dudacek

I disagree. I’m drinking the Kool aid. I think their goal was to create a culture and accumulate a talent base that puts them in a position to win the cup every year for an extended period of time. Rightly or wrongly, they think they’ve done that.

I think Terry was always going to be interested. What people tend to forget is that Donnie coached him in Chicago, and Kevyn roomed with him when PK was a rookie. Buffalo-born was never the only connection.

I thought it's been pretty apparent this is what they've been building towards organizationally despite others reading otherwise. With the growth of the past 2 years, plus the fact this is year 3 of the plan, it makes sense to start talking like this publicly. But I'm still glad to hear it said out loud.

And he thinks he has built a roster that can do more than that. Guess we'll see who's right.

When he added a big middle-six winger and a physical depth defenceman to address the most obvious holes in his lineup? Or do you mean he didn’t do something smart, like trading a 1st-rounder for Patrick Kane? How exactly did McCrimmon and Zito “manage like a contender” at the trade deadline on their way to the finals?

Maybe he has been.

No, he is not poised to start tweaking. He thinks he has the horses right now to create a playoff berth.

Zegras isn’t as highly thought off by the industry as he is hyped by fans. Remember that Athletic ranking of the top 125 NHL players? The one that had 6 Sabres on it? It was vetted by NHL scouts, coaches and GMs and it has one Duck on it. And it ain’t Mr. Michigan.

Winning, playoffs and sold-out buildings, eh? That’s a good start.

I don’t think that’s correct. I’m not sure many NHL teams own their ECHL team, or are responsible for stocking their entire roster. Players on AHL contracts are typically free agents for NHL purposes, and not the property of an NHL team. Regardless, I’m talking NHL contracts. According to capfriendly, the Sabres have 5, which seems to be pretty normal.

The backup in the ECHL is not, and really never has been, a matter of much concern for the Sabres. How many NHL teams have 6 goalies under contract?

Adams has pretty clear track record of trying to find players other opportunities if they don’t fit into the Sabres plans. Not being one of the 2 goalies come opening night for either UPL or Comrie means that player doesn’t fit into the Sabres plans. I think the plan is one of those 2 gets a new home. Everything falls into place quite smoothly after that.

A healthy approach.

Shrug. I posted a separate thread on every single current Sabre in order to talk about the present. I don't think any of them got past a 2nd page. I have no interest in the endless navel-gazing of what it might mean every time Terry Pegula may or may not have farted. He names himself president and people speculate about it for 11 pages. It's a Sabres board. People talk about whatever aspect of the Sabres that interests them.

I've never been afraid of the present. I've always been about building a foundation so the present can actually matter.

@PASabreFan we crumbled when you stopped hearing what I was actually trying to say. I still love you 😘 But in this case, so far I was wrong, you were right. Hedged bets and built-in excuses everywhere in this thread. I hope the team is made of sterner stuff than the fans.

It's time for the Sabres to expect to be there again. Finally. And to believe they can do something once they get there. -Mike Harrington https://buffalonews.com/sports/columns/mike-harrington-its-time-for-sabres-to-perform-with-swagger-thats-been-missing-for-too/article_7cc6f64c-5651-11ee-9d77-a7d6efede8b8.html As training camp opens, this is the proper tone. End the decade of despair. No more building and waiting and hoping for someone from the outside or something in the future to save us. And this goes for the fans as much as the players. Expect to win. It’s time to be good again.

I honestly think the players don’t really matter here. They might play, but this trade is basically $1.4 in cap space for a 3rd rounder.

This is one is little odd to me. Average middle six winger for backup goalie of relatively equal value, Canucks add a 3rd because the Habs taking on $1.4 in salary?

Depends on what it is. This is a kid who has had shoulder issues already. It as hard to tell exactly what happened, or even how, but it wasn't anything dramatic. If it is the same shoulder, there has to be a question about whether it might be something chronic.

Thing about Kozak is he played half the season as a 19-year-old. His season (and Kisakov's) could be best described as an internship for what would be most 2021 draft pick's rookie AHL season: the coming year. i think we'll get a better sense of the NHL potential of each player this year.

I compared his potential path to Connor Clifton’s.

And thanks for all the hockey talk today! Finally starting to wake up around here.

Amerks are so deep on the blueline. It will be interesting to see which of the kids get pushed out and which will push past the vets to become lineup fixtures. Prow 30, 7 pro seasons, 4 NHL games Cecconi 26, 4 pro seasons, 0 NHL games Davies 26, 4 pro seasons, 23 NHL games Clague 25, 5 pro seasons, 91 NHL games Metsa 24, rookie Jandric 24, rookie Johnson 22, rookie Savoie 21, rookie Novikov 20, rookie

Appert talked about him being exceedingly motivated on and off the ice, but raw. Strikes me as a guy who coaches might underestimate in drills but who will make up for it on the ice. I certainly liked what i saw and have high hopes. I think his aggressiveness and skill will be exposed somewhat by NHLers, but he will adjust with experience. I like the fact he will probably be playing with a veteran guy like Prow or Clague in Rochester and expect he will push past them by season's end. I don't see the offence you seem to though, would be very surprised if he gets anywhere near 35 points in 60 games.