Cranky old man

Another guy we don’t need. We have young talent, why pay for more, especially a guy who had a down year? The same rumours that indicated he might be available also stated de ducks wanted to be overcompensated for the bum.

Nothing like the off off off off season. How about an analysis of European players in the Sabre pipeline. We could be number one with a bullet in Stockholm.

This is instructive. I’m not suggesting Benson will not become very good player. He has a lot a tools. But historically, and statistically speaking, it is unlikely he will double his point production. Further, the addition of Jason Zucker at $5M per annum places him in the top six, at least for a while. They want his “mantality” to help those younger players get their minds right for 82 plus games. Benson can’t do that, he doesn’t know how yet.

Benson will have to score more to keep his minutes. He averaged around 14 minutes per game, I see that decreasing as Lindy uses other pieces in his top lines. Benson went through long scoreless stretches last year, the Sabres can’t afford that this year. While Granato liked Benson’s hustle, we now have some age and muscle. I did not see the merit in playing an 18 year old on the youngest team in the nhl. While he did well for a 18 year old, he didn’t really move the meter for the team. The Sabres need scoring, if Kulich and Rousek bring it, Benson can watch from upstairs.

The grades are hilarious for the previous years. All of Adam‘s actions this year are the actions he should’ve taken before the start of last season.

We don’t need this winger. Ottawa isn’t trading him in the 3rd year of a long term deal, unless someone overpaid super stupid. He hasn’t done enough to deserve that. Brady Tkachuk is overvalued by some because his brother’s team won a cup and because of his last name. I’d take a superior grade experienced defenseman from a willing partner to move Quinn and Samuelsson. Teams aren’t blind though, they see two guys (talented for sure) who get hurt every year like I do…..

Good luck Jeff! Here’s to a brand new life!

I have no faith in Adam’s to get a major deal done.

I’m glad he is back. I like his size and grit. He may not make it up to Buffalo without injuries to other players but one never knows how competition and a new coach changes things.

I’m happy for Girgs. Finally he is going to a winning organization. Good luck fella.

Kevyn exhausts me with his baby step approach to improving this club and his misspelled name. Perhaps he gets a big bag of cash under his porch if he only spends to 85% of the cap. In exchange he takes our abuse and distain. This the year he will give the players his rah rah guarantee they will get EVERYTHING they need to lose in the first round of the playoffs..

So far the needle has moved very little. The same bunch of disappointments are coming back in the fall with some new fourth liners, am I to believe Lindy will turn that bucket of dirt, water, grass and sticks into actual playoff stew ?

Skinner has honed his annoyance skills, driving people bananas for years. What better jibe to the sabres and their fans could he concoct ? Oh yes , oh yes.

It’s time to move on from Skinny. If nothing else, it is an example to all the young guys. Even if you have a thousand games and 9$m in your pocket, it is expected that you play a 200 foot game. It also creates space for a trade acquisition or Murray, Biro or Kulich. They need the ice time more than we need Skinny this year. If a trade is possible, fine. If not buy him out Pegs.

Lindy knows that without players who are willing to fight and or have that extra punishment in their game, the Sabres will continue to be pushed around by the better teams. Think about pivotal games against the Wings last year. Once they got physical, the Sabres melted.

Move out the zero playoff vets on this team. Their experience has not proven to be all that helpful.

We are a beleaguered franchise that has existed on hope for the last ten years. We performed another moving tank exercise to replenish the farm; Adam’s didn’t know any other way. Naturally the players sent away are better than what we have. The comparison however, is one of established players to younger developing talent. The key difference is the quantity of young players under development now compared to four years ago. There is an ownership and budget dynamic at play here that remains somewhat mysterious. A situation further complicated by Mrs. Pegula’s very unfortunate illness. It all plays into the nostalgia hire of Lindy which made 40% of the ticket base instantly happy. In the final analysis it all comes down to playoffs this year or Adams will cement his performance as the worst GM in hockey. History tells us Lindy will end the trend of collecting the same types of players. A change necessary to the advancement of this team. So here I am, hoping.

