That Aud Smell

wtf though - seriously.

Yo - let's put some respect on the name of yeast culture too. Bread and beer!

Hear, hear.

I've heard multiple NBA players say that, at the end of the day, playing good defense is almost entirely about effort, commitment, and focus. That's basketball. I wonder if it's essentially the same in pro hockey. that is an 80-point team. (unless they bring in real coaches and somehow get the special teams humming.)

Posts like this make me happy. Thanks for reading my character sketch. And thanks for finding THE perfect screenshot to capture the spirit of the thing. What a performance that was by Macy. Man, chill with that. Also, I think you're mostly missing @Sidc3000's original point on this issue. That's how I read your concern as originally stated. And it squared with my memory of reading about Quinn's account of his achilles injury -- and how I was less than pleased with the implication that he may have been engaged in some super fitness frolic of his own creation (or the creation of one of his buddies from Cobden).

Working out on his own, if memory serves. I also seem to recall him acknowledging that he was probably trying to do too much, or words to that effect. Maybe the question is whether the team properly monitors and prescribes what their players are doing in terms of offseason workouts? It's mean and maybe a little unfair, but fuggit: I cannot stand how stupid he looks, how idiotic he consistently comes off. He's the worst kind of dummy there is, imo. A guy who reads the right self-help books, internalizes all the right buzz words, learns the cadence and speech patterns of people who know what the funk they're doing, concludes that he's smart and an top of sh1t ... but, in practical terms, is a blundering buffoon.

Lol - how's Grier doing?

I need to watch it. And yet ... I need to pick a time where I'm up to the challenge. Oof. Maybe I'll pick a bright sunny day in late May to tune in. The block feature is your friend. My experience here has improved from judicious use of it.

Briere and Drury. Not killing it in NHL front offices, eh?

Maybe? I think there is a uniquely toxic combination of pride and stupidity that underlie and inform everything that Terry does with the Sabres. Well, that and being a cheap-ass mofo. #EEE

Or, in this case, a recipe for getting rid of Adams. I mean ... he's at least got a legitimate resume. "Where's Perreault? ..."

As someone else noted or suggested, the nature of high-level sports management is such that people relocate all the time as they seek to climb the ladder. And I’m a firm believer in the value of in-person working relationships — especially in settings with complex, fluid dynamics as well as the need for constant collaboration, exchanges of information, and group learning. We’re not changing each other’s minds, obviously. All of this could be mooted, of course, if Terry were willing to pay for a legitimate FO.

For sure, since he's not blind.

they're "thought partners." that's the new hip lexicon, anyway.

Haha. Now I wonder -- did Biz understand it correctly from Friedman -- and has Friedman since been asked to clean up the mess? Also, Biz should be more careful. If I were Friedman and I was in fact Biz's "source," I'd be pissed at Biz.

There's obviously a huge debate ongoing about this. And I don't mean to try to resolve it here. I am speaking from personal experience -- for myself as an individual, regarding my company's experience generally, and regarding the businesses of many other organizations with which I am connected. In my experience, the management trend is inexorably bent toward getting people together, face to face, as much the labor force will abide. And that sort of thing varies from industry to industry, from profession to profession. Recent example: I was part of a search committee for a C-Suite exec (not the CEO - but a direct report) of a 9-figure annual nonprofit. We had one leading candidate currently residing ~80 miles from headquarters. They asked if they could work remotely for most of the time and be on-site a few times a month or otherwise as needed. We've passed on their candidacy. The current CEO and the other C-levels agree: We need that person here with us. Associate GM!

Also bears mentioning: Karmanos is Associate GM. He's above Jakubowski and Forton.

I haven't listened - may not. Can you further explain what you're saying here? I don't follow. Some variation of: Stupid is as stupid does. We have? I did not. I most certainly frickin' doubt it. Why do you think that? I can only speak to my experience in a variety of private industries - both profit and nonprofit. Having someone in the upper echelon of leadership who is not regularly on-site is an organizational deficit. Full stop. It's all of a piece. And it's symptomatic of some more fundamental rot. When you're at the top of an org chart, you need legitimate thought-partners around you. Who's Adams got in Buffalo? Jakubowski and Forton. Pfffffff. The former has been with the Sabres for 20 years and, I think, is more of a capologist than anything. Forton's hockey resume does not inspire much confidence. He kicked around as an assistant coach in the lower tiers of D-1 hockey for 20 years before falling into a job with the Sabres. And not for nothing: Jakubowski and Forton are both Buffalo/WNY guys. Local guys. Pegula's not hiring the best and brightest. He's casting about in a local bargain bin for the people to lead the franchise. Come to think of it: The same thoughts apply equally to Adams. Dahlin be like: "Oh sh1t. I'm the next Jeff Skinner?"

I understood you, I think. And I think it’s a very bad idea to have the Sabres’ assistant GM living in the Pittsburgh area and (mostly?) working remotely. Lol - suffice to say that Friedman’s sources and Biz’s sources are different kinds of people. Friedman reports what he hears from (often carries water for) FO’s and agents. Biz reports what he hears from players.

The assistant GM working remotely is very much a thing. Working remotely is fine for some jobs. It is definitely not okay for higher level management jobs where collaboration is crucial. I need to watch the clip later.

Posts like this should be made with "invisible ink" or some "click through for explicit content" filters. So upsetting. as cruel (and stupid) children, we used to make fun of Hajt for being "steady" (and, in our eyes, super boring). Now, I'd give just about anything (hockey-related) for the Sabres to find a modern day Bill Hajt. I realize now that, among other things, dude played that quietly heavy game.

Very odd. The bolded above strikes me as the most interesting thing he said. He's admitting there was a meeting. And he's saying he thought he made it clear at that meeting that he wasn't saying he wanted out of here if things don't turn around. Sounds every bit to me like he made some significant demands and probably some vague (thinly-veiled?) threats when he was in that meeting with Adams (and others from the FO). Further, when he goes on to say that it pisses him off to hear the way Biz reported it -- who's Dahlin pissed at there? Biz? Or the Sabres FO person who was in that meeting and who -- directly or indirectly -- leaked this information to Biz? I'm guessing it's more the latter. "That pisses me off. I thought I made myself clear in that meeting."

Bro. Do you know puck? (I know you know puck. So you also know why (that) a single elite d-man can't drag a team to a playoff berth.)