mjd1001

Do your own damn work. I told you one of the threads. The others have been posted by me in the last few months, and others people added to them. I'm not going to take my own time and list them, there is a search window up top...look to the top of your page and to the right, see it? Its there. The proof you need is here. It has been posted. The articles and quotes are fleshed out over and over on this page. If you missed them, or chose not to read them, or want someone to spoon feed it to you I'm not doing it.

Terry, is that you? Or are you a close friend or family member of the Pegula's? What are you talking about, there is PLENTY of evidence. Or do you only read or acknowledge what you want? Apparently that MUST be it. Go look at the thread "the trial of Terry Pegula" for a TON of that stuff. Myself and others have posted articles and links to quotes made by him and Kim in just the past few weeks.. There are plenty of articles, quotes, more articles from people speculating articles from people who are in the industry. There is the actions of him saying who he waned to sign and then going out and doing it. The quotes directly from the Pegulas about why Botts was fired? If that goes against your narrative, I'm sorry. Its all out there. Some of it is 'smoke' and there are also some sources that are actual flames of a 'fire'. See the above post. A bunch of articles, quotes directly from him. Most of which were mentioned or directly linked on these very forums.

Yeah. So this isn't going to happen, but move some major pieces. If Pettersson was available and you could make a move with Cozens as the centerpiece, do it. But not just that. Now move another regular for another player from another team. I'm only really tied to Dahlin and Tage, I'll move anyone else (yes, including Peterka, Benson, Power, anyone) So get a guy like Pettersson, get another 'talented' youngster. Remove Cozens and someone else at the same time. Now add to that your idea...Bring in 2-3 guys for the bottom line, the type of guys you said. The team may or may not be better. The team still won't make the playoffs this year. But it would be something both DIFFERENT and possibly EXCITING for the fans to watch for the rest of the year. And maybe, just maybe, help some young guys develop a bit to be better next year.

Yes, I do think it describes him. The ego I think is not the same type of Ego as jones..it manifests in different ways. Jerry Jones will go public...when there is something he wants to say he will look for a microphone and camera, he's going to say out loud for everyone to see. Pegula shows that ego in the opposite way. When things go bad, he won't go public like Jones, he disappears even more than usual. But that doesn't mean he doesn't 'dig his heels' in anymore to do things HIS way. Its an opinion piece, but the reason I quoted that is, my OPINION, is that line above is exactly how I feel about him. My impression, my opinion. It has nothing to do with 'beathing his chest' and I never implied that. His "ego" is less of a 'beating his chest' and more of a 'standing there with a smug smile' when things go his way. And he'll let things go bad for a LONG time for the chance to have things go right..but they have to go right HIS way.

I agree. Plus, you want GOOD veterans. Not the guys who are suited for the 4th line or barely good enough for the 3rd line. The problem is, THOSE guys who are better than that are mostly on teams that are still in the playoff hunt. Who is going to want to give you a good, veteran piece that is playing well now.... for a younger guy with potentially more upside but who isn't a guarantee and is likely a step back for you this year? No team that is still in the playoff hunt. "Hey, I know you have a no movement, but would you do us a solid and waive that? We are likely making the playoffs, but I really want to trade you. So can you waive that no trade clause, pack up your family and move to Buffalo and play for a team that is going no where this year?" How do you think that will go over? And the 2nd issue is, if it is a GOOD player who is a veteran you are targeting, some (not all but some) of those guys have no trade or no movement clauses. I think there are very few guys who will waive those to come to Buffalo, to a team that is certainly worse than the one they are on. There might literally be no market for ANYTHING other than more youth/reclamation projects for the Sabres.

Unless you are willing to take someone else's reclamation project/overpay for one of your own. The old "change of scenery" thing on both sides. On the Sabres side of things the most obvious player is Cozens, but it could be any of a few others. For other teams it could be a Pettersson, Rossi, Zegras, or even a guy like Brock Nelson.

It shouldn't be. But, there are probably some people that are a lot happer with $10 billion than they are with $9.5 billion. It may not be the 'level' of wealth he has, but the 'direction' of it, or even the speed it is going in that direction. So, I don't want to say its the money or it isn't...instead, to me one quote is even more important and probably more relevant: "You do love this team; your words about that and your passion for its history are true. You want to be involved with everything out of love… and your ego. YOU want to be the answer. YOU want to know best. YOU want to prove it. The problem is you can’t, and you refuse to move over." I think Pegula is both very sensative and has an ego. The kind of ego that is a little tiny bit on the vindictive side. "You do me wrong...I'll exercise my power over you." Or "You criticize me? I'll prove you wrong by doing what I have been doing MY WAY until it works out" (basically, digging his heels in to not admit defeat) Just my impression of him.

The question is, what is ratio of video scouting vs in person for the Sabres compared to other team. Or, maybe even more so, what is the total time/money they invest into their scouting dept for both in person and video vs other teams.

