TheAud

I like him as a 4th line guy. He does not generate enough offense to be a 3rd liner on a good team. Being a 'good' 3rd liner on the Sabres the past few years is not a qualification.

I am also OK hearing from Jim Kelly about starting and driving the growth of a non-profit that has literally changed healthcare policy and as implemented has probably saved the lives of dozens or hundreds (thousands?) of kids diagnosed with rare genetic diseases who otherwise would not have received treatment. So there is that. I also take some level of inspiration from hearing about two time cancer survivors share how they got through it. Maybe it doesn't apply to me but it's an interesting and somewhat courageous life story nonetheless.

Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWDdd5KKhts

Take a water ferry around Sydney, do take the tour of the Opera House, walk through Hyde Park in the early evening...not sure if they do it in September but at least in Dec/January hordes of massive bats come into the city to roost in the trees at the park. We were freaking out until observing the locals not reacting at all. In Melbourne do check out the WWI memorial...Anzac Day. Eat fish and chips...and shepherds pie.

Samson scored 23 goals his rookie year. Legwand beat that total once in 16 seasons (!) in the NHL. Let's see how this plays out.

It's a well known fact cars are safer than all other modes of transportation. Besides, no need to worry as Buffalo has Uber now.

The very same. I was using the alternate Norwegian spelling. :doh: I thought his contract at $8M per year (I believe) was out of control for his production and potential.

Pasternak signs 6 year $40M deal. I.e. $6.6M per year. He's no Eichel of course but I feel this helps balance out some of the crazier ones like Johansen's deal in Columbus.

I also agree winger's effort, or rather effectiveness, on D is important. That said, I don't really have a strong opinion on Kane's defensive effectiveness. Seems about average to me. He's not good at setting up teammates. This is easy to see in watching his style of offensive game over a period of time. His career high in assists is 27, back in his best season in 2011-2012. I don't think it's unfair to say that 15 assists per year (i.e. both seasons in Buffalo) is an argument against a long term, big buck extension. Maybe there are mitigating factors such as missing some games, playing with weaker linemates, etc., but still, it's not like Kane is a 40 goal scorer, or even 35. He hit exactly 30 once, that same magical 2011-2012 season. I like the guy as a power forward/scorer type and wish he could be signed to an extension that aligned with his production and value. (I voted 5 years at 6.5/year) But I just don't see that happening as Kane can probably get that or better as an UFA and get to have some say in where he plays.

Best thing I've heard today. (Hasn't been a great day, but still)

I could see him traded for "future considerations" or it's equivalent. I'm really hoping this regime decides there is no reason for Gorges to see the ice for the Sabres this year. Casey Nelson, Guhle, Fedun, Falk...anyone else really.

And now I feel dense. However I applaud all efforts to make fun of that narrative as well.

I don't know about throwing over the middle but he targeted TE's 11 times for only 5 catches, but Clay had his hands on, or dropped, 3 of them. Taylor was pretty efficient against a middle of the road defensive team (Jet's offense is the root of their putrescence).

Got it! Prior comment had me a bit confuzzled. :-)

Totally agree with this. May struggled with English quite a bit. It wouldn't shock me if you told me he was drunk some of the time on air. I also agree with this...it's frequently with me when I hear him talk. I assume it'll pass.

Winning the Hobey Baker was certainly the weak spot on Jack Eichel's resume given Holzinger's play on Hull when Eichel was a toddler...wait, what?

Robin Lehner won a Calder Cup in 2011. He went 14-4 with a 2.10 GAA and 0.939 Save % in the playoffs. But I am pretty sure it was just the result of the system employed by the coach. He'll forget how to stop pucks in Housley's system that we haven't even seen yet. Or so I am told.

I read that there is a contractual obligation with the Garden, or rather their ownership, that all the Ranger home games must be played there. Hence a game in NYC must be an Away game if the Rangers are taking part in it. It does suck for the Sabres but I don't know if it's an NHL conspiracy so much as bad luck. Could be both I guess.

He'd be able to log 20 minutes a game in Rochester this year with a legitimate shot at full-time NHL status next year with Gorges gone. Pending of course his development and that of others (and trades, etc). It seems like Housley could be a good recruiter in this case given that he's a defenseman who relies on skating and moving the puck.

I think the Corsi graph is the crux of the discussion. The author mistakenly assumes that his readers understand it and it's implications. Knowledge is contextual. In this case, apparently, you don't get it. Hence I can understand why you don't like the article.

Yes, my phrasing was poor as usual. I meant it's widely accepted around here that the Sabres Blue line really sucked last year as a unit. The point about whether Risto is a 1st or 2nd pairing guy is much more debatable...I was just following along with the point the author made. Hockey cannot start soon enough.

I thought it was a very factually based article, looking at various possible explanations for Risto's poor analytics vs. the eye test which says he's better than that. The author states up front that usually those two view points align. However in this case, they diverge quite significantly. It's interesting to dig around and try to discern why this is the case. It got me thinking, anyway. Risto is only 22 but has 3.5 seasons of full-time NHL playing experience. It's not unreasonable to assess his performance to date and start to draw conclusions about where he'll end up. The author acknowledges he has room to grow but it's not like we are talking about an 18 or 19 year old who hasn't played in the NHL yet. In terms of the "borderline misrepresentation" comment, I read it quite differently. If you accept the premise that Risto is a 2nd line D-man playing extreme 1st pairing minutes because he's the best the Sabres have, then in fact that is one of the primary reasons the Sabres were bad last year. It's not a shot at Risto, simply an acknowledgement of the weak talent on the blue line and to some extent how they were coached. I think most people on this board accept that viewpoint so some degree or another so this is not new news. I want to see how he plays with about 2 minutes less per game and please God no Josh Gorges out there with him.

Spot for Girgensons? I think Nylander starts the season in Rochester unless he's somehow developed more than would be expected in one off-season.

I thought this thread might be about books to read in the summer about hockey. My three favorites, if anyone is looking for a book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game_(Dryden_book) Enjoyment of The Game requires that you are at least as interested in people and society as you are in hockey, and also have some interest and knowledge of 1970's Montreal Canadiens dynasty era game. http://thehockeywriters.com/review-the-rebel-league-wha/ The Rebel League - Just plain fun reading about the history of the WHA. Really a different era in hockey and society in general. http://www.hockeybookreviews.com/2008/09/open-ice-by-jack-falla.html Open Ice - A beautifully written and thoughtful book. Heartbreaking at times knowing the author passed away shortly after the book's publishing.