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JohnC

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Everything posted by JohnC

  1. Keka did what constantly moving people in the hockey profession do who are not currently working or working in a satisfactory (lower) position. They pursue and find their next best option. I have a different take on Keka and this new job, whatever his role is. The potential is that it places him in a good advancement situation, either with the Sabres or with another team. From what I have heard about him, he is very experienced in the hockey business from the scouting side to the executive side. So I'm sure that he won't be blindsided with unexpected situations within this troubled franchise. I'm confident that he knows what his role will be and that it won't be a detriment to whatever future aspirations he has within the business. I'm very much encouraged by his hiring, and to a lot lesser extent the Staal hiring, because it seems that the owner is more receptive to outside voices. The Sabre franchise has been plagued with a provincial operation. What these two hirings suggest to me that it is becoming more modern (normal) in how it will operate. At least I hope so.
  2. I'm not even sure that UPL will be back? I wouldn't be surprised if he was included in a deal to get a veteran goalie.
  3. Not for me. The past is the past. As a coach I would be looking for something else. If you believe that he would be a prime candidate for another team, then that's fine. I don't see him back behind the bench again.
  4. lllllllllll I agree with you that It's not the same situation as it was with Eichel and Reinhart who are instrumental players on their respective teams. But Skinner's former teammates do have to have some feelings that it takes being on another team to make the playoffs and vie for the cup. I'm sure many of this Sabre buddies are saying to themselves: I wonder how it feels because I haven't come close to having that experience where I am?
  5. It would be interesting to know what the terms of agreement, even if only verbal, were with Keka and KA and with Keka and the owner.
  6. I wasn't referring to Keenan although his style of coaching is beyond being outdated for this era of hockey. If Torts is so durable then why is it that wherever he goes he ends up being asked to leave. In my view, his approach to the game is passe No thank you. Looking to the past for solutions is not the way to go.
  7. I agree with you that it was an understandable approach for a novice owner. The problem is that he hasn't learned from his mistakes. That's the maddening aspect of how he has handled his ownership. There's a stubbornness that he is going to do it his way without the benefit of enough consultation from more knowledgeable people inside and outside the organization. Hopefully, the hiring of this experienced executive is a step in the right direction. He needs to build on it.
  8. If that happens, the Dallas GM would be committed for insanity. And Jarmo would be charged for a felonious theft. However, I do see Jarmo working to bring in a veteran goalie to our questionable mix at that position. You may be right that UPL could be dealt in the offseason. He had a big-time opportunity to secure the position for himself. He didn't live up to the task.
  9. Making a critical hire based on demonstrating a connection to the fans is not the smartest way to make a decision for such an important position. But let's put that aside and look at the owner's overall record in hiring the top hockey staff. They haven't worked out for a variety of reasons, some of it having to do with the churning of staff resulting in a start and stop and restarting again approach. Each hire at the GM and HC position brings in a different system and philosophical approach. The constant changing and instability is a hallmark of the Pegula era. The hiring of KA to be the GM made no sense other than he presented the owner with an appealing cheaper plan to rebuild. And I'm comfortable in saying that not only would KA not have been considered for a GM position by any other sober owner but am absolutely sure that no owner would have kept him on after five years of an excruciating rebuilding plan that resulted in the team being a bottom of the pack team. What's interesting about this new senior advisor addition to the staff to help the current GM is that if he would have been the replacement for the current GM, there would have been even more positive feedback. From an overview perspective, this franchise has been flailing for a generation because of a pattern of bad management/ownership decisions. What's obvious is that when you shoot yourself in the foot you can't run very well. It gets tiresome.
  10. It would probably be beneficial for Sammy not to wear the C. It would take some responsibilities away from him and allow him just to play and not worry about anything else. And to be blunt he hasn’t earned the letter.
  11. What about LaFontaine? He certainly falls into the nostalgia category. And that hire turned out to be a fiasco. What’s to be learned? When searching for solutions it’s better to look forward than backward.
