K-9

I did say thank you and I have moved on. There’s just something about charitable giving and self aggrandizement that I find distasteful. That’s just me, I guess. And like you said, $50k is $50k and that’s nothing to sneeze at so I can’t lose sight of that. Better for a douche to give $50k than not.

Just as a point of clarification, I believe Ducasse is still on the team. I suspect it’s only a matter of time before he’s cut, though.

Good point.

I liked Sammy Morris, but man, that draft was among the worst ever. John Butler, may he RIP, was as good a scout as any in history, too.

Just to be clear "jam" doesn't equate to thuggish. Jam is being hard to play against and tweaking your opponent in the process. Perhaps the best example of that is Ovechkin. Perhaps that's why he and Risto have had such epic battles over the years. Good point about Bogo.

Ouch. That draft was an abomination as it turned out. Lawson is the only one left and the last chance to squeeze something out of that draft. Although, technically, we can hope that the 4th round pick we got from KC for Ragland and traded to Washington to get back into the third round this year to select Knox pans out.

I'd rather Gronk was beaten with a titanium elbow brace instead.

Not sure how my post was a criticism of the Sabres at all. It pointed out how silly of a comparison between the Kane/O'Reilly situations to the Dareus situation really is; on multiple levels. For some reason you like to conflate my criticism of the Sabres with my criticism, or lack thereof (although there's been plenty over the years) of the Bills. I get that your style around here lends itself to extremes in order to stretch to make a point, but this is ridiculous even for you.

As good a summary of the situation as I've read, especially with the apt comparison between Dareus and Hughes. Spot on.

Our friend likes to conflate every other player we let go or lost in free agency with the Dareus situation. Gilmore, Woods, Darby, Glenn, Watkins, et al are gone for different reasons than being an out of shape tub of goo with chronic tardiness issues facing a year long suspension for the next infraction while only giving minimum effort much of the time while indicating he has no interest in buying into a new coach's program. Apologies for the mother of all run on sentences.

I think that would be a nice problem to have. And as long as they get a return that immediately provides the nightly impact for us that Risto will for the team that gets him, I'm not really interested. May not be as much of a dilemma as I thought.

Happy for the hospital and grateful for Gronk's generous donation, but why the publicity? Why the need to make sure we all know about it? I've known countless pro athletes over the years that donate time, money, and other resources to charitable causes routinely and most don't need any public recognition for it. Indeed, most don't want it. Flame me all you want, but there's a hint of manipulation here.

Kane and O'Reilly are crap examples, so I dismiss them out of hand. Both never gave less than 100% on the ice. Ever. Both have been dedicated professionals who pay the price in the off season to keep in shape. Other than Kane who missed one team meeting in Buffalo, both have been consummate professionals with their punctuality. Other than Kane's one game suspension for a cross check, neither have faced league punishment for multiple infractions and neither is one more infraction away from a season long suspension. Kane also benefited from going to a great situation in San Jose with a strong, well established, veteran-led culture. The same simply can't be said about Dareus who had demonstrated a list of character concerns over the years. But that's been pointed out ad infinitum around here. You're just too intractable in your position to accept that. Not only was getting rid of him the right move by a coach trying to establish a new culture early in his tenure, it was necessary for it to have any chance to succeed. Per the bold, this is where I tell you no such thing about a change in their attitude as none was required. Although when Berube was named HC in St Louis when they were in last place in the league on January 1st, he made it a point to talk to O'Reilly about the hang dog act after all the losing. Good for him and good for O'Reilly who took it to heart. O'Reilly was let go for several reasons, his locker cleanout day interview about his "lost love of the game" not being chief among them.

I agree about Risto. Unless it's an absolute haul in return, including a top 6 immediate contributor, I want to keep him. To borrow a Lindyism, Risto has jam in his game and I'm intrigued by what a new coach like Krueger might get out of him.

Great post. I can only imagine there are thousands of stories similar to yours and @GunnerBill's that paint similar pictures. It's pretty simple: when your best players have the worst attitudes, they have to go, otherwise the room gets poisoned and there is no possibility of cohesion. Especially when you're new as a coach and trying to establish a winning culture. And that's precisely why Dareus, even as our best player, had to go. Which is why is can't be considered a bad move. Not sure why that escapes people.

I assume the shark immediately spit it out.

As I suggested to Gugny earlier, if McDermott wanted Dareus gone as early as when he was hired, why did he wait 10 months and suffer Dareus’s antics in the meantime. I’m convinced he thought he’d try turning Dareus around first, given his great talent...when he wanted to display it.

C’mon. This is Risto we’re talking about!?

Intractable is the word that comes to mind.

There is no aggression involved. Marrone and Dareus are so happy to be back in the loving embrace of each other’s arms, they spoon to Peaches and Herb of their own free will.

He is if Dareus decided to make him his b**ch.

Alrighty then! We’ll take Marner!

It’s a start.

Who said it wasn’t allowed? You are free to rant and rave all you want so have at it. Just letting you know it could be much worse. Now it’s cleared up.