millbank

oh sure , sure and you take me for idiot , I know its April fools day, you all adore the Leafs... I am not fooled ;)

no love lost for Leafs here for sure. That they swirling the drain now perhaps it a matter of things evening out, as they a team giving up 40+ per game, goalies holding them in most games. The simply were not a good as record indicated. Having said that it is not they getting blown out , they losing in this run mostly close games, it is inexplicable but sometimes in goes bad and there is seemingly not a way to right it, the harder you try, the worst it gets. They pressing their sticks, sucks if you follow the team, a otherwise if not spectacular, decent season, if not down the drain, in the vortex, the plug on floor, the Leafs with soapy hands and cannot pick it up. (Taro.... everybody over the boards at you for calling God's team the Loafs. omg the horror, the travesty, ) by the way, they not out of it, a win tonight the right back in picture and as cold as they have been, they can also get hot.

I wonder if Ted Nolan would like to bring in other people to be his assistant coaches at least have control over that. No doubt as head coach , he of great import but good assistants have a vital role as well.

Tavares being a young face of franchise player, of character, by all reports, teams would need offer in return similar sort of player or shot at getting one via high draft pick. The Sabre would need offer not one first round pick but multiple ones and likely at least one good young roster player. Leafs back in the day traded with Bruins getting Kessel for drafts picks 1, 2 one year 1 the next. With Connor McDavid on the horizon think supporters would burn down Sabre offices at such a trade. (regarding Kessel trade , at first blush Boston reaped immediate gains, it appeared they had fleeced the Leafs, these days Kessel has emerged as a top player worthy of first round picks arguably. The easy argument is with Tavares you have a known player playing well projected to get better, Sabres a handful of high picks, phenom in the mix, risk and reward, risk and get kicked in the behind.

same ole story,,, another behind kicking at bingo, those Bingo women just take no prisoners...

perhaps if you directed him to the walls political forum , a few folks would enjoy having a little talk with him...

I want Ziva back ...and I want to see Tony head slap Gibbs a few times.... and that bozo who refused my help to push him out of snow and refused three other carloads of people the same help, may someone slip some itching powder in his shorts....

this from another player from supplied links. "If kids, can just have someone to talk to, and educate themselves, to realize its not the end of the world. It is not over if they do not reach the next level. Its a game, Its a job, its not your whole life. The notion that some will be worried about the apple juice and some will not, entirely the issue and the effects and consequences at play here and Terry Trafford hardly a singular example , his case life ending , for many others scars their entire lives. to our culture a far out of wack as to what the perception as to what greatness is and how this effects us as a people. If the apple juice of no import in what we do,just maybe it time to get the hell out. imo

the tragedy of the 20 yr. old ohl player is example of the plight of a elite level player. It clear he a young man feeling he had no outlet to discuss his difficulties, perhaps he feeling that it wrong to discuss them, that it would harm his career. These issues that need be looked at we do better . That there be facilities where we can be the best we can be, wonderful, that there be facilities for us to be the best other people think we should be no so.. general comment. My post wished to encourage thought . Many areas with no simple answers . am questioning values, values that have gone far out of perspective.

http://www.mlive.com..._dick_garb.html http://www.sunnewsne...312-214707.html http://sports.nation...-stefan-legein/ Above are three links discussing how tragic the pressure of succeeding in hockey can be to our youth. How we put to much import on the game. Terry Trafford was a OHL hockey player who was sent home for breaking team rules. ( it suggested it was smoking pot). The first two links discuss Terry Trafford with other links attached to stories, all of value to read to consider. The third link is of a player who heard of the tragedy and speaks of his experiences, how he needed to back away from the game to save his life. The stigma that can be attached where it viewed as weakness to ask for help , to discuss fears, anxieties, is one of the tragedies of us as a people putting far to much import on the games of our lives. A broad subject , many area's to be considered, but something we do need face head on and do better... imo ( i do not see it of value for myself to be posting opinion, but encourage, looking at the fresh faces of the children , in the initial postings, the pressures to perform, to succeed, on our youth, the feeling of failure, of disappointing others, of not meeting up to standards of coaches, and scouts and so many others, how the game becomes so more, often because it is so much more to not us but those around us. I had often thought as a young boy, why do they stay, why can't they just go home and let us play. Through the eyes of a child we often learn what are they true values in life, the things worth living for, the tragedy in life is often how we lose this as we grow older. While nothing is worth doing if it not with our best efforts, we need fore mostly remember it is a game. It is done for fun, for joy. )

Walnut Crunch

sorry have changed link , should work now

http://www.schombergminorhockey.com/risk-management/66-risk-management/311-minor-hockey-is-for-the-children.html Hoping folks will take the time to read and reflect. The games of our lives it would seen at times take on great importance, how this effects us and those around us of value to reflect on. While sport has many important attributes in terms of in composite developing character skills, it good to remember they are just games. Hope some will read and offer their opinions.

