JohnC

I understand your point but disagree with it. For such an incomplete and talent lacking team like Buffalo adding two players improves it more than a player added to a an already fuller and robust lineup. Metaphorically, for Buffalo it's like adding water to a glass that is nearly empty. For a team like Vegas where the glass is nearly full (from a talent standpoint) the addition is less. Jack is in an elite talent category while I would place Tuch and Krebs in the future in the good category. There are few players in Jack's lofty category as compared to the number of players in the good category. It is rare that a player like Jack is available while that is not the case for players in Tuch's category that can be had in trades. As far as the Stanley Cup argument I don't accept the premise that if Vegas doesn't make the finals or wins the cup that the deal was somewhat of a failure. There are a lot of factors that come into play as to why an upper team makes or not make the finals. As an example having a hot goalie or not. Again, I understand your point but respectfully disagree with it. I still contend that if Jack returns to form and remains health that Vegas will be more of a beneficiary of the deal I apologize for the change of color of the type. I don't know what happened.

My opinion is assuming Jack remains healthy and regains his forms I would say that Vegas got the better of the deal. Even assuming he returns to form I am comfortable on the return for Jack.

This is an issue where it isn't so much about being right or wrong as it is about making judgments about the data you have on hand. Each side sought medical opinions from a variety of sources. And both sides used respective medical sources. And another issue is that the perspective of this particular player differed from the perspective of an organization. This medical conflict also had the additional complication that the player desperately wanted out. What it came down to is that the parties had different interests in a complicated medical situation. In the end each of the parties got a result that they can live with.

As you point out few people have made the claim that DG can be categorized as a good NHL coach because at this time we simply don't know. What we do know is that players such as Dahlin, Mitts, Skinner, Tage have played demonstrably better under him than his predecessor. And as you point out this team has been stripped of its old core and replaced with another younger core. I'm hoping that this organization makes a more concerted effort to upgrade the roster sooner than later. When and if that happens a fairer judgment can be made on his coaching performance.

You make a keen observation about how refreshing he is when being interviewed. There were more than a few occasions on WGR on his weekly Howard and Jeremy segments where he would listen to the question and then mull it over and respond: "That is an good point. I haven't looked at this particular issue that way." He is open-minded and willing to give a candid answer. He's not insecure and defensive when criticized about the play of his team. There is little pretense and bluster when he is at the podium. How he handles himself in interviews certainly doesn't make him a good coach. Although how he responds to the media is part of his job. What distinguishes him is how he has gotten players such as Skinner, Dahlin, Mitts and the team in general to play better. And what distinguishes him as a coach that it is evident is that under him players get better. He's not a savior or at this time can be categorized as an elite coach. But in my opinion he is the right coach at the right time for this team.

My comment related to a former player and team/organization that we are playing tonight. So it is relevant to this thread. Your takeaway that I'm being disrespectful to the person who started the thread is off the wall and nonsensical. The Ghost of Doohickie is a very active and one of the better posters here. He doesn't need you to speak for him.

The conclusion you draw from my comment is totally wrong. The point that was made is that teams can make moves to improve and do it in a responsible manner. That's the point!

Last offseason, Florida made a trade to acquired Sam Bennett and a sixth round pick for a prospect and a second round pick. He has scored 24 goals so far this season. Florida also acquired Sam Reinhart for a first round pick (very low in the round) and a goalie prospect (Levi). Reinhart is averaging a point a game. Many people are satisfied that the Sabres are getting better. But they fail to include the context that so are other teams, including the top tier teams. In the two cases that I cited Florida acquired contributing players that for different reasons needed to be moved. They ended up getting two good players at bargain prices. There is no reason why with our favorable cap and draft assets this offseason the Sabres can't take advantage of the market as Florida did last offseason. The relevant issue isn't are you getting better. It is are you getting better relative to the competition. This offseason we will see how serious this franchise is in making this team a serious team.

Is it safe to assume that Tuch won't play tonight?

I'm aware what he is saying. I'm saying that it isn't.

You are off the mark. The current talent level is insufficient. This organization is in position to make some moves to add talent to the roster. Will it do so? You demonstrate a commitment to winning by being proactive in addressing your deficiencies.

When commenting on this game there isn't much to say. You can't criticize the Sabres for their effort. It was there throughout the game. Toks was good in the net. LA executed the trap all game long. It flummoxed the Sabres. They had no remedy to that suffocating brand of hockey. We had few shots and scoring opportunities. The style of game that LA played today is a recipe to kill interest in hockey. It was like watching the Devils of old where the league had to change the rules to force more flow. LA was the better team. On the other hand, the difference between these two teams isn't so great that it can't be bridge with a few upgrades. I hope that Tuch isn't hurt too badly. He was in a vulnerable position when he slid into the net. For most fans this game had little entertainment value. It was tough to watch. The kids on the broadcast were cute and charming.

