AJgoal

Guess I'm in the minority, but I don't think the team can assign someone else the "C" at this stage. Pronger hasn't retired, and you don't take the captaincy away from a guy due to injury, it sends the wrong message. What if Pronger comes out of this perfectly fine at the start of next year (I realize it's a long shot, but not outside the realm of possibility)? Do you give it back to him, thereby stripping your newly anointed captain of the "C"?

On the other hand, if Pronger were to voluntarily give it up, stand in front of the team and say, "Thank you for letting me be captain, but you need a leader on the ice," then you can assign a new captain, and then I think it goes to Kimmo. I think he's really been quietly leading the team all season, has a great presence on the ice, and is a natural choice.

The problem with grading concussions is that the brain is such a complex thing that we don't really understand at all - all the research and knowledge we have barely scratch the surface. And everyone who has had one reacts differently to it. As a counterpoint to Aziz's story:

My vehicle was caught in an explosion and I banged my head on an instrument panel (from about 3-4 inches away, with a helmet on). I ended up with what might have been called a "mild" concussion back then (way back in 2004) - few headaches, nothing major (it seemed). A couple years later, I took a stick across the bridge of my nose which resulted in a minor break and likely another "mild" concussion. To this day I still have memory issues to the point where I lose what I was talking about mid-sentence at times. Neither of these incidents caused me to lose consciousness, neither was particularly violent (the stick shot just happened to catch me just right). But here I am, 6 years later, still suffering from some signs of PCS.

All I'm trying to illustrate here is that it's just so hard to know anything about what's going on in the brain, which may be why they're getting away from claassifying concussions based on symptoms. Since every trauma is different, there's no way to be sure how the brain will react in any particular case. At least with increased understanding, we're seeing increased caution after the fact. Hopefully we'll see better head protection and less plastic armor on players.

While I hate to see Giroux hurt, how nice is it to be "arguing" whether Read or Couturier is the better fit on the top line on the merits of the two players, not based on their failings? I think either would be fine up on the top line.

I'm also fine with keeping Briere where he is. In a situation like this, I'd rather juggle the first and 3rd or 4th line, than the first and 2nd, if you can get away with it talent wise.

four, have the cap hit for a given player's salary simply be that season's salary, rather than the average yearly. you can make the deal as long as you want, with as much variable payment as you like, but each year's hit will be that year's actual payout. no motivation for 12 year deals, unless you actually want the player for 12 years.

I'd do it like the NFL - that year's salary plus a pro-rated portion of any signing bonus.

I've played off and on at Skatezone, Igloo, and Grundy. Started playing back in college in the late 90s.

I would like to see Read play with Giroux when Jagr is out. They both have amazing speed and Read looks like a finisher so he would be a good fit with Giroux. I read somewhere that Homer gave him a 3 year one way contract, glad he turned out great so far cause I don't think he can be sent to the minors.

He can. I don't know the specifics on his waiver elligibility, but a one-way contract just means he gets paid the same whether he's on the Flyers or sent down to the minors. Doesn't effect the ability to go to the minors. Walker and Leighton are on one-way contracts as well.

I went to Game 3 of the ECF against Tampa in 2004. Flyers lost the game, and I don't really remember the score, but it was memorable because I had only been back from Iraq for about a week, came home from Colorado, and went to the game that night. Guy next to me bought me a beer, then punched out a Tampa fan who rolled down like 5-6 rows of seats. He got thrown out.

Most memorable for me though wasn't really a game...Went down with a buddy to the Wachovia to watch game 7 against Boston two years ago. Insane atmosphere at the start went to total silence, then started to build back up. Once they tied it, the place stayed loud and when Gagne scored to go ahead the crowd went nuts and didn't stop until well after it was over. Totally amazing experience.

I hated the way it looked, from both ends of the ice. Not sure I want the NHL to do anything about it though... I'd prefer teams find a consistent way to beat it and force Tampa to abandon it - although I admit I don't know what it is. But 23rd in goals against says to me it isn't impossible. The more the NHL legislates, the more open to interpretation the rules will get, and we'll just have more penalties per game than we already do now.

From LeBrun's article on ESPN.ugh:

I had a short chat with Ryan Miller this morning and asked him why he thought the team was inconsistent.

“We’re just not playing our system,” Miller told ESPN.com.

His concern is that this is what happened a year ago, and the Sabres dug themselves an early-season hole.

Head coach Lindy Ruff is showing his impatience now by juggling lines. He’s had a hard time, as you mentioned, getting Leino going. You have to wonder if signing the biggest contract of his career has put too much pressure right now on the Finnish forward. It’s always easier, mentally, to be the guy claimed off waivers with no expectations like he was in Philly. Everything he did was gravy in that context. Now he’s an offseason marquee signing, and that carries a burden. Miller, meanwhile, knows a thing or two about pressure, having been named 2010 Olympic hockey MVP. Sabres fans were on him last night, but let’s be honest: Two of those goals were near-perfect shots.

“Honestly, if you want to break it down, and if you really know hockey, those were two really nice shots,’’ Miller told me. “I’d like to at least get a piece of them, but they were nice shots. What are you going to do? Most days I think you can get a piece of those.’’

Don't feel like breaking this down. "We're not playing our system.." When your dman keeps a forward to the outside and the forward just blows one past you? That's not on a "system."

And Leino is struggling because he has too much pressure? No, he's struggling because he isn't the player they thought and signed him to be.

4 games for a repeat offender doing something obviously dirty? Meh, I guess I can live with it, but a few more wouldn't have hurt.

telling? Not really an antonym for ironic that fits this context. Besides, let's leave semantics on the other board.

Rather ironic that the 1st shift that he is NOT with Shelley, he scored a goal.

Irony: (n) an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.

You're saying it was unexpected he would score when he was separated from Shelley?

Touche. Of course, I think that was more putting the skilled guy on the line with the goon, than vice versa.

FWIW, they showed Shelley as the team was leaving the ice at the end of the period just staring over at the Buffalo players while everyone else went down the chute. Seemed pretty obvious that if he was on the ice, he would have done something.

Of course, nobody puts the goon on the line with your skilled guys anymore.

Yeah. I wonder if Nash has had discussions with Weber's agent and decided that they just would not be able to re-sign him. Although he's still an RFA, so you would think they'd have some leverage.

The Nodl/Talbot/Simmonds line was near invisible last night.

I disagree. Nodl and Talbot, especially, I thought were playing well, forechecking and controlling the puck well, and generating some chances.

He is getting older and injuries are happening more frequently, so it's not a good indication for long career as hockey player.

Not for nothing, but that was not an injury that would be more likely with age. The rest of your post is well taken though, especially the part about how long it will take him to get into shape if he is injured frequently.

so are we able to replay to specific posters? what am i missing

If the above is what you mean, just hit the quote button on the bottom right of the post you're replying to.

Sure, thanks.

Whatever, I found it funnier that way. Besides, who cares. edit: it's switched over now.

I do worry that having the link in a post on the site is dangerous, but if the ignore feature blocks threads started by an individual, I'll get by.

Digi, is there a way to set it so when I click on a thread, it goes to the first new post, instead of the top of the thread each time?

Hey bert, if that was you posting as JMT, you forgot to change your avatar. Made me laugh.

While I would prefer to keep him (Briere is not getting younger), the idea of trading from a position of strength to address the future of the defense isn't without its merits.

I'm not in favor of actively shopping him, but if you get a deal for someone who will seriously improve the defense and Schenn is asked for in return, you have to at least consider it, don't you?

It's got nothing to do with his ability, and everything to do with his marketability.

Looking good. Need to track down my avatar now.