Posted Monday August 22, 2011, About: Pegula pointing Sabres at the Cup

The Sabres are primed to be the biggest disappointment of the season, in my opinion.

Regehr will make the d tougher and more responsible, and Ehrhoff will help too, but Brad Boyes and Ville Leino are not team changing forwards, they are supporting cast.

They'll be a better team I'm sure, but there shouldn't be any Cup aspirations in Buffalo, lest their fans be accused of Leaf-itis. The big ups improved the team but didn't make them true contenders.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: Sabres ready to make a deal

Too bad...and thanks for the info.

I figured he'd be the perfect veteran to add to a contender. If I were Vancouver, for instance, I woulda given the clutch winner Drury a try-out before Owen Nolan's losing ace. The Wings coulda signed him to fill the role they hoped Modano woulda filled. Colorado just to close the loop and he could mentor the kids. NYI just to meet the Salary Cap. etc.

Figured it MUSTA been his decision/injury based - teams woulda taken a flyer on him, I'm sure. Even as hurt as he's been the last few years, he didn't deserve the Guerin treatment.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: Sabres ready to make a deal

Never figured it'd be about money, I just figured he'd be the kind to want to come back and prove himself before bowing out. Nothing wrong with stepping away to protect yourself, I just didn't know if there was a story behind the story, and if he had retired on his terms or if the league retired him.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: Ovechkin taking to many practices off?

Affect and effect?

I know people who STILL battle with that distinction.

Ensure/Insure? One feeds you the other feeds ON you.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: JR becoming the next Don Cherry

True, but the show would only get more and more interesting the later it got. A pinned, belligerent Quinny mouthing off at Ron Maclean for one of his quips would be a welcome homage to the man he'd be replacing, ha.

Any better ideas? Or is Coach's Corner gonna get buried along with Donald S.? I just hope he doesn't get replaced by anyone on CBC's current roster because they are all terrible.

Maybe have roving hosts? Back to my original "Player's Pit" but have different guys host it from week to week along with Ron? It would lack consistency but give another marketing angle...

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: JR becoming the next Don Cherry

Thank you much.

I've stayed away from commenting on Ryp's passing because of that, to be honest. For the longest time, I felt like many do here: its the easy/cowardly way out. But after this guy in particular did it, my entire outlook changed. Not that I think its ever ok or the answer, but because he was the guy we'd have all chosen as the least likely to do it. Without ever knowing his reasons, I have to look at it and know that something made the guy we all thought was the happiest guy in our crew put an end to things. I certainly don't agree with the act, but I guess I'm more understanding of something I used to see as black and white before.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: Sabres ready to make a deal

So what's the story?

I know he's been hurt, but thought he could still play...figured he's get on for someone for $1mill or so. Obviously I was wrong.

So what is it? Crippled for life, persona non grata, or retiring on his before his body breaks down worse?

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: Ovechkin taking to many practices off?

No chance more than the 1% benefit of doubt we have to give everything but our chances of dying.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: Ovechkin taking to many practices off?

Speaking of, I guess Avery go off on his charges eh.

Apparently, he slammed his door in the face of the cop who charged him. Sounds like the cop then trumped up the incident when filing the charges. As soon as Avery hired a lawyer and his house guests from the night were interviewed, the police mysteriously suggested "not pursuing the charges". Yet another case of a cop thinking they exist on another plain from us normal, civilian folk. Ridiculous. Avery gets the bum rap, and the power tripping cop moves on like nothing happened. I LOVE seeing the investigations and aftermath going on with the Ottawa police force these days. Just awesome - I've been victimized by that department of trash. Enough is enough.

Sorry, but police breaking laws or tripping on their perception of the power they hold strikes an angry chord with me every time (as many of you may remember over the Mtl police investigation/joke into Chara).

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: JR becoming the next Don Cherry

While I feel the same way...our way of thinking likely contributes to the situation. If - as they say - suicidal people tend to feel they are facing their problems alone, then people not understanding how/why an individual feels the situation is that bad would only add to their frustrations and concerns. Pick the wrong guy to talk to about it, and he comes back and says, "So what's the big deal then? Quit whining and deal with it" and that feeling of alone-ness would only be strengthened.

A hanging is sad, but it certainly explains why it was immediately deemed unsuspicious. As awful as it sounds, I hope he at least left an explanatory note for his family/friends. A close buddy ended his show a few years back without any explanation, and we (especially his immediate family) are still trying to figure out why. At least a note would've given us an idea of what was going through his mind at the end.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: JR becoming the next Don Cherry

they'd have to change it from Coach's Corner to the Player's Pit (stolen from Piper's Pit in WWF, that's right) but he would be good, if the CBC would give that spot to an American.

