mjd1001

I don't know if it will work, but I 100% agree with what you are saying as their goal and it MIGHT work. Control the game from the D-zone out. I brought up in another post a few months ago, go back to the Canadian Olympic team 2 sets of games ago, with all their talent they didn't win by scoring, they won by smothering the opposition. The puck went into their zone and their D-men got to it first. Once they got to the puck they were talented enough to skate it out OR talented enough to make good first passes out. They didn't turn the puck over when pressured. They had enough skill that the other teams forecheck was basically useless, they would pass the puck back and forth until the entry pass out opened up. Every team would LIKE to be able to do that, but you need guys back there who are very good skaters, and are very precise with their passing, AND are good puck handlers. The Sabres have the POTENTIAL to have a top 4 that is the best in the league at that. They aren't there yet, their decision making can be brutal at times, but that should get better as they get older and more experienced. There certainly is a case for this NOT working, and I can both see it working well, and I can also see it failing miserably. That is why we play the games?

As many others are, I think people are getting all tied up about Worthy in week one and its not really justified. The TD run looked nice, but he had a lot of room and a wall of blockers in front of him. I'd bet the top 50% of the fastest receivers in the league would have scored on that play. As a receiver, he was targeted 3 times for 2 catches and 47 yards. He wasn't some unstoppable force out that the defense had no answer for. Lets give it a few weeks, if he starts to put up 100 yard receiving game after 100 yard receiving game, then I'll take notice.

I'm going to agree with a lot of the comments above...just what are the consequences? Adams getting fired seems like the obvious one, but what then? Do you bring in a New GM, possibly entire new front office and then Pegula tells them "Lindy is here for another year, I'm not firing ANOTHER coach and paying him, and by the way I still really like Lindy so you have to keep him?" You are back to limiting your GM choices slightly by doing that. AND, if you bring in a new GM (again, are you going to get the best of the best ones to choose from, probably not) then what do they do? Strip the team down, rebuild and start over with doing things in their own vision? To me the only consequence that would matter if Pegula were no longer involved, and that isn't likely. Here is an opinion, I don't have any direct facts to back it up, but it is what I think: With Botts and Murray, they wanted to do things their own way, but "Terry" thinks he knows hockey and wanted to be involved in the decision making...those guys didn't like that and that is, in part, why there are gone. So why did he hire Adams? Adams was going to keep Terry informed, keep him involved (he has no choice really). Hes basically Pegula's "yes man" running the team, nothing gets done without Pegula knowing about it, and even worse, without Terry's direct input (more than a typical owner, basically Terry wants to play fantasy GM and have Adams just do the grunt work). I don't see Pegula firing Adams and hiring someone else that isn't the same way. If Adams gets fired, its a PR move by Pegula to keep the fans with pitchforks and torches away from the Arena, NOT because he would actually want to make a change. Adams lets Terry have his input, he treats him with soft gloves, why would Pegula want anything other than that? If the season is a disaster, like a 75 point or less disaster (with less than 8,000 at the games by the end of the year), Maybe Pegula makes a move. But other than that, even if they miss the playoffs, the excuse will be "Lindy needs another year" and I don't see any moves.

I think the issue with answering this now is, I'm not sure this will be the 3rd line. I personally think its 50-50 whether Greenway is even starting in the opening day roster, let alone the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th line. I think everyone has Malenstyn penciled in on the 4th line...that is LIKELY but I see a slight chance he could be on the 3rd line. Finally, what is the 3rd or 4th line? Will Lindy even use a dedicated 4th line for checking? Or with the makeup of the bottom 6, will he just mix and match both those lines with players swapping night to night and have them both play as 'energy' lines rather than outright 'checking/shutdown' typical 4th lines. I think you can take Krebs, Malenstyn, Kubel, Greenway, Lafferty, Mcleod, Greenway, Zucker, and even Rosen....throw all of those guys together, and each night any 3 of the 9 will be on line line, 3 on the other line, and the role both of those lines have won't be all that different.

I love the horror stories about dealership. Related to tires, I bought a brand new Mitsubishi Eclipse about 15-20 years ago from a new car dealership. Drove it home and at about 50-60 mph noticed a strange 'humming'. Couldn't figure out why. Kept on doing it. Found out that 3 of the 4 tires were the same, and one tire was brand new just like the others..but had a different tread pattern. It was the same 'brand' of tire but a different tire. Dealership didn't want to replace the tire, said the car came in that way. I called Mitsubishi directly, a few days later the dealership told me to come in and they replaced the tire. Not sure if the dealer had Mitsubishi read the riot act to them...OR...Mitsubishi agreed to pay the dealership to 'keep the customer happy'. But the dealership sold a brand new car with a mis-matched tire and didn't want to fix it.

