JohnC

We both agree that Byram should be moved because he has the greatest market value. I strenuously disagree with you that both Quinn and JJP need to be moved. For me, they are at a point of development where they should be 30 goal scorers. Too many people are dismissive of their offensive potential. I'm aware that they are not defensive juggernauts but they have the ability to improve defensively to the point where they are not glaring liabilities. As I stated in multiple posts, our greatest need is addressing the goalie position. If that is not done, everything else done will be wasted. My proposal compared to most other proposals here is a moderate/modest view that enhances what we now have as opposed to shredding the assets that we do have. We need to address the goalie position (priority #1), bring in a couple of veteran and bulky defenseman (reasonably attainable) and add two or three players that fall in category of players of hardnosed players who are Zucker like players. These are not show stopping transactions; they are smart deals that enhance what you already have on the roster. This cartoonish organization under the silent ownership of Pegula has had too many start and stop rebuilding efforts. It's time to stabilize and act judiciously and not reactively.

What blockbuster deal are you proposing that is realistic in coming to fruition? What value does Samuelsson have with his bloated contract? I'm not arguing to keep Byram, UPL or Samuelsson. The only value I see is with Byram. I would love to work out a deal such as trading him to the Rangers for K'Andre Miller. You don't need blockbuster deals to bring in a couple of experienced and rugged blueliners. They can be had on the market for reasonable second tier prices. Quinn and JJP are in my view 30+ goal scorers on a better team. You don't think that this team needs that output? Last year, Zucker and McCleod were brought in, and the year before Greenway was added. Those were quality support pieces. How about duplicating those roster improving moves that helped to reshape the roster and how it plays? Making a point that I have belabored into exhaustion is that the bringing in a reliable goalie will do more to enhance this team than any move. That's a priority that if it is not accomplished will undercut other transactions that would be made. There is too much attention is pursued for dramatic moves. How about making a series of smart moves better shapes and improves this roster?

I prefer Quinn over Marchant. And I’m not moving Kulich or Power. There are other assets such as Byrum, draft picks and prospects in the system to parlay. There are also mid-level free agents (such as Zucker was) that can be considered on prove it deals. Our biggest need is in net. Solidify that position and this team should be so much better. I’m not advocating for the blockbuster deal/s that strip this team for a short term gain. A few smart deals like was done in the acquisitions of Greenway, Zucker and McCleod are doable.

Still no for me.

I agree with your conclusion and respect your flexibility.

I say no to trading Quinn for Marchment. I believe that Quinn will come into camp healthy and stronger. And I strongly believe that he has enough experience now to get a return on his offensive talents. I also have the same approach to Kulich and Power. I'm tired of seeing our traded young players producing at a high level for other teams. The Sabres still have plenty of other assets to parlay, such as Byram, prospects and picks. Let's stop making the same mistake over and over, watching other teams benefit while we continue to churn in place. The idea of trading for Marchment, a player we will only have one year of control of, while giving up a good young player with a lot more upside makes no sense to me. Put me in the steadfast no category on your proposed deal.

What was the source of the LaFontaine embittered departure? If I recall correctly the buyout included a non-disclosure clause.

Let's just put hockey aside and examine this franchise from a business standpoint. Pro sports is part of the entertainment business. Like any business, if your product is less than mediocre and lacks entertainment value, it won't be supported. That translates into loss of revenue. How many games were there where empty seats made up a large portion of the seating capacity. There are times when your company has to be run more austerely to adjust to the economic conditions. And there are times when you have to spend money to make more money. The hockey business is a direct competition business. You are competing against other organizations that are determined in trying to win. They are fully staffed with the best people that they can attract. When your franchise is run by a buffoon owner who knows little and interferes a lot, who will want to work for him? What owner would have hired such an ill-equipped KA to be their GM? No one but the silly Buffalo owner. And what owner would have kept on the same GM who after five years has little to show for his efforts? No one but the silent Buffalo owner. Why would he not have fired him or move him on to some other less consequential position? For one, he doesn't want to pay people for not working and because he wants some howdy doody person in the position who allows him to play with his toy whenever he wants to interject his stupid thoughts. It's not unusual for a new owner to make mistakes in the beginning of his tenure and then get better as he gains experience. Not this hardheaded fool. It seems that he is doubling down and continue with the same bet on the same losing horse. There is a glimmer of hope with the bringing on board of the new staffer. But what neutralizes that positive step to an unknown degree is that the current GM remains in his position. What's obvious for all to see is that the Sabres are not a normal franchise because our owner is quirky. Being idiosyncratic can be a charming trait in a person but it is destructive trait when you are the owner of a sports franchise where stability is essential. A generation of this foolishness is so stupid and ridiculous.

