SilverNRed

In the right deal, yes, I'd trade Biron and hope Miller stays healthy the rest of the year. I'm not really looking to trade Biron, though (i.e. I'm not going out of my way to do it this far along in the year). I should mention that I think Darcy Regier is a great GM who finds ways to improve the team that no one sees coming. There's little point in speculated on what the team could or would do. I have faith in Regier; the man knows what he's doing. I just want the team to take another step forward before the playoffs start. I guess I would be surprised if they didn't do something.

Not sure who we get because I'm not sure who's available and what teams want for those players. The two players we could test the market with that I am willing to deal for someone significant are Hecht and Kotalik. I think teams would trade a grinder for one of them and that could help the team.

Yeah, and we have less of a good mix than we used to.

No one cares what Pat Buchannan has to say. Ever. BTW, PastaJoe, they're coming to get you. You weren't imagining those black helicopters flying about your house. And nothing is as it seems.

You are the first person I've ever seen who thought Miro Satan used to rise to the occasion at playoff time. I'm not concerned that the Sabres don't bring a physical game every night. I'm concerned that they don't even have the guys to be physical like they used to. This really has nothing to do with my issues with the team right now. Not by me. Every team says that! Ottawa had a "chip on their shoulder" last year because they were sick of everyone saying they always choked. Who cares? The Sabres did offer Mike Grier the same contract as the Sharks but he choose to leave. I don't know why but apparently he didn't like living here. The bottom line is that they understood how important he was to the team. They really couldn't keep McKee or Dumont at those prices, but there was (and is) the opportunity to maintain a tough team through trades. Like I said before, other teams will want our players. The Sabres signed Connolly to his contract long before the season started and I think it was factored in then. I don't think they'd be over the cap if he were to come back but I could be wrong. I don't know who is available or what other teams would want. The NHL trading deadline is still over two months away. I would be more than happy to deal Hecht or Kotalik for help though. The team has had toughness questions since last summer, when it looked like both Grier and McKee were on their way out of town. It was definitely a topic of conversation in town. No they don't! That's my point. They used to have all the ingredients but now they aren't a physical team in any way and their powerplay is below average. That definitely doesn't mean they can't win, but it looks like it's going to be harder. The Ducks wouldn't. But it doesn't matter, because I'm comparing this year's team to last year's, not to other NHL teams.

Welcome aboard, Jimmy.

The winning percentage for most teams tends to decrease in the playoffs. They're winning because they're probably the most talented team in the NHL and that's going to win you a ton of games in the regular season. But, like I said, the playoffs are a whole different thing. You're playing every other night against great teams for two months. It's a war of attrition, and I think it's a lot harder to win if you can't wear the other team down as much as they're wearing you down. Enough about the 20 hours thing; I really don't care. My point is that this year's team seems less built for the playoffs (as of right now) than last year's team did and that's an opinion I've formed after watching basically every game this season. I think they've taken a small step back. I like the team we went into the playoffs with last year better than the one we have right now. The Sabres need to acquire 1-2 gritty players to add a physical element to the team again (which they're in a great position to do since so many teams covet their players) and hope Tim Connolly makes it back. Basically the powerplay sucks because they don't have Connolly around to run the thing anymore. And what that means is other teams don't think twice about hitting our players. Who cares about taking a penalty against the team with the 19th best PP in the NHL?

Because Lord knows no.1 seeds always win the Cup. The Sabres are just plain soft. Any team that wants to dominate them physically can do so. When we had Connolly last year, the team was so explosive that they made teams pay for it (with PP goals) when they took liberties with our players. Now the Sabres get beat up constantly and look afraid to go to the net at times. And playoff hockey is a whole different animal. It's half endurance test and half fight for survival. Last year I was convinced they'd win the Cup and now I'm a lot more skeptical. Even with the extra wins, this year's team has a worse PP and less toughness. It seems like a less balanced team.

The Sabres had a 5 on 3 tonight too, and it was completely terrible. Even with the two PP goals tonight, the Sabres PP has been awful since Connolly was hurt. It's not a coincidence. Oh, and for the 50th consecutive game, the Sabres were physically dominated all up and down the ice. Are they really supposed to be able to survive five more months of abuse and win the Cup?

