Free Agent Frenzy! Oct 9, 2020

[Stoner]

2 hours ago, Radar said:

Exactly where I am. My major problem is ownership. Chaos. They don't seem to be able to put together a stable organization. We seem totally without a set plan only swinging doors of bad hires. Now he's signed a very nice and, I believe , intelligent guy with no real experience to run his team with a coach who I like a lot but also no real proven record in the NHL. This leads me to think the real decision makers are the Pegulas in whom my trust hahas pretty much evaporated.

If inexperienced hires were limited to Adams and Krueger, there might not be much to discuss. But there's a reason that the Pegulas have gone with Rolston-LaFontaine-Murray-Botterill-Housley-Krueger-Adams. Bylsma and Nolan are the outliers and maybe Patrick's brief stint. Why was it so brief? And were Ruff and Regier really fired or did they want out of what they could foresee happening under Jed Clampett and his better half?

[tom webster]

6 minutes ago, LTS said:

Patiently?

Which goalie did you want the Sabres to sink $6M into?  I didn't see any goaltender deals yesterday that would have been good. The belief is the Sabres are talking to CBJ about one of their goaltenders... so that's something.

Wennberg wanted to play for Bill Zito

Merrill took a 1 year deal to play in Detroit, where he played 3 seasons in Michigan in college.

Kahun was covered in the Kahun thread.  The risk of his arbitration award pushed him to UFA.  He's not signed yet, so the league clearly didn't bust his door down with a deal.

I never saw any Fast to Nashville report.  The only Kahun reference was some fan or something posting a Kings sweater with his name on it.

 

Yeah, the Fast report appears erroneous 

[Scottysabres]

2 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

If inexperienced hires were limited to Adams and Krueger, there might not be much to discuss. But there's a reason that the Pegulas have gone with Rolston-LaFontaine-Murray-Botterill-Housley-Krueger-Adams. Bylsma and Nolan are the outliers and maybe Patrick's brief stint. Why was it so brief? And were Ruff and Regier really fired or did they want out of what they could foresee happening under Jed Clampett and his better half?

Love the Jed Clampett analogy 🙂

But I am not convinced the stunning failure of not merely success, but even the appearance of upward mobility on progress with the Sabres are singularly on the Pegulas. Yes, I know, they are the owners, they put the management team in place, and so on. But those management team members and "players" (let's not forget their role in this) also share the burden of outcome, especially the last 2 season's, both of which I might add, they came out of the gate with heavy successful season starts.

And why do I say this you might ask? Especially given the dismal entire record of Pegulas ownership tenure? Because they've proven they can take an inept sports product and turn it in to a successfully winning product. I would like at this time to offer the Buffalo Bills as evidence.

[Radar]

For the record. I'm a Sabre fan. Have been since they came into the league. I want them to be successful. Goalies are not where I want them to spend big on but an upgrade on our backup would be nice. Spend big at other positions. If they can find one #1 or #2 scoring winger and a third line center and marginally upgrade our goalkeeper I'm happy invest your money in scoring.. 

[Taro T]

10 hours ago, sabremike said:

The fact that getting a goalie is clearly not the priority is all the proof anyone should need to know Adams has absolutely no idea what he is doing (same applies to Ralph as well). It is the one thing that can cover up a badly flawed roster like ours and if you throw out the tandem of Ulmark (below average) and Hutton (Doesn't belong in the NHL at this point) the only thing we are winning is another lottery pick.

How is it a "fact" that getting a goalie isn't a priority?

There's a thread here listing a goalie they'd have to work out a trade to land is one of Adams 3 primary targets.  Not having consummated a deal yet doesn't mean getting a goalie isn't a priority any more than the Sabres signing 3 AAAA'ers means improving the top 6 isn't a priority.  They simply haven't gotten a deal done yet.

And almost positive that Adams is on record as saying better goaltending is a priority.

[French Collection]

Thomas Greiss?

 

[LabattBlue]

45 minutes ago, LTS said:

Patiently?

