That Aud Smell

Of this we can be assured. Incredible person.

Farewell to a cheerful, overpaid, occasionally entertaining, fundamentally flawed (and therefore problematic) hockey player.

I remember watching the Oilers in the conference finals and realizing: McDavid can’t shoot. There’s something wrong with him. It also seemed like his backhand shot was still available to him. But anything on his forehand was limited. The fact that they were both seriously injured makes a world of sense. Draisaitl’s struggles were less obvious to my eye — although his inability to connect on one-timers in Game 7 was clear.

Thanks for the pin @nfreeman!

Ha - appreciate that. In point of fact, I caught the most fleeting, inconsequential feeling of "yeah, that's good" from Okposo lifting the Cup. Mostly, I don't care. And certainly didn't care. I'm actually not even into the activities I described and defended. I just know lotsa people are. Christ - what do baseball journalists even do if not spill ink and crush keystrokes as they build mythologies out of the sport? But, yes. The shared experience. The coming together. That is everything.

Man, now we're talkin'. TAKE ME TO CHURCH.

Man, it is a little sad! To me. At least how I took it. Many fans enjoy investing all sorts of fictions and narratives into their beloved sports figures. Imbuing them with virtues sometimes. Making them symbols of something larger than what a single person could ever be. And so on. I took you to suggest above that sports fandom is far more transactional than that. We pay. They entertain. It's much more than that, innit?

This is sorta gross. And more than a little sad. Where's the romance? Where's the development of mythology? THOSE ARE OUR BOYS OUT THERE.

I'm pretty sure that we do an in-season thread (that gets pinned), but then also have an offseason thread until the new season begins. So I started one. I'm not sure what will belong here, since most of the chatter right now should land in threads dedicated to trade rumours, re-signings, actual trades, other transactions, the draft, etc. But there's gonna be more generic "around the NHL" content. And here's where it belongs. Perhaps Gary Bettman will get foot surgery for his bunions this summer. This thread would be an appropriate place for a conversation on that subject.

Y'all are easy pickens. I can do this all day!

I see your disagreement @Thorny. True or false: Eichel has a Cup whilst Perreault does not. Let’s be real when talking about 1st overall picks for the Sabres.

Has the statute on that crime run? If the Erie County DA had any onions, they'd indict Lindy now for that crime. Or maybe they are deferring to the U.N. for a crime against humanity charge.

Eichel has won a Cup. So, he's obviously a better first overall selection than Perreault. Dang it! Was I scrolling on my phone? I missed it if they took a timeout before the last minute.

You're speaking in circles. And elsewhere posting some bitter tea about Okposo!

I've seen that on Twitter, I think? Or here? Adams is a kid in a trench coat standing on another kid's shoulders. Daddy, chill. Will Lindy care about such matters? Probably not. Could he, though? As part of some of "strip it all down, back to basics" type approach? Maybe.

That's an interesting point. That said, Regier came to the Sabres eminently qualified. Adams? I just don't take the guy seriously as a GM.

That is all very fair and considered. And probably mostly true. This is purely a vibe check. It just seems like Lindy is the guy in charge -- even if he's playing nice with Opie from the Andy Griffith Show.

Agree to disagree on this one. Me? I'm #TeamSamuelReinnhardt Besides. How many Cups has Perreault won? Also, I'm pretty sure that Perreault was the 11th overall pick -- that's why he wore the number throughout his career.

Samuel Reinnhardt was kind enough to take a picture with my youngest when we bumped into him at the Fuddruckers on Maple Road. I know of whom I speak. Best 1st overall pick the Sabres ever had.

You elsewhere chided @LGR4GM for calling some posters here bitter about Okposo's winning a Cup. Bro. This is some bitter stuff.

Interesting question. Lindy is the alpha in the organ-eye-zation now. It's his club. I can see him squashing that sort of thing.

Some would say Eichel is the team's best ever first overall pick. I disagree with that proposition, however.

Samuel Reinnhardt - the Sabres' best first overall pick in franchise history.