Marvin

Welcome back!

1, 2. Favourite movie: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Best book. Best movie. 3. Favoirite Bond: Big Connery fan here. I liked Dalton a lot too as he was the most like my image of Bond from the Fleming books. (I did read all of them.) 4. Best villain: I like the modern Blofeld the best. Lots of good ones to choose, though. 8. Best song: theme to On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Note how much its music is used in No Time to Die. Aside: I liked how the Garden of Death from the book You Only Live Twice was used in No Time to Die. 9. Best character name: I liked that Random Task is an odd job. 10. Worst Movie: a few in the running. Probably Moonraker. Maybe Tomorrow Never Dies. The 1967 version of Casino Royale is in the running, no matter how good Burt Bacharach's music is.

On Hasek: many people thought Hasek was a scrub. The "thinking" was, as one professional put it as the consensus around the league in _The Hockey News_ after the 1992 Stanley Cup Final over the fawning reaction of fans for his save on Mario: "His 'style' only works in Europe and it might work in the minors. [Something about how lucky he sometimes was.] But his style does not translate to the NHL game."

Maybe Bales is confident he can fix him.

Not I. This is his 3rd draft, but the 1st for his draft team. We need to see some of his players coming up.

I remember that too. I thought far more of Kassian than he was.

I would be very happy if we have the same points percentage after the LVGK home game this year that we had last year.

I thought it might be a linked list cast to the List type.

I think we have to assume that there will be no high-priced mercenaries. Indeed, I would assume he will not overpay for any UFA, no matter how much he might help; the theory would be that anyone you need to overpay does not "want to be here." This is as much a concealed subplot as Daleks representing the Nazis in classic Doctor Who or Klingons and Romulans standing in for the Soviet Union and Communist China respectively in classic Star Trek. No excuses, deceit, or rationalisations are required. This is out there in the open for all to see. Those expecting 5 years, $30M for Husso or 2 years $20M for Malkin are dreaming verging on the delusional.

Then let us hope we put together a roster which a player looks at us as an up-and-coming, soon-to-be contender.

For my peace of mind, here is how I have mentally prepared for the next few off-seasons. Put together anticipated payroll changes for the next few years for players already here. Give Tage at least 7M, Dahlin at least 9M, Power at least 6M, etc. Assume cap increases of $1M per year until it is $90M. Give yourself $2M manoeuvering room each season. Like it or not, do not spend above the lower of the league median and league mean on goaltending. How much cap is left? IMHO, that is the maximum total salary he is giving out for the next few seasons in any given season. He is committed to this group of young players and will not make a move which will force him to trade one due to a cap crunch. There will be no high-priced mercenaries and, IMHO, mediocre goalkeeping.

FYI: I read that Chicago allegedly turned down a high first, another 1st, and a prospect for DeBrincat.

(In honour of the Emily Litella video.) I don't understand why Texas wants to see seed. Are all Texans unable to see seeds if they are too small? Are their bird feeders not working? Maybe they need new eyeglasses...

That is what I thought.

How?

In 1976, several families in my neighbourhood painted Revolutionary War-era cartoons on our garage doors. In 4 years, I hope to paint my garage door with "Happy 250th, USA!" I wonder if Amherst will be OK with it.

Is there an update? I could not find one which is both significantly more recent and significantly different.

It is hard to tell which negative inferences we should make. This is why I think all the information on the Sabres is 2nd and 3rd hand -- all external to the organisation.

Although Power, Quinn, and Peterka will play well, none will be in the argument for the Calder. No more until I see the line-up for training camp.

Are you all saying that all those pundits are wrong to claim that the Avalanche won with a mediocre goaltender? Heaven forbid! Seriously, I don't get it either. But I think GMKA might talk himself into believing it. Hence...

WNED played only Canadian composers on Canada Day and will be playing only American composers on Monday. They are playing a much higher proportion of each country's composers this weekend. Even though BPO Conductor JoAnn Faletta programs way more American composers than virtually any other orchestra on the planet, I have been pleasantly surprised with even more composers whom I have been exposed to.

After an Ullmark-level goalie backstopped a team to the Cup, I think those of us who are clamouring for a clear #1 netminder in the next few seasons are going to be sorely disappointed. I just don't think GMKA will go out of his way to get a long-term, established #1 unless and until one of Pekka-Lukkonen, Subban, Portillo, or Levi breaks out.

This is what I am looking at: trade fodder.

Congratulations on beating @Brawndo.

Every time I think about it, it irks me that Philadelphia, New York, etc. created these contracts to Buffalo's detriment on Black Sunday and almost no one in the NHL press said anything negative, but the second Buffalo did it, suddenly it became a big deal. It is one of many reasons that I ignore the vast swath of the self-righteous hypocrites of North American hockey media.