PerreaultForever

It certainly feels true doesn't it? Confirmation that Terry is the de facto Director of Hockey Ops really wouldn't surprise anyone here. It's also confirmation of the problem.

As a one year fill if he was moving Byram out. Dumba would be overpaid but he's better than our bottom pair and veterans on the roster is what is always lacking on this team. The thing about that trade is they are giving you something to take him. That's a win for a season. Only thing it costs you is money and that doesn't affect us now does it.

I'd agree. There's nothing profound there but "The Hockey Guy" rarely is. He's usually pretty objective and just summarizes the facts. Only time I've seen him get passionate was his recent one about Sportsnet's huge price increase. I think all of Canada is pissed off about that.

Hockey Guy does his take on the Sabres.

I woke up to read a rumor running around twitter today that Shanahan called Terry directly and offered his services as Director of Hockey Ops and Terry's reply was "I'm Director of Hockey Ops" which made me both laugh and cry at the same time. It's also totally believable. Could be bs but it just feels like it's probably true.

My guess would be Adams never even thought of trying to do this. I'd say you can forget about Robertson. He isn't going anywhere.

Okay that's more reasonable. I can't say I remember what everybody said about Casey and I've never been a fan myself as I do think he's lazy but I do think it's easier to find a McLeod than it is a 50 plus point offensive forward to add to your roster. Right now we have a hole where Peterka was and if we do not fill that hole that hole will be part of the reason for next year's failure. Realistically, if we were good enough to possibly make the playoffs there'd be no discussion. McLeod would be our 3C.

No you are mistaken. He got 50+ points 2 years in a row. He got a lousy 40 last year in his **** season.

I think you're using hindsight here. In 23/24 Mitts was a 57 pt. plus player. The year before he was a minus player but had 59 pts. McLeod was a 30 pt. player in his best year in Edmonton. McLeod's defensive skills are not enough to make up for that difference. If that trade had happened you'd have been livid like everyone else here.

Ya that's possible. We shall never know if anybody lied or not. Adams blew it that much is certain. I like Linus and I think overall he's a good person and good team mate but I also think he could have lied for his own self interest. There is a belief/rumor in Boston that he had told Sweeney he was okay to go to L.A. at the deadline and there was a deal and then he backed out at the last minute and so they moved him for much less in the off season to a team not on his list (Ottawa). Again, behind closed doors so who knows.

Just as an aside I think this is a very important year for Mittlestadt in Boston. He will either buy in and apply himself finally and become a serviceable 2C or he will end up discarded and become a skilled but unwanted failure like Skinner is right now. Signed for small amounts late in free agency or not at all. No idea which way that goes, but I suspect he's just a placeholder for Hagens.

That is correct in terms of how to look at it. If you don't look at it that way 2C 3C designations have no meaning. Only match ups will matter along with ice time. As for the trade, sure, you'd do that now, but you'd have been calling Adams crazy if he did that 2 years ago.

As I said, Mittelstadt is not a particularly good 2C. When he wants to be however, Mittlestadt is better than McLeod. When he wants to be. (Unfortunately that's not very often) Let me ask you this, and be honest, 2 years ago if Adams decided to trade Mittelstadt for McLeod straight up what would have been your reaction? I imagine you'd have wanted him fired on the spot.

The real irritant at that moment is that was the expansion year and there were several teams unloading goalies cheap since they could only protect one. If Ullmark didn't sign (which he didn't) why on earth do you protect him and not make a deal for one of those goalies and protect them instead? Seattle wasn't going to take a UFA unless they could sign him so why didn't Adams know? Ullmark either lied to him behind closed doors or Adams just arrogantly was sure he'd take his offer. It was ridiculous. All he's done since then was trade for a prospect who is now the future savior in his mind. A thing which may or may not happen. We have prospects in the system, but that's all we ever have.

Well for one, Edmonton was a playoff team so there's your example. He's just not as good as you want him to be. Offensively he's not even better than Casey Mittelstadt was. Casey Mittelstadt is a 2C. Not a particularly good 2C because he's lazy but a 2C. I simply do not think McLeod is as good as you think he is. In some ways yes, Barkov is better than McDavid.

We actually don't know what Buffalo offered him. But what are we arguing about anyway? It hardly matters. What matters is Adams did not fill that hole adequately when Ullmark left. He still hasn't.

Oh ya I thought you meant he could be a 2C on a playoff team. Meaning a good 2C. Could he end up as our 2C? Definitely. Will we make the playoffs? Definitely not.

So he lines up against Bennett instead of Barkov. Think it over.

I'm not and I know it. So explain to me how going to Boston helps with it?

That's called smugness. But you already know that as this is the time of year you always start resorting to it in extra doses.

Right, because his father's death is connected to Buffalo how exactly? His dad couldn't live knowing Terry was the owner? I think it's fair to say athletes say anything when they make a change to make it seem like a positive change. Look at Peterka's comments in Utah. You think that isn't manufactured to fit the narrative? Yes he wanted out, but there's no way he sat back in Germany and thought, Utah, ya, that's where I want to be. The bottom line for me is KA botched goaltending then too. If Ullmark wasn't interested in signing why'd he protect him? Why didn't he grab one of the goalies that was free at that time? It makes no sense unless KA was sure he could sign him. So Linus lied to Adams and then told the truth about his father after? It simply makes no sense on that level. At the time, Boston fans were livid and thought Ullmark got grossly overpaid. Hindsight.

Sorry, but you are delusional. He's a third liner.

McLeod is a good third line player. If he is playing higher up your line up, your line up isn't good enough.

You can phrase it how you want but I think it merely came down to money. They thought he'd take their offer but then Boston swooped in with what (at the time) seemed like an overpay so he took it. There were no indicators that he wanted out at that time. Sabres haven't valued goaltending properly for a really really long time.

No. I think he's doing slightly better than Adams but he should be fired too. Apparently he tried for Ehlers but Ehlers "didn't want to be there". I think Detroit will finish 5-10 points ahead of the Sabres but miss the playoffs.