Great, I really need to be getting some more stories about guys getting ready, some action on the ice. The Bills season opening is great and all, but over the past decade my love has shifted to hockey. I find it so much more fun to talk about and analyze the team building aspect of it, rather than 'non-stop' Bills coverage.

Article as of today: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/05/official-nfl-team-valuations-2024.html 30.Buffalo Bills $5.35B 31.Arizona Cardinals 32.Cincinnati Bengals EBIDTA is interesting (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) Dallas at $550 million New England at $250 million Rams at $243 million Majority of other teams (20 of them) at least $100 million Buffalo? Dead last at just $29 million Cincy is 2nd last next to Buffalo, but still almost 45% higher. The new Stadium is great and all, but give it 10 or so years, and once Pegula is gone (maybe before), I find it hard to see how the team will stay in Buffalo long term when there are so many other cities that can generate 4x, 5 times, or more revenue than here. Unless the Bills find a way to tap into that Toronto/southern Ontario market/money a lot better than they did last time...

I have accepted the way things are with car dealers/dealerships, but it is still hard to think they operate they way they do. I usually start with an email and then follow up with a visit, I make things clear: This is the car I want. What are the current incentives, and if I pay cash for it, what is the price/best price. It is RARE I get a direct answer. Still it is better here in WNY than other places. We have relatives in Florida. My father-in-law (he's well over 70) often wants us to help him when he buys a new car. -Just about all of the dealerships in the area he lives put an extra "Southeast regional adjustment" onto the sticker. (usually $1000-$1500 over MSRP). I don't even know if it is legit regional fee, but the same person/group owns several different brands of dealerships in the area and the practice is across several brands down there. -You go in and talk to them, ask them directly about it, and they say there is nothing they can do, its a mandatory charge. We Walk out of the dealership. -They call back usually the same day saying to 'come back in' that they will work with us on it. We tell them we aren't paying it. -So we go back in, they take the charge off, but then they offer $1000 or more LESS for the trade than what they told us earlier in the day. We left. -They call back and say, we'll 'look at your trade again' and re-assess it. We went back in. -They gave us the original number for his trade, but then when we asked for the entire price IN WRITING for the whole deal to take home and think about, they said they won't do it until we give them a 'good faith' deposit BEFORE they would give us a final figure in writing. -We give them a 'refundable' deposit and then when we get the numbers back, it has the $1000 southeast regional adjustment fee BACK on the invoice. I would not have given that dealership a single penny, but my father in law didn't want to go out of town, he didn't want to shop around...he just wanted us to help him get the 'best deal' and get it done. Oh, and the same dealership...we had a GM car and I could get an oil change/tire rotation at the dealership here (up until 2 years ago) pretty much all the time for $70 with the 'coupon' they have on the website. We drove to Florida, went to the local dealership down there, $115 dollars for the same tire rotation and oil change. Yes, we went through this a couple years ago at a NEW car dealership. Funny thing is, go to the google reviews of the dealership (and others in the area) and they have over a 4.5 star rating, with review after review giving them glowing reviews for service, price, and how they treat customers. I don't get it.

Maybe, I don't know how the lines will play out yet. But if you are trading for Kadri with expectations of him being your #2 center (and at his cap hit, probably for a long time), then I like it even less. As a #2 center, can I rely on a 34+ year old to give me 18 minutes of ice time per game going forward though the rest of his contract? I just don't want to be in that position. I understand that, and I wish it WOULD be someone. I just wouldn't make what I think is a bad move (long term) in place of more of the same (no move).

I think a lot of the players have changed, enough to make somewhat of a difference. I'd like them to spend more to bring in other players, sure. But bringing in Kadri...with the negatives discussed in previous posts, I do not think moves the needle enough compared to the risk. If you want to trade Krebs, Rosen, and next years first, then fine...just an aging Kadri I don't think is the best return. If there is no other choice, then I'd wait, because again, a 34 year old Kadri I don't think moves the needle enough.

