Ghost of Dwight Drane

Oh...judge it by it's content for sure. I'm just saying...you wouldn't judge a hockey player game by game....you'd look at his body of work. If Sydney Crosby goes 15 games without a goal, it's logical for someone to say, "He's just in a really bad slump or maybe he is injured." If Matt Ellis goes 15 games without a goal and someone says that.....no..... It's easy enough in my opinion to do that with posters. I'm sure plenty of people think I can be/ am a know-it-all ahole. That will discount what I say for some. That's understandable. Some people will see what DeLuca writes and go at him. If some poster who mainly lurks says the same thing....might not even be a thing said. It goes all ways, but most people a fair. It's a valid point in my opinion. It's a psychological phenomenon. It's not the only reason...but it's valid. Maybe it's an effect of getting older....but I just worry about what I can control and my nesting area. The refs can have a bad game, you can get a bad luck injury, so and so can take physical liberties with you....but 95% of the outcome, you control.

This is the crux of my point. The Sabres are the worst team in the league by miles after bringing in the Supposed A1 most awesome owner who had unlimited cash and was the biggest fan. People took a lot of crap for saying Pegula was a giant red flag and this thing was going to keep going to the toilet. It wasn't a simple, "they won't win the cup". I won't speak for others, but when I see something good about the Sabres, I will say it. If you look at the draft/Girgensons thread a couple years ago...I was probably the biggest Gus trumpeter here. Optimists were actually saying to cool my jets. I said the kid was a can't miss and would be wearing a letter in no time. I also gave credit for drafting Grigorenko because at least they took some risk, and already had a guy who was going to have a high basement in Girgensons, so why not? As far as I'm concerned...I'm not always right...not by a longshot. I'll eat crow. I thought the Bills were going to figure it out with Gailey/Nix and was maybe their biggest supporter. When they got fired after 3 years...I wish they had more time, but I understood they had to go. I just HATE when quality posters get lambasted for "negative" views on the Sabres, even after establishing correct track records over the years. Heck, even I was thanking them and thought they had it figured out when Lafontaine came in. But I also warned that I could see the dangerous scenario of him leaving in short order if Battista became more than an observer and he really didn't get final say. It's a constant taking shape, but I will at least lay out the process of different scenarios playing out. I'd love to sit back and say I'm confident the Sabres are on a great track and will be good for a long time. I can't say it won't happen, but the hurdles they need to overcome with where they are and who is on board....when my concerns get confirmed time and time again....I'd be a fool to say they are in great shape. I sincerely hope I'm wrong and Pegula is the most understood genius with an 170 IQ of all time. Unfortunately, I see what I see. I was only around since the end of 2006. I actually was all-in thinking they had a real shot. I don't know what was happening here before then. I turned sour on them early in '06-'07 when it was evident they were lacking talented grit and talking a big game. PA would regularly tell me to stuff it then, so I know he wasn't knocking the Sabres on a regular basis. I see this as a problem. If you don't pay attention to who posts what...and the board is about discussing, critiquing and enjoying an entity that has many parts which need to be evaluated to determine past/present/future performance....then how can you even honestly critique a player, coach, etc.? If you say Matt Ellis is an All Star coming into the league and keep saying it.....you HAVE to take notice. Just like you HAVE to take notice that Matt Ellis isn't an all star by just watching him on the ice for any stretch of games. It's probably not an issue for those who usually have been neutral-supportive of the team all along. Unless I see someone conspicuously throwing grandiose praise towards something or someone that doesn't deserve it....I just let it go as someone's opinion. When it is the other way though....over the years I've seen some pretty nasty stuff. It hasn't been bad the past few years because the fanbase has come to acceptance that this is a bad team. While you trend towards Stormcloud over the years, I'm not sure I've seen anyone personally attack you like others. Maybe because most of your posts come at early morning hours so there isn't as much of a chance for a "live" debate? When you get attacked, your natural defense is going to be to defend your point. In this thread you have the "it's easy to be right when you're a pessimist", "It's safe to be negative", "Only 1/30 teams wins".....OK? If that's the case, here's me detailing not only the Sabres to be a horrible team this year...but who I think will be good and why. I could say "They won't win the Cup!" about all 30 teams and have a 97% success rate. I didn't though. I gave 4 exact teams that would be in the final 4, and named 1 that I thought had the best chance to upset that possibility and 2 teams I felt were underrated and could be good. I'm wrong plenty of times. I'm pointing out a faulty argument. And I'd still marry Taylor Pyatt....... Not sure how to look at this? Are you saying that by overpaying for grit, the acquiring team didn't have success and the Nords made the smart move? Or are you saying that it is stupid to label guys as Generational Talents because often they don't live up to their expectations? I think it is marketable, except for the fact that it would be about one team that is a small market in a niche sport. If this was the Red Sox board, and you could identify their posters who get a scuttlebutt going....it would have a shot. I'd love to get waivers from 50 or so posters and match up their internet personalities to everyday life, family, job, etc.

It's been a 7 year process. In years 1-4, attacks were fast and furious on those who dare question the ultimate exquisiteness of anything Sabres. Heck, even when Pegula came in.....you were an antichrist to suggest the guy had no clue and things were about to get worse before they got better. He sat down with the Buffalo News in that audio....and people were calling right then in there....there was going to be big trouble. Same guys who called trouble still get mocked when questioning Pegula. Maybe someone can front me $50K to produce a message board documentary and go through the last 7 years of posts, the personalities involved, and then interview the relevant parties involved. Get a couple psychologists on board....we can have a winner.....

