Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News did a recent online chat...

Do you get the sense that the team's frustrations are reaching a tipping point this year?

Heika: Yes, definitely. As much as we can keep saying they are close to a playoff spot, the math gets tougher in February. Plus, they have a vicious March schedule and have to make some big decisions at the trade deadline, so there is a lot of pressure on this team, coaches and management included.

Lindy Ruff's contract is up at the end of the season, several players are UFAs at the end of the season, the expansion draft is in the summer. There's a lot going on here.

Everything was easy last year because of the fast start. Everything is hard this year. That makes it so easy to see how much the mental state of the team has changed. They're not in a good place right now.

Do you and all the media finally realize what nonsense Nill spews when he talks about the "overripe" young talent he has mismanaged and/or under-developed at the NHL level?

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