  12. I’m sure the coach has a feel for which players are buying in to the program and which are not. And I’m sure he has communicated his thoughts on that issue when trades are discussed.
  13. As you are staying, rational skepticism is a reasonable response to this odd owner. No one is giving him short shrift in assessing him. For some "believers" a generation of ownership is not enough time to make a judgment. If there is one person who doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt, it is this silent owner. I'm open-minded and waiting to see how things transpire this offseason. As you also noted, adding an experienced hockey man to the staff is a positive action.
  14. I'm aligned with you in thinking/hoping that bringing in this experienced executive is a positive sign that the owner is more invested in the success of this franchise and not just coasting along. This is going to be an important offseason. I more inclined to think that there will be some consequential deals that will make this team better. We'll soon find out as the playoffs conclude and the draft approaches. What can't happen is this being a status quo offseason. That would be demoralizing.
  15. There are a number of reasons why this franchise has failed during the full tenure of this owner. Maybe for you but not for me, it isn't much of a challenge to determine the primary reason for this generation of failure: Terry Pegula. There has not been one season under his ownership which can categorized as a success. That's appalling. He, more than anyone else, is responsible for almost irretrievably damaging a franchise and obliterating a once vibrant fanbase. If you want to be oblivious to this owner's stupendous incompetency, that is your prerogative. I want him to succeed as an owner but what I'm not going to give him is the benefit of the doubt. At least for me, he hasn't earned it. And let's be clear, the fans are not betraying this arrogant and hubristic owner----he's betrayed the fans with his generation of foolishness. If he's not interested in being a serious owner, then he should sell, walk away with a bountiful profit and sail off on his big freaking boat. To be very blunt, I'm tired of this fool billionaire.
  16. If that’s the case I salute him and like him even more. Based on his record he is not afraid of making deals. I think you are over reading the situation based on your worries about the franchise history.
  17. No, I do not believe the annual failures were due to the same reasons. The organization was innovative each year on how it failed. This is an example of creativity going bad.
  18. Why do you say that? I'm not arguing for or against it. Just don't understand your reasoning why the trade possibility became less likely.
  19. Where are you putting Quinn?
  20. When a batter comes up to bat and strikes out 14 consecutive times what do you think the fans in the stadium are expecting? If you believe that it will be a game winning Home Run, you are a longshot gambler. I'm not a long shot gambler.
  21. As @Thorny points out the overwhelming response is positive. You are the one who is being negative, or more accurately anticipating it. How long will the good vibes last? If the season spirals downward again, as it usually does, the negativity will come back in full force. And righteously so.
  22. It is very likely that KA is going to be our GM. Few people would want that to be the case. If that's the case, then the next issue is where do we go from here. My impression is that adding Keka is an indication that moves will be made to reshuffle the roster. I would rather have Keka offering advice to our current stolid GM than not having an added advisor offering advice. I'm more inclined to believe that there will be some upgrading moves will be made this offseason. And without a doubt, I would rather have this addition in the room engaging with the GM before a personnel decision is made. I'm not ecstatic with the new staffer but am positive about it. The bottom line is a positive act is better than a negative or no act.
  23. I'm encouraged by this announcement. Its fresh eyes from an experienced former executive brought into the stale mix. An interesting question is how does this change the Karmonos role?
  24. I don't believe Philly is going to tank. His old school tough guy coach era is long past. You may not be aware of it but dinosaurs died off a long time ago. If our obtuse and nostalgic seeking owner hired Torts as a coach, then all the air out of the "hope" bag would be released. The Philly organization had enough of this obnoxious faux pas strong man just like every organization he has worked for has. If Terry P hired him, he is even a bigger fool than what I already think of him. And that is saying a lot. Terry P is inclined to the past for solutions. Hiring Torts or a Torts like coach would guarantee him as a first ballot selection in the Fools Ownership HOF. No thank you.
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