R_Dudley

Time to by a new Jersey

Table 2 for me Please. My favorite captain and a chance to see who's got a bigger Peca

Yep and also maybe buying some goodwill showing the the Hockey player community that Bflo is fair and does the right thing for players...

Todd Bertuzzi vs Bernie Parent. I'm pretty sure that's eating dirt.

OMG. This funny and definitely not a smart thing to do to a bigger known for fighting team mate unless you are trying to start a fight.

Well now that was a lot to read. Good team player, experienced winning hockey player role model in the room. I like it, low risk high potential if he stays healthy and the lines jell. New coach getting some options to work with and possibly we aren't done yet. Maybe baby steps but they are getting better. Seems like a good reason to have my first beer today or 3. ?

Awesome. Thank you. Excellent analysis. Randall, that should be your resume to the Sabres to be their new video/tactic self scouting coach. Talent definitely makes the difference in the rough stats you show with the 53% - 47% range and 3% margin for difference but you also show how coaching plays a significant role as well. That supports the eye test for me and many here that said Howie was not a good HC. ??

Enjoy them when ever they are with you, watch em grow, young, adolescent, teenager, doesn't matter. Teach em to ride a bike, to fish, to drive, to live life while we're making our plans. Hug em, hold em, love em. Best thing that ever happened to me even though it's a shaught ton of work. Breakfast at our local dinner courtesy of my youngest high school'er and an afternoon movie John Wick 3 with my wife and youngest. Happy indeed. Best wishes to all on SS for your Dads that were, for those that are, and those that wanna be.

Ah so you'd rather Row away than Wade in I get it..

Nope. I never quite bought into the idea that no big name free agents want to sign here however things like this and what ROR said do make me think twice about it.

If schedule and travel work out I would be interested and would see some family while I am at it.

Yeah and I am not sure how I feel about. Yes I hate Boston and I am rooting for the Blues to win. What I have been disappointed with is what has happened to the Hockey. Its gone back to interference, pick play, clutch and grab muggings all over the ice and that is just that, a war of attrition with occasional great hockey played. It almost becomes more of a puck luck great goal tending exhibition vs a skilled hockey display. /rant

That is an interesting take and reasonable point. +1

Ahh just what this thread needed a little bit of salt for that wound, now we just need to rub some dirt on it and we are all good... ?

I sure would like to know understand what really motivated the trade. Was it that season ending interview I lost my love for hockey, did he really think he was done and that bad or did some one of the owners help make that decision ? I guess we will never know but boy it sure looks like we got hornswoggled.

This is quote below from an Edmonton paper gives me hope. I am going to posit that maybe this is just 1st step in a larger plan as a few here have also said. 2-3 year contract as coach to help set the culture and team in right direction and then a move up to president of Hockey. “What I see as the ideal model now, is a really strong triangle, for me the triangle of the head coach, the general manager and the president in a professional sports organization. If you get three people that have different strengths to fill each other’s weaknesses, which we all have, and they work in unison toward a goal on a regular basis, that for me is the basis.”

R, a, l, p, H ! That does sound like what some people here want to do. I'm in the wait and see crowd since that's really all we can do now !

I have been watching for a couple reasons. 1.) I like hockey especially playoffs 2.) To see how far my favorite team, Sabres are from being here. I can confidently say we got a ways to go to display the all out efforts, coordinated and quality play I am seeing. Last I am rooting for the avalanche to get another WC team to finals and ultimately to win it all...

Yes it was once about the love of the sport and the ultimate team challenge. Sad that ethos in american professional sports is almost non existent anymore.

Good stuff. Thank you for highlighting and providing all the snip-its for the best centers for our 7th round selection review. Solid work and community contributions. ?

Well can you blame him, the three big names guys moved last year are all in playoffs and here he is once again cleaning out his locker never having been. It worked last year for Ryan O to act all depressed to get out..

Yeah I am definitely in on watching the TO @ Boston. Watching the last couple of reg season games they played this year was very entertaining and I hope they beat the crap out of each other since I want whoever wins to lose next round anyways. Other series I will watch in curiosity; Canes @ Washington; How real are both teams, The Canes really came on 2nd half under Rod whom I still loathe after that playoff loss and Wash looked beatable down the stretch, do they have another gear they were holding back. Pens @ Isles; Well since I have lived in Pgh since 92 I know the Pens team and have gotten to see them in the Playoffs for the 13th straight season, For the Isles is the Trotz factor real and can it get them through a first round series. Pens aren't as deep as they were last year so flip a coin. Jackets @ Tampa; Just don't see Columbus providing much of a challenge unless Tampa takes them lightly. Out west only really interested in 2 of the series. Blues @ Jets: Well of course with the Blues there is the was Ryan O' Really the factor in our previous losing ways but more about the way these 2 teams played each other hard during the season series. Very entertaining physical all out hockey is what I saw and of Course their is Meyers to see how he has or hasn't matured as a Playoff hockey top 4 Dman. Knights @ Sharks; Since a kid I have had a thing about knights, chivalry and King Arthur but it's really their goalie Marc Andre Fluery I have followed since Pens days. I always liked him(met him here once great person and family man) and I wanted the Sabres to get him when they needed a goalie. Against the old Sabres whipping boy, alleged Mr bad influence Kane who has since turned over new leaf married trying to become a Dad. Wow never saw that coming when he moved closer to home. Maybe there is something terribly wrong with the Or-Gan-i-zation after all ? Last I am curious to see what kind of officiating takes place in these playoffs. Are they swallowing the whistle and back to interference, mugging all over the ice or free skating high scoring action. I think that will definitely help or hurt who makes it to final four. My picks from 1st round From East; the easy maybe lazy picks, Tampa - Wash - Boston - Pens From West; Preds - Jets - Flames - Knights

I think word I would use instead of "scared " of is "respect". The players need to respect the coach, confidence he knows what he is doing and what he is preaching and that begets listening when he tells you something you should be doing that your not.

Grew up on the Buffalo East side/Cheektowaga border. Then spent some time in West Seneca before moving here to PGH in 92 for work as opportunities were very limited there then. Still have a brother, sister's, Mom, In laws, nephews, cousins and friends there. You can take the boy out of Buffalo but not the Buffalo out of the boy. i would love to retire and make it my Summer home on Lake Erie or Chautauqua somewhere but not sure the wife won't want to follow our kids somewhere to be active Grandparents. Regardless it will always be home away from home for me and my wife as we both hail from there.