That Aud Smell

thanks. the science of the study i was referring to was fascinatingly nuanced on this subject. and it wasn't just mercury they were testing for - there was some other bad stuff that i can't recall (study participants gave periodic blood samples). i just found the paradox compelling: the scientists went into the study fully expecting the data to overwhelmingly advise against people eating certain fish out of certain great lakes and related waterways ... but the science wound up being more mixed than they'd expected. and they followed that science.

Thanks. I don't think those studies are directed to the question that I have, though. My question has the modern trend of year-round, over-use, and specialization in youth sports had an effect on the health of pro athletes during their careers? Are pro athletes healthier now than they were, say, 30 years ago? It's tricky. Because there's a lot to control for. The year-round specialization is presumably bad, but there are lots of other things happening around that behaviour that is probably good for an athlete's health (overall fitness and strength training, nutrition, as examples). It calls to mind a study that a friend of mine worked on: The consumption of fish that have high mercury levels in them. Mercury - very bad for your health! Fish - very good for your health! How's that shake out?

Right. Like, where are the Steve Nashes of the world nowadays? More and more, I believe that youth sports in America have trended toward year-round specialization not for the benefit and advancement of the athletes, but rather for the benefit and support of the industrial complexes that youth sports have created (coaches, administrators, facilities, etc.). Is it more true or more false to say: If your kid is destined to be an elite [insert sport] player, then they would find their way to a top flight professional team without the assistance of the current youth sports industrial complex. Yet again on the other hand, it's also true that the major soccer clubs of England Europe (Man U, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and literally hundreds of others) have "academies" where kids join (after having been invited) and train year-round with their academy team (peers). I think that's been going on for some time (Messi left Argentina for Barcelona at age 13) -- and that's without the influence of the pay-to-play dynamic we see in U.S. youth sports. I've confused myself. Sounded imminent last time I read something on Twitter. Maybe even this weekend?

This is a good site for assessing NHL teams' 23-man rosters. https://puckpedia.com/lineups/buffalo-sabres If my math is mathing, UPL on a conditioning loan to Roch would give the Sabres 23 players on their NHL roster.

Fwiw, this blog seems to imply that, having assigned UPL to Roch for conditioning, the Sabres are already carrying 3 goalies on their roster? https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/understanding-conditioning-stints-toronto-maple-leafs-roster-loopholes-that-arent/ Conditioning Loan The standard form of the loan lasts for 14 consecutive days. The player is sent to the AHL, plays in whatever games he’s assigned and then returns to the NHL at the end. His salary is paid as if he’s in the NHL, and the player counts against the salary cap and the 23-man roster limit. A team has to have the kind of cap situation that allows for enough players as extras to make this possible. The Commissioner has the right to investigate the circumstances of any loan, so teams cannot use the loan to evade waivers or the salary cap. Players must consent to conditioning loans as well.

Sure. My point being: Lyon is and will remain on the team's NHL roster. It's an open question whether he's the team's 1, 1A/1B, or 2. So there's no further need to evaluate him in connection with (making a roster spot for) UPL's return. It's Ellis that may create a roster conundrum if he repeats the performance he had last night. Shenanigans are always possible, I suppose. Anyone know what the league's rules say about this sort of thing?

Others said upthread that conditioning stints have fixed timelines. I don't think there's as much flexibility as you imply. I don't think the Sabres want or need to further evaluate Lyon - he's a known commodity at this point.

We need data and science to get on this. We're far along enough in the modern era of youth sports where pro players bodies may also be worse for wear from a childhood spent focused on one sport, year-round.

ah, phew. i mean i think "phew." i'm more worried about zucker still? can rosen supply some of what will be missing when zucker misses time?

damn. do you have a link?

Who's a solid/scoring winger in Rochester? ... Rosen? oh ya, for sure. wtf, boys. why are you always getting injured.

They're not, no. Yep. Which sucks because if he fractured something, then we're looking at 6-8 weeks.

Will UPL's conditioning stint take that long? Also ... man, I think that's probably what they need to do. Maybe his family can just stick around through the weekend and catch both games. I just learned that the young man's not just from Nova Scotia, he's from Cape Breton. So great.

sorta feels that way, unfortunately. i can't imagine that they'll waive Ellis without knowing that UPL is in good form.

that's good analysis. hockey is in many ways a game of mistakes - and of minimizing your mistakes. the sabres need both dahlin and thompson to round into form - neither are quite there right now.

i stg - if my sweet prince returns to form, i will be as giddy as a school girl. he looked terrific tonight.

Great game. Fun game. The boys were buzzing. The barn was noisy. Ellis showed out in Game 1. Let’s Go, Buffalo!! (And get well, Zucker.)

Decidedly not a kid anymore. I've said it here before: Man, he looks the part. A really handsome guy. The social media team loves him. And I am sure he's a very popular teammate. A beauty, as the hockey players say.

Agreed 100%. What's the expression used in other sports (football, mostly, I think): He's a 'tweener. Not skilled enough to play top-6 in the NHL. Not enough of a psycho to carve out a meaningful role on the 4th line.

I think this has become commonly received wisdom after it became clear that Krebs would not pan out as a top-6 NHL forward. For my part, I don't see it. Or, at least, I don't see much (enough) of it.

Bro - what? I don't gamble (outside of stuff like fantasy football and March Madness brackets) so I must ask: What in fresh hell is this?! It's gambling ... but it's not? These entities are getting access to the league's proprietary data?! I'm probably just naive and uninformed here, but this seems shady as hell.

oh damn - thanks for the heads up. i will adjust my arrival time accordingly.

I want to see them get another WR1. That said, I think this take is somewhat overblown. Joe Brady bears significant responsibility for receivers not getting open. On a week to week basis, there are coordinators in the league who more regularly get guys open even when they don't have much to work with. In some weeks, Joe Brady is among those coordinators! He needs to have better strategies and better game scripts based on who the opponent is. The Atlanta defensive coaches ate his lunch.