OK Mr. Adams, Do Something Already!

[Radar]

On 3/5/2021 at 1:35 PM, Carmel Corn said:

There's an old expression "The fish stinks from the head".  Adams is powerless to do anything including talking to the media.  The Pegula's are in charge and they don't trust anybody but themselves, KA and RK.  Until they can turn over a new leaf and learn to "trust" and hire competent management, we're stuck having to smell this awful product.

This. You nailed it. The problem is so easy to see. Oh, well change players and probably coaches but THE BIG PROBLEM is still there.

[USMCSnyper]

If this was really unacceptable and he was "pissed"..RK would be gone. Guess not.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Just got back from lunch.  KA still hasn't done anything has he?

[Kruppstahl]

3 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Just got back from lunch.  KA still hasn't done anything has he?

No, and he's not going to.

In a few days it will start to sink in.

Pegula will not pay money to improve the coaching situation.

That's the world we are living in now.

 

 

Edited March 10, 2021 by Kruppstahl

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 minutes ago, Kruppstahl said:

No, and he's not going to.

In a few days it will start to sink in.

Pegula will not pay money to improve the coaching situation.

That's the world we are living in now.

 

 

Thanks for the update.  I'll check back later.

[Kruppstahl]

22 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Thanks for the update.  I'll check back later.

Take your time.  There isn't going to be an update! 

 

 

[nfreeman]

From Vogl in the Athletic today:

Quote

Krueger is under contract through next season at nearly $4 million. While ownership will have no problem eating the final year, it doesn’t seem willing to pay two coaches to miss the playoffs with little to no revenue arriving.

That sounds reasonably likely to have originated from sources inside the organ-eye-zation.

[Thorner]

12 minutes ago, Kruppstahl said:

Take your time.  There isn't going to be an update! 

 

 

3 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

From Vogl in the Athletic today:

That sounds reasonably likely to have originated from sources inside the organ-eye-zation.

The "paying two coaches bit" undoubtedly more of a sticking point than the "no playoffs" part

[PerreaultForever]

Exactly. Almost zero chance we hire any new coach this season. Just an interim if they decide the timing of the optics is right to fire Ralph before the season's over or not. Just going to play the blame game and make promises for next year as usual. 

[Torpedo Forecheck]

7 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

From Vogl in the Athletic today:

That sounds reasonably likely to have originated from sources inside the organ-eye-zation.

Sounds like a shortsighted view! Ever hear of sunk costs Terry and Kim? Keep hurting the program the rest of the year that will help down the road (sarcasm)

Edited March 10, 2021 by Torpedo Forecheck

[Randall Flagg]

So it seems fairly likely that we will keep Ralph until early May, and then fire him.

I hope Bruce/Gerard are still around at that point and are willing to come here when we throw money at them. I hope the competition for them isn't strong. I wish the Pegulas believed that there would be value in paying that coach to get to know his team and players and teach/establish what he wants to do in a unique setting such that the standings no longer matter and tinkering is of most importance. With the idea that we never find ourselves in this situation again. 

[inkman]

43 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

From Vogl in the Athletic today:

That sounds reasonably likely to have originated from sources inside the organ-eye-zation.

[DarthEbriate]

There's still the disconnect of what are we trying to do vs. who are we trying to sign.

Case study: Islanders. Back in 2013-14 they finished last in their division and a few picks after Reinhart they get Dal Colle (and later Ho-Sang). The following year they pick Barzal and Beauvillier in the 1st. They have their franchise Tavares at age 24. They already have Anders Lee. But what did they do around this time with veterans? What was the direction of the team? Their direction was what we're pushing: good defense, low-event hockey, and transition scoring.

1) Boynton and Leddy. We all chuckled that they were gathering defensive defensemen first and foremost as their big UFA signings. Since then, they've moved on from de Haan. They let Toews go. Boynton is gone, but their defense still their strength.

2) They assemble a stud grind line. They add Clutterbuck to Cizikas and Martin. They're all still there.

3) They let folks go. Moulson, Andrew MacDonald the D guy, eventually Okposo, and later Tavares. They don't overpay to keep old guys. And they didn't trade them away because they were competing for playoff spots.

4) They ALWAYS had an established NHL goalie.

Essentially, they built a core, nourished it, and acquired veterans who played their suppression style.

What veterans have we acquired with RaKru (low-event/defense) and JBot and GM Sheevyn (meaning where do we spend our big/new money): Montour - puck moving D, not defensive. Meanwhile Scandella - a fair D was moved out. Staal - not really known as a defensive player. Hall - definitely not known as a defensive player. Eakin, nope. Larsson -- defensive center: let go. Rieder - yes! but a fast PK specialist, not a defensive stalwart. (EDIT: Why oh why do we extend Skinner long-term when he's absolutely not defensive-first?) It could be argued that the two veteran forwards best suited for low-event D-oriented approach were Vesey and Sobotka. Yuck.

TL;DR -- We're assembling a different team than the one we're coaching and scheming via system to be. It goes right back to GMTM wanting a heavy team. Then Housley needing active defense so JBot going light and drafting only puck-moving defense, and now... what are we? Where is the vision?

Caveat: yes, you need balance. But your identity guides your overall direction, and you acquire balance along the way and via drafting where you get multiple shots after all aspects.

Edited March 10, 2021 by DarthEbriate

[Drag0nDan]

2 hours ago, nfreeman said:

From Vogl in the Athletic today:

That sounds reasonably likely to have originated from sources inside the organ-eye-zation.

If I were the owner I wouldn't hire anyone permanent in the interim either.  This is already a financial loss of a season, why pay someone mid-season when the ship sank?  I'd just let an assistant run it, or just have adams as the "head coach".

