Marvin

More importantly, does JBot know what they say about Vesey?

No, I am saying that if we don't have a line of Elie-Sobotka-Thompson and replace it with competent NHLers, then we make the playoffs. No, they don't scare anyone, but I think if JBot had made those moves before the New Year, they hang on to 8th. I should add that because I believe the problems after the All Star Break are primarily because of JBot's inaction, my expectations this year are for this team to achieve as if they had made the playoffs last year. Therefore, I am treating this year as the playoffs being a given; if that doesn't happen, then JBot should be out.

I am starting to think that if we look at our current base roster of Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart Sheary - Mittlestadt - Olofsson Smith - Rodrigues - Nylander Girgensons - Larsson - Okposo Dahlin - Montour McCabe - Ristolainen Pilut - Nelson Scandella - Bogosian Hutton, Ullmark Then we should look at bringing in good complimentary pieces rather than anything terribly huge. For instance, how much do Donskoi and Ferland move the charts on the wings? Ryan Dzingel at centre? A couple of years of Stralman or Myers?

There is a rumour that Kreider is going out too. Maybe they are attached? If so, what's the cost?

Not until close to the last minute. He appears to be very picky about that. I wonder if he has Darcy's attitude that deals can be called off if someone leaks...

Maybe. Does anyone remember? I am only going by what my 40 year old memory tells me was on the radio.

I remember listening to the game on the radio. RJ said that Al Smith "saluted" the Knoxes. I don't we can go that far... Addendum: Everyone is on fire in this thread! Thanks! It has been a great read and it's not even 2 pages long.

I would replace Thompson with CJ Smith and O'Regan myself. Other than that, I think you have the bare minimum we can expect to see next year. The best part of that line-up: NO SOBotka.

I think we can assume that Thompson is here and that JBot will not listen to RK screaming that TT doesn't belong here by scratching him for games on end. (One place where I give PH credit and JBot discredit.) I also assume that Pilut will be up here instead of Hunwick. I hope there is no way on God's Green Earth that Sobotka is in the line-up. So your line-up turns into: Skinner Eichel Reinhart Sheary Mitts Olofsson Smith Erod Nylander Girgensons Larsson Okposo Wilson, Thompson Dahlin Montour McCabe Ristolainen Scandella Bogosian Pilut Nelson Hutton Ullmark You know what's funny about this line-up? Add a centre and send Thompson down and I think it makes the playoffs. Last year.

Look at it this way: at least they aren't as mercurial as Harold Ballard or as chintzy as Bill Wirtz. So at least they aren't the worst.

I always thought it would be great if a deal involving someone from Chicago was 25 or 6 to 4.

I think that Zegras doesn't make it past Buffalo. Something feels right about him being the pick.

In order to distance myself from the bitterness of the Sabres' season, put away my anger at Botterill's inaction during the season, and avoid going crazy over the Conn Smythe winner, I decided to watch a lot of hockey and kinda-hockey since the day after the SCF: Old Sabres reruns; The International Street and Ball Hockey Federation's 2018 Masters World Championship; The 2019 Federation of International Bandy World Championship; The Fédération Internationale de Hockey World Cup 2018 Final. At least it kept me from chanting, "Ooh! Aah! Sabres on the golf course!"

I wonder how much the uncertainty about the Cap is affecting JBot with Risto. Several of the potential suitors have almost no room to manoeuver and may "force" him to take on an extra cap dump to make the money work out. I am at 98.6 degrees. That is greater than 90, so certainly I am obtuse. (sorry)

Hence the uname, I presume? ? Know what I mean? Nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat?

Thank you very much, Neo. That is exactly what I meant. That was also my point. It has nothing to do with politics. It is just my personal philosophy. I like being challenged and, IMHO, a group as ossified and reactionary as the NHL can learn from the voice of Kim Pegula. I can't believe I am going to quote one of the worst Doctor Who stories of all time, but as "Monarch" says in Part Two of "Four to Doomsday": "We need doubt. It's the greatest intellectual galvanizer."

What? I am not trying to be insulting, condescending, etc. I think that the players and owners need to speak with someone like her more often. As the late Senator Pat Moynahan once said to the late Tim Russert about why the Senator was hiring the guy from Buffalo over the Ivy Leaguers, etc., he said, "What they know, you can learn. What you know, they will never learn." I think she's awesome.

I think she's a great pick. A female minority who was a waitress. Does not get much further than "rich, old white guys." The owners need someone like this and, given some of the crap that players utter every now and then, the players could use it too.

The NHL and the PHWA try very hard not to give awards to goaltenders. Remember how baffling it was that Hasek did not win the Hart year after year?

I just like royal blue better than midnight blue. It looks too much like we are trying to have a black uniform without being the clichéd black uniform. Besides, it also reminds me of the slug uniforms. Considering that I think of said uniform and logo every time I see our President's comb-over, I could do with as little of that reminder as possible.

HFBoards is a great source for this because I don't get it either. One lost season 2 other lockouts Shortly after he came on board, Winnipeg and Quebec moved to the US Even though much of the expansion was planned before he came on board, he presided over growth in the Sun Belt. He is the face of the owners and most fans identify with the players He comes of as if he thinks that he is smarter than most everyone else in interviews He is considered the one person who blocks teams from moving to Canada, Canadian teams winning, etc. Big market teams hate the Cap He is paid to shield the owners from their stupidity and deviousness. Note that most of these are the owners, the NHLPA, etc.

Housley was very highly regarded in NHL circles and was considered a good hire. Having said that, JBott should worry if any Sabres fans know how to make Voodoo Dolls work.

My sister lives in Boston. She said that the elliptical "MH" stickers stand for MassHole.

For those who know what this means...

I am listening on WGR 550.