JohnC

I wholeheartedly agree with you on our deficiency at the goalie position. If that position can be significantly upgraded this offseason, our assessment of this team dramatically shoots up. Let's see how the GM handles this issue this offseason. I'm not making any predictions because I just don't know what the GM's is going to do this offseason????

I understand the frustration due to the systemic ineptitude of this organization. But it would be a horrible mistake to deviate from this regime's rebuild plan due to impatience. The resorting to expediency and a quick-fix mentality are what has set this franchise back for half a generation. No one needs to agree with everything this young GM has done in his short tenure. What he has done right is establish a blueprint for the rebuild and with discipline adhere to it. This process is working and is materializing at a faster pace than I thought possible when he first took over the stewardship of this bedraggled franchise. I encourage you to be a little more patient. The last third of the past season should provide you with some realistic hope. Stay the course.

You and I are much aligned in regard to Mitts. I believe that he and Cozens will be vying for the top breakout player. Our lines for the most part will be internally staffed. And team improvement will be mostly derived from internal improvement. The GM needs to add players from the outside to buttress the goalie and defensive unit.

I like you am not a draft afficionado. I appreciate the commentary from those here who are knowledgeable about the prospect pool. From an overview standpoint, although there are specific disagreements about some of the decisions the GM has made, in general, there is a coherency and rationality to how the franchise is being run that hasn't existed for a long time. There is a rebuild plan that emphasizes a draft and development approach that is being implemented. It is a pleasant surprise that it is moving along at a faster pace than I thought possible after KA took over as a GM.

The level of lingering resentment by many fans for players who decide to leave Buffalo for whatever reasons is amazing. They just can't let it go.

First, let's stop making assertions against arguments that weren't made (at least by me). No one is arguing that Gallant isn't a good coach. He is. The hiring of Granato to replace Krueger was not a genius move (as you describe). It was an in-house interim replacement of a coach whose team quit on him. He was hired within the season to stem the copious bleeding of a nearly dead carcass of a team. It was a temporary measure to get by for the rest of the lost season. As it turned out the young team responded to the Italian coach with cool blue framed glasses. The quality of play improved and the style of play became much more palatable to watch. He was hired as the HC in the offseason based on how well he worked with the roster he inherited. Every player under him, young and old, played better for him than they did under the previous coach who shackled his players. He was hired as the HC based on his performance from the previous year. Is Granato going to be a spectacular coach? Let's not get carried away. How many spectacular coaches are in this league? The spectacular coach in one year can become the fired coach in the next year. The crazy life cycle of a coach is unpredictable and can be quickly upended with an in-season slump. The overhanging question is: Will Granato be an effective coach when he is working with a more complete and mature roster? I think so but can't say for sure. That issue will be better clarified once this team gets to the point that it is playing meaningful games throughout the season. When all is said and done the issue comes down to how much talent do you have. We are not there yet.

There is no question that the Gallant has done an exceptional job for the Rangers. But that doesn't mean that he would have been a better coach for the Sabres with the situation they were in. It is difficult to prove that one way or the other whether how he would have done with the Sabres. What we do know for sure is that after Granato took over for Krueger all the players, young and old, played better under him. All you can ask for in any coach is for that coach to maximize the talent he has to work with.

Who made the claim that Gallant can't coach young talent?

You ask a penetrating question in how much does KA value the position? On that question I really don't know for sure. We should get a better feel about that question this offseason. The mere fact that I'm not sure what the answer is makes me queasy.

I agree with you that it is difficult/unfair to compare these two teams. Looking at your list of Ranger players and then including the highly drafted young players to that group it isn't unreasonable to believe that the Rangers can be a seriously contending team for at least the next few years. And if you consider that NY is a favored destination for many players, and they have an elite young goalie, this Gotham team is in a good situation for the foreseeable future. Another asset that this franchise has is that it is more willing to spend to the cap ceiling than the Sabres are. (I'm not saying this as a criticism but it is a factor in maintaining a high-yield roster.)

The GM hired the right man for the job with the Granato signing. In no way am I diminishing the job that Gallant has done with the Rangers. He's done an excellent job in NY. Granato's greatest strength as a coach is developing young talent. Much of his coaching experience before assuming the HC position revolved around working with young players and prospects. My point is that Granato was the right person at the right time in the right circumstance when he was hired here. The same can be said for Gallant in NY. In making the comparison it isn't so much who is the better coach as it is who is the better fit. Buffalo got it right; and so did the Rangers.

I have a different view as to where the Sabres are in their rebuild. This roster is significantly better stocked than if it was at the starting point of a rebuild. There are a number of young players already on the roster who are nearly ready to be categorized as established NHL players, such as Cozens, Mitts, Joki, Dahlin, Power, Tage and Samuelsson. Next year's addition to that collection of young players will be Quinn and JJ. There is no question that the goalie issue is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed. I'm very hopeful that the GM will bring in a credible goalie and another defenseman or two to better round this roster. Considering how things have been shaping up I believe that this team should be competing for a low playoff spot throughout the season. Teams in the embryonic stage of a rebuild are not capable of staying in the mix for a playoff spot.

He was a worthy investment. The main problem was not that he couldn't do pullups or master any of the physical tests, it was the way he was handled after being drafted. Another year in college would have benefited him both physically and from a maturity standpoint. He simply was rushed before he was ready to play in the NHL. To a lesser extent so was Tage. After struggling playing against NHL men they were sent down to Rochester where they got plenty of playing time and added time to work on their game. After serving time in the lower league each player was better prepared when brought up to handle the rigors of the NHL. KA has specifically stated that he wasn't going to rush his young players. He commented that he would rather error on keeping them in the lower league longer rather than error in bringing them up too soon. If you look at how Samuelsson, Quinn and JJ have been handled he has clearly followed through on the best way to handle prospects i.e. exercise patience.

