JohnC

It's remarkable how quickly people forget how talented Jack is. He is one of the fastest and most powerful skaters in the league. And when healthy he is a top 15 talent in this league. Anyone who doesn't believe that a healthy Jack doesn't fit in with a Granato coached team is allowing their personal feelings to cloud their objectivity for Jack.

The notion that Jack doesn't fit in with this team is off the mark.

A healthy Jack makes this team much better. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't understand how talented he is.

My first star would be given to our goalie. My second star would be given to Okposo. I have never seen him as quick as he was in this game. The trade with Philly giving up Risto for Hagg and a first round pick looks good. I really liked the play of Miller in this game. The style of play was north/south and simple. This game was a reflection of the brand of hockey that the coach espouses. I'm not going to get carried away but this first game was encouraging. If this team continues with this gritty style of play I'm hoping the fans come back sooner rather than later.

So far we are getting quality goaltending. What a difference that makes! You have to be happy with the gritty style of play.

I wasn't able to see the PP clock. Anyone else have this issue?

Having less than 10,000 fans on opening night is pathetic and sad. The Pegulas have damaged this franchise. I hope the owners have learned their belated lesson on how to run a franchise like they did with the Bills. The obvious lesson is to hire the right people and stand back.

It will be interesting to see how many people will be in the stands. If the house is not filled on opening night that will foreshadow a lot of quiet games. That will be so sad that it has devolved to this. As someone else brought up it will be interesting to see if Eichel is in attendance, and if so, how will the crowd will respond to his introduction. I hope the fans don't boo him. I'm really eager to see how the young core players play. That's where the hope is. I'm a believer in Granato. His team may not win as much as we would like but they should play a hard and entertaining brand of hockey. I am grateful that Krueger no longer is part of the operation because he crushed this already woebegone team and needlessly set it back.

You make a potent point in noting that the surgeon who is not recommending the ADR surgery has performed this particular surgery more than any other surgeon. So it is obvious that he is not per se adverse to this type of surgery. What the doctor is clearly saying is that this surgery is not the most appropriate surgery for the injury that Jack has. What is more compelling of an argument than that for the organization to listen to? And as much as the doctor is recognized in his field it should also be highlighted that what Dr. C is recommending is also the prevailing view of doctors in his exclusive field. Jack has a right to hold to his position on his health situation. And so does the organization. As far as I am concerned KA is handling this situation properly. The issue for KA is not to get this saga over with as it is to resolve it to the best benefit of the organization. It's not about the time as it is about the outcome.

It had to be hard for the reporters covering the Sabres for an extended period of time. How do you give the same critical observations for the such a long period of time and not get jaded? I listened to Hamilton on WGR today and I read the Harrington piece. Although they both believe that this team is going to struggle (what's obvious is obvious) you can see a glimmer of positivity in their outlook. I'm not going to get carried away but at least that is a good sign.

When you have four different GMs and coaches you are not going to have any stability. The constant lurching back and forth in direction makes it difficult to move forward. The problem then becomes not the plan but the follow-through. There needs to be organization stability in order to have roster stability. I'm hoping that is what we have now.

He definitely sent the franchise back. The most damaging aspect of his coaching and philosophy to the game was how he straitjacketed the young players and stifled their development. When you have young players you have to have an allowance for mistakes and not create a negative environment of playing not to make a mistake. Once the coaching change was made the players played as though they were liberated. There were still plenty of mistakes but the over-thinking and hesitancy was gone.

After reading his article and other articles by people who cover the Sabres you get the sense that the organization does have a plan in place and is determined to implement it. There is no mystery to what it is. It is the standard method of building a successful team by acquiring and developing young players. It certainly is not a quick fix but it is the most reliable pathway to sustained success. The only team that I know that has short-circuited that approach is Vegas's success since its inception. That organization masterfully handled the expansion draft and was ready to compete right off the start. There is no question that the Vegas model is an exception to the rule.