Edited March 10, 2021 by Drag0nDan

[Kruppstahl]

3 hours ago, nfreeman said:

From Vogl in the Athletic today:

That sounds reasonably likely to have originated from sources inside the organ-eye-zation.

Who says Pegula will eat the $4 million for next season?

That remains to be seen.

 

[GASabresIUFAN]

I thought I'd check back.  Is RK still the coach?  Apparently.  😞

 

[Andrew Amerk]

22 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I thought I'd check back.  Is RK still the coach?  Apparently.  😞

 

Yes. Something about money apparently. 
 

And I thought the Sabres owner was rich. 

[Andrew Amerk]

8 hours ago, Thorny said:

The "paying two coaches bit" undoubtedly more of a sticking point than the "no playoffs" part

So paying $82 million for players that can’t operate under $8 million of coaches is the way to go. Just save the $4 million and waste $82 million. Makes sense. 
 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Just now, Andrew Amerk said:

So paying $82 million for players that can’t operate under $8 million of coaches is the way to go. Just save the $4 million and waste $82 million. Makes sense. 
 

They are paying the 82 regardless.  They are trying to avoid throwing good money after bad in a short sighted manner.  The real stupidity is that by not spending the $4 they are destroying their fanbase, thereby ruining their ability to generate revenue next season and further diminishing the franchise value.

Pegula should know that sometimes you have to invest to improve your product. 

[Andrew Amerk]

10 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

They are paying the 82 regardless.  They are trying to avoid throwing good money after bad in a short sighted manner.  The real stupidity is that by not spending the $4 they are destroying their fanbase, thereby ruining their ability to generate revenue next season and further diminishing the franchise value.

Pegula should know that sometimes you have to invest to improve your product. 

That, plus the investment on the current players and what they might be able to do under the new coach. And the development of investments like Dahlin and Cozens. If you’re a billionaire, it’s a no-brainer. Especially when you’ve stated the reason for existence is Stanley Cups. 

[Kruppstahl]

17 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

They are paying the 82 regardless.  They are trying to avoid throwing good money after bad in a short sighted manner.  The real stupidity is that by not spending the $4 they are destroying their fanbase, thereby ruining their ability to generate revenue next season and further diminishing the franchise value.

Pegula should know that sometimes you have to invest to improve your product. 

The short sighted approach is to retain Ralph in order to save 2 million bucks (this year).

You can argue they should wait until the season is over to enlarge the pool of candidates; however, in this case, that actually hurts the team.

What we need is exactly what is already available right now: someone like Boudreau.  Proven, reliable, winning, NHL coach.  We don't need an up and coming NCAA coach, for example!  

The organization isn't hurt by acting now.  They benefit.

The sooner the new regime gets in here, the sooner things start converting to the new way of doing things, which in turn will save us a wasted start to next season.  Next year, we are going to hear a lot about growing pains, learning the new system, dealing with roster changes, developing new chemistry, and God knows what else.

Get Boudreau in here right now and start building the new look Sabres immediately; get a leg up on next season.  

God knows this one is finished.

 

 

 

 

 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Just now, Kruppstahl said:

The short sighted approach is to retain Ralph in order to save 2 million bucks (this year).

You can argue they should wait until the season is over to enlarge the pool of candidates; however, in this case, that actually hurts the team.

What we need is exactly what is already available right now: someone like Boudreau.  Proven, reliable, winning, NHL coach.  We don't need an up and coming NCAA coach, for example!  

The organization isn't hurt by acting now.  They benefit.

The sooner the new regime gets in here, the sooner things start converting to the new way of doing things, which in turn will save us a wasted start to next season.  Next year, we are going to hear a lot about growing pains, learning the new system, dealing with roster changes, developing new chemistry, and God knows what else.

Get Boudreau in here right now and start building the new look Sabres immediately; get a leg up on next season.  

God knows this one is finished.

 

 

 

 

 

I've been saying play the kids since camp.  I've said this whole season is an evaluation campaign.

Here is what we have learned.

1) Our goaltending sucks and needs a complete overhaul

2) Our coaching sucks and needs a complete overhaul

3) Our GM is in over his head and needs a proper mentor

4) Cozens and Mittelstadt have bright futures and should succeed with better coaching

5) We need better coaching to save Dahlin and Jokiharju

6) Hall and Staal were the solution to nothing and neither should be retained

7) KO should be bought out this off-season

8.) RK needs to be fired yesterday and be replaced with an experienced NHL coach who is an X & O guy and has credibility in the lockerroom. Amazingly two (maybe 3) such coaches are available in Julien, Boudreau and Gallant (?).  

9.  TP and KP need to take a step back and hire a mentor for KA and allow competent management to run the team. 

[Forecheck]

7 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I've been saying play the kids since camp.  I've said this whole season is an evaluation campaign.

Here is what we have learned.

1) Our goaltending sucks and needs a complete overhaul

2) Our coaching sucks and needs a complete overhaul

3) Our GM is in over his head and needs a proper mentor

4) Cozens and Mittelstadt have bright futures and should succeed with better coaching

5) We need better coaching to save Dahlin and Jokiharju

6) Hall and Staal were the solution to nothing and neither should be retained

7) KO should be bought out this off-season

8.) RK needs to be fired yesterday and be replaced with an experienced NHL coach who is an X & O guy and has credibility in the lockerroom. Amazingly two (maybe 3) such coaches are available in Julien, Boudreau and Gallant (?).  

9.  TP and KP need to take a step back and hire a mentor for KA and allow competent management to run the team. 

All so simple yet so unattainable due to TP & KP. Very very frustrating as a fan. 

[pi2000]

i wonder if he's still angry

[erickompositör72]

14 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

i wonder if he's still angry

Well, he didn't slam a door...