LGR4GM

My pushback is not about this. My pushback is this is another sign that the underlying decision making processes of the Buffalo Sabres are faulty. They fired Granato because Ruff was available. They picked Ruff because he was Ruff, ties to the org and Adams. They deliberately left all the assistant coaches in place except for the one they needed to fire to bring up Appert. They brought up Appert because they already plan to put him in as HC in 2 years. They brought up his video guy because Appert likes his video guy. The process is not, let's take a good long hard look at ourselves and figure out our weaknesses. Then we will find the ppl who can correct those weaknesses and we will find the best ppl. It is, what's easiest for us that makes us comfortable. Now the outcome can still be good, but the process underlying it is broken and flawed.

What's your goal with this?

He's 29, how good do you feel about his prime lasting for say, 6 years on a new deal?

That's good to hear.

Yea, this was all planned. There was no search for ***** and Ruff was told that he was hiring Appert. Appert wanted his video coach.

Ruff on the PP: talked about the NHL pp and the movement. Even more about how teams kill and take away flank shots. Teams need to get some motions, bumper player is almost most important player. Talked about creating down low 2v1. Mentioned motion and more deception to be more effective.

Kevyn told Lindy to talk to Appert.

Welp, it is clear Adams isn't bringing substantial good veterans to fix the bottom six. He's gonna bring up 2-3 Amerks, probably re-sign Zemgus, and run a bottom 6 of... Rosen - Krebs - Savoie Zemgus - New Guy - Murray Can totally see this without even blinking. Greenway and Skinner will be rotating in depending on injury as Rosen and Savoie sit at times. JJP - Tage - Tuch Benson - Cozens - Quinn Greenway - Krebs - Skinner Zemgus - New Guy - rotating cast of Rosen, Savoie, Murray (who will be moved up the lineup depending on who's going)

Matt Ellis is going upstairs to be the eye in the sky. Seth Appert will be responsible for the PP.

So the timeline was Ruff got fired, Adams and Pegula decided they wanted Ruff. Gave Granato the end of year to save face. Didn't conduct any search and hired Ruff. Fired the 1 assistant Ruff wanted the least. Fired the Video Coach to promote one Appert likes. Waited until Appert was done in the AHL and promoted him. This shows a great process and that we are in good hands. We are so lucky to have such hard working people running this organization, leaving no stone unturned. Bringing the very best coaching to the NHL they can. No favoritism and easy way outs here.

They don't make playoffs this season, I hope Pegula sells because they'll never win crap with him as owner.

Been beating this drum for a month. Andrew Brunette is a good coach.

Im sorry but this is short sighted and doesn't view the cap ramifications over time. In 2026-2027 the cap hit for Jeff is 6.4 million and then it is 2.44million for 3 years after that if you buy him out this offseason. You do get a savings this offseason, but who cares? This is the least important offseason to have that cap savings as the Sabres A. already have the space to bring in a higher end player (which they wont) and B. don't have to worry about Quinn and JJP next contract, so having that space is superfluous. Meanwhile if you simply wait until next offseason, you save 2.4million in 2029/30. You save 445k every single other year and still save 5million on the cap for year 1 of the new Quinn/JJP deal. It makes far more logical sense to wait one year, especially when as I noted it gives you depth. Jeff Skinner isn't a bad player, he just isn't worth 9million. Buy him out next year and spend this year trying to trade him. You can always use him on lines 1-3 and he is almost guaranteed to be better under Ruff and have a bounce back year.

Nathan MacKinnon 51g, 140pts Connor McDavid 32g, 132pts Nikita Kucherov 44g, 144pts Auston Matthews 69g, 107pts

Group thought reigns supreme within this team.

At least ik who the hc will be in 2 years

The salary cap and his caphits. We can afford him this year without issues. Once Quinn and JJP need payment we won't be able to afford Skinner. It gives you depth this year for the top 6 and gives all the other prospects another yr development. Ik he's not in favor here, but he's a 20+ goal scorer getting you 60pts so until you have that in someone else, just buying him out seems premature. With all that in mind, next summer. 4 years of caphits that are about 500k less than this years buyout with a full extra year of dead cap at the end eliminated by waiting.

Adams has failed. This team isn't even a playoff team let alone a contender. He's been complacent and slow to react, preferring loyalty to his players over building a winning franchise. Until he proves otherwise, I expect him to continue his safe and soft handling of the team.

I'd love to get out from Skinners contract because they need someone more dynamic. But Pegula and Botterill f-d us there. He can decline any trade. I think text summer you buy him out.

How's he a liability?

It clearly is rocket science to you. You're advocating waiving a top 4 defender. He'd have what? 28 teams put in waiver claims.