According to "sources", they won't (TSN person put that on twitter yesterday)
- stashu

Sure................. and i'm all of a sudden smart.

Stevie Johnson is overrated. He's a good player, but nowhere near a great one like he proclaims himself to be. I didn't even notice he was gone this year.
- buffalofan19

I've never over-rated him, honestly. The fact he had 3 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons on a bad team with a crap QB says a lot though. You know who is over-rated? Andre Reed.

I did notice he was gone this year. Not only that but he is one of the most unique route-runners I have ever seen, if not one of the best. He dropped quite a few passes, fumbled at bad times and was never very fast but he played with a groin injury, through a groin injury for the better part of 3 seasons with Fitzpatrick as his QB and still put up 1k for 3 years in a row. 83 never did it 2 years in a row and if you go back and look at his numbers with a HoF QB, they really aren't impressive, let alone HoF worthy. And honestly, Jim Kelly's stats aren't that great either.

You put SJ13 on this past years Bills team and I'd argue we make the playoffs. He was sorely missed on a struggling offense and going forward was a great compliment to a young and solid receiving corps.

According to "sources", they won't (TSN person put that on twitter yesterday)
- stashu

Had to be Dreger. He's the only that can hear every bowel movement Nonis has.

Had to be Dreger. He's the only that can hear every bowel movement Nonis has.
- TheSabresTaco

I forget, honestly, but I think that's right. I posted it yesterday

I forget, honestly, but I think that's right. I posted it yesterday
- stashu

Yeah I saw a few media tweets out of CAN saying that as well. Imagine them supporting Richards AND Clarkson. Now that. Would be hilarious.

I understand that professional athletes in the major sports get paid a lot of money to do what they do because most people in the world can't do what they do. They're the best and they get paid like the best, as in every white collar profession. If for your job, your company signed a contract with you, and your union at your back, to work for 5 years and get paid 50k a year and you sign it, with a provision in there that says you simply can't get fired, only fined and suspended, you sign it because you like the company for whatever reason. 3 years down the road, you show lack of interest or you become slower at your job and not as productive. Boss man calls you in, says what's going on, you speak your mind. At the end of the conversation, like Ehrhoff's case, you both seem like you're willing to part ways. That contract says the company must pay you for all 5 years or just buy you out. You, as the worker, must work while under contract or be suspended without pay. Boss says I'd rather pay you 15k for the next 3 years to not work here. You come to an agreement and you're gone.

Not that you needed to know how a buyout works, just putting in perspective for a blue collar worker in this unrealistic situation.
- TheSabresTaco

Um. No. Especially in Hockey, which is a predominantly middle-class occupied sport.

I'll give you American Football and Basketball, maybe, but on second thought, absolutely not. I don't give a crap how great they are at what they do.

You put nothing into perspective for this "blue collar worker". The system of this country, let alone this world is an absolute joke and these people shouldn't be making the money they make just because they can run and jump good. What I do is flat out more important than what they do and it isn't even close, and I don't think what I do is important at all.

Um. No. Especially in Hockey, which is a predominantly middle-class occupied sport.

I'll give you American Football and Basketball, maybe, but on second thought, absolutely not. I don't give a crap how great they are at what they do.

You put nothing into perspective for this "blue collar worker". The system of this country, let alone this world is an absolute joke and these people shouldn't be making the money they make just because they can run and jump good. What I do is flat out more important than what they do and it isn't even close, and I don't think what I do is important at all.
- DynamicThreads

This really isn't the type of discussion I was hoping to have with you. Just trying to put it in perspective. No one said anything about importance. Factory workers are simply more common than professional athletes. That's all. Not saying it's right. Just saying that's the way it is.

Um. No. Especially in Hockey, which is a predominantly middle-class occupied sport.

I'll give you American Football and Basketball, maybe, but on second thought, absolutely not. I don't give a crap how great they are at what they do.

You put nothing into perspective for this "blue collar worker". The system of this country, let alone this world is an absolute joke and these people shouldn't be making the money they make just because they can run and jump good. What I do is flat out more important than what they do and it isn't even close, and I don't think what I do is important at all.
- DynamicThreads

Welcome to capitalism.

This really isn't the type of discussion I was hoping to have with you. Just trying to put it in perspective. No one said anything about importance. Factory workers are simply more common than professional athletes. That's all. Not saying it's right. Just saying that's the way it is.
- TheSabresTaco

That's fine, me neither, but honestly, I'd say athletes are more common than factory workers this day in age. At least you explain yourself, which is more than I can say for most.

Sure................. and i'm all of a sudden smart.
- SABRES 89

No one would ever say that!

