French Collection

Could end being the Swedes we need, Lehner and Ullmark may be our net-minders for quite a while.

In a true tank year, Matt Ellis is in our top 9.

My second home was in a stagnant market. Small town with 2 main employers. Mining operation shut down and 100+ jobs were lost. I got a job elsewhere but it took me two years to sell. I got 20% less than what we had paid for it 11 years earlier. Factor in interest, upgrades, taxes, etc... It was far from an investment. Markets change all the time, certain properties can handle the downturns. Around here, waterfront always is in demand. Today's hot market can become cold in a hurry due to economic factors beyond your control, even your country's control. I'm still in the ownership camp but I learned a lesson. I'm not in a hot market but it is stable.

Vegas as an expansion team and Quebec as a relocation site (Florida, Carolina, Arizona) makes sense to me. NHL would like to be 16 in the east and west, but would have to wait for a Pacific Northwest group to step up to the plate. The hefty expansion fee may be scaring a potential owner off or they are willing to play the waiting game on a relocation. There would still be an imbalance between east and west, especially if Arizona relocates. I think Quebec is different, not a pure expansion, but righting a wrong. They should be more competitive immediately in this scenario. They would rather pay for a relocation, like Winnipeg, than the full expansion fee. Vegas would prefer that option as well, but may not be able to pull it off.

Kasdorf with a shutout last night vs Harvard. He had lost the starter's role after his injury but this should be a sign of better times for him.

Let's take advantage of these guys. McDavid is out, their D and goaltending still suck and they are at the bottom of the standings. Let's show them what a rebuilding team looks like. Go Sabres.

I think he is effective enough to get those minutes. He hangs back giving Risto the ability to rush once in a while. They don't need him to do it all this year. I'm sure he's a good influence on our young D.

Let's beat these guys. Reinhart to show his former line mates some new tricks.

Haven't heard any different. Like I said, it is a well built home. When the 4 pieces went together there was no shims or wedging or sledgehammers. Snapped together like LEGO, perfectly level. There was 3 weeks of work before moving in to touch up and paint the drywall, install ceramic flooring and tie in services (well, septic, electricity, phone & cable).

We went modular with our current home (3rd home). Not really cheaper than building, which they advertised, but a well built home. You are committed in advance with your choices because it is factory built. The cool thing was that the 2 storey home arrived in 4 pieces, the crane set up at 08:00 AM and we were walking in the home by noon. Another thing we liked was choosing a property we wanted, country acreage, and getting the house you want on that lot. No maintenance to do on a new home. I like to landscape, build trails, sheds, small barns and bridges. Definitely not starter home prices though.

Kane could get the Gordie Hattie as well. I don't think he needs to chuck the knuckles but he has in the past.

I've gone through the highs and lows with this team over the last 40 years, but I have always pulled for the Sabres. I am still hoping for that ultimate high. I am a hockey fan first and some of my favourite players have come from other teams. Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic and Jonathan Toews come to mind and I've enjoyed their success as well as the success of their teams. Perreault, Hawerchuk, Lafontaine, Hasek and Mogilny captured my imagination and made me love this team even more. My 10 year old has gotten the hockey bug and has gone from a Crosby/Pens fan to a Sabres fan in the last 2 years. He moved over to the Sabres side of his own free will, through the tank years. I don't know what the draw was, maybe the chance to get in on the ground floor. Perhaps he wanted to take our bond to the next level. I really enjoy watching games together, even if His attention span is limited. He has taken his game up a notch this year as well, making the local travel team. He chose number 15, which I thought was cool. He is the same age I was when the French Connection captured me and I hope he remains a fan for the rest of his life. The game has changed and like a lot of things in life we get nostalgic. I don't want to be a grumpy old man, so I roll with the times and try and enjoy all of the hockey I can take in.

Kane trying to set up Sam for the trick.

Preds announcers talking about bad puck luck. Tell us about it.

This Paul Reinhart's nickname. Sam may have inherited it. I like just plain Sam. ROR plays like a Rhino, owns the puck and gets it back. Ferocious puck pursuit but with a Lady Byng worthy game.

OV interview on HNIC, got his tuque on inside out.

Time for ROR, Kane and Reinhart to bust out.

Butt goal by Ward.

We're ahead but possession wasn't great. Score is what matters in the end though. We've been beat despite good play too much lately. Just win.

That 3rd line has good size.

Hit the net Marcus.

No wrecking, it's my woodlot. Just get a birch and an ash with the ATV and pile it at home. Nothing like wood heat on a cold winter night.

Wow, all quiet on the board. Must be Thanksgiving in the U.S. Enjoy the day!

Hey Modo, thanks for the updates, insight and enthusiasm. Day off tomorrow so I'm heading into the bush with my Husqvarna chainsaw, Wetterlings axe and Morakniv to cut some firewood. Swedish influence is more than just hockey.

I'll definitely catch this movie. My daughter is my usual sidekick, she loves Marvel. I had many comic books from the early 70's and the Avengers were my favourites followed by the X-Men. Loved the teams more than the individuals.