JohnC

The least important issue for this team to upgrade itself in the near future is its position on the draft board. There are moves to be had this offseason associated with trades and free agent pickups (medium type players) that this team can make to improve this roster. With KA as the GM making the decisions on this roster and league talent is that likely? I'm not ruling it out but to put it kindly, I'm not flushed with optimism. I strongly believe that as this roster is currently constituted this team will continue to lag. However, with a few smart moves this this roster can be better balanced and stronger. The GM placed a major bet on the youngsters hoping that they will continue to make strides. Some of them have while others have regressed. Hopefully, as a group there will be more development. The team play has gotten better, and the recent record has reflected it. We'll see---I'm just not sure.

It doesn't matter whether the non-talking owner is involved or not involved in the hockey operations. However he wants to function as an owner is his prerogative. What is manifestly clear is that during his near generational tenure is that his franchise, based on its record, has failed. His most impactful acts relating to his franchise relates to the people he personally selected to run the operation. And because of his poor personnel judgment the franchise is considered a failure by people in the business.

The GM was premature in giving extended contracts instead of bridge deals to Cozens and Samuelsson. Yet, with Reinhart the GM refused to give him an extended contract when he had the opportunity to do so. So the player acting in his best interest pursued the free agent avenue and forced the team to trade him when he wouldn't sign a contract with the tea so that he could be a free agent. So many organizational miscalculations and so many setbacks. Just stupid decision making.

Why are you reluctant to categorize Tage as a 1C? It seems to me that a JJP/Tage/Tuch with other variations at wing is a solid one line. The bigger issue is how is the second line going to be constructed. I would put Cozens at wing on the second line and go from there. I would prefer acquiring a quality 2C from the market but not sure that is a reasonable expectation.

I'm more optimistic about him as a player than you appear to be. However, I'm making that judgment with some reservations. I'd be a blind fool to be overly confident with an excessive optimistic prognostication. The mistake that this GM has made (my opinion) is that his expectations for the young core were too high, at least for the short term. The GM needed to add another Zuker and Greenway type veteran players to better support them. As an example, Greenway is far from being an elite player. Yet, his tough presence and smart play has had a positive effect on the players he is playing with. We needed a couple to few more of those players on the roster when the season started. We'll see how it goes. In general, as the recent record demonstrates, the overall play has been better. That's encouraging.

I'm focusing on the hockey franchise. He has made some very poor critical hires that has kept this franchise stuck in the mud for nearly a generation. What's perplexing is that he had the right people in place to run his successful franchises. That's not the case with the hockey franchise. And that's on him. I'm not as down on the near future prospects of the hockey franchise. However, what we have been subjected to for so long is inexcusable.

Maybe the hometown owner has to seek better counsel when making major hires for the organization? As an owner, he can do whatever he wants. He can be intimately involved in the operation or take a laissez-faire approach. That's his prerogative. What can't be denied is that the franchise's record during his ownership speaks for itself. It's embarrassing and a disgrace!

As far as Cozens being a long term solution at #2C, I would say no for the reasons that have often been stated by me and others. I strongly believe that he is most suited to be a winger on the second line. Cozens has recently received a lot of merited criticisms for his play this season. It's evident that he has been pressing since the extension and assistant captain designation. And let's not forget that a couple of seasons ago he had 31 goals and 37 assists for 68 pts. Those numbers should not be dismissed when considering whether to keep him or trade him. Last night, he showed that he can be an asset for this team. My fear is that if dealt he would fall into the category of dealt young players who thrived in better run organizations.

You smartly targeted the young group that has not stepped it up to the expectation as being the underlying reason for in general has been a disappointing season. On the other hand, there has been an uptick in play in members of that particular group. Cozens, Power, Sammy and Quinn have been playing better. They certainly are not making quantum leaps forward but over the last half dozen games or so their play has improved. Cozens was the first star last night. And he deserved that accolade. Quin has also recently played better. Not dramatically so, but better. I thought Samuelsson played really well last night. He was positionally sound and played within the structure. Much of his malaise most likely can be attributed to him being constantly hurt. Will the organization mostly bring back this group? Probably so, especially if the Sabres continue to play better. But as you point out with your last sentence, what needs to happen to meaningfully improve this team is making the few required moves (not necessarily dramatic moves) at the positions you noted to make this team a more serious team. Side note: Kulich is a bright prospect. The issue I have is whether he can be a legitimate #2C and address that critical need, assuming Tage goes back to #1C? That would be a big risk entering next season. My preference would be to go out and get a #2C. We have the assets to make a deal without creating other big needs.

The coaches have been very judicious in managing the minutes he plays. He usually is in the range of 16-18 minutes.

Samuelsson, Quinn and Cozens are playing better. Not dramatically so (although Cozens's play in this game was noticeable) but to a level where they are positively contributing instead of being invisible and no impact players. That's encouraging.