I was being sarcastic. 😉

[Cal Naughton Jr]

25 minutes ago, Radar said:

For the record. I'm a Sabre fan. Have been since they came into the league. I want them to be successful. Goalies are not where I want them to spend big on but an upgrade on our backup would be nice. Spend big at other positions. If they can find one #1 or #2 scoring winger and a third line center and marginally upgrade our goalkeeper I'm happy invest your money in scoring.. 

I agree. That’s why they drafted arguably the best goal scorer in the draft. I really hope they throw an offer to Hall or make a trade for a legit goal scorer. Hall is a pipe dream but it’s not that far fetched that Adams can bring someone in via trade 

[nfreeman]

57 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

If inexperienced hires were limited to Adams and Krueger, there might not be much to discuss. But there's a reason that the Pegulas have gone with Rolston-LaFontaine-Murray-Botterill-Housley-Krueger-Adams. Bylsma and Nolan are the outliers and maybe Patrick's brief stint. Why was it so brief? And were Ruff and Regier really fired or did they want out of what they could foresee happening under Jed Clampett and his better half?

What's this alleged reason?

You omitted Darcy and Sexy Rexy, 2 very experienced guys, from your list.

Is the last sentence a "speculate that" or "speculate whether"?

[jsb]

Man now I know why Prozac sales in Buffalo are skyrocketing, the panic attacks in this topic are something to behold. It was only the first day of free agency yesterday. I certainly don't want another 6M dollar Okposo deal so I'm ok with them trying to be patient. Freddie K. obviously has a lot of say in the guys picked up yesterday. Rieder in particular was picked because of his rep as a PKr. Which needed to be addressed and one of the things I picked up on the KA interviews was they wanted guys who would address a need. I also got the impression the way they were going to penny pinch so to speak was they were going to give every chance in the world for the young guys Cozens-Thompson and Casey to win a spot on the roster. Casey obviously has the biggest hurdle to climb. I think Cozens and in particular Thompson are ready even though it appears very few else do. From everything I've seen and read, he's worked out this past year and looks like a beast. 

I'm ok with KA and Freddie to try and mold the roster in their image of the team. As for Kahun, I don't get the impression they were as impressed with him as we were. He only played 11 minutes a game when he was here so I don't think he's the savior some are thinking he might be.

[apuszczalowski]

10 hours ago, dudacek said:

Best ones appear gone from the UFA market; Griess, Anderson and Mike Smith the best of what's left? Griess isn't bad, I guess.

Still the Arizona pair and the Columbus pair on the trade market, although neither has to go anywhere. And of, course, Fleury.

I'm still all over taking him for Hutton and a sweetener. I wonder who would be in that market? Detroit is the obvious one.

Maybe Carolina as a dark horse? Chicago? Colorado? Edmonton?

Pretty limited market.

The goalies from CBL or ARI are going to costs assets to get and since those teams don't have to move them while still on decent deals, they won't be dealt for Buffalos garbage or a couple late picks. The reason the Blue jackets are looking to move one of theirs is because they want to cash in while they can. The last thing you want to do is over spend a bit on some player, it's not something the good teams do, just look at the cap space situation of this year's Cup teams. As we have also all seen, it's impossible to get out of a bad deal to free up cap space.

It's still early and they could shock us all and find out that they are in on the top guys whom they will end up signing. But the odds of that are very slim and the odds are greater that they don't get any of the top guys and come out telling us how they were on on them, thought they were close but the players chose elsewhere and we hear some spin about how they managed to get some really good under the radar signings and excited about how their young players will develop this year.

[gg1]

1 hour ago, SDS said:

So the owners are smart making the football decisions and not smart making the hockey decisions? Because if they’re making the hockey decisions, it only makes sense that they are also making the football decisions.

