Lol, you became my fav with your comment on Smith. Not because I agree (I am not qualified to tender an opinion on him one way or the other), but simply cuz you're willing to call it straight up, no apologies or rationalizations. Love it. Wish more people would simply admit to the fact that they love or hate a guy period, rather than try to revert to bashing (the player) based on unsubstantiated rumor and conjecture or trashing (opposing view points) on the basis of one's age or whose mother slept with who ;-)
As I recall, and if I've got your username in memory correctly, you're in the Sabres board too, and in the past there have expressed both favourable and not so favourable views on Hodgson? If I've got that right, then I'll look forward to some banter with you on this board over the season. Just as you hate Smith, I'm partial to Hodgson, though do try to see the whole player, good and bad, and retain at least some measure of balance.
I suspect you're dead on re: the importance of the first 10-ish games. But then I'm speculating that if the opening roster fairs well in that stretch, it'll likely survive a later extended sluggish period before drastic changes are made, whereas if the opening roster flops over the first 10-ish games, drastic changes will quickly follow with guys bounced up from and down into the minors, poss even a snappy trade.
(ps: I was never a fav of Raymond either, so at least we'll always have one point to agree upon ;-))
