Pimlach

Quite possible. Many hockey GMs are crusty NHL vets that know the game by being in it forever and they want complete control of hockey operations. Adams proved himself to Terry in his lower level positions on the business side. He is smart and well spoken. I suspect that he has picked Beane's brain about his job, about culture change in sports, and especially conversations about keeping their boss happy.

Lots of people here comment on your evaluation of The Pegula's but I think you are mostly onto something. They are good people and they have done a ton of good things for the city and they prevented the teams from leaving. No doubt. Even the One Buffalo thing could have been really good too. Unfortunately, the Sabres have suffered under his reign and there is no other way to see it. Not that he tried to screw it up, but he did screw it up. He got a big break with the Bills and McDermott/Beane, and hopefully now Adams/Granato will produce as well. Let just hope that Roth is the superstar that they think he is, and that Terry is the owner that empowers and enables others do their jobs. After all these years it is still hard to tell that he is.

This thread is interesting. Kim is not able to fulfill her role as President, that is what is causing the shake up. How are these latest changes efficient, economic, and effective? Are we still doing that? I am confused. Ron Raccuia was let go from the Bills, and COO John Roth, who was running the Sabres business side was given responsibility for both teams. Now, ONE Buffalo is gone, so is Roth is now running the football business and Terry the hockey side? Are they each working both (efficient) - that sounds like ONE Buffalo? We read that Terry is breaking up the ONE Buffalo layer and running the teams as two separate organizations. Normally this means more jobs, yet in Pegula Land 9 people are laid off so far. Either One Buffalo was an extra layer of fluff that Kim created, or the business side has to do more work with less people (economic). The one constant with Terry Pegula is an ever-changing and always confusing organizational structure. From the time he took over the Sabres right up to today, his organizational structure has taken big swings in direction, from bloated to a skeleton crew and now back to two organizations. Terry business is often in a state of flux. How can this help build the long term success that Adams talks about (effective)? I just hope he leaves Adams and Granato alone. I don’t trust him making decision on the sports side of either team.

What did the kids actually run? Other that making ball caps what did they do related to Bills or Sabres. I think the answer is nothing.

Why are people saying Elam is a bust in ore season, could it be that Benford is a gem? Basham was alway a waste of a pick to me, going back to back DL, especially with good OL players on the board. Moss too, we had Singletary, they seemed similar, not complimentary. Beane’s drafts are about average, but his trades and free agent pick ups have filled holes.

I worry about LB and I think Edmunds will be missed. Not that he was worth the big contract but but was known as a good coverage LB, not sure were your coming from saying he could not cover, that is actually what he did best. He certainly lacked ball skills and the ability to make a big play. You worry about the Bills OL for 50+ years??? The Bill have a history of great O lineman. The best Bills teams all have HoF or WoF or All Pro offensive lineman, until now. Allens skills make this current. mediocre collection of OL adequate at best.

The crew of my early years - Awesome!

Jack Buck -> baseball. Howard Cosell MNF and boxing

Overall I think the Bills could once again be in the top 4 of the AFC, after that then they have to show up for crunch time. There are trouble areas that I see, in this order (for now at the start of the season): 1. OL - they made moves to improve at OG but the tackles are not wowing anybody lately. Still not happy with the talent on the OL. 2. Dorsey - I just don't know yet, but he does not get the confidence from me that Daboll got. I never worried about their readiness and the game plan under Daboll. Now I do. 3. DL - lots of resources are spent here and it is time for some of them to dominate if this is going to be a good defense. If not, then this is an average defense missing Edmunds. We don't know if Tre is still Tre either. 4. HC on game day - he has had trouble managing the game on game day at times, and he has learned along the way. Now he has to run the defense too. Not sure I like this. Could be overload for him.

??

