JP51

At this point I take the risk and not trade him... on paper (and I mean on paper performance could change my mind) he has top 6 skills , getting a Top 6 F for this team doesnt come easy. To me you take your chances with the understanding he is likely to be out at times... but unless you are getting a top 6F or Top 4 D for him I think you gotta see what you got.

This is truth. I wanted him to be captain.

Those are the exact ones I would look at... also upgrade from Bryson and take a serious look at Lafferty and Malenstyn like the concept... but not sure we are better with them... as far as Kozak, I like this kid... I would look to put him in as a Lafferty or a Malenstyn... albiet not as physical... I love Greenway, we just signed him... but if he is gonna be out 40 games a year... where are we going there...

I dont disagree... as long as the 3-4 equal getting rid of 3-4 that quite honestly detract from value. The problem is who are those 3-4, where do they come from, and are we trading away players that are part of the solution to get them... I would also add they are 1 GM with a proper vision and one owner who is willing to raise the level of expectations and organizational support to that of a professional franchise looking to compete for Championships.

To add to this... Pegula is Peter.

I fear it is crushed and resides in oblivion with very little chance of finding its way out... To me nothing less than a complete change of heart and the hiring of a serious accredited and respected POHO that is allowed to hire GM staff etc... and a full funding of Hockey operations including Scouting, AI, tech etc... will bring this back... and even then it will take years... and years to establish this group as an acceptable destination for trades and FA etc... what I believe will happen is that he will look at the last 10 games and say well we are rounding in to shape the plan is working and he will run back Adams who will run back the same crap and on to year 15... when attendance hits 5k per game maybe the league does something... I dont know.. but to me the beat goes on... depressing.

One can only hope

I just think that we won enough at the end of the season for Pegula to see a glimmer and not overhaul... run it back... stay the course... and a 15th year of no playoffs to me is likely.... I am just not sure there is a reasonable end in sight...

Probably truer than we really even know...

Actually, I do not at all disagree here which may be surprising... I think they have the I want to win long term desire without the plan to actually do that... I think its the fans and outside perception that needs to be adjusted... we would just be happy with the playoffs... I think people see that from the outside... I think we need to surround ourselves with the cup narrative... I think the playoffs are a logical result if we improve to contention... what I dont want is a hire whose goal is to do what it takes and make those changes that top out at playoffs and count it as success... rather a stepping stone... Further to that... for me... and just my own opinion and tolerance level here you mentioned patience... If we need to not make the playoffs next year but begin to move towards sustainable success then I am gonna be ok... as long as it isnt Adams at the helm... I dont think the outside view of the organization is changed much by a 4-1 1st round exit... and I do think we need to change that because at this point we cant even play in the sandbox with the contenders because we get shut down by the player... that is an immense hamstrung situation... and really cuts out options for continual improvement...

I am not going to name names, opine on theoretical trades, or pretend I understand the likelihood of those that we are trying to attract actually willing to come here. I think we need to address the broader culture, define how we move forward and take an opportunistic stance in making moves when those moves align with the overall goals. We should not force moves that don't make sense. We must begin with the right management personnel, with the right vision, we must not skimp on resources, nor should we deal from a position of weakness and desperation to achieve a short term feel good gain. The goal is to win championships not 5 extra games before we go golfing. 1. Hire well respected POHO and turn over control - Pegula POHO - not even a step in the process... immediately fire Adams... and permanently ban him from the building 1. Allow Ruff to hire his own staff (with a mandate that a top developmental coach must be hired) 2. Shut Down the "Make the playoffs" narrative - Change it to win cup... this concept of aspiring to be middle of the pack needs to stop immediately. 3. Ignore calls of those looking for moves that will immediately get us into the playoffs so we can take a 4-1 1st rd exit 4. Identify players that we want to help us win Championships. Hockey players not figure skaters 5. Begin to move out all others for players that fit into the above category when the appropriate situation arises. We should not force our way out unless they are so detrimental to the overall plan (aka Diggs) 6. Do what it takes to find a Premier player sub 30 year old that will come here that fits into category 4 that will not only improve the team but demonstrate who we want to become, our identity. 7. Hire full compliment of scouting staff and tech people etc... demonstrate that we are going to be run like a Pro team that intends to compete. 8. Rid us of bad contracts (see cat 5) and begin to reward those in Cat 4 9. Hammer the cup narrative, change the outside view by changing the inside expectations 10. No sacred cows results based performance and accountability This is not an easy task and it will be hard to come back from... but I dont believe in skipping steps... I want a cup not an every other year playoff appearance. But sometimes when you repair you have to start foundationally... so, I am starting there. Our problems are past our players... and move to a complete dysfunction and rudderless plan whose goal is mediocrity with the I am just happy to be here mantra... Thats the problem, not palm trees.

Adams really likes him... so no.

I agree but probably a good 3c, thinking back to when Roy centered Pominville and Vanek on the 3rd line... we could use that level of talent going to 3rd line...

Usually when we have these types we trade them away or let them go, Zadorov, Kassian, Foligno, Kane, Carrier, DesLauries, Lemueix, Barnaby, Ott etc... not that they were all of them all that... but their play doesnt seem to be a priority... we like em Big and soft... Like Power and Muel and Wilson, and Krupp and Myers etc... or little and figure skating...

To ne usually the team that gets the best player wins the trade... there can be no doubt here unless Östlund or Levi turns out to be a major superstars...

agreed... another year of adams running it back, no playoffs and bad trades... the hole gets deeper.

So I dont want to over think this... and I get everyones point... but for where I am at and what I would like to see... Nothing wrong with rewarding a player in the AHL with some showtime... nice little 3 or 4 game stint rotate him thru 4th line, Power Play 2nd line etc... to give him some insight on what he needs to do to develop and build an offseason plan for him.... I do not want him to finish the season here, I think its too early and he is better with a playoff run in the AHL... with respect to feelings of players on the team... I get it... but if you are scoring less than 10-15 goals a season on a team that has been last in the conference and hasnt made the playoffs in 14 years and are upset by this... get a thicker skin or play better.... But yes give the kid a couple games of experience in multiple situations and grow him for next year... that I am fine with.

Indeed he has not LOL... he is more the passive aggressive type... preferring players that give dirty looks when $h/it goes down.... lol

This is totally whats going to happen and we will be having the same conversation next year I am fairly certain. That being said, I am not for a tank etc... they need to learn to win... but its just kind of our luck...

Right now he looks like the best player we got in the trade... who knows when Samuelso... err Norris is gonna decide to grace us...

I want the best draft position possible... that said... no more tank... young guys need to learn to win... they just do... this was a game I think finally I saw a team skate hard for at least 45 minutes... and dominate... now the Penguins are smallish and really not good... but I dont care... it was fun to see them click... great to see Kozak get another... I just like that kid... Great to see Kulich look like he can be something that is part of a solution... great to see Riemer battle for every save even up 7-1.... the only not so great was they looked like they were coasting in the 1st half of the 3rd... and Owen Power is just so unaggressive it really hurts his game and the team... like Cmon man... you cant be a Defenseman at your size and play like Villie Leino in the corner and in front of the net...

Exactly my thought

This is the answer... and replace him with competence... then let that GM decide if they let him walk on an offer sheets, sign lt, sign trade etc... same with Power and his development... bottom line is we can debate all we want... I just dont want Adams making any of these decisions...

He is the opposite of what we need in terms of attitude and play... he had a feud with JT Miller cause JT got too pissed off when they lost... uhm... hard no for me especially on this team... we already traded one of the only players we had that hates losing in Cozens... not too many of those guys left...

maybe 15 or 20 years ago... not now...