JohnC

If it is inappropriate to criticize an owner of a sports franchise in a system that is designed for parity, there is a simple solution: sell the team. What do people expect? Adulation and a warm embrace for a generation of incompetency?

That’s the real issue. Everyone has stated in various forms that he does’t know what he is doing. The problem is that he hasn’t recognized that obvious fact yet. His big boat unreality has sunk this franchise in deep waters.

It isn't an issue of setting the bar too low for him. What I recognize is that his style of play doesn't rely so much on physicality as it does positioning and skating. And because of that more finesse style his play will not be as preferred by many as the more muscular style of play would be. He's a tall and lean young player who will get stronger. What I'm watching to see is steady increase in his physicality. As you noted, it was evident in the Ottawa game. But the reality that many people are reluctant to accept is that he is not going to be an imposing physical player on the ice because that is not his game. In my more optimistic eyes I see a player who is going to be an anchor defenseman for us. But for many people his contribution will be dismissed because of how he plays.

Was Giroux still chirping at the end of the game when he looked up at the score board? I thought Power played well in this game. It wasn't a dominant performance but simply did his job. I'll take that level of play.

Do you know what isn't funny? Screwing up a franchise to the point that he has made it an irrelevant and laughingstock franchise. And there is nothing funny about how he has crushed a once vibrant hockey market into an apathetic market where many games are played in front of empty seats. As far as I'm concerned, this fool owner can get on his tax write off big boat and sale away. This owner is a joke! Is that funny enough for you.

Every team faces issues with players who for a number of reasons prefer moving on. And every organization faces issues regarding makeup of roster and players fitting into their team concept. The reality is that when a franchise has been flailing for as long as they Sabres have, it is going to happen with greater frequency. JJP was in a contract situation that could give him additional leverage. So he used it. Good for him. On the other side of the equation, I believe that the Sabres got a fair return on the trade. It's all part of the business.

The best thing that Tuch can do to move the negotiation needle closer to his side is to have a good year, and better yet a good start of the season.

You are making a claim that he wasn't signed due to the owner's reluctance to pay him in his next contract is based on what? Your assumption based on your disdain for the owner? There is no one in this forum who has more antipathy toward this fool owner than I do. I would conjecture that you and I are in the same contempt strata directed toward this stubborn and incompetent owner. So let's be fair here. That doesn't mean that money was the reason why he was dealt. The evidence based on many reports is that he didn't want to remain for a number of reasons. One of them had to do with his relationship with the coach and I'm sure that he didn't want to be stuck in this third-rate organization that has little chance under the current organizational scheme to be a serious franchise. (As you and many others have frequently noted.) The GM wanted to sign him to a new deal. And he publicly stated so on a number of occasions. JJP had no interest to sign a deal. So he was dealt for what I consider to be a fair-trade deal where the return was Kesserling and Doan. With respect to Doan, he's giving us what we hoped he would do so. Kesserling has been injured so that is a TBD issue.

Is that an extender to stiffen the limp pole? 😀

As you well know, except for the few elite goalies, predicting how a goalie is going to perform is a bad bet unless you have money to lose. What makes it even more challenging is that past performance isn’t always a good guide. The best way to help your goalie is to provide him with strong support in front of him.

Lyon starting the season as the opening goalie is a marvelous opportunity for him. If he plays well for a team that desperately needs to have a good start, it wouldn't be a surprise (at least for me) that he becomes the #1 goalie. UPL has been plagued with injuries and inconsistencies. The opportunities have been there for him to seize. He just has not been able to be dependable for a variety of reasons. Just maybe, being seriously being pushed by UPL might be the best thing for him. The Sabres are far from being a well-rounded team. But if he can get consistent solid goalie, we should be able to be in the playoff mix for the whole season. I'm predicting a Sabre win tonight. Why? Hometown bias.

How the player plays will determine how he will be handled.

Your perspective is different from mine. Go ahead and believe what you want to believe. So be it.

You may not be aware of it but you were with your response. That's okay. I'm not bothered by it.

I disagree that with a more astute GM it would take 3 to 4 years to break through the perpetual funk. If a new GM added a credible goaltender, that in itself would put this team in such a better position to succeed. There are enough solid players and young players with upside on this team to make it a playoff qualifying team if it had the right backstop/s. Why is it that a GM for Washington Capitals can bring in goalies for a miniscule price while our GM has never adequately been able to satisfactorily address the position? The GM placed his bet on UPL to be the anchor goalie. I have no problem with that. However, he never had an adequate backup play just in case it didn't work out. That's an example of his poor judgment. He's a checkers player in a game of chess.