Thing is what are the terms , clauses in contract. Nolan has said as of yesterday they busy enough with trade deadline ect. His job is to coach the players the contract will work itself out. Unless he has something else lined up to go to, he not very likely if amounts reported true of $750/3yrs. going to pass on $2.2 million . Alternately if he is not going to sign he will need skillfully find way to leave and not blow himself up. Perhaps he thanks all for the great opportunity, but feels responsible for instance to continue the building he has done in Latvia. ( hard to say that with straight face , but one never knows. ) He very well may have a relatively stress free road to coaching there with a reasonable life style free of the politics he has experienced in NHL.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/54311-On-the-ice-Sabres-owner-Terry-Pegula-has-done-more-harm-than-good.html there a number of articles from outside Buffalo hockey writers alluding to this owner meddling. Find the end comments in light of what has transpired .... Pegula told LaFontaine that he should take comfort in the fact his new employer has a track record of being loyal with people and allowing them to grow into their jobs. “In other words, your first mistake and you’re not out.” It would have been a lot more comforting to LaFontaine if Pegula had said he will now keep his nose out of hockey decisions and will be a little more judicious in throwing his money around.

I suppose you can put a dress on a pig and call it a women , its a pig.. I stand by what I said

one variable that is at least interesting . It said both Tim and Terry Murray, good friends of John Muckler.

my apologies, misunderstood. One more comment . It good to remember when stories such as these occur, many from other parts of nation, folks who follow other teams ect, out of interest to read what locals are thinking , log on to site . It is during these times posters have a opportunity to represent the community , team they root for in a positive knowledgeable fashion. Think of times we have visited other teams sites and found amusement in that teams/ cities posters opinions. I would like to think people could visit this site from outside and go away informed , feeling respect for the avid fans/supporters of Buffalo not amusement. It a thought we all to some extent need reflect as we post in ways we to the good or bad reflect our community to some extent ...

said my piece , generally enjoy the fun side and don't enjoy exchanging bad feelings as we each have our right to opinion. Having said that there does need be level of respect. Such musings in my view are tasteless and beyond simply out of line.

stand by what I said, call me as you wish. It disgraceful and low to throw out mental illness, drunkeness, cte, ect it fact shameful. Regarding my thoughts ect, if they be chestnuts of wisdom , it noted by many I not cared for or respected, I can live with that. I do like this ...... Lions do not lose sleep over the opinions of sheep

having opinions agreeing disagreeing gaining information is what is done here. My disappointment lay in some of the low level of trash discourse. Regarding personal decisions there does not need to be a fault. Sometimes a choice needs be made, one side is happy the other is not. It obvious neither need make any apologies , you win you happy, you lose , you are not. Those at top as they say it is lonely , often they make decisions that at first blush make more unhappy than not, or at least as many. The search for a villain a idle one in my view.

don't really think Shoalts writing about the goings on of the Buffalo Sabres read as breathlessly in Toronto, nation, (globe a national paper) as it is in Buffalo. This article hardly bent to the sensational to sell newspapers. It simply a reporter doing his job. Not a surprise some would jump to trash him... many of you have really reached a number of lows thus far, siting mental problems, drinking, cte, ect as to why Pat Lafontaine would have resigned. Disgraceful, you are better than this . Nature of forums is to have opinion, to agree , to disagree , but lows have been met here. imo

what I think hearing the Battista involvement is this about respect and lack of it. Lafontaine, Nolan, they hockey guys, people who wear their hearts of sleeves, in the battle, as competitors it is about respect. They not sophisticated in the working of the snake pit that is often upper management , they show respect expect it in return, this above the bottom line and career advancement, they team people. Murray talking on phone doing trade has time to tell Battista of the trade and go tell Nolan to remove players, can imagine Nolan asking why did he not tell me himself and is Lafontaine aware of this. There was no respect shown to either Lafontaine or Nolan and it can be argued players either. Given the situation it was outrageous either were in lineup in the first place. It would be sensible to have called Miller told him of his intentions of a trade thus they are going to hold him out of lineup, this done out of respect not being differential. Hard ass looks great on the short term but mistakes were made and the edge will need be smoothed or it is going to wear thin sooner than later. imo (moves all very well may end up great and just possibly bringing a Luke Richardson to replace Nolan all very well may work out just fine, but over time it is important how you do things, else people are not going to want to work for you or do deals ) got to note we all conjecturing , we do not have the facts , just tidbits and likely never will given it does not serve the team or Pat Lafontaines interests . another bit, sportsnet hockey at noon, saying deal with Miller done last week, they added Ott late.

a refresher on why Lafontaine resigned his unpaid adviser position with Islanders. from LaFontaine's 40-day tenure as an unpaid senior adviser to team owner Charles Wang and his resignation from that post on July 18, 2006. That resignation came just hours after Wang had fired general manager Neil Smith and replaced him with the team's backup goaltender, Garth Snow. Wang had hired Smith and LaFontaine on the same day, and LaFontaine said in a recent interview that he disagreed with Wang's decision to fire Smith after less that six weeks. LaFontaine elected to step down after failing to persuade Wang to reconsider, he said—not necessarily out of loyalty to Smith, but out of concern for the franchise's direction. "I believe you treat people fairly," he said, "and stand up for what you believe in." http://online.wsj.co...319912036433148

absolutely crazy Miller playing in this game. If he were to get injured and thus make a trade not viable, this will go down as one of the most bone headed decisions made by a Sabre management ever. Fine start him give the fans in attendance opportunity to show their appreciation and then get him off the ice.