That's where I am now. Lucic is a holy grail for a contending team. If you flipped him for a Sedin a few years ago, Vancouver probably wins the Cup. Look at the '07 Sabres....if they have Roberts and Guerin on that team, they probably win. It's rock, paper, scissors in the NHL. Paper is goalie, scissors is skill, rock is grit. Almost every team has scissors. Not as many rock. That's why rock becomes more valuable, and why Deluca makes a valid point as to Lucic's worth.

Cusp of a cup? This is the worst franchise in the league....and some have been saying for years that is where they would end up while having to incur ridicule/insults/etc. Not by most, but by more than a handful. While I understand fans not liking rivals, DeLuca's point is very valid. It's that same fan short circuit that would have people attacking those who criticize the team or members thereof. And the 1/30 thing is a cheap excuse. Here is my preseason post from the prediction thread. A bit more detailed than "Sabres BAD!...won't win cup." That's the thing....you have people who semi-constantly praise the Sabres, mock people for their simplistic negativity of the team. This team has been in a straightline trajectory into the ground the past 7 years!!! It's like flying at 40,000 feet and yelling that the engines are on fire...and the passengers laugh while the flight attendants refuse to tell the captain. Then even as the plane starts to rapidly lose altitude....people keep saying, "we'll pull up any moment!!! You're so negative!". I think it's safe to say that there were no survivors and the FAA is on the scene of the debris.......

Don't forget...using the word "narrative", as well..... I think the "whole board" has disagreed with Deluca and PA for almost the past 7 years.....yet here we are....with a point total closer to zero than the President's Trophy.....

Maybe the fact Gus's country is a few weeks from getting invaded by Russia had something to do with it? Anyway....they are pretty close to one in the same as players....there will be more...you'll see. Girgensons hasn't even come close to dropping the gloves in the NHL yet either....which is why there is no way he gets a letter yet.

http://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw2g/ar02.html Someone was trying to Ol' Wes a favor....but he's a dipshit and started flashing cash around. A smart horseplayer breaks bets down in tickets that come under taxable limits when possible. You make the same bet on multiple tickets and you cash in one swoop....you owe taxes. I haven't played much last 2 days...off turf most of the time. Then they got the bright idea to ride RETIRED FEMALE jockeys for an allowance race in the 3rd yesterday......horse winning by 5 got pulled up 100 yards before the finish and lost. I shut the computer down then..... I'm playing Social Inclusion/ Bayern

It was a regular faceoff.... I can't even see what you said happened..... Oh well. I am not defending Lucic. I am saying it's suddenly not so egregious behavior when it is one of your favorites....

Folks....Girgensons IS Lucic.....that's why you love him. Kaleta is a no talent hack who slew foots, hits guys from behind, turtles....etc....that's why he was run out of the league. Lucic is a lunkhead who can be a hothead DB. If you gave Girgensons a skill test, an IQ test, and a Psych test.....it is probably bang on to Lucic in all 3.

WHAAAAAAAAA???????????????? I love how DeLuca has instantly been proven correct. I lost a lot of respect for Lucic for his handshake antics.....but the 1 guy on the team that many have said is an untouchable, just went full Lucic...has pretty much the same body and skillset.....and wears female prostitute clothing on multiple occasions......

It is a good topic. He was just the definition of slick. I think he was overshadowed by being here with Lafontaine. For as skilled as he was, he had a little dirt to him like Briere did. If I remember correctly, the last time he was in Buffalo, he was crocked for an on ice presentation and had a smoking hot daughter. That's reason enough for consideration....

The sad thing for me is that I just remember him hanging on at the end and the drama of him retiring or going for 500. I think it also said something when Gare got traded, that nobody really said.."Here's our captain!". It just sort of happened how like a 58 year old, 300lb county sheriff gets the overtime gig at the Bills games a few months before retirement.

I had the final 4 in the preseason, but never made a cup prediction.... still don't know who wins. Both series can easily go 7. I'm rooting for the Rangers. They made it this far with their powerplay showing up for only 2 games. I'm guessing 4 OT games all ending 3-2.

They also had Craig Simpson thrown in there for a stint..... For those that think a couple #1 centers will save a franchise, we had 2 first ballot hall of famers at the end of their prime and we still sucked flying donkey ####.

The joy of eating someone else's sponge candy......

All I know is that Gibson was muttering something between the Our Father and Last Rites during the anthem. I should have called Uncle Vito right then.....

Millsie and Noureen are trying a few new Kama Sutra positions as we speak......not sure who's the dominant, but they may get their wish.....

You're breakin my heart.....

I'm willing to help....only if you sign a waiver.....

Amen. When it's over...it's over. A guy like Steve Ott probably says some unthinkable things during a series, but he'd probably be one of the first to hug it out and offer encouragement after it is done. Lucic could have even said what he said, but with a grin....and it would have been ok. "Good luck, but I hope you know I'm going to F'n kill you next season....." He's just a lughead.

If she's lucky, I'll spring the extra 75 cents for some jalapenos on her nachos...... Notice I only said "make it"....BOOM! Negativity intact.......

Plan: Go to 8 Tuesday games at $12 a pop on the secondary market for a total of $96. Invest the other $1000-4000 into a PA EDA muni bond at 3%. In 2021 when the Sabres make the Cup, use the interest to buy tickets to games 5 and 7, then take the $35,000 in principal and get a mail order bride from Russia.

If Lucic was a baby in line....then I have lost respect. That is a sanctified place. If you are a puss...just be quiet. But it's for pillow talk and shrink work..... I think Sabrespace needs a handshake line one day. Preferably with lots of alcohol.....

PS...Briere gets 1st star...... (I know you are joking) Where's TrueBluePhd?????? I've been quiet so far, but now that the Rangers have Montreal......Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!!