That Aud Smell

I've been thinking about what Stanley Cup champion from recent memory compares with this Florida team. They are just incredible. Is it possibly the Bruins in their recent heyday? How many Cups did they win - just one? I'm mostly wondering whether Bergeron is comparable to Barkov, then with Marchand being comparable to ... Marchand, etc.

McDavid with a puck-gazing olé of a back check on Florida’s second goal. idgaf about ratings. i watch what i like. and find people to talk to about it.

have a great trip.

Could have been the Buffalo Brownfield Beach Parties? I caught Buffalo's Mallwalkers a couple times a decade ago or so. They were fun. And loud.

A city with no navel. (I'm borrowing what Brendan Behan once said about L.A.)

Yeah man. There are levels. You’re operating on levels I don’t occupy but can dimly perceive.

when did you start peddling in troll sh1t?

I'll set aside the National Hokey League and NHL Rigged talk before saying: I am so impressed with what Edmonton did in coming back in that game after it appeared that they'd had their doors blown off and were going to lose by 5, 6, or more. More impressive still? The Oilers did what they did in a game where they could not get McDavid away from Barkov. Just incredible. We need 7 games of this!

was that jeff skinner getting worked for that third goal?

fwiw, i would dissent from comparing a desire to keep peterka to an affection for "garbage." but i take the point, i think. nothing is working. nothing has worked. like the man said.

Stockholm Syndrome.

Man ... I dunno. This franchise's recent track record with trading away its malcontented young top-6 forwards is ... not good. Maybe things would be different with JK in the fold?

@Thorny ripping through my posts with multiple negative engagements.

I read a transcript of Cook's press conference today. I appreciate that, so far, he sounds fully committed to playing out his contract. He's a key piece of that offense. I hope that they can get something done that satisfies both sides, but I am prepared for it not to happen.

This is exactly it. Going back and parsing Adams' statements in the Palm Trees and Taxes press conference won't reveal anything definitive about the terms Lindy accepted when he became HC.

Allen's never even made it to a Super Bowl. Also, the sports are so different. It's arguably simpler for a QB to take over and dominate than it is for a single skater to do the same.

The story is not dissimilar for McDavid.

Following the Oilers' OT win to start the series, one of my group chats was going on and on (and on) about what a freakish alien McDavid is on the ice. Eventually, that led to the chat reflecting on how fans of Buffalo sports have their own alien to support and enjoy. That, in turn, led to some half-baked takes on likening McDavid to Allen on some level. For my part, I think McDavid is a notch above Allen in terms of being superior to his peers and being an historic great in his sport. But there's something to it. Both players just do sh1t on the ice/field that seems impossible. And they're both joys to watch. EDIT: And both players have been bumping up against a ceiling that is short of ultimate glory.

Really good takes/insights here.

I can't fathom this perspective. When I watch these games as a neutral hockey fan, I am simply in awe of how the guy plays the game. And, honestly, I can't understand the perspective even coming from a fan of a team playing against the Oilers.

Spent the weekend in Central NY for two Avett Brothers shows at Beak and Skiff. And lemme tell you something. That Beak and Skiff venue is really something. I can't say enough good things about the facilities they've put together. I will look forward to returning for more shows (likely the Avetts in 2027). It involves a weekend-away type plan for people in the 716, but it is well worth the effort. Bonus/value added: We stayed in a cottage in the woods of Cazenovia. The cottage is on the same plot as the owner's home -- so a VRBO/Air BnB, but the good kind (since the owner is present and invested). We also kicked around the Village (of Cazenovia) and found a very nice hike to do on Saturday during the day. I was heretofore unfamiliar with the towns and villages that populate that Fingers Lakes stretch of Route 20. Rolling hills, etc. Just beautiful.

The Colorado Rockies would like a word.

I suck. Sorry. I meant that he hadn't worked for another NHL team's front office. I believe he's still intermittently employed by the NHL -- as a league ambassador, etc.

It seems odd that LaFontaine hasn't sniffed another NHL (EDIT) team job since his abrupt departure from the Sabres in March 2014. I looked at his Wiki to get that date. There, I learned that LaFontaine's tenure with the Islanders' FO was even shorter than it was in Buffalo -- a mere 6 weeks during the summer of 2006.