PerreaultForever

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.

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.