Green Bay Gamblers head coach Mike Leone takes job with Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Green Bay Gamblers head coach Mike Leone is taking a head coaching job with the Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams and Rochester Americans general manager Jason Karmanos announced on Thursday that Leone will leave the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the American Hockey League (AHL). “I am pleased to welcome Mike Leone as the head coach of the Rochester Americans,” said Adams. “The Amerks head coach plays a crucial role in the overall success and growth of our organization, and after a rigorous interview process, it became clear that Mike was the right individual for the job. His development mindset and professional versatility over the course of his career were just some of the many qualities that stood out as we searched for an individual to continue focusing on combining both winning and development in Rochester.” Leone amassed a 66-41-10-7 record in his two seasons with Green Bay, leading the Gamblers to back-to-back 30-plus win seasons as well as consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in over a decade. Leone piloted Green Bay’s resurgence through the 2022-23 campaign, helping the team finish with the most wins (32) and points (71) since 2016-17. The following year saw the Gamblers capture two more wins and earn a third-place finish in the USHL’’’s Eastern Conference standings, culminating with a return trip to the postseason for the second straight year. “I’m extremely grateful and humbled to be a part of the Buffalo Sabres organization as the next head coach of the Rochester Americans,” said Leone. “I want to thank Kevyn Adams and Jason Karmanos for giving me the opportunity to lead the organization and believing in me. I look forward to meeting everyone in the organization and helping our prospects continue to grow and develop on and off the ice.” A native of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Leone has extensive coaching experience at the international level, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Junior Select team in 2023. He served in the same capacity with the 2022 U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and at the 2021 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, where he helped guide the U.S. to the championship. Additionally, Leone was an assistant coach at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship and was behind the bench for Team USA’s 2019 Under-17 Four Nations championship-winning team and for the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, where the U.S. placed second. One final ride: Griffin Summers battles adversity to reach final season with Blue Ribbons Officials from the Green Bay Gamblers said they’re excited for Leone and wish him and his family the best of luck. Associate head coach Pat McCadden and assistant general manager/director of scouting Kirk Luedeke will lead the Gamblers’ main try-out camp, which will be held from Saturday, June 8, to Thursday, June 13, at the Resch Center. After camp is completed, the Gamblers will begin the process of filling the vacant head coach/general manager position.

If the Panthers win it will help bring FA’s to the Sabres. Smart agents will notice the trend; ex-sabres on Vegas, ex sabres on Florida. Come to Buffalo, oh gritty 3rd and 4th liners. The sabres won’t know what to do with you and eventually ship you off to a team that wins the cup.

Sounds like a rumour spread by Mr. Waddell’s agent. This move makes no sense based on Ownership decisions the last four years. Pegs is keeping it all in the family these days. Others have talked about Lindy moving up in a couple years. That seems much more likely. Pegs has been burned too often and he is going to go with the man who follows his every instruction and brings it in under budget.

KO is just being honest. He’s is by all accounts a good guy on the job and in the community. Let’s face it, he hasn’t been a difference maker on the sabres for a long time. Another member of the zero playoff club of vets we’ve carried for reasons that only God knows. Adams’ decision to bring him back didn’t make the team better. Brett Murray would helped us more, instead he helped the Amerks. Meatballs paid the price for Adam’s incompetence. This scuttlebutt is a sideshow to a sideshow. BFD.

Sabres are on a budget. Adam’s has to pay Granato so he can’t pay new assistants. Ruff is free, Appert already under contract. A real pro team doesn’t operate that way right ? But the white plastic dress shoe seems to fit don’t it Pegs?

Matt and Marty are Kevin’s guys. He’s protecting them for sure. One would think someone of Ruff’s stature would control the rest. I wonder if Doug Houda might make a reappearance. They worked together in Long Island, and Ruff coached Dougie for a couple seasons. Linked is a list from ‘23. It’s neat to see so many familiar names still in the game. https://www.diebytheblade.com/where-are-they-now-buffalo-sabres-nhl-alumni/

I love the sabres glory years but jeez, I was really hoping for more. I have no faith in KA. What a ***** up. Lindy took Ted Nolan’s Team to the finals, then never got back. His recent record is pretty underwhelming, so I don’t get the rush to hire him. There wasn’t enough time to even talk to other coaches. KA can’t get off his hands to help the team for two years, now he’s firing and hiring coaches in one weeks’ time? Cripes, what’s your deal Judy Garland, up- down -up-down- up- down. Aaaaaagggggghhhhh.

Given the youth and general inability to deal with criticism, hard feelings or discomfort the group performed as expected. Pimlach is on it. They were given talking points and they each gave their own spin on the same general statement. “We need tough love and all that.” It’s an attempt to keep these guys from wandering off into statements that smack of dissension. Adam is trying to attract a coach. He can’t have it sound like the team is in ruins. Looking back at the last two years you see a GM who is responsible for holding this team back. If KA had just got us right in goal, the last two years could have been playoff years. Well nothing like “oh crap I’m next” to end brain constipation.