I like Byram. I think he is actually the 2nd best D-man on this team behind Dahlin, and with Dahlin being hurt/playing hurt its been pretty close between them. I just am starting to wonder a bit about his re-signability. He's restricted, so he can't just walk. But he can make some pretty high demands, either to get a lot of money or as a back door way of forcing a trade (to a better team, to a team where he gets #1 minutes/pp minutes instead of behind Dahlin, or simply to a team that will pay him more) I have heard something to the effect of "he wants to be the #1 guy" on a team. Now if that is just something someone on here posted as a rumor I'd say "whatever", but I think it was posted on here and I heard it on the radio (probably 590).

Well, Toronto would be/have been at the top of my list as an answer to that question.

2 years ago I thought Pettersson was an up and coming superstar. Top 5 -10 player in the league. Its almost like the moment he signed his contract something happened: Last season before signing his big extension: 62 games, 29 goals, 46 assists (38g, 61a, 99 point pace) Since signing his deal (last part of last season, playoffs and this year): 65 games, 14 goals, 32 assists (18 goal, 40 assist, 58 point pace) Now....65 games is starting to be a big sample size. If there was an injury, he had the offseason to heal up and he's not playing much better this year. So that is a yellow flag. His metrics are still pretty good. He's skating just as well. Getting similar minutes. His shooting percentage is down though, not drastically but it is. So, what do I give up? Cozens. This is where its tricky, Petterson, over his CAREER, is a better player. But in the past 50-60 games, the production gap between them has narrowed, especially when you consider the gap in pay. Since Pettersson signed, which is now approaching those 70 games again: Pettersson: 65gp, 14 goals, 32 assists (pace of 18g, 40a) Cozens: 54gp, 13 goals, 13 assists (pace of 20g, 20a) Similar production. Pettersson a lot better playmaker, Cozens a bit better scorer. So when you look back at their entire Career, obviously Pettersson has better stats. So lets look at their last 2 1/2 seasons.... annualized per 82 games (throwing out their first 1 or so years when they were 'new' to the NHL): Pettersson: 34 goals, 57 assists, 91 points per 82 Cozens: 24 goals, 31 assists, 55 points per 82 The question becomes, is a 34 goal, 57 assist Pettersson at $11.6m per year (who has lost more of his production recently than Cozens) better than a 24 goal, 31 assist Cozens at $7m per year. The money matters, as well as recent performance. I'd say Pettersson is better even with his drop in production and for the money. But it IS a risk because the money is so high. So I'd be willing to throw in Cozens and something else of Value, but not something of top/elite value. Cozens and Bryam, but I need something else back from Vancouver besides Pettersson. Cozens and a lottery protected 1st. I'd think about it. Cozens and one of the former first rounders. Yes, but it depends on which one. I might want something else back if they want the guy I have rated the highest. If the cost is anything more than that, I keep Cozens. Not because I think Cozens is that good...and certainly not becuase I don't think Pettersson is better than Cozens....but its all about what you are getting out of him for that contract. If Vancouver wants more than those offers, I think I might get a better deal elsewhere involving Cozens. Remember if you trade for Pettersson, his contract runs to his mid 30s (I think he will be getting paid and under that deal until he is 34 or 35 years old). Forwards tend to 'peak' in production between the ages of 25-29, and there is usually a drop off after 30. For 1/2 of his deal (or more) you are going to be getting a declining player.

Maybe that is true, but then again, it may be something that SOUNDS true but actually isn't. Look at it this way, pretend you are one of 6-8 other teams interested in a player the sabres are willing to move. Lets just use Cozens in this example. You are the GM of that other team, you want Cozens. You place a value on him. SURE, you might float an idea to the Sabres where you are fleecing them to see if they bite, but if they don't, you know that right away. So next step, you inquired about Cozens because you actually WANT him. So, in a vacuum, if it is just you and the Sabres in the league, you can hold out and say "Nope, its just the two of us, so I think you are more desperate than me so I'll wait until you give in". But it ISN'T just you and the Sabres. There are 30 other teams. My point? You aren't trying to get Cozens off of the Sabres, you are TRYING to get him BEFORE any of your competitors do. You aren't competing with the Sabres, you are competing with ANY team in your division, ANY team in your conference to get him before someone else does. If it takes an offer with a value of "10" to get Cozens, a good GM isn't offering "4" and sitting and waiting for the Sabres to give in. A good GM is going to offer a package worth "9", to make sure he gets that guy before a competitor does. I don't think the Sabres not making trades are a case of other teams having no respect for the Sabres. Their initial offers maybe, but one day after those offers, it goes from you trying to get over on the Sabres to you competing with the rest of the league on offers. If the Sabres aren't making trades, its not because they are getting junk offers from the rest of the league. Its more likely they do NOT WANT to make trades at this time.

