IKnowPhysics

Oh, what? Booo. Likeable, hardworking guy. Concussion problems sent him into depression, from which he fought back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-9zEBDTCbk

Sunny and 71. But remember that we're due to fall off into the ocean any minute now.

I don't think you're wrong, but I can't help but wonder if it's partly somehow due to playing on a team that's this . Lack of quality linemates, no drive to win, too much pressure/no confidence?

Just about everything I've seen concludes with definitely McDavid first, definitely Eichel second, and everyone else at three or lower, be it Hannifin, Crouse, Strome, Provorov, etc. Some have called both McDavid and Eichel "generational talents" (specifically Button at TSN), but whatever the labels for either, or how close they're considered to be, it's always McDavid 1, Eichel 2.

Not true. They had too many centers, especially after acquiring Malhotra, and not enough third line grit, so they made the move for Kassian. Regier made the move to acquire skill over size. Hodgson's real boogeyman has always been his defensive game. That's what pisses off the coaches. He's tried to improve some of his tools to help that part of his game (training with Roberts to up his conditioning and skating, etc), but he's definitely been having a hard time with it, and it's been getting him into the doghouse quite a lot Bucky railed him earlier this week, but he fails to put a label on Hodgson's problems - which is unusual for that clown... That all said, your point's valid. Nolan's going to try to push and whatever will be will be.

I want you to be right.

Didn't see this posted yet. Masisak writes a nicely objective look at this trade, makes the front page of NHL.com. He looks at shots per game season averages as propelling Kane into elite territory...

The only thing that scares me even a little is the Toronto Maple Leafs. They're nose-diving without really having committed to the tank. They may be able to execute a fire sale in short order and compete for the brown medal. The only thing protecting us is our 15 point head start. What we need to hope for is Toronto players and coaches playing for their lives, something they're not used to doing, just long enough for us to pull away.

Atta boy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAo0xXn_Syk

It's a bald-ass Tim Connolly:

Is there a scouting rank list that integrates skaters and goalies on the same list? By most accounts, Blackwood's the best available tender, but I have no idea what round he'd be taken in.

Doh! But again, I'm not sure I'd want to play against whomever we shipped to make this happen. I hate Kessel so much. So much.

Well he may have wanted Murray to make all the moves but not outright determine that we needed to blow it all up for McEichel. Maybe Patty wanted at least a little say in the overall direction of things. He wasn't given that. I'm fine with the fact he wasn't given that.

We were asking a lot for Tyler... we were asking for return on what Tyler's potential could be. Which, if one of those deals were to actually execute, it would have been bonerific. Instead, we received return on what Tyler is on a good day: a #3 D on a contention-worthy defense. Which happens to be exactly what we got in Bogosian (plus some spare change in Kasdorf).

Bucky's a moron. He contradicts himself constantly. He does so here: So is Kane the best player in the trade? Or is Tyler Myers? Or is Kane a third line player? Tyler Myers has more value than a third line player. Even if you consider his qualifiers, it's still a nonsensical point. ...I miss Jim Kelley. :(

While neither a shield from nor a cause of racism, sometimes an established minority community can help minority folks feel more welcome. African Canadian folks make up 2.7% of Winnipeg's population (as of 2011). African Americans number 38% in the City of Buffalo, 13% across the Buffalo-Niagara region. But regardless of the demographic makeup of the area, I hope we make Kane, Bogosian, and Kasdorf feel welcome in our community. And you could joke and say, "yeah, they'd be welcome until they didn't perform on the ice," but I'd like them to be welcomed as citizens living in our area regardless. There's a reason so many Buffalo Sabres alumni stay or come back here.

Because ... he was six years old?

Interesting. Not sure who I'd want to give to Boston that I'd enjoy playing against.

They're late to the McEichel dance, but they could bring it pretty hard. Best case scenario: we end up with McEichel and we get to watch the Leafs burn for a few years as we rise out of the hole like the child of Ra's al Ghul. Worst case scenario: the lottery's fixed and Toronto gets McDavid even before they really start tanking.

Interesting. The Sharks are in the playoffs... would they ship Niemi with no strong replacement? Would they only trade to non-playoff teams that would have no chance of seeing them again this season? I guess you try to recoup your vanishing UFA assets, but it could cost them playoff wins. I don't think the tank will influence Murray on long-term goalie issues. Although he did just make that move yesterday, it happened because everyone involved was a UFA.

Do we need to fire Nolan? No. At least not yet. But it would be prudent to always be contemplating who coaches of the next phase.

Richardson played 1417 games over 22 seasons in the NHL, before finishing up his last two seasons in Ottawa. Ottawa nominated him for the Masterson. He worked as an assistant coach there from '09-'12 under Clouston and MacLean. He was promoted to the head coach of the Bingo Sens when Kleinendorst left to coach UAH. The Sun thought he'd be a good replacement for Paul MacLean before Dave Cameron was named coach in December. Of sad note, Luke and Stephanie Richardson lost their daughter Daron in 2010 to suicide. Richardson's contract with Ottawa to coach Bingo is up at the end of the season. edit: Scott's faster.

Well, he's almost a year older than his draft interviews, and at 18-19 years old, that can make a difference. Especially with his experience of being drafted, going to camp, playing his first games in the NHL, being sent back down to juniors, playing for his country in the WJC. He's going to mature and hopefully head down the right path.

Not in Buffalo (but he just happened to be interviewed about it in Buffalo): In 1997, Chris Simon used a slur against Grier. Grier reported it. Simon expressed remorse and was suspended by Brian Burke for three games. It was the first time a player had been suspended for it. So...hopefully not in Buffalo...?

"Why would I wait around? That's not how things get done in this league. You make moves, you trade players, and that's that. It's not easy, but that's how it is. If they call and make offers, I'll listen." -Fake Tim Murray Sorta what I meant by pre-July 1. Anytime after SJS would be done with him. Is there a set date when the trade deadline is over...after the SC Finals or when a team exits the playoffs?