That Aud Smell

He was a dutiful professional and a thoughtful presence in the locker room. His 7 years here coincided with an historic stretch of futility. I hope he enjoys a healthy retirement.

Possibly. They certainly didn't accommodate him last year when they matched the Bears' signing sheet for him (or whatever it's called).

This has been his M.O.

That was the Blizzard of '85. Griffin was both mayor and acting streets commissioner at the time (!). Stan Makowski was Buffalo's mayor for the Blizzard of '77.

This Bates tidbit is isolated and digestible. Once things really get moving, I lose the thread with NFL capology.

It saves only $1.4, which is essentially the cost of signing another low cost veteran. So, there will be no real cap savings. There’s gotta be more coming to help this move make more sense? Also seems like the Bills now have too many draft picks. My bet is that Beane’s expects the need to move up. Maybe not in Rd 1 — but if you’re in Round 4 and you really want a guy? Sprinkle that 5th rounder and you can move up a few spots. Just a guess.

There was media chatter to that effect. Maybe they’re going to restructure and extend Morse? Sal Capaccio also Tweeted that Anderson (?) is a player who can essentially replace Bates as a utility lineman.

A little strange maybe, since moving Bates essentially saves the team nothing on its 2024 cap figure.

4. Fans will be confounded by the team's insistence on constantly moving food and beverage providers to different locations throughout arena concourses.

Some may. Others will find that the pillowy sub rolls obscure the meat.

It's called puffery.

I'm grateful for the Yzerman quote above. I now better understand - or can better articulate - why Adams' "don't block the kids" philosophy bothers me so much.

This is always the case when a Canadian team visits.

People are so dumb.

I followed the game on an app while watching my kid play soccer in Rochester. I don’t plan to do that again tonight.

How’s this work? If you’re in greater Buffalo, can you watch on ESPN+? Sorry - I should obviously know this by now.

Yes, yes. Of course. That said: People who act in a bizarre or irrational way can, at the same time, be acting in good faith. Someone who’s mad as a hatter can act with honesty and sincerity. So, in addition to good faith, there should be an expectation of reasonableness. Volunteer or not.

I don't know that I have ever posted in this thread, but I sure as fu*k am posting here today to complain that @PASabreFan's thread locking thread was merged into this thread (which opens one day a week and is generally intended, I think, for ephemeral gripes and is therefore not an appropriate repository for a stakeholders' discussion of how this board is being moderated). Erratic moderating is hurting this board.

I've come to conclude that Granato is a very good, possibly great, development coach. That doesn't make him a loser, imo. It does make him an ill fit for being a HC in the best league in the world. And I think the "juicebox" jab is overstating things - but, hey, that's what hyperbole is for. I'd still like to see what this roster - with some tweaks - can do under a new set of coaches.

Are you kidding? You're not kidding. What in fresh hell is going on around here? I trust you have the Lindy Ruff nursing home story stored locally on your 'puter.

I did. I posted there. If the thread sucks, then let the democratic process of inattention do its work. The thread will just fade away, if, as you say, it’s not a worthwhile thread. Also, is that the criteria for locking a thread around here, @SDS? A mod’s subjective belief that the thread isn’t worthwhile? I’d have thought the criteria would be more directed to inappropriate content (abuse, demonstrable lies, misuse (selling something)).

I have no earthly idea why the Roenick thread was locked yesterday. Are there written standards that govern the matter of thread locking? Also, @spndnchz: What was the reasoning in your briefly locking this thread?

There seems to be something non hockey related underlying at least some of the burning white hot hatred that certain hockey dinosaurs and as*holes maintain for Skinner.

These days? Man, that is a tale as old as the hills. It's just that the methods of delivery have changed. Sometimes, people have to use what they got to get what they want. So on brand.