Samson's Flow

I was tempted to post "Speling" as well, but thought better of it.

Edit - looks like I joined basically the same time as you MattPie. Jan 07 vs Feb 07. That seems like forever ago...

Hahaha nope i've been here a long time. I think my first screen name had something to do with a certain RJ call about Paul Gaustad. I joined back in the 06'-07' year, I just don't post like Liger or Hoss so I'm not up to 10k posts. :nana:

It might have something to do with the hiring of Dan Bylsma as well. New users tend to appear when big news breaks.

"I'm making sure he signs it this time, you can't fool me again with that invisible ink trick..."

That allows for the possibility of some low end RFA offer sheets. Glad the Sabres held tight and didn't give up the Sabres own 2016 3rd. The value of the 3rd doesn't matter much IMO, but that it isn't the Buffalo pick is good for flexibility.

Cool. Glad we got the (seemingly) next choice of GMTM. (although a Richardson hiring would have solidified my Tom Webster contest predictions :P )

But doesn't... Eichel Reinhart LW Girgensons - C Staal ...look even better? Nobody is scoring on that 3rd line.

But on the other hand, if it is a complex system that works wouldn't we want our kids to have familiarity in it this season before we start to really compete in 2016-17? In other words, getting the kinks out this year so they are comfortable next year and beyond? Just playing devil's advocate here.

Thanks guys, I'll be here all week

Is that Ted Nolan's Latvian doppleganger?

I have found myself really rooting for the Ducks. They are a very good team and fun to watch. I'm rooting for Tampa just so I don't have to watch the Rangers anymore. Yuck.

Of course as soon as I posted you put up that consensus ranking that basically answered my question. Boeser and Sprong are the other forwards in our neighborhood. I would really like to see a move to get Kochecny if the Sabres end up going forward instead of defense.

So are we talking half the size of inkman's calves? three quarters? Anything larger would just be outrageous. ;)

Wasn't that part of the plan outlined above? Once your bargain goalie is looking for a payday, you let another team give it to him and you find another young bargain.

Looking forward to it Liger. I am interested in what the talent pool will look like at #21. I know you have mentioned Zboril as your target for that pick (and have soured on my Tom Webster contest pick of Kylington). Wonder if that changes much in the next few weeks.

But we already had Mike Weber... :nana:

I agree that having quality defensemen is much more important than a quality goalie (with respect to paying for them). My rationale is that a quality defenseman is on the ice for ~20 minutes a game and has much more of an impact than a quality goalie. If the defense is doing their job well, then there won't be any difficult shots faced/saves needed by the goalie. The goalie is out there for 60 minutes, but is really only used to make saves for an estimated 10 minutes total (less? more?). Also, the difference in impact between a top defenseman (say Doughty) versus an average defenseman (say Gorges) is a much bigger gap than the difference between top goalie (Lundqvist) and average goalie (Neuvirth). The goaltender technique now-a-days will save the majority of the shots with little need for reaction time highlight saves. I'm glad that GMTM seems to agree with this and is finding the goalie last in his team building.

I too miss Matt Ellis. :ph34r:

I know what you were trying to get at, but if you're giving me $4.5M, i'm totally taking it. Expected payout is $4.5M vs $1M ($5M * 20%) with the other one. That's a no brainer.

1. True 2. Agree - most credibility, maybe not best coach/most likely. 3. My Webster contest says trade it for player, so i'm sticking with that. 4. 5%. It's not happening due to start-up costs/barrier to entry 5. Boston (and it feels so good)

Welcome to the dark side my friend. Feel free to peruse the whisky thread. A lot of good advanced recommendations in there. Just wanted to mention how great the owners of Resurgence was to work with to organize a pre-reception party for my wedding. They were extremely helpful and were willing to print our drink tickets and directions for us to use and advertise the event. Even delivered them to my house gratis. I could not say enough good things about the Buffalo brewery scene as a whole, but specific shout out to Brandon at Resurgence. :beer:

Shanahan is a fair point, and shows how quickly a high-profile coach can fall from grace. I don't think Babcock completely falls of the map, but his reputation may take a hit to the point where some up-and-coming Canadian coach takes over as the national team coach. I don't see that happening, but it is possible. I think it is more likely that people in league circles recognize Toronto as a tire fire and suggest it is more the city's fault than Babcock's coaching ability.

Do you think his potential failing in Toronto (if that happens) would take away from his reputation? for example, would he be replaced as Team Canada's national team coach? I think not.

It certainly could/should have been asked with a bit more tact with respect to phrasing. But i'm glad the topic was brought up and not swept under the rug.