Broken Ankles

The logic for Line 1 is experience while keeping the chemistry from Tage and Tuch. I know others like balance, hence Alex slotted on FL#2. I like prefer they stay together. FL2 is more defensive in nature, but certainly capable of scoring. FL#3 could be potent against other teams bottom six. Again, I know Kulich is slotted at Center for most, but I think he should focus on scoring goals. If he was sheltered slightly (3rd line wing vs Top line Center), I think he can score 30. And finally, the hope is Quinn could outperform against grinders. Based on what we saw from him in Rochester, he should be 25+. Especially against lesser talent.

Stop living in fear.

Zuck Tage Tuch Benson McLeod Greenway Kulich Norris Doan Quinn Krebs Danforth Byram/Rasmus Power/Kesselring Mr.Glass/Timmins UPL/Lyon

What is the point in signing before arbitration unless you think the results would yield a potentially higher AAV award? So was he somehow going to get MORE than $2.2M annually if they let it play out? Or just bad negotiating by Adams…again? If I assume he was a portion of the second round pick collateral to Pittsburgh (Clifton cap dump being the other), and if JBD would have gone to arbitration and that process yielded say $1.5m- $1.8m, are the Sabres better off with Timmons at $2.2m or with JBD, the draft capital (whatever it may be) plus the additional cap space (not that it would be used)?

Angry is over.

Maybe late 80s Ozzy but not during the Diary of A Madman tour in ‘82. His show at the Aud was legendary. It was Mid April, just weeks after Randy Rhoades untimely death. A few before Rhoades death in Iowa, he bit the head off a bat 🦇. The concert was so hyped. Rest in peace Great Ozz!

Elite defensive forwards play on FL2 against an another teams first line (when at home and you can matchup better). I have no issues with him moving up to a second line role (assuming Greenway/Zucker aren’t both injured or producing). I also know he is an analytics darling and loved by the masses on SS. But you need your best talent on the first line. Tage/Norris/Tuch. These are known quantities. Men who score goals.

How can you say in sequential posts how crazy the fan base is to even consider Kulich starting on FL1, then follow it up with penciling in Benson there? I think the fact either starting there is equally egregious. In fact it kind of explains the impotence of the organization, doesn’t it?. There are zero 10 goal/28 point forwards slotted on the first line around the league. Benson had the same point total as Krebs, with better line mates, and a higher ATOI. No one is clamoring for Krebs to play alongside Tage. Until Benson puts up a 20 goal season like JJP, then first line LW should not be a consideration. In terms of age and pedigree, why would Quinn not supersede Benson in the overall hierarchy? I think it’s more probable than not he out points both Kulich and Benson.

This. One notch above JAG. Noah waits in the wings. Played solidly in his 8-game tryout last year.

Have you knocked and stuck around to chat them up?

Late West Coast Road trip this year. It's been a while since I was in Anaheim/LA in late March. St. Patrick's Day in Vegas could spell trouble for some 716 fans travelling to support the team. March Madness offers enough reason for overindulging in adult beverages in Vegas. Toss in a Sabres game and St. Pat's holiday, and it could get ugly. I'm visiting family in mid-October, so it looks like Colorado and Florida. It could be worse.

Chimera. Bravo. They claim they want to be tougher to play against, but then ask guys like Tuck or Benson to fight. If the goal was actually to ensure liberties are not taken, trade for a 4th line enforcer.

I envision Adams as a feisty George Costanza. It’s a team………. about nothing!

No. The board would go crazy if he was traded 1/1 for an unproven ELC. Didn’t watch enough St. Louis games to say, but the pedigree and stats say not equal.

Thorny responded adequately for the charade question. On surface it looks more probable than not Adams does not have what he views is a fair offer and holds onto the asset. And in that scenario I think you are banking on Bo’s motivation for a long term contact to exceed expectations and elevate the Defense. The Norris contract does contradict my argument. My only response is that realizing the $12m net savings from Jeffs buyout allowed Pegula to justify the additional $2.5m in 2025. Especially if Adams and the staff think Norris could improve the team over Cozens. They are still marching towards improvement. Weather or not it’s manifested is another story. If the plan fails again this year, Pegula can then pull the proverbial chute and avoid his umpteenth rebuild.

Not a Calder winner, not a perennial all star, peaking at 6th in Norris voting, out pointed by a Dman taken 5 picks later in the same draft and started a full year later is evidence enough. Court finds in favor of Weave.

Based on what we have seen from Adams and Pegula, I'd be surprised if he isn’t traded, and furthermore traded for assets that net less AAV in than expected AAV going out. All of his recent moves (as you astutely documented in another thread) outline a plan to add 'perceived' value while lowering the salary or long term commitment. I'll add one that qualifies not in your list. Jeff Skinner's $4.4M in buyout cap charges saves Pegula $2M this year, as his obligation to Jeff is $2.4. Pegula was on the hook for $10M in 2024, and $7M in 2025 before the Skinner buyout - and after he pays out the $2.4m Jeff is owed this year, it's a $12M savings in real dollars over two seasons. If Byram trade happens and it's for futures then I'm convinced that Terry is shopping the team. There are only a few bad contracts, and maybe only Samuelsson is an albatross. Can a $4.4M AAV qualify as an albatross-like contract? The GM, coaches, AGM all on their last year of a contract. It's what you would want if you are selling a team. Especially to a private equity group. Mergers and acquisition flexibility - if you have an "asset-lite" structure, it would allow for an easier integration and repositioning strategy.

We will know by 5pm today, right? Isn’t July 6th the deadline to file for club elected arbitration?

Hey Chad.

All valid. And I did not suggest that JBD is worthy of the second round pick. Maybe closer to the Gilbert return than the second. But in between. My point is how Adams said he was #8. Bryson was also waived, and previously not qualified. Maybe he is a much better teammate than we imagine. But I’ve seen enough to know he’s probably the #7 LD in the system. A few more random thoughts. If JBD was waived, why is Adams worried about what an arbitration might yield? What is the max award he might receive? $1.5m? That’s the ceiling right? He signed for under $900k. And probably closer to $1.25m. My point is, with a lack of right handed D available, I would rather keep him over Bryson. I can be persuaded that he might not in the top 6, but for an additional $250k, I’d rather him, than Jacob.

Agree with all this. Player evaluation (and development) has been questionable at best with this regime of coaches and GM. How is JBD worse than Bryson? Plus he is a right handed shot. To your point, Johnson or Novikov could fill that role of #6. And if, if you somehow extricate the AAV for Mr.Glass, then you might have been able to plugged in an even better partner for Power. But we all know if Adams was to able to move his $4.4m cap number, it’s doubtful they spend it elsewhere. Something like Dahlin/Weegar Power/Kesselring JBD/ Novikov. That group would be ~$1m more than what the Sabres ice after Timmins raise and keeping Samuelsson. I would love to know if Adams actively tried to move JBD and received no offer. Like every GM said hard pass.

Strenuously disagree?