IKnowPhysics

Buffalo: bad is the new good. And the Leafs still suck.

Came for the charts, stayed for the thread, posted for the fun:

TSN losing Canadian national TV rights (1998-2002) only bolstered TSN's efforts to be THE source of NHL news, says Bob McKenzie on twitter. I don't know if they can (read: will determine it's business-prudent to) keep it going. TSN's been great, I'd hate for them to drop the ball or concede that the ball has been stripped from them. New deal goes for the next 12+ years.

There's some ###### over here: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/22017-ot-2014-sochi-olympics-pre-tournament-talk/page__hl__%2Bsochi+%2Bolympics

Heh, Seth Jones with the fro and the five-necked guitar.

This is all truthful. It'll be fun to watch him.

It's annoying that we have to rehash this, but let's get it right, and then let it go under the bridge. The rumors have never been substantiated. And there's two sides to them: 1) Rumor: Nolan was a philanderer and a drunk that messed around with Hasek's wife and would show up to practice drunk. Refute: Nolan said that these were racist stereotypes. 2) Rumor: Hasek expected "star" treatment but was angry at Nolan for treating him equally with other players. Refute: Hasek said that he didn't respect Nolan as a coach. Disregarding whatever might have been true or false about those rumors, there was a real, documented feud between Nolan and Hasek. Sabres GM John Muckler sided with Hasek (either because he valued him more than Nolan or because some element of the rumors were justified, who knows). Sabres ownership sided with Nolan (Jean Knox later attended a rally in support of Nolan during the contract dispute). The whole front office and locker room was a complete shitshow the entire '96-'97 playoffs and 1997 off season. Ownership fired Muckler (after he had just won Executive of the Year), which branded Nolan as GM killer. Ownership then hired former Islanders interim GM Darcy Regier, and threw him into the shitshow. Regier had to solve the dispute or he (and the franchise) would eat itself alive. He decided to offer Nolan a one year deal to see if things would settle down. Nolan (after he had just won the Jack Adams) took this as an insult and rejected the offer. Both players and fans were livid that Nolan wasn't resigned and many blamed Hasek. Matthew Barnaby publicly stated he'd run Hasek on the first day of training camp for his role in getting Nolan "fired." Darcy hired Florida Panthers Assistant Coach and longtime-Sabre Lindy Ruff as Head Coach. For many weeks into that next season, fans booed so loudly at Hasek, that the arena staff had to play tapes of the crowd cheering over the PA to drown them out. Hasek would eventually win them back with stellar play (he earned six of his thirteen shutouts that season in December, an all-time record in one month) and went on to win his second consecutive trifecta of the Vezina, Pearson, and Hart trophies. Lindy Ruff and Dominik Hasek would immediately lead the Sabres to the ECF, and a year later, game six of the SCF. I don't know if anyone knows what really started the Nolan-Hasek feud. But as horrible of a decision as it was to make at the time for new-GM Darcy to let go of his universally-celebrated Jack Adams winner, he ended up being right. Hasek played all-world and all-time, and Ruff would mostly succeed for the next 16 years. It was a truly ###### situation, and Regier not only stopped the Sabres ship from sinking, he probably sailed it better than any GM in franchise history.

Zemgus has been playing his zemguses off lately. I've enjoyed it. The kid battles in the corners like a bull and works hard to backcheck. Whenever he loses possession of the puck, he never gives up on the play. There's a reason he wasn't sent down with his peers: he's earned his spot.

[i'm back from work-related hiatus] Nolan hates staged fights, discourages Sabres from doing so: Old school.

Emery's a puss. He didn't wait for Holtby to lose his gloves, which made Holtby defenseless, and Emery just started firing away. Keep in mind that if you fight with goalie gloves on, there's a bunch more penalties, and possibly suspensions, that rack up. Every goalie knows that.

That's a terrible way for Miller's trade value to skyrocket.

Then we'll have to root for the Isles to lose next year too.

Apologies, brain fart in my end. I incorrectly assumed for some reason the max was about $8.5-9.0M. That's the number I was thinking. Yes, there's a max, the individual salary cap is 20% of the team salary cap (20% of $64.3M is $12.86M). I knew that percentage too, I just didn't think to doublecheck my thinking above. Interesting concept that I hadn't seen discussed, one that I overlooked. If Vanek doesn't resign on the Island before the deadline, the Islanders will likely try to move him (just as we would with Matt Moulson), and I'm guessing that they could* recoup their picks. *Large presumption that Snow is at least of Feaster-grade intelligence.

Among active players with 200+ career goals, Vanek is 12th in goals per game. He is a veteran, proven, top line goal scorer. Some team will pay him for the maximum term, and in all probability, for the maximum salary.

I was a little surprised to see that Moulson was one of the "local warriors." He grew up in MIssissauga and played college at Cornell.

The quality of this trade should be examined for the four UFA re-signing scenarios: Vanek and Moulson both resign: (unlikely I think) Vanek is very good, but not worth more a 1st and 2nd round pick more than Moulson. Sabres fleece Islanders. Vanek and Moulson both don't resign, Moulson isn't traded: (likely I think) You lose Vanek for only a 1st and 2nd, which is not good at all, but the Sabres still fleeced the Islanders. Vanek resigns, Moulson doesn't resign, Moulson isn't traded: (unlikely I think) You lose Vanek for only a 1st and 2nd round pick, which is not good at all, and because. Islanders able to throw a coup and sign Vanek. Islanders effectively gained resigning rights to Vanek for a 1st and 2nd, without exposing Vanek to UFA market. It'd be considered a risky move, but you end up with Vanek. Islanders slightly ahead here. Vanek doesn't resign, Moulson resign: (possible) Islanders traded a 30 goal scorer and a 1st and 2nd for 6 months of a marginally/somewhat better 30 goal scorer. Sabres fleeced the Islanders. If Moulson is traded, his return will help dictate the value of this trade, but I think it's entirely likely that he gets moved and we end up with at least six of the top 60 picks at the draft this year. In all likelihood, unless Vanek signs on the Islandor Moulson is somehow allowed to go UFA, Sabres will be considered to have fleeced the Islanders here. Winning trades aside, we netted good picks that will help us. Now we just need the Islanders to come in 2nd last.

I got new tires today. Michelin Pilot Super Sports. It sounds stupid, but I'm a car guy, so I'm happy.

He'll never hold him himself accountable. Not in a million years.

Trainwreck Kept a Rollin'. If we're going to eat this "turd burger," I want a payout. I want #1 or #2 overall. Forget the notions of improvement. That's weakness. "That's just pride ######in' with you. ###### PRIDE."

I re-read the thread this morning. Still very exciting.

Worst in franchise history? Best in franchise history at getting top picks.

Welcome to the, our, internet.

Writeup on Compher tearing it up in the B1G to start the season. Compher has five assists in four games as a freshman and Michigan is 3-0-1.

I would call it a Hockey Haven.

Maybe next in line for the Americans?