GASabresIUFAN

Different team, different system. He thrived here and our team was better with him. I actually don’t have an issue with the McLeod trade as I did earlier. Since being demoted to the 4th line McLeod has really picked up his game at both ends of the ice. I still wouldn’t commit to him long term but how much better would we be with both Mitts and McLeod in the top 9?

Except Zucker none of the players you mentioned are seasoned vets none have actually upgraded the roster. Since these players were added and guys like Mitts, Skinner, VO, and others were subtracted the team is worse. The only two legit non-goalie vets Adams has added that could be argued are upgrades are Zucker and Greenway and both are 3rd line players (or would be on a real team). There is no question McLeod has been good but he isn’t a 50+ point player like Mitts or any sort of playmaker like Mitts. He is a downgrade. Byram has improved this season but the analytics say he is being carried by Dahlin. At least he’s better than Power. Still is he worth another huge long-term Adams contract? I don’t think so as his in zone D is still very suspect. Malenstyn, who maybe the only 4th line acquisition who has somewhat done what was expected, is playing over 4 minutes a game less than he did with Wash last season and they don’t miss him at all. Their front office must be laughing at Adams for giving them a 2nd for him. Maybe all 3 of these players are part of the Sabres future, but remember all 3 were dumped by teams with Cup aspirations.

...and they are still at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and 4th worst team in the NHL. At least it's more entertaining.

Nice win. Sad they didn't have this kind of effort for most of the season. They blocked shots, played hard until the final whistle. A few guys even tried to stand up for teammates. This game showed why the US lost to Canada in the final game of the 4 Nations..... Too many Rangers.

Is it me, or do the Amerks have much more fun playing hockey than the Sabres. Sure winning is a factor, but they just seem to play with more joy and enthusiasm.

Since when has that ever mattered to the Sabres in the last 14 years.

Similar numbers in college as well. Now Devon has to do it in the NHL consistently.

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2025/02/nhl-trade-rumors-sabres-utah-linked-to.html Adams allegedly interested in Kesselring from Utah. No idea why Utah would consider trading Kesselring given his low salary and 2 way game, but kudos to Adams if he finds a way to get him. I put the likelihood of this trade at 5%. https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2025/02/report-sabres-henri-jokiharju-drawing.html Finland's head coach called Joki "really solid." Great, Adams trade him now. https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/casey-mittelstadt-seth-jones-join-latest-trade-targets-board-colorado-avalanche-chicago-blackhawks Byram 4th, Mitts 5th, Cozens 7th, and Quinn 16th on their trade board

Power is worse. I've said this in the Power or Byram thread, but one of them needs to be traded.

Speaking of the Beatles; didn't Sir Paul sound horrible last night? Back on topic US vs Canada again. Not surprising.

...The sun will come out tomorrow....

No not exactly, but at 23 (24 in July), most media members stop listing him as a 'prospect." I use a broader definition of 24 years old and still waivers exempt, but writers like Lance, or the guys at the Athletic use a less expansive definition. I use the broader definition because both TNT and Mitts spent considerable time in the NHL before going to Roch and finding their games. For example: This is Wheeler's definition from the Athletic https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5919859/2025/01/08/nhl-prospects-rankings-2025/

If his skating is good enough he’ll have a 10 year + career. Same for Komarov. I’d like to see Novikov to get some games in the NHL soon to see where his skating is.

Lance has published his top 10 prospects. Kulich is No.1, but does anyone have TBN subscription for the other 9?

Since rebuild 3.0 started and outside of draft picks Tuch is the only one and he gave up a top line center to get him. Byram is the only top 4 defenseman he has acquired and he gave up a top 6 forward to get him. Zucker is a 3rd line forward on a good team. McLeod is probably a 3rd/4th line center on most playoff teams. Greenway is also a 3rd/4th line player on good playoff teams. Everyone else he acquired are 4th line/bottom pair players or AAAA players. Since he came to Buffalo, Adams has let an all-star goalie walk (Ullmark). Traded away a top line all-star center (Eichel), a top line all-star winger (Reinhart), a top pair D (Montour) and a top 6 forward (Mitts). He has only arguably replaced Montour with Byram. Eichel and Reinhart are on the top lines for their countries in the 4 nations tournament. Ullmark is also representing Sweden.

Lighten up Francis.

