JohnC

His current contract relative to his production is fair-value. None of the young prospects in the system will match his production, at least for the next 3 to 4 years. The pipeline will work itself out. Focus on the now!

Why was Babcock even hired? He was a known quantity. There was no secret how he operated. His old-school and autocratic method worked in the past era with a different generation of players. But that submissive world passed a long time ago. Columbus had a lot of young players that were developing. He certainly wasn't a match for that roster and situation. The hiring of him made no sense. KA has made a lot of transactions in his short stint. The most astute and impactful decision he made was hiring Granato to replace Krueger. And then hiring him as the permanent coach sealed the deal. At least for now, he is the right coach at the right time. Coaching matters!

Why would there be any interest in trading Skinner? The Sabres are finally/belatedly in a position to win. This team has serious aspirations that are grounded in realism. Skinner is a 30 + goal scorer on the top line. He's also a feisty player who energizes his teammates. Considering his production and the expectation for the cap to go up, his contract is a fair-value contract. It's inarguable that the talent pipeline is robust. But not one of the impressive prospects who are waiting in the wings will come close to matching his production in the next few years. We've come to the point where the discussion should be about the NOW. The worthy players in the pipeline will get their opportunities. Some of it will be due to injuries, retirements and player trades. As for now, I have no interest in trading Skinner or any player who will help us succeed right now.

I don't have the stats but in the end of the season playoff run the Sabres did play a tighter brand of two-way hockey. Even when Tage and Dahlin were impaired, the team played a playoff style of play. I don't expect this style of play for a full season but even if it is done to a lesser-extent it should have positive repercussions.

What's so appealing in reviewing your list of players is the level of depth and roster flexibility. Injuries are a fact of life in hockey. A loss of a player is also an opportunity for a prepared prospect. The system has been rebuilt and restocked. How can a Sabre fan not be optimistic?

With the additions of Johnson and Clfiton our PK should be better? Maybe adding 4 to 6 points? There should be better team defense from all our lines. Maybe adding another 6 points within the season? Will our netminding be better with Levi as the primary goalie and the other two as backups, however it shakes out? I think so. Is it 4-6 pts better within the season? That's not a stretch to believe. The Sabres had three separate eight game segments in the season where they didn't get a win. It's not unreasonable to believe that a couple more tie/loser and added winning points within the 3 segments could add another 3-6 points within the season. I don't expect to have as good a road record as we had last year. But I do expect a much better home record. And it should be noted that when the arena was filled or near filled, and the fans were engaged, this team did play well at home. Everything I have suggested is of course theoretical but also very doable. The unknown is the ability to stay healthy and the ability for this team to slightly modify their style of player to playing a little bit better two-way brand of game. A projection of 98 pts is not outlandish.

Players, like organizations, make decisions based on their best interests. If a player decides to take less $$$ for whatever reason, then that is a decision he will make. If a player decides not to take less and move on, then so be it. It's a business with a short life span. Contracts/value and cap space are issues that all franchises have to contend with in all sports. I don't begrudge any player who pursues his own best interest when making a contract decision.

Of course the stars went for the money. Their star players went for contracts commensurate with their value in the league. What did you expect? The Nylander and Tavares were bad deals that the organization made. Bad decisions by the front office and poor cap management. That's not a player problem; it's an organization problem.

Old school coach with dictatorial tendencies who hasn't adapted to the modern world. Players no longer put up with his kind of abuse. He just hasn't been able to make the adjustment.

Everyone is projecting the cap to go up in the future. The player's incentive is to get to the next contract sooner to tap into that larger pool of $$$$. The organization's incentive is to delay getting to the that contract in order to save money. This is a clear example of competing interests. There is no indication that it reflects any uncertainty about the franchise from the player.

A stud is a stud no matter what others think. 😄 Rumor has it that @Wyldnwoody44was a pin up model for a 2024 calendar showcasing nude doctors. It is called Doctors without borders and underwear. Check out the month of October. As the saying goes: If you got it----then flaunt it.

You stated your opinion was a gut feeling. There has not been one report that the player has issues about the team and the organization. It's over the contract numbers and term. What else could it be? It's a business where parties negotiate to get the best deal they can get. Now we have learned something new: Your imagination is linked up with your gut.

Why shouldn't he?

