LTS

Pretty sure the answer to your questions could easily be answered with "Because he's the best they have?" which is distinctly different than "Because he's good at it." I'm not saying which I believe... but I wouldn't go chasing him.

Got it. I just don't have alternatives as I'm not interested in overpaying which is what you are saying will most likely have to occur to get them to come to Buffalo. Just questioned back to see what you think is a fair over payment for the players you suggested and where you would see them slotted in. I don't see Lindholm as worth anything north of $6M. I don't see Zadarov as worth much either. Joshua is the enigma.. potential late bloomer but just as easily could be one season and done. I'd probably kick the tires pretty good on him.

I suppose if you were to ask any of the people who spend a large portion of their lives examining the pay of CEO's and debating their relative worth you might find a group that does care. They might even relate it to how horrible Pringle's are and discuss that the CEO is clearly not worth the pay. But this isn't a Pringles board, it's a hockey forum. So on here, people do look at the analytics of hockey operations. They look at the money being spent and want to theorize about how to best construct a roster. They enjoy what they enjoy while you enjoy what you enjoy.

Yes, the ManningCast is unique... or was. You'll see more of these types of alternative broadcasts in the future. The real point of my story was that the youth are consuming media very differently and its changing more rapidly than ever. These adaptations are just the beginning. ESPN I believe had a stat cast going for the NHL game as well where different analytics were being put up in the borders and a player tracker at the bottom listing who was on the ice, how long, and then would change as players left or joined play. Kids brains are rewired to consume far more information at once. Back to the Future 2 wasn't far off in them watching multiple screens of content at once and consuming it fairly well. Well, when you couldn't watch it, or the quality on TV was so low it was imperative to have a strong narrative skill. Very much a lost art, but one that's hardly needed these days unfortunately. People used to listen to the radio when they could not be at home or it was not on TV. Now people just stream the broadcast on their phones while driving or riding.

I didn't crap on them. I don't have a list of dream free agents because I don't agree that none will come here and also don't agree that overpaying them to do is a good idea. I asked a legitimate question about Lindholm. If the reports of him wanting $9M AAV are true, the Sabres have to pay what $10M? Is that a good amount of money to pay a player with his stat line and what role would he be? I don't think he's worth it. With Zadarov I said he was spurned by this organization once before, why would he want to come back? What role? My apologies if this offended you. It was not my intent.

Perhaps get a tanning lamp and a hot tub?

Well, if it happened what makes it laughable? The concept of "live tweeting" is that they tweet what happens. The inferences people draw from it are their own.

You are certainly representing one segment of the sports watching public. Another segment loves that ESPN has the Manningcast for football. It's so popular that alternate broadcasts are popping up in other places. There are segments of society who don't want the play by play or the carefully (or not carefully) crafted story telling. That segment enjoys what people can comment on about the sport happening, not so much describing the play itself. This is very apparent with the growth of content creators who spend most of their time story telling and interacting with viewers. There is a change in society. It's not just hockey. Football is absolutely awful at the pre-scripted story. This is what old school marketers feel will sell the game. It appeals to some groups I guess.

I get the sentiment. My focus is on the word hatred. Claypool is someone who has proven that he's not going all out for the team and that he definitely loves himself and likes to show it. I wouldn't want him on the team. But to hate him? He ain't worth the energy. Perhaps he's been humbled. Perhaps he has changed. Who knows but let's leave it to that and see what happens. I think far too often the criticism of public figures goes beyond the public figure and bleeds into personal attacks. None of us want to be personally attacked and being a public figure should not open the door for it. Fundamentally I just don't want to erode what the word hate means. Hate has fueled the worst in humanity throughout history.

Lindholm - for what role? Rumor has it he has already shot down the Canucks and that rumor was at $7M. Reportedly he has his sights set on $9M+. If the Sabres have to overpay to get him are you comfortable with 7 x $10M? He's 29, his stats are not great, at least this past year. A -14 on the season and .59 P/GP. He had one good season in Calgary a few years ago. He has all the makings of a bad UFA signing. Zadarov - why would he want to come back here? Buffalo dropped him early on as he was deemed immature, etc. I can't imagine him wanting to come back. I suppose he could have value in the 4/5/6 role.. but I think he's off the market before free agency starts. Joshua - maybe. I know his name came up this year as an emerging player, but has he had more than 1 year where he was worth mentioning? He's going to get Girgensons level money, maybe. I could see it. Definitely a risk to see if he was just a really late bloomer or not. Do you like anyone besides the guys on the Canucks? 😉 It makes more sense for the Sabres to go after players on contracts via trade. Both because it's a bit easier to overpay in prospects and picks than it is in actual contract value. And yeah, Erikson Ek would be a great addition to the team. There are likely other players on contracts that will be good to get as well. Overpay would be more than they would get from another team they prefer to go to. If Pesce is projected at $5-6M then $8M would be a crazy overpay. He'll be in demand and Toronto and Nashville are reportedly interested. Nashville can certainly make things happen, Toronto needs defense bad and goaltending. Question is.. will they move Marner or ride out his and Tavares' contracts this season. Stephenson people have been interested in. He's 30. I think he's going to look at a team that competes for the Cup, not just to make it into the playoffs. I don't like him as much as others, but it really depends on how much you have to pay him and somewhat more importantly, for how long. I think the Sabres overpaying for a 1 or 2 year deal is workable. I wouldn't want to start going after 4-6 year deals though, not overpaying.

