Pimlach

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Trade UPL straight up for Ottenger. GET IT DONE JARMO!!

Interesting questions Rico. My guess is that some serious self actualization has taken place by both TP and Adams. Maybe having Ruff in the group for the past season has brought something out in these two guys? We know that TP likes and trusts Adams. TP could have finally been convinced that Adams needs help and the Sabres are one of the few team without Sr Exec/Advisors types in their FO. My guess is that Adams has told Pegula what help he needs to perform better and Pegula is now listening. Adams hired Staal for the more entry level work, and he hired Jarmo for the more strategic work. Adams has a prior relationship with Jarmo and they like each other. Jarmo will be reporting to Adams, so I believe that Adams had to be involved in the hiring. Lets face it Adams struggles with the hands-on part of the GM job, like making serious hockey trades. We know that Adams went after Chychrun, Pesce and Neces in the past - all are damn good players too. He just could not get it done. Maybe Jarmo can? So my guess is that Adams wants the help, got the ok from TP, and he went out and found some people that will work for him and help him. I am also guessing that if this fails its Adams last hurrah and he is gone after that, and TP at least gets a quick look at Jarmo for a replacement. But if they are successful there is room to make Adams POHO and Jarmo GM and everyone gets a nice pay raise. Ruff is the wildcard that I guess could have an ear of the big boss. If he is thought of as just a hockey coach we will find out soon enough, but I guess he will have a second chapter with the Sabres in the FO. This is just my guess, it aligns with how I run things and how I advise clients. So Terry, if you really like Adams that much get the guy some help.

Giving Cozens an A probably hurt him. I remember when he was younger and when he scored a big goal or made a big hit fans on this board would be calling for him to get a C. Laughable but true. Next year, if Muel is still around he should not wear an A. Dahlin, Tuch and Thompson is enough.

Nostalgic hires by TP were Pat LaFontaine, Teddy Nolan, Phil Housley, and to a much smaller extent Jason Boterill. Much more than one hire.

You are singing my tune. I like things slower, more thought out, and with some contingency planning.

Agree. They can call Jarmo a "Senior Advisor" to the GM, but he is an NHL GM, and he wants another shot. He is both more proven and more qualified, than LaFontaine/Murray, Boterill, and Adams were when they given their shots. Pegula hired experience and energy with this guy. I wish him the best. We really need someone to save the day.

Digesting this longer, I think Jarmo will be strong voice in the planing and strategy, plus his past ability to execute trades will be helpful.

This would trigger @JohnC. I think I read somewhere that John does not like Torts. Didn't they have an incident back in the 1993 at the Aud in the Terrace Street Parking lot?

Adams went after some very good players according to past media rumors, but closing on the deal is not a strength for him. Maybe Jarmo can help with that? Senior Advisor is a foot in the door but he is not an AGM yet. Still, I suspect that Jarmo will help re-shape the roster and that Ruff will be telling him what he wants and needs.

He is a friend of TP isn't he?

This is something. Not reporting to Terry is good if Adams will listen to Jarmo and buffer him from the big boss. Looks like a hire that can replace Adams as GM at any time. Where does Ruff fit again? Does he report directly to TP?

I can hear KA now , "but it was a good game".

Sorry Taro. What I am seeing and feeling right now is that this summer is critical to either fixing some of the key roster issues that have been identified or losing another core of pretty good players. As predicted: a poorly qualified neophyte GM being led by Terry Pegula + never fully addressing the critical goalie position + not bringing in players that provide proper roster balance + doing the "no blockers" thing + and not spending to the cap = eventually kill the current core and force another rebuild. Many of us talked about how the above course of action could drive another rebuild by driving the Core away.

So this looks like start with UPL and switch to Levi? Domingue = Reimer. pass

Edmonton wins the conference finals on the road. Impressive.

The Oilers saw that and then decided to play Jeff Skinner to 2X the Sabre factor in their favor.

McDavid is amazing.

He did. This is quite old. The good thing is he recognized Zito had ability, he made it to the final two. Probably picked Bots due to Pittsburgh connect and former Sabre, etc.

Add a starting NHL goalie. UPL is backup (or possibly traded) and then someone like Reimer is backup. Keep Levi in Rochester and give him a few shots at the NHL to see where he is at. Adams and goaltending has always been an issue for me.

Florida looks really impressive as stated and Bob the Goalie might be the difference.

He is a very good player when healthy. What will it take for him to stay healthy? He averages ~48 games per season so far in his career. So I do not have faith in him, but I can hope. This is the life of a Sabres fan - faith and hope.

Agree with bold as far as "regular communication" but that is in a normal environment. But there is nothing normal going on in Buffalo regarding the hockey team. In any business when things get this bad you expect to hear directly from the top. He should address the fans at least once or twice a season, I want to hear something - especially given the newest circumstances. The number of WNY fans going to games or even watching them is certainly not increasing. Southern Ontario fans were already just as disinterested but many come over because its NHL hockey at affordable prices. Now given the current political environment the Canadian fans will dwindle to almost nothing. This will have a big affect on revenues at the Sabres gate, and in downtown, and in the local stores/restaurants. Buffalo is looking like a city that will be hurt by Trump rhetoric and policy. The Boston Bruins owner sent out a letter apologizing for their poor season and promised to take immediate actions to turn it around. The Bruins had 8 straight playoff seasons prior to missing this year. They had 29 straight playoff seasons (NHL record) prior to that. How many NHL teams have had 14 year playoff droughts? Terry came here and immediately promised Stanley Cups, he was going to "drill another well" to get it. This team is approaching a critical juncture made worse by the political climate, they could lose a lot of money during the remaining Trump years. For the first time ever I worry about this teams future in Buffalo.

Fans want accountably? Sure. But I want it at the top. The owner won't spend to the cap or hire better coaches or front office. The GM is not good at his job, he said so himself. That is were the accountability should start. So the players the GM did not block are all not good and should be traded? I don't think so. Cozens is already gone. Quinn is not the same player as before the injuries and looks like a redundant part that can be moved. Muel and his contract are proving to be more bad judgement by the GM. Peterka is a guy I want to keep. Expect him to go somewhere else, fit in, play better two way hockey, and still score a lot of goals. Meanwhile Adams will get a lesser player and his core will continue to erode. This is deja vu all over again.