MattPie

Passionate/arrogant fans are cute when the team is a loser. Passionate/arrogant fans are obnoxious when their team is good. Bills fans are well on their way to being Chowdaheads II. There, I said it.

I would expect that too, although I think it's probably more players *born* in the 90s. I don't feel like there was nearly the emphasis healthy living in the 90s/2000s as in the 2010s/2020s. But that might just be my perspective as someone who in their 40s started living far more healthy (and it f'n works; I feel way better than I did five years ago). A professional athlete (especially of the era that we're talking about) after retirement should probably make drastic changes to their lifestyle since they (likely) don't have the same built-in activity level (practice, workouts, games). If you're exercising hard for a few hours six days a week, you can get away with some questionable diet choices. As for the dying so young part, the study (as I understand it) is only looking at players that *have* died, so those average ages would be artificially low since many of the players in the age window are still alive. I would expect that if we come back to the same methodology in 20 or 30 years after the most of players have died for any reason, the average would be higher. but I bet you'd still see that same disparity where aggressive physical players die younger than players that aren't. As others above have said, this may be to personality traits or it may be from getting knocked in the head a lot too. My guess is the personality traits aren't as consistent as you'd think, and it's more down to getting knocked in the head. This is part of the reason I take far less joy in the game than I used to, among other external reasons.

Sometime in the 3rd round or preferably later, absolutely. Even if you tag Levi as "the real thing", and maybe UPL blossoms (not unusual for NHL goalies to come into their own 25+), you still need to keep stocking. Hopefully the Sabres have learned their lesson post-Miller.

I was going to say something like, "well, maybe this is not that strange when you look at the rest of the league". But those four account for 12.5% (1/8) of the 32 positions available, all from one 7-game series. Just by the numbers it can't be normal.

"Sacrificing" seems a little strong. They guy didn't get the job he wanted, and may now a year later. I'm not trying to make light of it, but it's not like he was in jail.

Don't think of it that way, think of it as more time for Lake Ontario to flood with Leaf-tears.

I figure it's mostly because most of the Sabres picks were early-1st picks that quickly made the NHL, and anyone with any ability that wasn't really ready still ended up in the NHL anyway. 🙂

Myers showed a lot of flash that season, IIRC. Power is probably better, but not as flashy.

I guess he'd technically be on the Sabres roster between signing his ELC and now.

The point slap shot is a dying art. Mostly because they have a low probability of going in. You don't see nearly as many of those in the highlights as decades ago. https://theathletic.com/3911904/2022/11/21/nhl-slap-shots-one-timers/

I was just making a joke, lol. You know, pick two leafs because it's impossible the Florida will win.

So what you're saying is one of the studio guys picked two Leafs. Seems right.

I hate this saying with a passion. It perfectly sums up the American hatred of education and the resulting idiocy we seen daily.

Otto!

LOL, Alex Tuch's has siblings that are fraternal twins named Luke and Leah (Luke is in the Habs system).

Eh, I can excuse someone hesitating when going up against an 500-pound cat with proportional claws and teeth.

4th in games played, behind Chelios, Modano, and Pat Kane.

GET ON THE PHONE KEVIN! VO + 2024 first + UPL + 2028 4th; get it done!

It'll stop when Buffalo is good, for the most part. Only the most craven STH would sell their playoff tickets to opposing fans.

Yep, totally agreed. That why I said, "most of the places people talk about being good, plus Pat's and Geno's" 😉 (as in, I've gotten gotten wings from the good places, and the Anchor bar.)

I tried them from most of the places people talk about being good, plus Pat's and Geno's, lol. Still cheeseburger vibes. 🙂 Onions are terrible in most forms. They ruin a lot of dishes.

Wrong. LOL. I don't know if I've had DiNic's, maybe it's not as good as the others I've had. To be honest, cheesesteak (without onions) hits a very cheeseburger vibe with me, which is fine but not life-changing. I still travel back to Philly from time to time, and getting a cheesesteak isn't on my list of things to do (even taking into account I'm mostly vegan/vegetarian these days). I have had a Sharp Italian from Primo's though. 🙂

I could have sworn that was after Seinfeld, but maybe that was just when I saw them.

Even if the numbers get there, I'm on board with Skinner not being in the a hall of fame. While very good, I don't think he stands out from other top-line forwards; no one outside Buffalo is having this conversation. I really like the player and his game, but he's not going to get in unless he just lights it up in the playoffs *and* something else. I could see him becoming a Marchand-very-very-lite somehow. Not as dirty, but just sneaky little things that drive the other team nuts while filling the net.

You know, I never really thought about it but if you're drafted you get an NHL ELC even if you never see NHL ice, right? All those two-way deals and AHL contracts are well after that. TIL.