The NHL is littered with bad UFA deals and over payment. There are some notably good deals as well, but very often the UFA signings are bad. Elsewhere there is a good point about Minnesota and the hill they face because of Parise and Suter deals, etc. You don't miss the playoffs forever. It's not that absolute. Doom and gloom. For the sake of conversation, in your world, what player is the target and how much are you willing to overpay to get them?

I'll just hope the Sabres have someone standing by to slap the phone out of his hand, just in case.

to be fair, no athlete deserves the hatred they get on social media, at least not for how they play the game. Now if they commit actions outside the game that's another story.

106 miles from Jupiter to Homestead which is just south of Miami. The widest point from the ocean to the Everglades is just under 20 miles. That's basically one big city from Buffalo to the North end of Seneca Lake and never wider than the distance between Buffalo and the Niagara Power Visitor Center Parking lot. Crazy.

Top 9, Bottom 6 overlap. That said, given the cynical nature of fans, what if moving 11OA and a prospect is for a can't miss 4th line player? 😉

That's how it works you know. If you don't score goals you get shutout. That said, if you don't score more goals than your opponent you lose. So if a team gives us 3x more shots than it takes then the goalie has to be given credit. Because if the goalie stopped the same percentage of shots as the Stars goalie, the Oilers lose. McDavid is the most talented player in the game. But, he doesn't possess the puck to keep the other team from having opportunities and he sure as heck fire did not prevent the Stars from shooting on net.

Definitely not applicable to all free agents. No blanket statement. There are certainly those who go UFA with the sights set on a big pay day. They also want to win I assume. So getting paid more to not win isn't always possible either. That said, overpaying for a UFA is ill advised in every scenario. There is no end to the number of teams that have given UFAs big contracts where it never worked out. Then to add onto that saying the Sabres would have to pay more? That's even worse. First, it's bad economics for running a team. Second, I can only imagine the fans take on here when it happens and then again in the middle of next season when that player is not playing up to their already overpriced contract. If players don't want to come here without a premium, then let it be.

As long as 11OA and a prospect isn't to move up the board and draft 9OA or something like that I think I can live with that move. I would suspect Kulich is the one being shopped... or Ryan Johnson. I guess Savoie could be in there as well.

Yeah. I was in Ft. Lauderdale not too long ago and someone in the area spouted off about the geographical anomaly that is that stretch from Miami to West Palm Beach. It's had to do with the length of urbanization along with the width of it since it all backs up to the Everglades. Basically it's one big sprawling metropolis broken up into multiple cities. It's crazy.

Expected Buffalo Discord? This is new to me. (Not Discord). Interesting.

Yes, true. The distance from Miami City Hall to The Panthers Arena is about 41 miles. Roughly the same as Batavia Downs to Buffalo City Hall. The fair comparable is that the Miami Heat play in Miami at Kaseya Center. They are called Miami whereas the Panthers simply go with Florida.

I get the sentiment because he scored goals but McDavid did nothing to prevent the puck from getting shot on his own net and keeping the puck from entering it. If McDavid had a majority of puck possession time and kept the Stars from mounting shots then I would give him credit. Certainly he scored enough, but the team was out shot which should give some love to the goalie as well.

With the exchange rate the Canadian teams have to win like 30% more games.. that's not easy to do.

if the Senators are willing to move on from Tkachuk that's a massive red flag. He's their Captain and was on of their biggest draft picks. Watching him play it's clear he has to mature quite a bit. He takes very, very stupid penalties. He might have some talent but he's undermining himself with his immaturity.

Having been stranded in cities with air travel I can appreciate this issue. Not sure how upset I would be getting stuck in San Francisco. 🙂 When I was in Key West I was hoping they'd announce that they were never flying out again... take a hint from Hotel California and all that. Hope you find a way though, seriously. On the things that are fantastic though... I'm just going to go outside. Today is perfect weather for a mid-afternoon margarita on the deck.