It's so embarrassing. I wish this owner would sell the team and sail away on his big boat. Everyone in the hockey business knows that the Sabre owner is a joke and that he has degraded this franchise and strangled the market into oblivion. Even if he cared (which is debatable), he's too inept to bring in the right people to straighten out the mess that he created. How can he be a serious owner when he acts so silly? WTF!

From just the snippet you cited from the article it starkly demonstrates how hollow this Pegula franchise was. It was bad enough that this organization was so thinly staffed, but to make things even worse was that the most influential people (owner and GM) in this rinky dink operation were out of touch from the real world of professional hockey. How do you compete against serious people when you are a joke?

The GM position has so many varied aspects to it. It is the like being the head of a multi-company corporation. One required trait you have to have to be successful is that you have to hire quality support staff. Another critical trait is that you have to have a broader vision than if you worked in one of the departments in the company. KA is a fine fellow. He’s playing checkers in a chess match. I say this with no malice intended: He’s simply in over his head.

As you point out, it isn’t a startling revelation that the organization reeks of dysfunction. However, anything that might give some insight to where this non-talking owner’s head is at has some interest. My attitude of contempt for this arrogant billionaire who has degraded this once proud franchise to a laughed at and scorned franchise has not changed. On a positive note, the addition of an experienced hockey person to the staff is a positive step. It’s so sad that when this stubborn owner does something that should normally be expected it becomes a cause for celebration.

Care to elaborate on the last sentence?

Does Robertson have a no trade clause?

I like Benson a lot. He shouldn't be playing on the top line at this early stage in his career. Both JJP and Kulich have played on the first line. Those were advanced roles that they really didn't earn. That's not to say that eventually that they won't be top line players but playing them at those higher roles was an indication that the roster was not full enough to play these youngsters where they should have been slotted at this time.

You shouldn’t be surprised that small successes get overshadowed by one’s overall record. The fans are less tolerant and patient with this franchise and staff after a generation of failing and an owner who is incommunicado. The fans are fed up as I am.

You may think you are embarrassing me but I take pride in my dinosaur nature. Now get off my weed infested lawn. Excuse me now. I have to go and pee.

The Watson acquisition was an owner instigated transaction. And to compound his mistake he was the one who offered the ill-conceived contract that has negatively reverberated for years. Bad ownership making stupid and crippling decisions.

I'm not in the camp that everything he has done is wrong. That would be an unfair evaluation. However, I am in the camp that as a GM is not good enough. To be blunt: Your record is your record. And that's what he owns and can't hide from.

As it turned out after a tough journey Baker Mayfield has found his footing and is in the right place at the right time. (As you point out.) I don't care what pro sports you are talking about, front offices and organizations make plenty of mistakes on judging talent. However, the organizations that have a solid foundation, like the Bills, overcome them. There is no question that without Josh Allen, the Bills would probably not be a Super Bowl contending team. But that doesn't mean that with its quality staff that they wouldn't have made the necessary adjustments to be a good team. The Sabres not being a serious team for the full tenure of this silent owner is an indictment on his gross incompetence. This owner bought the hockey franchise and went on to degrade it. It's shameful and pathetic. (I'm aware that we are more in agreement than not.)

I'm so out of touch that I can't even comprehend the archaic world and crowd. Please be gentle with me. I'm frail and easy to be wounded i.e. easy target due to inherent insufficiencies. 😄

I’m so out of touch with all the references. Being archaic makes one say “huh” a lot.

The issue then becomes, how much influence does the new staffer have, especially compared to KA. My suspicions are that he may have more authority.( Just my personal opinion.)

The issue isn't the quantity of staff as much as it is the quality of the top decision makers, including the owner. You can have the best staff in the business but still fail if the top of the top of the operation isn't functioning smartly. I understand why the owner went into austerity mode during the covid period. His hockey and hospitality business were hemorrhaging money. So his belt tightening response was understandable. But after that challenging period, his decision-making on staff and hockey decisions have been very inadequate (to put it mildly), to the point of relegating this flailing franchise to being an expected back of the pack franchise by others in the business. This organization has handcuffed itself due to its own foolishness. (I'm not suggesting that you are saying otherwise.) It just so tiresome. On the bright side, the hiring of an experienced person to join the upper staff is encouraging. There needs to be more follow-up.

You make an insightful observation about which franchise makes much more money. But the irony is that if the hockey franchise was more competently run and most likely be reflected in the play and competitiveness, the hockey franchise would be more profitable. More tickets would be sold, more concession $$ would be accrued, playoff $$$ would be added and with better management of player contracts there would be a smarter relationship between player costs and production. I agree with you that the NHL team revenue would not come close to NFL team revenue. But what is indisputable is because TP has run a third-rate operation, the revenue return is also third rate. I don't care what business you are in, leaving money on the table due to ineptness, is never a smart way to run any business. And when you are not serious about your particular business and are competing against owners who are serious about competing, you end up at the bottom of an empty barrel. A generation of stupidity does take a toll on the spread sheet.