You're missing the obvious that the same owners don't want to rob the cash from a successful football operation to fund a money losing unsuccessful hockey operation.  Other than finally stumbling onto McDermott & Beane, Pegulas' business decisions have been questionable at best.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

17 hours ago, Curt said:

Exchange rate?  All NHL salaries are paid in $USD.

Exactly.

The Canadian based teams have a distinct disadvantage.

[Radar]

42 minutes ago, apuszczalowski said:

The goalies from CBL or ARI are going to costs assets to get and since those teams don't have to move them while still on decent deals, they won't be dealt for Buffalos garbage or a couple late picks. The reason the Blue jackets are looking to move one of theirs is because they want to cash in while they can. The last thing you want to do is over spend a bit on some player, it's not something the good teams do, just look at the cap space situation of this year's Cup teams. As we have also all seen, it's impossible to get out of a bad deal to free up cap space.

It's still early and they could shock us all and find out that they are in on the top guys whom they will end up signing. But the odds of that are very slim and the odds are greater that they don't get any of the top guys and come out telling us how they were on on them, thought they were close but the players chose elsewhere and we hear some spin about how they managed to get some really good under the radar signings and excited about how their young players will develop this year.

Unfortunately this is the most likely scenario.

[Brawndo]

 

[Shootica]

1 hour ago, French Collection said:

Thomas Greiss?

Well, so much for that.

[inkman]

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

If inexperienced hires were limited to Adams and Krueger, there might not be much to discuss. But there's a reason that the Pegulas have gone with Rolston-LaFontaine-Murray-Botterill-Housley-Krueger-Adams. Bylsma and Nolan are the outliers and maybe Patrick's brief stint. Why was it so brief? And were Ruff and Regier really fired or did they want out of what they could foresee happening under Jed Clampett and his better half?

 

1 hour ago, Scottysabres said:

Love the Jed Clampett analogy 🙂

But I am not convinced the stunning failure of not merely success, but even the appearance of upward mobility on progress with the Sabres are singularly on the Pegulas. Yes, I know, they are the owners, they put the management team in place, and so on. But those management team members and "players" (let's not forget their role in this) also share the burden of outcome, especially the last 2 season's, both of which I might add, they came out of the gate with heavy successful season starts.

And why do I say this you might ask? Especially given the dismal entire record of Pegulas ownership tenure? Because they've proven they can take an inept sports product and turn it in to a successfully winning product. I would like at this time to offer the Buffalo Bills as evidence.

Jed Clampett is about as apt as a description as I've heard for ol Captain Oblivious 

[bob_sauve28]

1 hour ago, French Collection said:

Thomas Greiss?

 

Why would he come here? Unless Hutton is waived or something. I’m thinking they bring in someone with NHL experience but who is will8ng to go to Rochester. Subban? 

[LGR4GM]

 

[Eleven]

4 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Why would he come here? Unless Hutton is waived or something. I’m thinking they bring in someone with NHL experience but who is will8ng to go to Rochester. Subban? 

Subban is with the Blackhawks and they plan to bring him up.  If Greiss was willing to go to Detroit, I don't see why he'd be unwilling to come here.

Edited October 10, 2020 by Eleven

[Shootica]

So the goalies left from the UFA pool are Anderson, Howard, Smith, and Dell?  Am I missing anyone?

If so, not an inspiring list.

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, Shootica said:

So the goalies left from the UFA pool are Anderson, Howard, Smith, and Dell?  Am I missing anyone?

If so, not an inspiring list.

 

[LabattBlue]

5 minutes ago, Shootica said:

So the goalies left from the UFA pool are Anderson, Howard, Smith, and Dell?  Am I missing anyone?

If so, not an inspiring list.

https://www.capfriendly.com/browse/free-agents

[Radar]

Beginning to think we stick with Hutton(can't wait for the spin for that) or a goalkeeper comes as part of a trade. Really looking like this team is standing pat pretty much. Can't see any of the forwards choosing us that really would impact the team. Maybe KA and the Pegulas are on vacation and we're waiting for them to get back.

[Brawndo]

 

That’s a great deal for Boston