That's fine, me neither, but honestly, I'd say athletes are more common than factory workers this day in age. At least you explain yourself, which is more than I can say for most.
- DynamicThreads

He said professional athletes. There are "only" about 2,000 professional hockey players between the NHL and AHL (that estimate is likely high even).

These people make perhaps a majority of their money being supported by the middle class people in this country, so we're to blame for it.

Welcome to capitalism.
- stashu

'Tis a wonderful thing is it not?


Austin: Russian intelligence are you mad?

Basil: Austin a lot has changed since you've been frozen. The cold war is over. Russia are our allies.

Austin: Finally those capitalist pigs'll pay for their crimes, eh? Eh, comrades?

Basil: Austin...we won.

Austin: Oh, groovy, yay capitalism!

'Tis a wonderful thing is it not?


Austin: Russian intelligence are you mad?

Basil: Austin a lot has changed since you've been frozen. The cold war is over. Russia are our allies.

Austin: Finally those capitalist pigs'll pay for their crimes, eh? Eh, comrades?

Basil: Austin...we won.

Austin: Oh, groovy, yay capitalism!
- DynamicThreads

Just watched that recently, it's been a LONG time

He said professional athletes. There are "only" about 2,000 professional hockey players between the NHL and AHL (that estimate is likely high even).

These people make perhaps a majority of their money being supported by the middle class people in this country, so we're to blame for it.
- stashu

Whoops.

But I'm saying, most professional hockey players, if not all, are middle-class at the very least. Compared to other sports, it is absurdly expensive to play, both league fees and equipment.

Thursday's game is the biggest game for the franchise since...... ? Philly playoff series?

Thursday's game is the biggest game for the franchise since...... ? Philly playoff series?
- Slump Buster

We should put Ennis in net for that game.

He said professional athletes. There are "only" about 2,000 professional hockey players between the NHL and AHL (that estimate is likely high even).

These people make perhaps a majority of their money being supported by the middle class people in this country, so we're to blame for it.
- stashu

And even in the AHL, where the NHL's prospects, has been's and never will's play, they can't make more than $70,000 a year unless they've been around for a long time. With agent costs, taxes and union fees, they lose roughly 35-40% of that. Same with the NHL. The best athletes in the world obviously make the most money, but even a guy like Kaleta or McCormick, still playing in the NHL, bring home maybe 2-300k. Yes, a lot of money no doubt, but again they're deemed worthy of being in the best hockey league in the world and still make the kind of money a large business owner or surgeon might make.


Sean Avery wrote a pretty cool article a week or two ago putting into perspective what a cusp NHLer actually brings home. http://www.theplayerstrib...e.com/the-new-avery-rule/

Just watched that recently, it's been a LONG time
- stashu

I know people always say "Ive seen that movie a hundred times!"

But I have honestly watched it start to finish close to 400 times, at least. I literally watched it just about every day for an entire year. I got the VHS for my birthday when I was like 13/14 and watched it pretty much non-stop. I'm surprised the thing still worked after the first year.

I am going to take a neutral stance on the whole Richards do we claim him or not issue.

I see the pros and the cons of doing it.

He is a 3 time Stanley Cup finalist (2 time winner)
He is a really good defensive center.
He is only 29 years old as opposed to our captain who is 36!


Cons

His contract length
His decline in production (some of which is due to him some of which is due to his role on the Kings)

I wouldn't be upset if they claimed him, he isn't going to change the course of this season and McEichel would still be ours. It would give us a good blend of youth and vets in the top 6 next year.

If they pass on him I wouldn't be upset either. His production is down his contract pays him until he is 34.

Play him next year with Moulson and Reinhart (wing) on a 2nd line (with McEichel centering Ennis and Girgensons) and I would be his production increases. I would rather have Richards than Hodgson. But like I said I won't lose sleep over it either way.

We should put HODGSON in net for that game.
- cabin

More of a "who gives a poop" attitude.

More of a "who gives a poop" attitude.
- Der Kaiser

Figured put our "Goal scorer" back there.

We should put Ennis in net for that game.
- cabin

Our luck and the little bugger would play out of his mind and get a shutout!

I am going to take a neutral stance on the whole Richards do we claim him or not issue.

I see the pros and the cons of doing it.

If they pass on him I wouldn't be upset either. His production is down his contract pays him until he is 34.
- Stripes77

Yet the same team we root for just signed a 31 year old for 5 years.

I wouldn't mind if the Sabres picked up Richards. I also would mind if one of the other teams near the basement did.

We should put Ennis in net for that game.
- cabin

Is Hackett in net? If so he needs to come up large. Maybe the Pommer trade will help us in ways that we never thought about. Ugh... I am so ready for the draft.