Within this WGR link from the Howard and Jeremy Show there is a 10 min segment that deals with some of the prospects at the combine. The interview is with Adam Kimelman from NHL.com. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

My opinion: I doubt that the owners/organization will come close to the cap. It's more likely that they will spend closer to the cap floor than to the half-way point to the cap ceiling. The challenge for the organization is to make enough deals to improve the team and continue on with their austerity approach. That's how I see. The belief that the organization will sign a high profile player to a long-term and costly contract doesn't resonate with me.

We do need more in order to become a contending team. What the organization is counting on is internal improvement from the younger players. Sometimes the slower and steadier process ends up being the quickest road to success. I know you will want to kick me in the nuts for saying this but patience is the right course of action to take for this franchise that has stumbled so much. The process is working. Trust it.

We are discussing what we believe the GM would do this offseason to address the roster. Certitude has nothing to do with presenting opinions. We are all giving opinions. What I believe is going to happen is based on what the GM has expressively said, and then done. I strongly believe (not to the point of certitude) that this GM is not going to trade any of his young assets such as Cozens, Mitts, Krebs, Quinn and JJ to bring in a more ready forward, such as Dubois, who would require an expensive and long-term contract. This GM believes in an organic process where you build from within. And that is exactly what he is mostly doing. The Jack trade helped to accelerate that process by adding two players, and hopefully a future player with the first round pick. Maybe when this roster is more fully developed there will be a major trade to bolster the roster. But at this stage (this offseason) I don't see any big time players who will cost the system significant assets being brought in.

Most often it is better to observe what is being done than what is being said. With what the GM has done in his short tenure is implement what he has stated. He has without question followed the script that he has publicly announced. In order to get a high-profile player that fits the makeup of a player he would want he would have to give up some of his young assets, such as Krebs, Cozens and Mitts. I just don't see that happening. I also don't see the GM making a big splash with an expensive acquisition from the free agent market. That's not how this organization under him operates. I do see the GM bringing in a goalie or two. But my sense is that if he does it won't be high profile additions. The one area where I do believe that it is conceivable that he might be aggressive is in his pursuit of another defenseman who can contribute right away. I'm not as pessimistic as you seem to be if the GM continues to follow his roadmap. The reliance on the "draft and develop" strategy is working! The young core is steadily getting bigger to the point that a critical mass of players is already on the roster to have a competitive team. The critical issue that you point to is how long is it going to take to wear that talent grows together to become a contending team? I can't say for sure. What I can say is if players such as Cozens and Mitts take the next developmental step next year the roster will be very competitive.

I'm open to using some of our cap and draft capital to get more immediate help. However, based on what the clearly spoken GM has repeatedly stated I don't believe that he is going to pursue any significant forward help this offseason. My sense is that KA is a process guy. I don't see him giving up any significant assets to make any bold moves to give this developing team an immediate jolt. That's just my impression on how KA operates. If there is going to be a major jolt to this roster it is going to come from internal improvement from players such as Cozens and Mitts.

If there was a defenseman who fit the mold that you were describing here, I would say that it is a more likely acquisition. But for a forward player like PLD who has moved around a lot and is not shy about voicing his opinions, I don't see him as the type of personality he wants in his room. I simply don't see him willing to include in a deal any of his young talents such as Cozens, Mitts, Krebbs, Quinn or even JJ for Dubois. I have previously expressed a view that I would be willing to give up our lowest first round pick in a deal for a Tuch like player. So I'm open to a reasonable deal. But even given that I don't see a PLD deal happening here.

The one trait that the GM has is transparency. He has publicly stated that this offseason he needs to address the goalie position and has stated that he wants to bring a defenseman that will support the play of Power. The GM has clearly stated what his philosophy is in rebuilding the roster, and by his deeds/decisions he is adhering to it. I'm confident that the GM is going to bring in another goalie. But in my view it is not going to be a costly player that many would consider to be a big splash addition such as MAF. I just don't see it.

Everyone agrees that an upgrade in goal is a necessity. My opinion is that the GM is not going to give up much to address the issue. Overall, I agree with much the GM has done. However, given our current situation I still strongly contend that he mishandled the Ullmark deal. In my opinion he should have signed him at the price that the player wanted or better an option if he left.

Don Granato has said on more than a few occasions that he considered Mitts to be one of the best players in the last training camp. Mitts is part of the plan and is staying.

I have heard on at least a half dozen occasions the GM comment on his overall philosophy in rebuilding the roster. He has repeatedly stated/declared that he is not going to take shortcuts at the expense of letting the process run its course i.e. mostly draft and develop approach. Although he certainly would like to make the playoffs next year he is not going to give up a young asset for a short term boost. That's why the discussion on Dubois is a fantasy discussion has little basis in reality as far as Buffalo being involved in a deal for him. I agree with you that we shouldn't expect Quinn and JJP as rookies to be instant successes. I don't believe that the GM or the coach have that lofty expectation either player. There is an expected uneven course of development that all young players go through, and they won't be exceptions. The road in development for Tage, Mitts and Cozens has had its bumps. And there is still more road for them to cover before becoming established players in this league. Quinn and JJ will have to go through the same trials and tribulations just like every young player has to go through. There is a unanimity on this forum about the necessity of adding a goalie to this roster. Even here I don't see the GM expending much in resources to address that position. It just seems to me that this GM is taking a big picture view as opposed to a term more expedient short-term approach.

Are fans allowed in the facility while the testing is going on?