PerreaultForever

He does seem to be spending more time on his hair than on his defensive game that is for sure. He's young though. That's the problem. Sabres haven't had vets paired with him to teach him to be a pro. His contract was too much and too soon that is obvious. Again, KA worst GM in hockey.

I remember there was a game against Dallas and we won 1-0 with Ullmark and it was all Ullmark and at that moment I thought damn, Ullmark might actually be really good. And then we let him walk.

That's actually a fair point, but Mrtka is still years away. You can sort of see it right? Byram arbitration, 2 year deal and he walks, and in 2 years Mrtka enters the D. Once again, rearranging deck chairs.

Montreal definitely better. Columbus is better. Detroit slightly better and Boston and Philly and NYR better. Do not think Boston or Detroit or Philly did enough to get in but those will be harder opponents. Who is dropping out to get Sabres in???

If. That's the question. So far he has not shown any signs of using his body or developing good D habits. It's still early in his career and he can, but we have to see signs of it to have that hope realistically.

That's delusional though. There's nothing to indicate goaltending will be better and the team isn't better and yet teams around it are better. It's just that simple. KA is the worst GM in the league. I think I could play goal for the swamp cats the way they play D.

Power doesn't have to start smashing people around (as nice as that might be to think about) but he does have to start using his size and boxing people out. His defensive skills are somewhat lacking at this point. Part of that is on the Sabres, and part of that is on him. So you didn't like the Mrtka pick then? 🙂

I do not believe that is true. Too many teams around them got better and they just shuffled out a little offense for a little defense and switched fringe goalies. Consider for example that Detroit traded for Gibson because Lyons wasn't getting it done and now we think signing him is going to get us in the playoffs? Stop dreaming. As I said, Detroit ditched Lyons and now we think he will get us in the playoffs? Seriously?

I have to see Timmins play before I decide. I can't say I've really paid attention to him in the NHL. The D is big enough, not sure it's strong enough or tough enough. Much of it still depends on Power getting better and Samuelsson not sucking entirely.

I didn't put Crosby in cause he's still playing but he's about even with Lemieux. I think Lemieux had more talent but Crosby works harder. McJesus will probably bump up the list in time but again, it's always hard to compare eras. Perreault had to fight his way past Bobby Clarke and all kinds of other slash/hack/hold thugs and it's hard to say how today's players would handle that. They are faster now but also a little more fragile.

Not a chance.

We can still sign Skinner for that open forward spot. He's still available.

lol, if you think about it, this team has already broken you. Your bar of expectation is buried under ground and you're okay with it. You accept it. You have already given up even though you will think you have hope and you will feel the pain of having even that taken away slowly.

Exactly, and that's the problem. KA is just a s**t GM. Simple as that. I'm a chess player .

Exactly. Which tells you that Byram could have fetched a decent haul if they'd gone that same route. I mean consider it. Even if Byram is less and you only get the 2 firsts, you sign Orlov in free agency and then use those picks for Rust or maybe even Robertson. Face it, Adams is a lousy GM and he is killing this team because Dahlin will ask out after this year. I am almost certain of it.

wouldn't you?

Apparently not old enough to know how to spell his name though 🙂 Perreault was special there's no question about it. He was part of why I became a Sabres fan and he had the skill to be the best ever but I will say I think he lacked the work ethic and desire to be that guy. He did have a tendency to just rest on his talent and not try to be better and better and win it all. Even a little lazy at times. If he had had Howe's toughness and work ethic he would most definitely have been the greatest ever. I usually rank it: 1. Orr 2. Howe 3. Gretzky 4. Perreault 5. Lemieux but it's hard to compare eras and positions.

I think you can actually get extra value. Say you get a first, a second and a prospect for Byram (which feels about right to me). You flip that first and second and maybe a lower pick of your own for a forward you still have that prospect. Or maybe a lower level roster player. These are all hypotheticals but this sort of deal does happen all the time.

It's not "trash" though. It's how deals get done. Not all teams want the same things. Let me give you a hypothetical to explain. A team like San Jose wants players because they feel they are ready to move up. They'd love a guy like Byram. What they have to offer was a cupboard full of picks and prospects. That's step 1. Then a team like Dallas was up against the cap so they might love some high end picks and prospects for one of their contracts. That's how you do it. Kevyn Adams seems incapable of seeing multiple things at the same time and how they can interact.

I doubt he got "trash offers" but I imagine they were not player for player offers. I bet he got a lot of offers involving picks and prospects and if he'd taken those and then flipped them to someone else he'd have gotten what he wanted as we alluded to earlier.

Sabres just don't make moves like this. They just don't.

Well of course he does. He's better than those stiffs but you aren't going to build a winning team and culture with these sort of temporary fixes. Now I have heard Byram wanted 9 million and no way do I think we should have paid that, but I'd rather have traded him and made moves to fill that void. Orlov or somebody could have been signed to temporarily fill the Byram hole if Adams was on the ball. The way this is trending I think it will all fall apart within 2 years.

It's funny how everybody says that about everybody who leaves and yet they keep leaving. The team is NOT committed to winning and it shows. That's the difference. Utah at least appears like it will do everything it can to get better. When have we felt that way about the Sabres? Players know this.

I've been talking about that for years. You make multiple deals. Some teams want picks. Some teams want players. You mix and match appropriately. It's not that hard. This is stupid by the Sabres. This is not how you create a team where players will want to come. Byram will be 2 years and gone as a UFA.

Tell that to Jeremy Swayman.