound and fury signifying nothing.

Sure the Sabres have plenty of well-regarded prospects in their pipeline. But does that prospect pool suffer from the same issue that the club's active roster does? (Too many chill bros.)

Says the poster who then went on to write ~275 words on the subject. Lol. I do respect your admiration for UGA foobaw.

At no point in this exchange have I pushed "a narrative" regarding Diggs. I've asked that we hew to the facts. Also: NARRATIVES INCOMING! +++ At this point, I might even take his play being 40% as good as his interview vibes. At least for starters. He is a ray of goofy sunshine.

With Utah, sure.

Lol - I am sure that Marner had that nuance in mind when he likened himself and his teammates to gods. He is an unserious professional hockey player, that's for sure.

IMO, this is what you should have said initially. He wasn't "bad" for the past 1.5 seasons. He'd had games and even windows of time where he was a true 1 WR. Over that same 1.5 seasons, he had a 7/110+ line against Miami in that wildcard game. He stunk out loud against the Bengals, as did the entire team, really. This past season, he was definitely a non-factor. Did he drop a ton of passes in the playoffs? He definitely dropped one biggie. I think that was the straw that broke the camel's back and prompted the team to move on. F'sho. We need him to continue to be that guy in 2024. It took some doing, but I FTFY.