That Aud Smell

I won’t deny that. I also think this is consistent with the idea that he’s a freelancer who doesn’t do particularly well playing within a defined system or plan.

If a player with Quinn’s vision and imagination has a ceiling of 25 assists, then the Sabres are doomed. Also, he has a good, heavy NHL shot. But that’s not “the focus” of his game.

wtf?

Eh. "Settlement" isn't quite a fit here. From a denotation standpoint, it's okay. But it's the wrong connotation.

79 points from our 2nd line RW? May it be so! Will Quinn end up with closer to 40 points or 80 points? I'd bet dollars to donuts that he'll end up north of 60 points and therefore closer to 80. This one struck me as the most realistic. My main hopes are two-fold: (1) That he can stay healthy and play 70+ games. (2) That he can continue his ascent as personal lord and saviour of my Sabres fandom. There's no fancy stats that can properly explain or capture why I love watching that guy play. Godspeed, J. Quinn!

It was a bit of a wonky choice. Usually you just see it reported as coming to an agreement. "Settlement" is generally used for litigated cases where adverse parties are engaged in more of a zero sum dispute -- "I owe you nothing!" "You owe me $2M!" I need a refresher on some lore. What's EEE?

"Settlement" necessarily implies that the parties came to a deal before the matter was decided by an arbitrator. If it were the result of an arbitration, it'd have been an award.

i appreciate this. and i like the potential that comes from being a spaz (even though we’re not supposed to use that word anymore). i have no doubt that he works hard at the gig. i wish him well.

I wish I could so easily explain Charles Davis, Trent Green, or Adam Archuleta.

I almost never listen to the radio call. In these modern internet times, it’s fun to have a great PBP caller so that the hometown team’s call can be clipped and laid over the video replay of a big play. Sometimes, the clip is just the audio and video feed of the hometown radio call of a big play. Several teams get this treatment regularly — and it is fun (if memory serves, I’ve seen a good amount of Vikings, Lions, Browns, and Jets). Brown is solid albeit unspectacular. The color commentators from network broadcasts are generally awful. I have no idea what the criteria are for putting them in those positions. I think the network PBP broadcasters are all at least good (and many are better than good).

Windy and unsettled for sure. July’s generally so stable. It’s August that tends to be more changeable.

I think if Ruff can get this group to be top half of the league in Goals For, they probably make the playoffs. Points are predictive of goals. Goals are predictive of wins. And so on.

Bills remove the interim tag and make Chris Brown their permanent PBP guy. Colour me underwhelmed. The team went from having an absolute HOF legend on PBP, to having the inevitably okay guy follow the legend, to installing a guy who’s a solid grilled chicken sandwich when you’re at a very good steak and chops joint. Brown and Dunleavy are pretty comparable, actually.

yeesh. i’ve never once picked up on that. and i was raised on darling’s call.

predictive not determinative.

I think I get that -- the /60 piece of it. But what of p(f) instead of g(f)?

that’s what i figured. i’m trying to understand what that … signifies beyond g/60 or gf/60.

Can you explain p/60, please, @LGR4GM

Like I said, I don't think the roster will line up as neatly as that. I'm starting to wonder if there'll be a role for him. Adams went out and got him because he was a Granato guy. And certainly won't be enough. This is the way. Or at least it better be.

It's a good predictive exercise - that thing you're doing. It's also limited in its utility. And if we're looking at replacing goals from last season, can we also talk about the fact that there are several members of the top-6 (the centres and Tuch) who, I think, must improve their numbers from last season?

When I consider Skinner’s diminished role at the end of last season (out of the top 6) and the complete overhaul of the team’s bottom/middle 6, I don’t view the team as having replaced Skinner on a one for one basis. There’s risk in planning to replace his goals on a committee basis. @LGR4GM was running some numbers upthread (or elsewhere). This is also why I’m still hoping that Adams still has a move for a top-6 forward up his sleeve. If he does, I wonder more and more about Greenway’s role on the team.

Please, no.

McLeod

Did anyone hear his interview? I will try not to put too much stock in it. But he sounded bummed. I can’t blame him, of course. I trust he’ll be a pro about it and get to work. He’ll want to earn his next deal, after all.