No question that Cozens played well. We needed him to and he did. In his last few games he has played better. I didn't watch the whole game so others can respond to my observation that Samuelsson is playing better. Not flashy but just solid. Greenway is not a stat player. But it seems that his big presence on the ice has uplifted the play of others. He's not the fastest player but he is one of the best positional players on this team. He's a big fellow who plays big. He's like a tree trunk that can't be moved. The Sabres have won 6 out of 7 games. The team is starting to have a home game advantage. Let's keep it going.

If he is in the vicinity of being an Alex Tuch play, I'll gladly accept it. I agree with you that Tkachuk is in a higher strata. That's well known.

https://www.google.com/search?q=seinfeld+episode+george+does+everything+opposite&oq=Seinfeld+episode+george+&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0i512j46i512j0i512j46i512j0i512l2j46i512j0i512l2.13544j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:98d3d6a6,vid:CizwH_T7pjg,st:0

Your last paragraph is where my scorn is directed toward. Bad decisions lead to bad outcomes. This organization handcuffs itself with its own mediocrity. A lack of sagacity is a sophisticated way of saying inept and stupid.

A few years ago, he scored 31 goals and had 37 assists. You may be dismissive of that production but I'm not. Cozens is not a finesse player. He's a grinder who has shown that he can score. We need more players, not less, who play with a degree of physicality. I would love for him to get back on track. Right now, he's pressing and playing with too much self-manufactured stress. If he could get back to the form that he demonstrated a couple of years ago, I would be more than pleased.

I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me or not. That's okay. Eichel is not a fool and is going to cavalierly jeopardize his career by undergoing a high risk surgery when there were alternatives. The surgery that Vegas allowed and that Jack wanted was a surgery that was considered "an acceptable practice" surgery in Europe. Europe is known for approving new techniques than the more cautious US medical system. And in hindsight, the surgery worked out so well for Jack that other players followed suit and got the same procedure done. There is no question that the owner was upset with Jack when he expressed his desire to get out of this pissshole franchise. He's a competitor who wanted to win and didn't see that happening here. He was right. He left and ended up the cup on a consistently good team. The GM and owner who wanted to screw him to this day preside over a flailing franchise. What would have been a better approach for this dumbasssss organization. How about allowing to get the surgery and getting healthy sooner so this asset would have more value on the market. The owner was too caught up with his own ego to get back at Jack at the expense of setting this franchise back even further. And let's revisit the Reinhart situation. He was willing to sign an extension. But the GM declined. So this top tier player ends up getting to his UFA year where he needed to be dealt for pennies on the dollar. How stupid was that! I repeatedly have stated that the prime source for this franchise's extended failure is the obtuse owner whose main attributes are stubbornness and lack of self-awareness with respect to his hockey knowledge.

Put him on wing where he has thrived in the international tournaments. Two years ago, he scored 31 goals and had 37 assists for 68 pts, for a -3. There is no question that he has regressed. But that doesn't mean that the potential he exhibited two years ago has completely vanished. For those who argue to deal him, why do so now when his value is at a low point? Instead of focusing on this troubled season let's evaluate him with a wider lense and try to tap into the potential that was evident not too long ago.

The Ducks are finishing up on an extended eastern trip while the Sabres are coming off of a decisive win against the Rangers. A win would make it 6 wins in 7 games. Let's finish the last quarter of the season on a positive note.

I will again state what I have often stated: Power should not be moved. Full stop. That doesn't mean that I'm against making deals. There is no question that a player such as Tkachuk could have a material impact on our roster. But I'm not sure he would want to come here and I'm not sure that he would be willing to sign an extension to remain here. This organization certainly does have assets in players, prospects and draft picks to parlay. My concern right now is that our GM is not in a strong position when negotiating deals. If your desire is to have a significant deal done, I would rather wait until the offseason. I have taken the position that with a few smart midsized deals (not bonanza deals) that this roster can be upgraded and more prudently constructed to be a competitive team. The model I would like to follow is the Washington Capitals. Their smart organization made a series of smart medium deals that made it one of the better teams in the league and a serious cup contender.

I want Zucker and Greenway back. Why deal either one of them even if there is a risk that they might prefer to move on? They are UFAs so the return would be miniscule. I'm not writing off either one of them for next year.

He actually was on a high ground and didn't realize it. He didn't have to trade Eichel at all. Eichel was contractual bound by an extended contract. If he couldn't get a higher return for his elite player, he should simply not have made a deal at that time. If he was so determined to deal him, then he should have waited for a more favorable time. His motto is buy high and sell short. Stupid!

No! Not for me. Power stays. It's time to add talent and not subtract it. We traded Eichel and Reinhart. The return didn't come close to what was sent out. And to be perfectly candid, I don't want our current GM to make a deal this season. He's in a weak position that can be exploited.

No. I live in the MD/DC metro area. There has been no word or even speculation of his retirement, even if he passes Gretzky in goals.

The more central issue is more focused on getting a legitimate 2C than putting Cozens on wing where he is more suited (my opinion). Would dealing Byram for that 2C be worth the exchange? Maybe or maybe not? As I said in prior posts, I do like the play of Byram and his pairing with Dahlin. But a top second line center also is a need. And to get that caliber of player it would require a Byram type talent to get such a deal done.