Attached is a 9 min link from Sabres.com of a summary of the highlights. I didn't watch the game so I can't comment about it. It is going to be interesting to see if JJ Peterka makes the roster or is sent to Rochester to get more playing time? Based on his play he has earned a roster spot but from a developmental standpoint he might start the season in the AHL. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/det--buf/t-277443696/c-9120174 Also attached is a 5 min clip of Granato's post game comments. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/don-granato-postgame-10921/t-277437090/c-9119919

I don't believe that there are any worthy trade deals right now because of the questions about Jack's health status. And that issue (my opinion) is not going to be known this season. Any GM who right now would trade any of their high end prospects for Jack should be fired for gross malfeasance. Jack is a damaged asset. The hope is that he can in time get healthy and play at the level he once did. That's when he should be dealt.

You bring up an important issue that our front office has to wrestle with. I agree with you that JJ has earned a spot on this roster. But the more important issue is whether it would be better for his development if he got a lot of playing time, and in different roles, in Rochester rather than getting lesser minutes in Buffalo. I lean toward starting him off in Rochester and then moving him up sometime during the season. And the same reasoning applies to Quinn. If I'm going to error I think it would be better to error on the side of getting him more playing time at the lower level.

You are unintentionally making a strong argument to keep Jack until he is restored to health. Assuming he gets whatever surgery it is probable that he is not going to play this year. So why not put him aside and allow him to rehab and work himself back to health? Once he can demonstrate that he is back to his old form then his trade value is demonstrably greater. The notion that the fanbase and franchise has to move on makes little sense to me. For all intents and purposes he is not going to be around the team. Our players are not waiting for him to come back and salvage anything for them. KA is handling this situation smartly. He is not going to allow himself nor the franchise to get enmeshed and distracted by this saga. He already has a lot on his plate to deal with. Just let this issue go and eventually it will work itself out. It won't be on your rushed timeline but it will some day come to a conclusion. In my view patience rather than impatience will work out better for the organization.

I don't believe that any deal he makes for Eichel is about salvaging this season. For him the return needs to include a first or second line center prospect who should be ready for NHL play in a year or so. I don't want to aggravate the impatient masses here but the best strategy may be for the GM to wait until Jack gets whatever surgery and then is able demonstrate that he is back to form. That might take another year.

I disagree. It sure sounds to me that this coach was part of the "old school" world that is rapidly declining in size in this new world reality. Assuming this story is true this is a coach that needed to be shipped out and make way for someone who else who has better interpersonal and human skills. You can still be tough without having to act stupid.

I agree with you that these dinosaur coaches are a bore and are outdated. Added to that layer of antiquation is that in this era of players these coaches are ineffective, and their shelf-life is much shorter than before. But as in any field of endeavor they still exist and have to be contended with. That's life in the real world. I'm not totally dismissing Lehner's point about the improper issuance of drugs. It just seems that Lehner is indiscriminately popping off when the subject matter that he is addressing should be dealt with more focus and detail.

I don't personally know @LGR4GM. I, like him, have participated on this forum for years. There were even a few times where the both of us mixed it up over some posts. What I can confidently say is that your scathing characterization of him and what you think he said are way out of line to the level of character assassination . He has never defended ignorant behavior, especially toward people who are handicapped physically or mentally. He, like everyone else, can be opinionated. There is nothing wrong with that. The judgment/conclusion you made about his comments on this topic don't come close to accurately reflect what he actually stated. You owe him an apology. I'm not trying to be a scold. It just seems to me that your comment directed toward him is grossly wrong and unfair.

There are always a variety of opinions. Some people think thoughtfully; and others think unthoughtfully. It's like trying to sell your house after you viciously vandalize it order to make in more marketable. This so called "crazy theory" makes absolutely no sense.

And fewer paying customers. An empty building is not a selling point. Tarnishing your asset is not a great selling point.

Detroit dominated play. Our strategy appears to chase them.

UPL looks good. Very composed.