JohnC

The word stubbornness seems appropriate. There was inability to tweak and adjust from the declared script. I think Lindy has had a positive influence on him focusing on the present a little more without materially undercutting the future he was so enamored with.

The Jets would snicker and say no thanks.

In a proposed deal with Buffalo, they might not get back a star player but they could end up with multiple players that make their team better. As we are well aware in Buffalo sports, actually everywhere, sometimes players want out for a variety of reasons or wear out their welcome in the room. In all workplaces, sometimes a change of scenery is best for everyone. A Zegras get should even make @GASabresIUFAN happy!

I respectfully but strenuously disagree with you on an Ehler's deal. Check with a @tom webster post where he mentions that a Zegras deal might be under consideration. It makes much more sense from a talent/contract and cost standpoint.

On WGR, Zegras's name keeps coming up. It seems that Anaheim is getting tired of him. The possible deal that you heard was proposed sounds like a reasonable deal for us. A potential Zegras deal makes so much more sense than an Ehler's deal would because of the contract status.

Thank you for giving us a clear-headed (sober) report from your sources. Not you can go back to mingling and having another brew or two. 🍺 My main takeaways from your comments are the Lindy influence and the determination to mostly stay the course. Is it the right pathway? @GASabresIUFAN doesn't think so. I'm simply not sure. This Pegula franchise put itself on a long and bumpy road, and now it is difficult to change directions. TBD.

I'm hoping that JJP and Quinn continue upwards. I'm intrigued by what Quinn is capable of. For those who argue ( @GASabresIUFAN ) to give up that caliber of young talent for a probable rental, I say hellll no!

You got it backwards. The Sabres have a credibility problem because they have a long history of making bad decisions. Acting out of desperation by shedding valuable assets for a temporary fix is chasing fool's gold. In the end, it turns into a setback that makes the journey even longer. Take the Ehler situation. If we get this impending UFA for assets such as Kulich, JJP and a #1 pick, and then lose him, how are you better? The Sabres have multiple players in the short pipeline who will need to be paid. Even if the GM would want to sign Ehlers to an extended contract, it would be tough to fit his new bonanza salary in without squeezing another of our players out. If a player doesn't want to be here (and he doesn't), then I'm not going to mess with him. Listen to what he is saying, and not what you want him to say. There is nothing wrong with being desperate to win. There is something wrong/foolish acting out of desperation.

As you point out, the issue isn't what you want to do as it is what can you really do. Acting out of desperation is not a smart way to do business. In the end, wishful thinking leads to imprudent deals. That's a recipe for a disaster. There is still time to make a deal prior to the season. It doesn't have to be a blockbuster deal. Hopefully, there will be players available at a fair-market cost that will improve the team. If not, you go with what you got. What's going to drive this team forward is internal improvement. Is it good enough? I'm not sure.

If a player/agent tells you that he doesn't want to play for you, you should listen to him. The issue becomes what are you going to give up? If it's next year's #1 pick, Kulich and JJP, my answer would be a resounding no. There's a good chance that Kulich will be brought with the Sabres sometime this season. For a likely rental player, I would be reluctant to make a deal. I just wish we could have signed Patrick Kane.

I would love to add Ehlers to the roster. But it's unlikely that he would sign an extension with us. Why give up significant assets for a player who is likely to be gone after one season?

I don't see KA as being arrogant. My impression of him is that he is a very earnest and diligent person. Right from the start, he was candid on what his rebuild strategy was going to be. He stuck to it. My criticism of him is that he had a reasonable script/roadmap but was unwilling or unable to tweak it enough to keep the team competitive enough with the serious teams. Two years ago, the Sabres under Granato made a leap forward with a 92 pt season. He assumed that the team would continue with its upper projection. He was wrong. What undercut that progress was that there was a structural imbalance to the roster, mostly associated with the lower lines. It's apparent that this offseason was dedicated to correcting that issue. The hiring of Lindy and the moves made so far indicate that he is aware what he needed to be done. Is it enough? I'm not sure.

There is nothing unusual about internal disagreements within the staff for all organizations. One could make a reasonable case that rushing Levi into the NHL gave the team its best chance for a playoff run. And on the other hand, a good case could be made that rushing him without giving him the usual playing experience would set his development back. Tough decisions in hindsight don't always seem wise. But at the time they are made they can be justified. I remember in our end of season playoff run he played really well.

What happens if there is an injury to Tage or Cozens? What center moves up from the AHL? And what happens if any wingers from the top two lines get hurt? Right now, he would be one of the first players on the Amerks to move up. And that's how the GM wants it.

You and I are in accord on the importance of adding a top 6 forward. It just seems to me that if the GM did so, it would positively impact two lines, the line the player is added to and the line in which a player gets dropped. My sense (opinion) is that the GM is adamant in not blocking a few of our better prospects in Rochester, most notably Kulich. TBD.

It's surprising that you didn't mention the goaltending. If UPL and whoever gives us solid to good backstopping, then the prognosis looks much better. If it slides, then we are in trouble. In general, the added pieces basically reconstituted the lower lines. I'm not going to scoff at that alteration because it directly related to our soft brand of hockey. It's obvious that the GM believes that he had enough in-house talent to staff the top two lines. I wish he would have added another top six forward. We shall see. I'm more optimistic about our competitiveness after the flourish of activity was completed. Is it enough to get us in the playoffs? I'm not sure.

You been in town quite a bit. Does that area have much activity when there isn't a game or concert? Just curious.

I disagree. Don G has been working in the league for a long time. There's no question that his forte is in young player development. However, he knows what elements that successful teams have that separate successful teams from the less successful teams in Big League. And even if he didn't, the GM should have the broader perspective to recognize what goes into building a competitive team. And he is the boss!

If you review the signings that were made this offseason, it becomes apparent that they were doable last offseason. For the most part, they fall in the category of lower line acquisitions that better balance out the roster and add an element of toughness to the style of play. It seems to me that the GM got fixated on the top two lines and the prospects in the system while losing sight of how teams are built and play in the NHL. (My opinion.)

I read (looked at) at what I considered to be an adventure book. It had a lot of naked pictures with busty girls demonstrating their flexibility. I was told that I was a naughty boy. I ended up being severely disciplined. It was well worth the punishment. 😀

Is Iafallo a top six player?

You have been posting for a long time. The one thing you are not is a "Storm Cloud". You may be other things but regarding the Sabres you are usually fair-minded.

I don't believe that the organization soured on him. It's more of an issue where he was a good prospect who was in the same tier as a number of our other prospects. When you have a surplus of assets that are similar then it makes a lot of sense to parlay that asset for another that has immediate utility for your NHL team. Edmonton had a different roster situation that required a deal, as we did. The issue isn't who got the better deal as does this deal serve one another's interest. I think it did.

Did Terry P divest himself of all his hotels and restaurants?

In normal circumstances, he wouldn't be worth a 2nd round pick. However, from a Sabre perspective this year, it is absolutely worth a second-round pick. The Sabres had an abundance of draft picks that most likely wouldn't materialize as NHL players. So an asset was used to help address a structural problem associated with a lower line and style of play. Assessing the collective actions of the GM, he did a good job in adding players who will alter the makeup of the roster that needed to be remade. A little more than a year ago, KA gave up a second-round pick to acquire Greenway. Was it an overpay? Maybe. So what. We added a NHL player who was a solid player for us. I simply don't know what you are complaining about.