I'm not sure how to debate 'not doing so', as that simply is the status quo. And status quo this year is a lot different than most other recent years around here. A considerably different bottom 6. A new head coach. A defense unit and goaltender that are young but one year older and played considerably better the last 50 games of last season than they did before that. For some of us, the 'risk' of adding a 34 year old this year, who will be on the books until he is almost 39 just isn't worth it until we 'see' just how much progress the status quo has made. But to answer your post more directly....I guess the debate is getting a legit #3 center (not Krebs or whatever else comes out of camp), having that guy be a #3 center for a year (some people's opinion) to a few years (others opinions)....VS the long term cap cost and what that may allow you to do/not due with your young guys up for contract in the next year or two. I know some want the very good/great #3 center now. I'd personally take the latter and pass on him. I think Krebs at #3 Center and Cozens at #2 center, if that is what we have, is the weakness of this team. I'm just not sold on Kadri being anything more than a temporary, and costly, bandaid for that.

Places I have seen it so far.... Seems to be legit Calgary wants to trade him AND he wants to come east. The Buffalo part, more of a rumor or a 'mock trade' by someone. https://www.nhltraderumor.com/nazem-kadri-buffalo-sabres-trade-rumor/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/report-flames-open-to-nazem-kadri-trade-amid-rebuild/ar-AA1pYHcU?ocid=BingNewsSerp

I have thought about this a lot. I really like the player he has been the last few years and that is the type of player the Sabres need. But I can't get by the fact that anytime, maybe right now, he'll not be the same player because of age and overall workload he has been though. Even if Calgary kept $2m or even $3m for the entire length of the deal, what you may be trading for is a guy that is worth his contract for 1 year, and someone you are stuck with for 3 or 4 years that you totally regret. I thought for a minute the 35+ rule would be a way around this regarding a buyout, but it appears the deal must be SIGNED at age 35 or later. Kadri signed this deal before he was 35, so the preferential buyout rules to age 35+ would not apply to him. Remember in 2 years from now, Skinner's buyout hits them hard ($4.4 million in dead money in 2025-26 and $6.4 million in dead money in 2026-2027). If you trade for Kadri, you might be paying him $7m (even $5m if Calgary retained) for a guy vastly declining who is 35 years old in one of those years and 36 years old in another. I'm not sure I want $11.4 million and $13.4 million tied up with Dead cap Skinner money AND an older Kadri...right at a time that the current crop of young guys is going to need to get paid. Forget about the higher Skinner cap hit in 26/27, just look at 25/27. You will have an aging Kadri, and between Skinners Buyout and him, plus you have Thompson, Cozens, Tuch, Dahlin, Power, Samuelson, Clifton, and UPL Signed. That is over $60m already, with less than half the roster signed and how do you pay for a new Deal for Quinn? Peterka? Possibly Byram and Levi? And fill out the rest of the roster? And then of course it gets that much worse the following year when Skinner counts more against the Cap, Kadri is one year older even, and Benson will need a new deal. I know it is likely Kadri would help this year, but for how much he would help this year, I don't think its close to worth it for what he does to your roster/cap/signing ability the next 4 years.

I agree. I understand all the points that the post above are making for why he would fit on this team, but again, when he is starting the season at 34, he can/might/ hit that wall really quick. 2 years from now? Next year? A month into this season? None of that would surprise me. You very well could be getting someone what you have 3/4 of this board wanting to buy out the remaining 4 years of a deal. You can criticize this team, and Adams for not making enough "win now" moves. For not bringing in enough 26-30 year old vets who ":know how to win'. Bringing in a 34 year old guy on a big contract who is signed for years and years is just overcompensating.

I like to go to a game or two every once in a while to take in the atmosphere, especially if its a weekend game where there are more people there. But normally I enjoy the games just as much from home. Thinking about my entire life watching this team, by chance most of the games I have gone to over the 20-25 years, when I went they were never good. When they were good (my best memories of the team) I always was watching on Television. If/when this team gets good again, the 'nostalgic' feeling for me will be if I can do what I did when they were good last time...watch the pregame, get my food/snacks, get a comfortable spot on the couch or chair, and watch from home.

I'll have to double check, but I think he is turning 34 next month, which means when his deal is up, he'll be 38...about 4-5 months from turning 39.

