nfreeman

McKee was one of my all-time favorite Sabres. What a terrible mistake by the too-clever-by-half Larry Quinn to decide that McKee wasn't worth what an extension would've cost. That team lost too much heart when McKee and Grier left in the summer of 2006.

What a great story that was. Thanks.

This is obnoxious. Do not communicate like this here.

Well, the 4 seasons ending in 20-21 included 2 seasons below .400, which is the mendoza line that was cited in dudacek's original theory, one at .463 and one at .493. That is a pretty pathetic 4-season run -- at the end of which their best player demanded a trade (and I'm not sure why you think we could've kept him at that point -- it's pretty clear that he was done playing here at that point). And the best player coming back in that trade, Tuch, missed 32 games in his first season for the Sabres, 21-22. So, again, the 50 games was not a non-indicative small sample size but rather was entirely reflective of how atrocious the state of the team was when we arrived at the summer of 2021, as well as the beginning of the 2021-22 season. Now this is a fair criticism.

First bolded: I don't think this supports your point. Yes, Eichel missed most of the season, which certainly contributed to that being a .330 team. He also played 0 games for the Sabres the following season, which increased the magnitude of the required rebuild. This is @dudacek's point -- i.e. the Sabres had an enormous mountain to climb -- a mountain that historically the vast majority of NHL teams have failed to climb in the period you are insisting KA climb it in. Second/Third bolded -- do you or do you not count 2020-21 against Adams? You seem to be taking both sides here. In any case, I think Krueger had at least as much say as KA that season, so I'm inclined not to really count KA's tenure until the summer of 2001. I appreciate that YMMV.

OK -- how about these: - Sabres trade Jiri Kulich and Ryan Johnson (or Matt Savoie and #11, or some other combination of those 4 assets) to FLA for Sam Bennett -- contingent on Bennett signing an extension for 6 years @ $7MM per year. It's too much money and too much term for Bennett, who turns 28 in June, but he's not coming to Buffalo without getting that type of contract. - Sabres trade Jiri Kulich and a 2024 2nd-rounder to Vegas for Nicolas Roy. Vegas is close to capped out. Roy is a 6'4", 202-lb C who is a 35- to 40-pt guy, turned 27 in February and makes $3MM per year. - Sabres trade a 2024 2nd-rounder to the Islanders for Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri, a 5'11", 198-lb RW who had 54 pts this season, will be 34 in February and has one more year on his contract at $5MM -- and the Isles are capped out.

Interesting. I'm kinda skeptical that they'll trade any D prospects though, and that they'll trade Johnson in particular. I doubt they will trade a D prospect because Johnson is the one who would fetch the best return, and even then I don't think the return would be sufficient. Also, I think KA had to make a pretty compelling sale to Johnson, who was only weeks away from being a UFA. I don't think it would look good to trade him one year later. IMHO if they trade a prospect, it will be one of the forwards -- probably Kulich or Savoie, as those are the 2 that I'd guess will return the most value in trade. I agree -- I think the most likely outcome is that Johnson is #8 after camp, with Bryson #7, and that Johnson spends most of the year playing in Rochester, which is what he should be doing unless there are a few injuries on D in Buffalo.

What a lovely turn this thread has taken. Let's get back to discussing the Bills, please.

OK, but they needed more than 27 to beat KC in the playoffs this year, and probably would’ve needed more than that if the Bills had scored a touchdown with two minutes left like they were trying to do. Your facts are certainly correct, and relevant, but I think the larger point I was making is also correct – the bills are going to need to outscore KC in the playoffs, and in order to do so it would be nice to have true weapons at wide receiver.

So here's some info on Dakota Joshua: - Pretty cool name. - C, 6'3", 206 lbs. - Only 2 full NHL seasons, and he he turns 28 tomorrow. Drafted in the 5th round in 2014 by Toronto. Played 4 seasons at Ohio State, then part-time in the AHL for 3 seasons, then 2 seasons with Vancouver. - Played 11 min per game last year for the Canucks and 14:23 per game for them this year, with 18-14-32 in 63 games. - 60 PIM per year for the last 2 years. 5 fights last year and 4 this year. He seems like a 4th-liner, but at the right price I'm interested.