Not sure of many coaches who could ably step into that seat otherwise though. Gotta have SOME personality to go along with a respectable resume. Jacques Demers would be ok if not "committed to his seat on senate" (what does that MEAN in Canada anyway? He insists on 10 months' holidays? but I digress).

The best player to me would be Barnaby. He's done a nice job on TSN, has proven he'll say anything about anyone, and he's Cdn, so no complaints about Canadian content. The best possible guy would be Pat Quinn, but I doubt they'd let him drink scotch and smoke while hosting, haha.

Posted Friday August 19, 2011, About: JR becoming the next Don Cherry

A peaceful hockey watching experience.

Posted Thursday August 18, 2011, About: Koules: Partner went bananas

I agree with your feelings, but it can hardly apply to expansion franchises that don't have the history with their fans that has been built up in Cdn cities and others like Philly. The 'bolts aren't exactly part of the fabric of the city of TB the way the Flyers or Wings are in Philly and Det. They've gotta earn it, and the only way is to go on an extended spree of eliteness in the league. Even the Flyers needed the BSB to really hit it off with the city. The Isles were the toast of NY for 6-7 years there.

I've got all the respect in the world for fans that stick with their teams through thick & thin, but can hardly blame a guy who's team has only been around a decade for jumping ship if the organization turns pathetic. You've gotta build up the fanbase before expecting them to show loyalty. And Florida sounds fickle. I hear Heat fans would only be at the games for the middle 2 quarters just so they could say they were there.

Posted Thursday August 18, 2011, About: Doubting Thomas? Luongo would take mulligan

But Thomas never pumped HIS tires...

Posted Thursday August 18, 2011, About: Doughty now a holdout candidate

Ha, you haven't heard him talk, have you? He doesn't seem to be the sharpest skate in the bag, haha.

Posted Thursday August 18, 2011, About: Bradley blasts Semin: 'Just doesn't care'

Sure, he'd just have to wait 20 minutes to a half hour first.

Posted Thursday August 18, 2011, About: Koules: Partner went bananas

Here's a "provocative" idea: put a winning team on the ice. See how it worked for you predecessor?

Posted Thursday August 18, 2011, About: Doughty now a holdout candidate

The Wings should just step in with a trade offer right now and get it all over with. I don't care what principles would go back to LA, make it happen!

And working out in London? Is that what the kids call it these days? Word is he's living it up there, haha. The Wings would get him in shape, but don't be surprised if the Kings watch him pull a groin whenever he DOES return.

Posted Thursday August 18, 2011, About: Bradley blasts Semin: 'Just doesn't care'

Semin was terrible, but its not like Backstrom was much better. The guy put up 105pts a season ago and last year tarnished his sheets as a follow up. Not sure why he's getting a free pass on this - Semin is in another contract year, Backstrom got another of those contracts for life. Who's the biggest concern for the Caps, really?

Posted Wednesday August 17, 2011, About: Alfredsson last more than an hour in skate

Gotta figure he's safe for 2 more seasons with that extension, as silly as that may sound.

But there's no controversy about his coaching choice this time, so if it doesn't work out, it SHOULD fall on Murray's shoulders. And his coach-killing players' for that matter.

Watching some hockey show last night, saying we can expect the Sens to sell Gonchar, Spezza, Kuba and Phillips by the deadline if things go as we all expect in terms of Sens wins. But if the team keeps being brutal, it will be the diract fault of the guys I just listed. Who would want to pick up their contracts if they are known coach killers/losers/chumps? No way I pay Spezza $7mill+ a year to be a 2nd line centre. Maybe Minn will trade for him to reunite with Heatley, but who do you get back? Mind you, by then, the Sens may need a goalie again, ha.

Posted Wednesday August 17, 2011, About: Wilson's fate in Reimer's hands

I said it before, I'll say it again. This is not only alot of pressure to put on a rookie goalie, but its a rookie goalie who came out of nowhere.

I mean, Rask, Price, Luongo, etc all had impressive junior resumes and were highly touted/scouted when they came into the N. Reimer was basically just trying out to hopefully make the Marlies last year and now he's a franchise savior? Yeesh.

Don't get me wrong, there ARE steals out there along the Tim Thomas vein, but Canadian goalies tend to not slip between too many cracks. There's a reason his expectations were what they were. Best of luck to him, but I would have little to no faith in this goalie tandem were I a Leaf fan. One's never played and was never considered overly good till the All-Star game a yr ago, the other's heart won't let him play more than 10 games a month. Yeesh.