Just got a chance to see the highlights of the USA/Finland game. Nice shot by Joki to get the first goal for Finland. Unfortunately for Finland the Sabres curse kicked in and they gave up 6 straight goals after taking an early lead.

Fairburn of the Athletic reviews all of Adams trades for the last 5 years. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6132221/2025/02/13/sabres-kevyn-adams-trade-rating/ Here is his list of trades with a positive impact 1) McLeod and Tullio for Savoie - Possible long-term answer of 3C job. 2) Mitts for Byram - Mitts struggling in Colo and Byram on our top pair, but needs a new contract. 3) Greenway for a 2nd & a 5th - reliable contributor when healthy, but hasn't exceeded his career high 32 points. UFA. Big trades that aged poorly 1) Eichel for Tuch, Krebs, a 1st (Östlund) & a 2nd (used to help acquire Greenway). Eichel has a Cup and is a two way star. Tuch has been good but not Eichel and the rest have had little impact 2) Reinhart for a 1st (Kulich) and Levi - Reinhart is a star and a Cup winner. Kulich and Levi still have significant potential but.... 3) Montour for a 3rd (Sardarian) - Montour has a Cup and is now a top tier D, while Sardarian may never play for the Sabres Big trades that sucked 1) Hall & Lazar for Bjork and 2nd (Kisakov) - so basically Hall traded for nothing 2) Johansson for Staal and then Staal for a 3rd (Bloom - since traded for Stillman) and a 5th (Marjala - who returned to Finland) Trades that might still work out 1) Risto for Hagg, a 1st (Rosen), and a 2nd (Wahlberg) - Two prospect who still can make an impact in Buffalo Smaller trades that didn't make an impact 1) Lyubushkin for a 2025 4th - Lost a physical RHD which we could certainly use 2) Bloom for Stillman - Was supposed to help with physical play. LOL, played 18 games and then Rochester in year 2. 3) Malenstyn for a 2nd (Cole Hutson) - Malenstyn playing 4 minutes a night less in Buffalo than Washington. A 2nd was a steep price to pay for such a player 4) Robinson for a 7th - Having a career best season for Carolina Smaller deals that could help the Sabres. 1) Portillo for a 3rd (Gavin McCarthy) - McCarthy is still in college 2) Butcher & a 5th (Komarov) for Future Considerations - Butcher sucked in Buffalo, but Komarov has developed into a decent prospect 3) Jonas Johansson for a 6th (Novikov) - Johansson has played in the NHL and sometimes well, but Novikov has developed into a decent prospect with a shot at the NHL Conclusion My bottomline, even the 3 "decent" trades have not really improved the team. Greenway, who I like, is oft injured. McLeod is having his best season, but the Sabres were a better team with Mitts in the role. Byram has shown significant improvement this season, but still is a defensive liability, and is going to cost a large extension. Despite these "good" moves the Sabres have gone from just missing the playoffs to the bottom of the Eastern standings. Now add that Adams has failed to support the team over the last 3 seasons in season and has never truly fixed any of the real issues with his roster, I'd say all of these moves are failed moves.

How can anything cloud the judgement of someone that lacks judgement?

Was he ever? Another wasted 2nd rd pick.

He'll be long gone by the time we draft from 4th to 6th. Maybe we'll get lucky and Martone will still be available.

And he’s not carrying Byram

Levi has proven he is a great AHL goalie. Now he needs to take the next step and prove he can be a competent NHL goalie. The question is will Adams/Ruff give him the PT to prove it down the stretch. I’d love to see him get some consecutive games to try to find some form in the NHL.

It's called being a fan. I became a grandfather in Jan and immediately put the baby in a Bills onesie. I, like you, have lead a pretty blessed life, but that doesn't stop me from wanting a few things I have always wanted; championships for my teams.

It's complicated. I am a life long Sabres fan and may even want them to win a Cup more than I want the Bills to win a Super Bowl and that is saying something. From a player standpoint, I believe there are building blocks of a good NHL team. Thompson, Dahlin, Byram, Benson, JJP and maybe Kulich are something for competent management to build around. Tuch and UPL are solid pieces as well. The problem ultimately lies with ownership and management. Adams and Pegula are destroying the franchise. As long as they are in charge this team is DOA. I have tried to remain a little hopeful that they get a clue and between the approaching deadline and this coming off-season they add defensemen who can defend and a top 6 playmaker for the offense, but even that scant hope is in short supply.