Is this what you are looking forward to? https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=566090906&q=bikini+skiers.&tbm=isch&source=univ&fir=z8nZXWWwK9FZ9M%2CRJ25XUP7OPaHzM%2C_%3BLz38QduS18jeJM%2Cs_bT4XeR7Vb70M%2C_%3BQBCTOeMGBbg0lM%2C0SpHrB8g3BFUtM%2C_%3Bn-ZTQZe70EuKVM%2CJYPKP4hANJJSbM%2C_%3BLwoYTp2aa-LAPM%2CFkiO-RRjufQ0JM%2C_%3BLSmPp-RusTv22M%2CRJ25XUP7OPaHzM%2C_%3BLEiw8dbP3oyV-M%2CEFC7V2EduYlykM%2C_%3BeoWjM6kM49mSYM%2CqjG_XVqYO5R1YM%2C_%3BLf1GUdsKl0Mm5M%2C0kJUedbOftIvJM%2C_%3BSoEdgUwo3KLGiM%2CTywbfOE0KVqdPM%2C_%3B_mU44qYcgsDjWM%2Cqz_01LeusopbzM%2C_%3B8ZUkJSeO8UgCdM%2Cx4VimcjsBdVpJM%2C_%3BGZ6mta5SMowi9M%2CswKT9zLUbAF_IM%2C_&usg=AI4_-kTKp0e6AQ4ftUOjwE8kz5DyClxp-A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnn4CK_bGBAxVZMlkFHWcoDngQ7Al6BAglEGc&biw=1783&bih=890&dpr=1

It's unlikely that Dahlin hasn't signed because a lack of this organization's commitment to getting better. He's had an inside view of this team get better, especially over the past couple of years. And he and organization recognize that he is one of the primary players, if not the primary player, in this team upsurge. He hasn't signed a new contract because he and the organization haven't agreed to the terms yet. My sense (opinion) is that the issue isn't so much money per year as it is the length of the contract. Because of the expectation of the cap going up in the future it's in his best interest to get a shorter-term deal done while it's in the interest of the organization to lock him up for a longer period of time. I'm confident that a deal will be worked out soon. If not, he will play under the current contract and have more time to work out a deal. Sometimes when a player is one of the premier players in the league getting a deal done is relatively simple. And sometimes when a player is one of the premier players in the league getting a deal done gets complicated. The Dahlin contract situation falls into the complicated category.

The player is looking out for his best interest while the organization is looking out for its best interest. They negotiate and will eventually come to some resolution. For some players the process is simple. For some of the elite players it is more complicated. I'm confident it will soon work out. If not, then he will continue to work under the contract he currently has. That's the system. It's a business.

You have become a caricature of yourself. Your gut feelings are out of whack because you have over-consumed fatty foods. Quickly find a bathroom so you can disgorge the source of your tummy rumblings.

Yes, I did, a little. Not my type of music. Mo-town was what I was attracted to. Temptations, Diana Ross and Supremes, Four Tops, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson etc.. I was also a big Beatles fan. I didn't particularly like Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones. I'm out of step and uncool.

I like elevator music. I find it to be very soothing. I'm just a natural at being uncool. When I was young I was so inept that I never mastered the art of smoking dope. I kept coughing when I tried to hold it in. If there was a HOF for the uncool, I would be inducted unanimously on the first ballot.

I have the feeling that the fans are eager to come back and enthusiastically support this team. They have had to contend with such a long period of failure and organizational dysfunction. The extended mediocrity was so dispiriting. At the end of last season, they got a taste of following a relevant and legitimately competing team for the playoffs. I really hope that this team can start off well and quickly uncork the enthusiasm that has been bottled up for so long. An added incentive for the fans to come back is that this team is entertaining to watch. What the first game of this prospect series indicates is that not only will the Sabres be fun to follow but so will the Amerks.

If I recall correctly, I believe he made some indelicate and awkward comments during the Kaepernick, BLM and players kneeling period. My take is his comments didn't come from malice as much as being a little out of touch from a generational standpoint. ( @SwampD described it very well in a prior post.)

I think your comment best describes the likely context for his comments. Verbally, he is a fumbler. And also, he's a little out of step and behind on the times. I don't believe he has any malice in his heart.

Shut that shiiit off. That's music for junkies and rabble rousers. I hate it!

Metal Head music sucks! I'm too mellow of a fellow to find that ear splitting garbage appealing. If you like to listen to loud stuff, go to an artillery training facility and listen to the canons shooting without head gear. That sound is more rhythmic and listenable than the ear-splitting noise that your favorite band produces. WTF! Get off my lawn so I can get back to my solitude and quietude! 🤡

Who? You fu----ing cool guys are not part of my pedestrian world. LOL