Dude. No one is under any misapprehension as to your feelings on KA. You are well justified in your dissatisfaction with him and the team, but still -- all I said was that he's potentially about to undertake a particular action as GM that we've not yet seen. You don't need to grace us with the full screed, even if you are still outraged about his trade of Casey ("66 goals in 357 career games") MIttelstadt.

I agree that the RBs are going to play a bigger role (and I too like Davis!), but I think their WR group is a major issue. They're trying to win a Super Bowl, and they are going to need to score at least 34 pts or so to beat KC in the playoffs.

Well, I'm sure Florida would like to keep Montour and Tarasenko, but they will definitely prioritize Bennett over those 2, and Lomberg won't cost much. Reino and Lundell are interesting though, to be sure. I think Reino will probably cost them $10MM per year, and if they give Lundell a long-term deal, they will have to pay a higher AAV than his scoring production would seem to support -- maybe $6MM per year? No one needs to convince me to want Bennett. I just have a hard time believing that Florida would move him for futures to create cap space. I think they will sacrifice elsewhere. Having said that, it's possible that they misjudge the situation, or that Bennett demands too much cash, or something else happens that makes him available. I would give them #11 and any of Kulich, Rosen, Östlund or Savoie in a heartbeat for him IF the deal included him signing an extension. Maybe we'll get lucky on this one. Excellent post, but are you perhaps referring to the spring/summer of 2021 (not 2020)?

I think Greenway is a pretty good 3rd liner and Anderson and Clifton were decent. Hall was terrible but I think that move was driven by Krueger. As for the rest -- I agree that these were all bargain bin guys -- that was kinda my point. To date his pro acquisitions have all been low risk, low reward. This has been by design -- i.e. his plan has been to develop the young players into guys that can fill key roles -- not to bring in expensive, veteran NHL guys to fill those roles. It sounds like he's now interested in shopping in the more expensive aisles (although not the premium aisles) for a couple of middle-six forwards. Before the Byram trade, KA hadn't previously spent any real assets or money to bring in valuable NHL players, other than the Eichel trade, where he had a gun to his head and needed to make chicken salad out of chicken poop. I don't think the bargain bin shopping is an indicator either way of how he'll do if and when he steps up to the big boy table. You can be unhappy with the state of the team, as we all are, and can hold KA accountable, which is more than fair (although it's worth noting that his team last season far outperformed the teams iced by Botteril, whom you unaccountably continue to defend). I'm just saying that he's entering a new phase, and I'm curious to see how he performs. Hell yes -- he is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Sabres. However, his cap hit is only $4.425MM -- that's not enough for the Panthers to feel like they need to cut him loose. He's too valuable for them to do so.

Interesting. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised. Like the Byram-Mitts trade, any real trade this summer will be informative as to KA’s pro talent evaluation abilities. So far I think the jury is still out.

I too was generally unimpressed with KO, although he was far from their biggest problem. He is 100% right in saying that he could tell in October and November there were major issues. They were freaking terrible in those 2 months.

You’re completely justified in doubting last year’s group. But next year’s group now includes a HOF coach. Lindy is going to be a huge improvement over DG.

I kinda think they are going to bring in a couple of real vet forwards with the goal that they will flex between the 2nd and 3rd lines. We shouldn't kid ourselves though -- no one good enough to fill that role well will come here on a 1- or 2-year deal. It's going to be at least 3 years, and the AAV will seem too high given the player's production. That's how it goes when NHL Siberia is shopping in the UFA market. I'm not expecting a good vet defenseman -- I think they are going to go with the guys they have, although a trade of Joki or Muel wouldn't shock me.

No sir. They are about to reward your patience.

This is low-key an interesting question about the roster next year IMHO. JJP, Quinn and Tuch are locks for 3 of the top 4 winger spots. Who will be the 4th? Skinner? Benson? Greenway? A FA or trade FNG? A hastily promoted rookie? A deservedly promoted rookie?

Good to see ya sir!

FFS. The Leafs aren't trading Mathews under any circumstances.

Yes -- I would just add that most of them are pretty up-and-down. There is certainly the possibility that they give him a 3- or 4-year deal, he stinks right away and we are screwed. But I agree that the most likely outcome is that he is decent-to-good and, with Levi, gives the Sabres a solid goalie tandem for the duration of his contract.

I'd much prefer a 3-year deal, but if this is what's needed to get it done, I think they have to do it.

Abso-freakin-lutely.