Pimlach

I don't see it (refer to the bolded). Maybe people some think it. From the last draft only 4 players have any NHL games, one being 13th pick Benson. The other three were the top 3 players drafted, and all playing on very bad teams. Most players are not ready at 18, 19, 20, 21. Some are, but they are unusual. It helps to bring them into a solid cast and system, which we do NOT have. Sam Reinhart was drafted 2nd overall and was sent back to juniors after a 9 game look. When he came up it was his draft year +1, he did ok but lacked the physical game. He started to get that part of his game at 23-24. Now he is 27, 6'2", 195 lbs, and closing in on 50 goals - playing on a strong team. What makes anyone think that Savoie (20), Kulich (19), Rosen (21) and Östlund (20) are going to fair better than Sam Reinhart? We should not be rushing them. Next off season Adams needs to break his pattern and bring in some players in their prime years to fill the gaps while the prospects develop at the proper level.

Not really. But most prospects are drafted at 18, so add 3-4 years to most of them to be ready to get a look. A big problem with Adams build from within pipeline is it takes 3 years of good drafting just to build one, and 3 more years to prime the pump with ready players. Adam’s declaration of “no blockers” is holding the team and the current Core players back. We keep bringing in 18 to 20 year olds. We keep losing 24-25 year olds (Eichel, Reinhart, Montour, Ulmark, Mitts). He adds vet that are past prime, and/or tweener-Jags, with only a few exceptions. Big contracts to young players might be another issue down the road if these guys don’t keep improving. I think he had things turning around but then he failed to get a goalie for last season. This past offseason was not productive either and the team has not improved. Thinking Levi could make the jump was a big miss. Expecting straight line continuous growth from Tage, Dahlin, Power, and Cozens was another miss. UPL is saving Adams right now.

The Pegula Era

Whoa! Let’s see what the OFF season looks like. Next season is a NEW season.

Given the players we have right now they are the first line. Thompson regaining his 40+ goal form, and Tuch regaining 30+ goal form is certainly good enough. Skinner is the questionable one.

Ask me once we start the pre season. For now I say: We have one good goalie until proven otherwise. Quinn should be back, and that helps. Thompson should be healthy and ready to get back on track as a goal scorer. Defense is almost there but lacking the big force that clears the front of the net and pounds opponents We must add 2 centers and 2 wingers Tuch - Tage - Skinner Quinn - Cozens - Peterka Benson - New 2C/3C - New Power Forward Greenway - New 4C - New Winger Spare: Krebs and TBD Dahlin - Byram Power - New Guy Muel - Clifton Spare: Johnson UPL - Levi Trade: Joker and several prospects Flush: VO, Girgs, Comrie To AHL: Jost, Robinson, Bryson Trade

Rochester Help: Levi is the best prospect and he may come in and help the team next season as the #2. I doubt Adams brings in anther goalie given his past practices. Ryan Johnson is next and a possible 6/7. Dahlin/Bryam, Power/ <Big tough solid guy> , Muel/Clifton. We can trade Joker and Johnson can be the 7th guy. Rosen/Kulich are the next but I doubt they are ready and were do they fit? Neither are 4th line guys. Savoie and Ostund should play in Rochester and develop their games. Biro/Rousek are tweener types, not gonna make an impact, but can be recalled and still likely to clear waivers.

Back to the game. I was thinking about how they beat the Kracken, and then kept the Vancouver game close even though they were on a back to back. The Oiler game was close for two periods, but both periods Buffalo gave up a late goal. Both periods looked like the Oilers forwards had too much size and skill for us and that they were going to break out. They did. In the 3rd the Sabres stopped playing. I am hoping that UPL chewed them out in the locker room because he was abandoned. I am hoping that DG chewed them out too. I don't any of that happened. Team that are truly close can vent like that in the locker room. Close does not mean they party together afterwards, it means they respect each other and hold each other accountable for what happens on the ice (in practice and in games). Calgary is next. They get two days of rest prior, but I would skate them real hard in the next practice. They need to win just to avoid a tailspin.

Add to hasn't done list: 5. He has not done anything to inspire a winning culture and change the perception of this team throughout the league. (Should have been priority 1 but instead he let good players go, and kept only the ones that wanted to stay. He supported them with AHL/NHL JAGs and bad goalies to "not block" the prospects). As a result, he is still having trouble acquiring vets in their prime years that want to win because #5 is not a priority like it was for Beane and McDermott. Good players that want to win go to the teams that show they want to win. No veteran is on a 5 year plan.

Sadly, it appears that Adams boss is ok with the "progress".

WOW. Season since 1960. 64 years. The PSL concept should be illegal.

Beane and McDermott were really quite incredible. That very first year they started taking the team apart but they still made the playoffs, breaking a 17 year drought, and sending a message that there are finally competent people running the team in Buffalo. I loved that McD said he owned the drought. He knew he didn't cause it, but he knew he had to own it and therefore anyone who played for him also owned it, and they made it a goal to end it. Contrast that to the Sabres where has Adams publicly stated that he, and his coaches, and his players, are not responsible for the drought. You see how that is working to inspire his troops.

The Knox's ran this franchise the right way. They hired good leaders, the teams were good and fun to watch. Imlach, Bowman, Meehan, and Muckler all knew what to do. Rigas and Golisano both had some success mixed with some poor periods. Golisano inexplicably took apart a great team for no reason other than underfunding his payroll. Pegula has been a complete disaster. His words at those opening press conferences turned out to be lies. Example: “I wanna run the team to win the Stanley Cup. If I want to make some money I’ll go build a gas well.”

First bold - Adams has the exact same problem with Byram as he has with Mitts. He has to extend him too. Lots of cap $$$ are going to the blue line. Second bold - Yes, hard working 2 way forwards, with great hands and skills, that can play both center and wing, are not the type of player we need.

Not gonna happen Rico. You might see a few assistants move, maybe a power play guy brought in. Enjoy the scoreboard and the roof. That is the extent of real attention Terry is going to pay on this team. Thankfully, the new COO will have to run those projects. Between the new stadium and scoreboard/roof that guy will be busy.

Sure, I want to give him year 5 but with goals set that playoffs are required. But who is working on the alternate plans for a change if Adams fails again next year? Terry all by himself? All he has is the new Business COO and Adams. That is the brain trust.

If true then we have Mitts' replacement. I say he is not ready for the NHL next season and that he is at least 3 years away from playing like Mitts does today. I want to be wrong.

Guts? According to Mitts they never talked about an extension. I say the Mitts for Bryam trade only works if he replaces Mitts with an equal or better player in another deal. Get ready for an extended Krebs/Savoie/ Rosen tryout for 3C next year. It’s going to happen just like the great goalie tryout of 2023.

Careful. The “Terry doesn’t meddle” gang is going to get riled.

He is locked up long term, but so was Eichel. All he has to do is tell Adams he doesn’t want to be here I guess, maybe say things publicly that piss off Terry. I’ll give it two years. Let’s see what happens with Bryam soon.

He only fired Boterill because he would not do the Covid cost cutting to maintain the family lifestyle.