Stop lumping me in with others. I am not starting or part of a “false narrative”, you sound like CNN versus Fox News with those words. What we know is that Adams is willing to make trades, but not willing to give up the pieces other teams ask for. He has said that himself. My opinion is that Adams is taking a big risk by not addressing goaltending beyond the rookie Levi. Let’s see how it plays out. Maybe UPL or Comrie will give us 35 good games and Levi can go 55. Maybe. My opinion is that he has added some help to the defense in Clifton and E Johnson, but he also added Lyubushkin and Stillman last season and neither has panned out. As for all of his trades of our past core, that looks like good work so far. Vegas has a Cup, Florida a Presidents trophy and a Cup final appearance, and Buffalo has an improving team with lots of prospects. Sure, in 3+ years he has improved the roster, not like that is a huge accomplishment in the hockey world, it’s not. New Jersey did it. Florida did it. Avalanche did it before them. Ottawa and Detroit are right there with Buffalo in their rebuilds. Improving from last place is expected, and not a miracle accomplishment. Being a playoff team is the next step for this team and I fully expect him to make the correct moves to get us there this year. It is time. You don’t know that staying the course is the correct move for this season and you don’t know what trades were on the table and passed on. If staying the course is the correct move for right now we will soon find out. I do know with absolutely certainty that the core we have now needs to be supported, and that this team does not have roster spots for all of the high level prospects should a reasonable number of them pan out. At some point trades will happen.

Ok. But you didn’t answer the question. If the GM does not make the playoffs this year, should he “stray” from the said plan? What is your answer?

If they do not make the playoffs this coming season then can they stray?

You draft the best players available, every time, no matter. You don't trade Savoie and another #1 pick for Saros - what goalie was traded for two #1's and how did it work out? I don't want McDonagh for Joki and UPL either - not even straight up for either. You don't trade a talent like Östlund and another #1 pick for Travis Konecney. Travis is a good player, but not worth two #1's. You don't re-acquire Linus. He has done nothing on the playoffs and he wanted out of Buffalo, why would you bring him back? Your fourth option is a trade of odds and sods, not interested in it.

He past that already with 31 goals last year while carrying two rookies on his wings. I think he is a guy who can get 40 or more with the right players. He is going to be better than Peca.

I think TNT is gonna dominate this season. He is going to be a year stronger and smarter and will better utilize his size and reach.

Not all of the northeast is as comfortable in the summer as Buffalo.

Most of the US is broiling while Buffalo is having mid 70's.

This must be very hard for Gilbert as they are going on 50 years together. RIP Carmen.

Big guy. Had some hope for a power forward when drafted but he had AHL speed. RIP Joe.

We saw Kenny Loggins on Thursday. His final tour, titled "This is it" .... he and his band were really good. I saw Loggins and Messina at Kleinhan's Musical Hall back in the day. Like about 1973 whem concerts were about $3 to $5 bucks. They were excellent live, way better than I thought they would be.

in the booth, headset on, calling PBP.

The coach lost confidence in all of them except for 26, 23 and 25. I agree that Boosh's agent probably pushed for a trade and Adams put the "want to be here" policy into effect. The hopeful news is that R. Johnson and Novikov could be legit NHL players and will pass Bryson and Clague. Until then, we are back to very thin with Stillman at 7, and Bryson/Clague and 8/9.

What the Hecht?

Boosh is a third pair 6/7th defenseman that should have more value than a 4th round pick. Boosh just logged 68 games in an injury riddled season. Colorado had 11 defensemen play at least 20 games last season. E Johnson played 63 games for them, the 4th highest on their team. An injured Boosh played more games than Erik Johnson, our new 3rd pair guy. To think that we won’t need quality depth at 7 and 8 is laughable. The President’s Trophy winning Bruins had 8 defenders play at least 20. The Sabres had 8 defenders play 20 games or more (plus Pilut (17) and Stillman (18)). When ErIc Johnson gets a rest we get more Stillman or more Bryson/Clague. This is not good depth. None are better than Boosh but they all make less money. Ryan Johnson will probably get a call up too. This is about giving away a player for cap room as if a trade is coming. But it’s probably just a salary dump.