If a defenseman who is playing on his offside is better than a player who is playing on his appropriate hand side, which player would you prefer? I understand on why you would prefer to have a balance on defense. But if the staffing isn't there you make the adjustment and accommodation for the situation. If it is more of an imperative for the top pairing to have that balance that doesn't mean that the lower pairings have to do so if the staffing isn't sufficient.

There is an advantage with having players who are versatile and whose roles can't be strictly defined by the position they are playing. When the inevitable injuries happen they can easily be moved to what some perceive to be their more natural position. Krebs and Mitts certainly fit that category as wing/centers and center/wingers. This flexibility also becomes useful when the lines are jumbled by the coach for the sake of rejuvenating a line that has gone stale. I'm aware that there is a lot of discussion here about the issue of right and left handed defensemen. I consider it to be an overrated issue. My leaning is simply play your best players. The players will adapt to their offhand position without much trouble. I would argue that with a fast paced team that plays a north/style it is less of a factor. Ideally, you would want a balance on which side to play. But the more important issue is getting your best players on the ice.

Excellent observation. As a winger Mitts played like a center. On the Okposo goal Mitts got the puck on the wing and made a nice move to go up the center of the ice where he got a shot off that rebounded to Okposo who put it in the net. What Granato has done is put his best players on a line regardless of the usual position assignment for that particular player. In other games he has played Krebs on a wing. As like Mitts in this game he played the wing like a center. Using flexibility in order to play your best players.

No.

The problem with smart guys like Krueger is that they believe they are smarter than everyone else in the room. He was your typical ideologue who believed his system was superior to all. When his system didn't work his lofty ego couldn't grasp the reality that not only that it didn't work but an alternative approach was needed. His backward approach to coaching was that players were required to adhere to his system whether they were suited to implement it or not. For a person who traveled the world coaching hockey and being involved in the soccer business, he had a very parochial outlook. The worst aspect of his misguided approach to hockey is how he stifled the talents of players such as Dahlin and Skinner. The well-spoken coach didn't understand the basic notion in coaching and teaching that your primary task is to bring out the talents that you oversee. Or to put it in simple terms: put your players in position to succeed. The moral of the story is that being smart doesn't make you wise. And another moral to the story is that talkers should do more listening. The damage he did was incalculable.

If people say that you are a radiating person they may not be referring to your cheerful personality. 🏴‍☠️

I believe that it relates more to will than savvy in making reasonable moves to upgrade this roster. If you look at the drafts that KA has supervised, they have been overall solid. The Quinn selection looks good. And the move up to draft Peterka looks like a smart move. Most people would say that drafting Power was a no-brainer. But that's the point. The GM didn't try to impress by outsmarting the pack. He simply made the obvious pick and the right pick. A decision was made to dispatch our core and reconstruct the roster that he inherited. The return for Jack, Risto and Sam was collectively a reasonable return considering the circumstances. And in the not too distant future those picks and players received should be established players for us for a long time. It wouldn't shock me that getting Levi in the Reinhart trade might turn out to be the most consequential return from the three trades in a couple to few years. The Sabres are in a good position to participate in the market this offseason due to their abundance of draft picks and cap space. Will he judiciously use some of their assets to add talent to the roster? I hope so but am not sure. Another issue is whether the owners will allow him to make the moves required to move forward? I simply don't know. Again, I hope so.

Bjork is the type of player who if in a skills contest for prospects, you would be impressed. However, (so far) he has demonstrated no ability to transfer those skills in a game. As you point out he simply does not have the hockey IQ to react in a sport that requires instant reacting. He's like a qb who can throw well in practice but can't read defenses and make the required adjustments in a game. In practice you salivate at the raw talents but in games your acid reflux entering your mouth makes you want to spit it out. Is he salvageable as a NHL player? Inclined not to think so but haven't completely given up on him as a player.

I strongly believe (as does @Thorny) that with a few smart moves utilizing our cap and draft assets this team can make an appreciable move up the ranks. And I'm convinced it can be done within the framework of the core rebuild strategy of draft and develop. Especially in a cap system the difference between success and failure is not great. It's not a question can it be done as it is an issue of willing to do so.

The best chirper on the team and one of the better chirpers in the league is Skinner. He has an irritating high-pitched gumby voice that makes the opposition want to strangle him.

Are you aware that you have a unique glow? 😄

Is he the weatherman on a porno station?

No. Mostly because I wouldn't be willing to trade Peterka.