I think Kadri has really good production the last 3 seasons, but he is going to be 34 at the start of the season and has a LOT of miles on him. I'm not sure when he hits the 'age wall' but it could be any day, literally. Would he make the team better right now? Yeah, I think he would but my worry is for how long? I don't think all that long. Plus he is a pretty slow (below average) skater, the team seems to be moving away from that, and he's sure not getting any faster as he gets older. 3 years ago with him at 31 I would consider it, but I'm not trading much for a guy that age with 5 years left on his deal. Apparently he want to move back 'east', seeing he is from London, ON, I think Detroit might be one to watch. If Pittsburgh is bringing the 'old' band back this year and want to make one run at the playoffs, maybe them? (but they have no prospects to offer for him). Did he leave Toronto on good terms? He is also the kind of player they can use for sure. If Toronto offered their 2026 first...Robertson (who asked to be traded), and something to make the cap work until Tavares comes off the books or can be resigned at a lower deal, I think that would REALLY help the leafs. As for the price...Krebs? Sure. A future first (assuming lotter protected)...eh...Its not that I value it for using it next year, but I wonder as the season goes on if it might be better used on someone else? And Rosen....he certainly is not untouchable at all, but many on here seem to think he's entering Bust territory already...yet I think he might actually become a very good 2-way 3rd liner (a guy who gets you 10-20 goals eventually WITH a good 2 way game).

Depends on the style of play. As a team get to a +10 goal differential, you are just about assured to be in the playoffs. Allow 270 goals, but score 280...doesn't matter you are probably in. As a team get to +30/+40 and you are in and likely viewed as a serious threat to advance. Score 280, allow 240.....score 250 and allow 210...doesn't matter much. Its hard to put numbers on how the goalie(s) will play without knowing the style of play in front of them.

I think Thompson, Bryam, Power, and Quinn are over 'bets'. (of course the issue with them is possible injuries.) Cozens and Tuch I'm a bit worried with them reaching those numbers. If Tuch is healthy and with Tage all year sure, but that "if" is pretty big.

Its like with Uwe Krupp, Schmelik...and many others...you are big so why don't you hit people? You know what else size can do for you? You take up a lot of ice. Between your stick and your reach, there is a lot less room out there, and sometimes when you hit someone, you take yourself out of the play and the team D would be better if you just held your position.

One one hand it is frustrating they could spend more, especially on one or 2 year deals. But on the other hand, if its a choice of signing a vet 28-30 year old to a longer term, high dollar deal and then NOT having money to pay guys like Peterka and Quinn in a couple of years.....I'd rather they not bring in the high priced guy and instead confirm what you have in the young guys on your roster and pay then when the time comes. Of course there is a 'middle ground' where you do MORE than they have without giving out bad contracts. That is where I wish they would be.

So my question is...does the team have the deferred part of the contract hit their cap AFTER the contract is done? If a deal is signed where 5 million is deferred to AFTER the contract is done, so it doesn't hit the cap during the contract, does that $5m count against the cap when it is paid out?

I agree for the most part, but the question is....is there a chance any of them would thrive under Ruff more than Granato? Or maybe the other way around? Tage I think gets you 50 this year. I have said that over and over since last season ended (if healthy). Quinn, JJP...both have the potential this year to give you 30. Power is just so young and many/most 2-way D-men just take time to get to be their best. He had an up and down year last year but I expect him to be better every year for the next 2-3 seasons. Dahlin? If the TEAM plays better around him (they make the playoffs/100 points) he should be a Norris candidate. Sure, Makar is great, so is Fox....but in EVERY aspect of the game (hitting, passing, skating, defensive positioning, ice time), I think he might be the most talented/well rounded D-man in the game. Lest just hope they all respond under Ruff.

Ruff is the wildcard, at least for the first 20 games or so. I think he is a good coach, a really good coach, I'm happy with the hire. But, how will each player respond to his style? I expect the first 20 games to be rough, I expect they to start to play very well after that. But what I also expect is there might be a player or two that we don't think much of that will have a major role, but also one of the top 5-8 players here now that totally underperform. Overall, I just can't wait for the season to start. I don't love they are starting overseas this year, and HATE it is against New Jersey (I expect them to have an 0-2 start, I think Jersey is that good), but overall I have a lot of anticipation for the season as a whole. lets get started.

I tried it, but I am so used to the interface from capfriendly....that is why I go with capwages...they have it laid out the same way. Honestly I do go to puckpedia every so often anyway just to see if anyone is putting more info up. Its interesting to see if the Blues thing is picked up by other teams, but it doesn't really help much when you want the whole league available.