JohnC

I’m not worried about compensating for the loss of losing JJP’s production. Benson, Quinn and Norris collective production should more than make up for it. In addition, adding Kesserling and keeping Byrum should improve the blue line unit and lower the goals against stat. The issue that hovers over this team is the play of UPL. (As most everyone has already noted.) Two years ago, UPL gave the appearance that he could be a #1 NHL goalie. Last year, he regressed and created doubts about him. Will he regain his confidence and form next season? I don’t know? If he does, then we should be in the playoff race all season long. If not, the fanbase will be further eroded with apathy being the prevailing view toward this franchise.

I agree with your comments about the level of spending is no guarantee for success. We are in accord. However, this owner, himself, has made some critical hires in staffing that have been less than mediocre. The unimpressive results shouldn’t be surprising. The Sabres during the owner’s 15 year tenure has been a dismal failure. It’s not a surprise that this franchise is most likely to be on players’ no trade list. This is third-rate franchise that Terry P presides over. If a sense of urgency is not exhibited now, then when?

I do remember that Polian did criticize the owner’s daughter’s football acumen within the organization. Wild Bill was a terrific GM and also very volatile. I distinctly remember that Polian and Littman had ferocious clashes about spending. Supposedly, Littman told the owner that he had enough of the GM’s belligerence and either he or the GM had to go . Littman had the longer association with the owner, so Polian departed after the football season.

If the owner wants an ironclad guarantee about his return on his sports investment, he should instead put his money in CDs or bonds. No one is suggesting that he should be a profligate spender. However, when you act like a chicken-shiiit owner it isn’t surprising that you get chicken-shiiit results for a generation and still counting.

Your last sentence indicating that you don’t expect the Sabres to make such a move captures why the Sabres are not considered to be a serious franchise. The irony is that making such a money $$$ decision will ultimately result in a loss of revenue.

If the Pens say no to any retention on the cap hit, you would then say no to the deal? For the sake of argument, if Rust was a factor in a playoff run and possible qualification, the revenue return would more than compensate for not getting a Pitt’s retention. Ultimately, a nickel and dime approach to business will end up losing dollars.

If Pitts wanted to move on from him and his contract, then the compensation for him should be reasonable. A 5 mil per for the next three years for a second line forward is not outlandish, especially when the cap is going up. However, if you are a penny pinching and not serious franchise, then he is a player you would not be interested in.

Both your views make sense. I lean towards Rust because it sure would be advantageous to have another veteran presence in the room when facing a tough spell. Last year, when we were subjected to the losing streak, the team couldn't handle the adversity and lost its confidence. The team never recovered from that season sabotaging spell. It just seems to me that if the GM could add another second line forward to the mix, (whoever it might be) it will provide a lot of line flexibility.

I’ve said this for a long time that the owner is the primary source of the degrading of this franchise. The organization is structured the way he wants it to be structured and he has also made the major staffing hires. In addition, he has established the financial parameters/restrictions that the staff has to work within. As you point out, even after making debilitating blunders during his ownership tenure he has had more than enough time and opportunities to get this lost franchise back on track. He’s a stubborn rich fellow who doesn’t have the self-awareness to know what he doesn’t know. I haven’t been an advocate of making blockbuster deals that strip away a lot of our young talent this offseason. However, a little more activity by our GM this would have been beneficial. The lack of urgency is troubling. When you are in a race and are ambling along while your competitors are running hard, you will continue to be a back of the pack competitor.

How he treated and disparaged the owner’s daughter was a factor in the owner souring on the GM. But if my memory is correct the GM’s combative relationship with the owner’s long time financial advisor for his businesses was a major factor for his departure. And as you seem to indicate there were multiple reasons for the GM to leave.

I just don't think that KA has the ability to be bold enough and strategic enough to make the necessary moves to change the dynamic in this fluttering franchise. The irony is that the GM (maybe forced to) brought on Jarmo as a senior advisor who is better suited to make the necessary changes.

Polian clashed with Littman, Wilson's finance overseer for the Bills and his Detroit businesses. Polian got tired of Littman and his interference in how he wanted to run the football operation. It got ugly. There are conflicting stories regarding whether Polian quit or was forced out by Wilson because how he combatively dealt with Littman. The main issue which caused the conflict between these two related to player contracts. I'm not contradicting your point about the cap manipulation but noting that after the SB run the business side of the operation started to clap down on salaries. Also, Littman had a longer trusted relationship with the owner than the volatile Polian did.

Kadri has a no trade clause in his contract. It's very likely that Buffalo is on that ignominious "hell no" list. If approached by his team asking for permission to be traded to Buffalo, what do you think his response would be? When Marner was on the market how much interest do you think he had in considering Buffalo as a destination? I'm confident that it was zero. Fantasy hockey is not real hockey. On the other hand, there are players that might be available in a sensible deal. A player such as Rust would fall within the realm of being realistic. Another issue is whether our GM is open to making additional deals this offseason? My sense is that he is not inclined to do so. I would like to be wrong because another second-line player would surely be beneficial.

Wasn't he a quarterback who played at Alabama and then won a SB with the Jets?

If you had the choice between Rust and Rosov, which player would you prefer if the cost was equal?

On the one hand, I see it as you do that Levi isn't a guaranteed #1 NHL goalie. But that shouldn't be a surprise because just about every goalie prospect needs extended grooming before moving up the ranks. Maybe the GM has belatedly come to the realization that rushing prospects because of a team need not only hurts the development of the prospect but also doesn't help the big club? In general, I agree with the GM's not rushing the young goalie. Especially with goalies, getting game experience in the lower leagues is beneficial to the player being prepared when he is brought up on a more permanent basis.

Not good enough. You need more practice reps to shed your positive reputation. Repeat after me: They suck, they suck. Say this 500 times a day, steadily increasing the mantra to 1000 times a day. You will then earn your Aud Room ribbon.🙃

I will be stubbornly uncautious about my positive views of Quinn and Kulich for the upcoming season. I can’t honestly make that same judgment about UPL. As like you, I just don’t know???

A lot of the young fellows don't know what you are talking about. However, the old hipsters with bad knees remember that political crushing picture. 😀 Terry Pegula is not very comfortable in the public. (Stating the obvious.) There's a public awkwardness that is very evident. He bought a sports franchise and with it goes some public events that he can't avoid. I'm not saying this as a criticism but simply as an observation. It's a shame that his wife suffered a serious medical event that precluded her from handling those public roles because she was better at it. I wish her well.

You told them the naked truth! 😁

If you add Kulich to your rising talent group that will be a fairly large group within a roster. With respect to McCleod and Zucker, even if their scoring production declines a bit, they still play a responsible two-way game that this team needs more of. As you note, the big question mark is UPL? Will he return to the promising composed form he displayed a couple of years ago or will go back to his panic style of play that marred his last season? It's the big question that will determine how the upcoming season plays out.

With respect to Cozens, I believe that he would be better at wing than at center. I also believe that the trade was the right thing to do for the player. It gives him an opportunity to have a fresh start and new chance to refresh his game. He was pressing too hard here.

You make an excellent observation and point that the event was more to serve the interests of Key Bank that it was for the Sabres. The primary reason why they would pay to extend their sponsorship was to seek publicity. If there was no extension or no change in sponsorship there wouldn't even be an event.

Isn’t there also a good chance that both Benson and Kulich have bump up seasons?

As @LTS points out this is a standard press setting to announce a business arrangement. There are plenty of things to be upset about involving this owner and the hockey operation. Whatever irritation you have I recommend that you don’t waste it on this pedestrian event.