IKnowPhysics

It's also weird that he'd only be in the Q until March 15th (+ any playoffs, Remparts would probably make playoffs), but after that, he'd be done with the Q forever. Besides the potential injury thing, or maybe a desire to practice in Buffalo, I don't know why he wouldn't just go do that.

He's young. He's got a dick agent. He's not going to get a better situation elsewhere outside of the K, where he's said in the past he doesn't want to play. I'mma ride this one out and see what develops instead of immediately grabbing the pitchfork.

I get the impression that Tim Murray's strength is in player evaluation. Oster looks like a contract/CBA-oriented guy. Could be a good fit, and one that doesn't necessarily replace the functionality of Kevin Devine. There's no convenient list I was able to find, but I think a few teams have two AGM's, notably Boston (Jim Benning [player eval, trades, FAs] and Don Sweeney [player development]). I think in keeping with the model of dumping money into the front office, there's no reason to drop Devine, unless it's a bad fit or an insurmountable personality or philosophy conflict.

Well, the New Era factory isn't far away.

That's ###### insanity, and the biggest understatement I've ever read on this board, and maybe anywhere ever. There's no way I want MacLean here. Hell no. No way. I've sounded off on MacLean several times, whom I think know ranks as one of the worst NHL general managers of all time, and I'd do it a hundred more times to prevent him coming. I'd boo him at the stadium to his face on his first day at work. He is ###### awful. He's so bad, I'd rather have a no-name be appointed, just for the potential hope of that person developing into an administrator that doesn't completely suck dick. Doug MacLean single-handedly kept an expansion franchise in the absolute shitbowl of the league for ten ###### years. He flawlessly ran the perfect model of horrendous drafting and ###### ideas. You want to ###### up a draft rebuild? Get rid of your well-drafting AGM and replace him with Doug MacLean. That'd be a perfect way to do it. And then all of that good karma the new GM just got by having the backing of Craig Patrick is flushed down the shitter because he was the idiot piss-ant GM that hired Doug MacLean.

For a second, just one second, I thought those were the candidates for AGM. And I was like

My bad, I meant that. Fixed.

Judging from Murray on Howard Simon, it sounds like he recognizes that next year's draft is the better draft. He's confident that our high pick will net us a good player this year, but notes that the quality drops off much faster than a good draft would, to the point where he's more concerned about the value of 3rd and 4th rounds. At one point, in the context of draft picks and suffering, he stumbles over his words a little, admitting that he's looking for improvement but not lacking a high pick next year, struggling to not shout out "###### yeah, we're tanking next year too!"

Argh. I had a nice, lengthy post detailing his influence, but I tarded up for a second and closed the wrong tab. Super quick storyline: Pre-Craig Patrick, CBJ's front office blows on a historical level. Doug MacLean is committed to the retard academy 10 years too late. His replacement, Scott Howson, makes crappy, useless trades. His landmark deal is spending a fortune to bring in excommunicated Flyer Jeff Carter, who immediately sucks on a vagabond Columbus roster. Craig Patrick is hired in December 2011. Within one month, Howson makes a head-coaching change (to oust Scotty Arniel for Todd Richards, who's a better fit for an offensively-anemic roster). Within two months, Carter is shipped out for Jack Johnson and a 1st rounder. Johnson plays alright, despite injuries. Howson ships out Pahlsson, and packages the return from that trade with a 2nd rounder to trade for Bobrovsky, who plays his nuts off for Columbus. The Nash situation comes to a head, and Columbus collects, rebuilding their team with Dubinsky, Anisimov, Erixon, and a 1st rounder. Columbus jumps in the standings from finishing dead last in the West the previous year to finishing tied for 8th in the West. Howson's fired anyways. Cue the Herbie Hancock. Jarmo Kekalainen comes in and starts break dancing on the trade and draft floors, respectively. He makes six trades in three weeks, culminating in a trade for Marian Gaborik, and he executes the three first round picks that were collected. TL;DR: Craig Patrick un######ed the CBJ front office into something considerably less ######.

His demeanor on the radio was a lot more cool and confident than during the press conference. Public speaking or first-day-of-GMing jitters? We'll soon find out.

Not one to watch much NBA, I was unaware of this controversy. The old bent corner on the card, that's some bush league ######. Hilarious.

I never thought much about how I would be dressed when I go, and now I don't have to. Thank you.

Good: We should introduce the new personnel to the crowd. Better: And show some interview clips on the Jumbotron. Pegula: WITH A FREE BEER!

Let's keep the Craig Patrick train rolling. US HHOF, 1996: http://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/page/show/828250-craig-patrick HHOF, 2001: http://www.hhof.com/htmlInduct../ind01patrick.shtml

Advisor's a good spot for him. He doesn't have to do anything but impart wisdom. See also: Scotty Bowman. And it's not like old guys can't actually do the job. See also: Glen Sather.

Doesn't it? Good: We should build a hotel and a parking garage across the street. Better: With a bar to watch games. Pegula: WITH TWO ###### ICE RINKS ON TOP! Good: We should replace our head coach and GM. Better: With some good honest names in Sabres history, like LaFontaine and Nolan. Pegula: AND THAT GUY FROM MIRACLE!

Oh, I did. It gave me a hate-rection.

Haha, the hiring of Tim Murray has enhanced the perception of budgetary strain in Ottawa, and the Ottawa fans have started to pour on the self-loathing. Excellent.

Also, BOOMSHAKALAKA!

HIRE ALL THE SCOUTS

The Pegula prophecy of jamming the front office full of good people is coming true. The front office is starting to look pretty ###### good. Pegula, Black, Benson, Sawyer, LaFontaine, Patrick, Battista, Murray, Devine, Prendergast, Beamish, Weinrich, Nolan, Numminen, Sacco, Forton. 21 amateur scouts.

Today is a good day. Damn good day.

Boom. MOSES LaFONTAINE.

Oh man, getting Craig Patrick is HUGE. That's what hiring Pat LaFontaine buys you. Craig ###### Patrick. Yes. You think Patty carries an enormous amount of credibility with him? Craig ###### Patrick. Bringing the Miracle.

I'm really curious to see if he brings in new scouting guys (like Kevin Devine) before the draft, or if he keeps the current staff. I have a preference to keep Devine around, but if Tim's bread and butter is scouting, he may have other ideas. I'm also curious to see where the head coach position goes. This is all in addition to key player movement (Miller, Moulson, Ott). The stage is set. Let the rebuild commence.