He's 100% right about the area around the arena. It bugs me every single time I'm down there. Ten years ago we built this beautiful new arena and, ten years later, it's surrounded by parking lots and empty, burned out buildings. I know our city is being run by a bunch of total retards but I can't believe it never occured to anyone to actually develop that area. I guarantee if they built some apartment towers with stores and restaurants on the street level, it'd make a huge difference. The apartments would go fast because you'd always be within walking distance of the baseball park and the HSBC arena. The inner harbor development sketches (the ones with Bass Pro that we're moving ahead with without Bass Pro) showed some new buildings around the arena so maybe one of our local leaders stopped stealing from the taxpayers long enough to grow a brain, but I'll be skeptical until it actually happens.

This is definitely the guy. And I base that entirely on the fact that his name is going to look friggin' awesome on the back of a jersey.

Welcome aboard. And good luck.

He was definitely one of the big reasons I ever got as into this board as I am. There were times I'd make sure to check the board just one more time before I left the office just to see if Paul wrote anything funny.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Nutjobs.

Damn typos.

A Tigger playing golf? Yeah, that'll be the day.....

Unemployment is at 4.5%, actually lower than it was when we apparently lived in a Utopia (you know, when Clinton was president). What's the problem again? Oh, that's right, you just wanted to start your daily "I have Bush" thread.

No you don't. Yes, you are the Riddler and, yes, it's difficult to figure out what we're supposed to get from some of your posts but, no, you've never come within 20 miles of the wasteland that is Jim Lampley's thoughts. In the few political articles he wrote (all of which were instant classics) he: -tied the Bush Twins' integrity to Hurricane Katrina. -claimed that the U.S. had actually suffered 9,000 deaths in Iraq (as of the middle of last year) but that the military was covering it up. He had to retract this one because he said his source turned out to be wrong, but more likely someone told him prisonplanet.com should never be a "source." -claimed to have proof the 2004 election was stolen. His proof? Some Vegas bookies he knows got it wrong. He's still harping on this one. Oh, and he wrote all this stuff in an angry "I'm not going to take it anymore" tone. The guy writes like he's in the middle of a nervous breakdown and/or that he's about to take a power drill to his head to get out the government robots in his brain. So, no, you aren't like him at all. I don't even think we have anyone on this message board like him, and quite frankly that's incredible. Yes. You saw the word "leftist," freaked out, and assumed I meant all liberals. I meant what I wrote, which is "leftist conspiracy nut." And when you're a leftist conspiracy nut who is angry at the world and all the dark forces plotting against you (and proclaim this proudly on the internet), then I expect you to have some problems in real life. And I wouldn't be surprised if you're guilty of something you were just arrested for.

Protein is important, I guess.

I saw the video on the news last night. Did anyone else think it looked like "Tigger" lost his balance and ended up swiping the kid's face when he was trying to steady himself? There was a step and fence behind him and he's in a heavy suit, so I could see him hitting his foot against the step and losing his balance. The fact that the kid was barely touched and the parents are pressing a lawsuit makes me skeptical of their version.

Bingo. Retired players are jinx-proof. The TSW banner is like the Madden curse times 1000.

I don't need the Sabres to be the "toughest" team in the league, but they need some toughness. It seems like every team they play throws them all over the ice. I don't need a team of badasses, just some guys who can stand up for themselves. Right now if a Sabres gets roughed up and Gaustad or Mair isn't on the ice, then nothing is going to happen. I don't question their talent, heart, or determination, but they take so much abuse on the ice that it's tough to see them as the last team standing come June. I hope Darcy makes a small trade to bring in a Mike Grier type in the next month or two.

The refs were pretty bad but the Sabres played like a bunch of sissies. Nothing like Sundin bumping Biron behind the net and Biron basically ending up in a shoving match with two Maple Leafs with no help in sight. Eventually Lydman and Campbell showed up and timidly tried to persuade the Leafs to leave their goalie alone. Protect your goalie! Even when the Sabres win I wonder if they have enough toughness to win 16 times in the playoffs.

I know what I wrote. OK, one last time. Read slowly. From what he's written I can tell he's a complete retard and probably a little nuts. THEREFORE, I wouldn't be surprised if he had some other problems WHICH MAY INCLUDE the domestic abuse he's been charged with. He's been arrested for it. I didn't make it up. I just said I wasn't surprised he has other problems. I figured out a while ago the guy is a douche bag. It's the level of douche bag that's in question. Read what I wrote. I wrote exactly what I meant. Read it again if you have to. Read it as many times as you need to. It seems like you're the only one really confused as to what I was saying.