dudacek

Yeah, my emphasis was more on the other half of my post; that, from what we know, I think Adams acted with integrity.

Which was his right, even if it was his intention from start.

Or maybe the other Montour offers were so similar it didn't make sense to waste a retention slot for what may have amounted to a worse 3rd-rounder. There are certainly justifications for every move or non-move but as @Thorny has been saying (and I fully support his campaign) we can only judge them on results.

I think you've got to step outside the X-Box GM role and understand that Hall negotiated a no-trade in good faith exactly so he could steer a situation like this in the direction he wanted. I think Adams is just showing some with integrity.

Your big picture point is dead-on but I think this specific instance is a little unfair. They went into the season six proven NHL defencemen and Irwin and Davidson as proven filler ahead of Borgen and Bryson, the two kids you didn't pencil in, but hoped would beat someone out. Bryson has. Borgen appeared to be on his way to doing the same. Samuelsson entered the season at no better than 11th on the blueline and seems to be outplaying his slot.

I just want to point out that we did not use our third option to retain, and we did not weaponize the approximately $6.7 million in pro-rated cap space created by our recent moves.

Samuelsson got a lot of love from Adams in today's presser.

A little nugget that may have slipped past in to today's presser was that Adams wants this team to have an identity, that identity if fast and relentless, and Bjork and Caggiula were acquired because they possess those qualities.

I know stats aren't everything, but in the 33 games he played without Krueger in BUffalo he went 7/12/19/-2 and those numbers weren't easy minutes, or padded by the PP.

He is a better player than we saw. Of that I have no doubt.

I gotta take a deeper look at both players and their contracts, but generally speaking Vrana and Mantha are on a relative tier, no? And isn't that same tier where one would find Sam Reinhart?

It would be interesting what that signing actually cost us. Would we be sitting here with Tyler Toffoli, for example? Would we have signed another goalie? Would Ralph still be here?

So nice to have another Bruin to hate.

I still don't see how Sabrespacers could have watched Taylor Hall play this year and say they would have given up a first for him is they were the GM of a contender. Hall hasn't been MVP Hall since he blew out his knee. I'll repeat, 18 goals in his past 112 games.

And by kids, you mean ones who aren't named Girgensons, Girgorenko, Ristolainen, Zadorov, McCabe, Reinhart, Eichel, Nylander, Mittelstadt, Dahlin and Cozens?

Toronto certainly did not think Foligno was an inferior player

I think you and I have a different take on "core player"

I would trade Mitts as the key "young talent" element in a blockbuster that brings in a core player. Just like I would have before he started playing well.

I don't know, are you? I don't perceive you to be. I don't think we are too far off on the rest of it.

I think much of the past season's hockey department strategy was predetermined based on the mistaken premise handed to Adams that the "Sabres are close" and all of the pro players added were added based on anecdotal references instead of a thoroughly vetted pro personnel process. I do think Adams has to be accountable for this, which is a manifestation of his inexperience, the gutting of the hockey department, and the misplaced organizational faith in Ralph. I need to see what he learned from this and what is his vision for fixing the franchise. Collecting whatever assets he can by dumping the UFAs is the first step, seeing what he has in the kids down the stretch is the second, rebuilding the hockey department (including the coach) is the third, determining what to do with core assets (most notably Jack, Sam, Linus and Risto) the fourth, and acquiring good players over the off-season. What happens in these areas will shape my view on whether he can overcome his naive start, or whether he is the disaster some of you have already decided he is.

Or for 2nd-round picks either.

Worthless? Did you know you can sometimes trade 2nd-rounders for players as good as Taylor Hall?

Leaving a 2nd-rounder on the table and cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Watch the clip Brawndo posted. Taylor Hall drove this trade to where he wanted to go.

Please. Buffalo had to get a deal done. Boston did not. What leverage did Adams have under the scenario?