Tondas

God, I hate the Leafs. God, I hate the Bruins. Decisions, decisions.

BOGOs next contract will be interesting. When healthy, he's a 4-5 million D-Man (right shot) and physical. I think when injured, the team has an insurance company pay the player's salary. And LTIR alleviates the cap hit when the player is out. So a team will take a shot at him in UFA since they won't be out cash or cap when he's injured. Now he does take up a contract and the team will have to account for his cap at the beginning of the year. But at 30 in July 2020, he'll have a market, just not sure what it will be.

I get it MODO and said I was in the minority. As a person, Jack has an obligation to provide for himself and his family (as we all do). He has an employment agreement as a member of the Buffalo Sabres and as such his primary responsibility is to the Buffalo Sabres. Unfortunately, professional sports are no longer about sports, they're about entertainment, gambling and money. The Olympics USED to be about sports but has been commercialized and college sports may be more money-grubbing than professional. What I'm trying to say is that if my employer was willing to pay me $10 million a year but forbade me to play in the the World Championships, I would sign that contract before it hit the table. Sure, acts of God like plane/car crashes happen, but I would protect my asset to the best extent I could and I believe Jack should do all he can to prevent injury in the off season which includes not playing in exhibition games. The Sabres pay him $10 million, not the U.S. Hockey Program.

I like Doug. Yes, there are more exciting singers out there, but he's a Buffalo guy, and for as long as I have watched, he has never missed a note. The guy is a machine and seems to truly enjoy singing at the games.

These tournaments are entertaining but if I were a player like Jack, I would decline to go. Jack makes $10 million a year to play for the Sabres. He is set for life, as will be his kids and grand kids. His first loyalty is to the Sabre and the city of Buffalo. If he goes to the tournament and gets another high ankle sprain (or worse) and misses a few months of the regular season, and the Sabres miss the playoffs AGAIN, what is the justification? I'm surprised that there is not some clause in his contracts that prohibits his participating in tournaments like this. Most contracts prohibit dangerous activities (e.g. motorcycles, skydiving), why not this? I know I'm in the minority here, but if I owned the Sabres, it would be negligent of me not to protect my most expensive asset as best as I could.

If you are a younger person this is sound advice. As you get closer to retirement, you tend to get more conservative in your investments (or at least you should). I'm 57 and retired. My goal is to have Social Security (at age 70) and a modest pension from the government pay for all my monthly expenses. Both of these income sources are inflation protected. Therefore, since I have an excess in my 401(k) now, I will use it to pay off the principle in my house to be debt free in retirement and ensure my lifestyle until I die or the Sabres win the Cup (whichever comes first). This also eliminates the RMD hassle at 70 1/2 and keeps my social security money from becoming taxable. My wife and I have no kids so we are not concerned about leaving anyone any money (novel concept, no?). There is great peace of mind (OT: great Boston song) in this strategy knowing my wife and I will have financial security for life. (And yes, I do have an HSA, Long Term care Insurance and Roth IRAs that will protect and pay for any medical expenses in retirement. Bottom line, good advice from @matter2003 but realize that your strategy may change as you approach retirement.

Is chz' rath another chz' ism? That sounds nasty.

I'm thinking Chris Taylor. The guys with experience are getting fewer and their appeal is getting less as well. I'm getting that retred feeling. It's important to note, Taylor is not PH. I think he's a better communicator, has a career of toughness (both mental and physical), knows the system and the young guys, has made the playoff 2 years in a row, and played with JBot. It would take a large circumference of testicle on JBot's part to make the move, but JBot knows his job is on the line. If he goes with Taylor, I'm all in. Maybe Taylor is "the next guy". Who knows?

I hear Scotty Bowman has a house in Buffalo. And Rick Dudley. And Lindy Ruff. Get the band back together!!!

Interesting position for JBOT to be in. On one hand, he feels he needs a coach with experience to make this thing work. On the other hand, he preaches development from the farm for both players and coaches leading to a Taylor hire. Going with Taylor enhances his philosophy of developing and hiring from within, while going outside the organization hints that development from within is great as long as his job is not on the line.

Since JBOT selected Vigneault to coach Team Canada for the IIHF World Championship, the intrigue increases. Although he did select Ruff as an assistant as well.

I wouldn't underestimate the Rob Blake connection. Blake played for McLellan in SJ. Knowing your boss before you take the job matters (just like Q and Tallon).

JBOT: "Kyle, you can either allow us to interview Keefe, or you can deal with our offer sheet for Marner. Your choice."

If Tage develops, he and Dach would be an interesting, imposing proposition at 6'5" and 6' 4". They could each stand on opposite sides of the ice and their sticks would meet at the center dot.

Rob Ray.

And Joe Biden gets a bad rap ?

I'm good with McLellan. If Jbot can put is job on the line for him, I certainly can get behind his decision.

Or use some of the Frank Thomas Nugenix stuff.

Can I start the Game Day Thread for the first game of the 2019-2020 season. Too soon?

I like those odds.

Tip of the hat to the boys tonight. Leave the season on a real positive note.

No one could have predicted this happening.

Terry can drill another well.

That's why I watch every game. What a great moment for Skinner.

While we have some time after the period of another typical Sabres blowout, I have a rules question. Say in the dying seconds of a game where the Sabres are up 2-1, if the opposing player was going in on a breakaway to possibly tie it, could Ullmark rip off his mask and draw a whistle. It may be 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, but at least it would draw a faceoff and give the Sabres a better chance to end the game. Is there a rule if the goalie does this to award the other team a goal like throwing a stick on an empty net breakaway?