Full article here: https://wbuf.com/buffalo-sabres-terry-pegula-sale/ Very long opinion piece, below are just some highlights (not sure about the scouting staff working remotely again, but if they are back to that...wow): Lindy Ruff is being embarrassed by the organization, he has more wins than any other Sabres coach in the history of the franchise. He’s not the reason this team is awful. Did you know he didn’t even get to choose his own coaching staff? Unprecedented. Their scouting staff is working remotely and not traveling to see players, literally. You made massive cutbacks to this organization to save money. If that’s not the truth, that’s the perception, and perceptions are often the unfortunate reality. Once you purchased the Bills, it was all hands-on football. All of your best people, resources, and time go to it, and by the way, that makes sense. The NFL is arguably the biggest thing in the world. Billions of dollars are at stake for you and all the other owners. In terms of business, it’s an incredibly well-run league. The NHL is… not. It's not awful, but it’s conservative, conceited, and way too into itself. It also is not nearly as profitable. The losses you suffer from the Sabres are nothing in comparison to what you bring home from the NFL. As a result, I believe the Sabres are a side project for you. A hobby, if you will. You do love this team; your words about that and your passion for its history are true. You want to be involved with everything out of love… and your ego. YOU want to be the answer. YOU want to know best. YOU want to prove it. The problem is you can’t, and you refuse to move over. I think you're too involved. I think you make demands, and regardless of how bad of an idea it is, you have hired yes men to carry out those demands. Bad businesses run this way and ultimately fail. You have to have leaders who push back and, quite frankly, are smarter than you. You own the team because you made billions fracking. You're either an expert at oil or an expert at moving money around. That does not make you an expert in anything else, including running a hockey club. That’s why good owners stay out of the way of the good, smart, and tough people they hire. A couple more from the same site: Why Ryan Reynolds should buy the Buffalo Sabres https://wbuf.com/ryan-reynolds-buffalo-sabres/ (I do not think Petitions do much of anything, I rarely sign them for that reason. But a petition to Ryan Reynolds to buy the Sabres I would sign. Not because it would cause it to happen, but it might be a little 'fun' to see how far it went) Sending Santa an SOS (Save Our Sabres) https://wbuf.com/ixp/1149/p/sending-santa-an-sos-save-our-sabres/

100% agree. My wife is always asking me what I want. But I don't want much, and when I DO think of something I want...I am a stickler for watching the price on it, knowing what it costs, what the sales prices are in recent history, and only buying it when there is some kind of sale or promotion...and then I buy it for myself. On the RARE occasion my wife insists I give her a list, I usually will tell her something but I say "Only if it is at a certain price, if its any higher, forget it" But that goes back to your first point: If I REALLY want something, its probably more of a 'need' than a 'want', so I get it myself. There is nothing that I just 'kinda want', that if someone buys it for me, it feels like a waste of money.

I think Nashville plays an afternoon game tomorrow? If they win, Sabres are last overall (at least in terms of points) by 4pm tomorrow.

Yep. Show up at practice pretty often. Talk to Adams on a daily basis (or at least he was earlier in the year). We saw in videos he was present in the room during the draft....he is there alot. He gives his input a lot. This was covered deeply in many threads over the last month.

There was absolutely ZERO I said about him being an absentee owner, if you got that from my post, its an agenda you have because that is NOT what I think at all. I thought I explained it well. He meddles, he wants to...but when the heat from the failures becomes too much, he just feels better by 'thinking of' (not doing anything, but kinda looking at) the othe franchise. Fans do that too. If you like the Bills and Sabres equally, you can wish and hope and go to message boards and propose moves and trades for the Sabers all day long. But at the end of the day, if Sunday comes and the Bills win, most people just take that in. Yet, he does.

No. Anyone makes fun of him for the Sabres...or anytime he watches a game he doesn't like....he can simply turn his head and look toward Orchard Park and feel good about the Bills and listen to national media saying how good they are. I'm not saying he doesn't give any attention to the Sabres, he does, but I think if he didn't have the Bills, or they weren't good, there might be more action to change things with the Sabres.

when the streak started, some of the games were close. Now, they are getting outscored 50-25 since the losing streak started.

UPL, 10 goals allowed on his last 33 shots in just over 3 periods. Hung out to dry on a lot of them..but hes let in some he shouldn't have.

I haven't seen the whole thread so don't know if this was brought up... But every time they go to a commercial, when the game comes back the sound is not synced up with the video. I back out of the broadcast and come back in and it resets, but the next time there is a commercial, same thing. I'm watching on Hulu. Anyone else with this issue or is it just me?

He's streaky. He has weeks where he isn't a factor and then starts scoring. Not as streaky as Cozens, but still streaky.

Ice time pretty evenly spread out in the first among forwards and D-men. Lafferty had a couple times he carried the puck in. Its not saying MUCH based on how they were playing recently, but I thought Cozens and Samuelsson had pretty good first periods.

Didn't see the replay but I don't mind that pass. I don't think he was going to get a good shot off. It looks pretty full, is that something?

Cozens a little aggressive there, but he didn't take a penalty. Losing, but I think this is the best 14 minutes I have seen Cozens play in a very long time.