Harrington tweet indicates DG will be back next year with a new assistant staff

[Drag0nDan]

I'm pretty much done with him.  Getting Tage to a 40 goal scorer, and unlocking dahlin are great.  But the team is maddeningly inconsistent with their effort night to night.  They also seem to sulk quite a bit when things don't go right.  And this guy doesn't get them rallied, seemingly ever.  They start poor, and they'll probably lose.  

I don't think they need someone to like... discipline them.  I just think someone who can get them going to start every game, and has answers when the effort isn't there.  

[nfreeman]

14 hours ago, Thorny said:

Besides being intentionally hyperbolic, so as to really give this franchise a challenge in trying to live up to it, im not really saying they won’t/aren’t spending. My point was that the performance of their cap setup on paper is more important than its performance on the ice. It doesn’t need to be cheap, it just needs to look like value. That’s a big difference. It’s also how KA makes trades 

I merely present the real-time reaction to those deals as evidence. The reaction to those big contracts, in large majority, wasn’t about the contracts being expensive, and that the players had a lot to live up to. Nope. They were praised for their value. They were heralded upon signing.

More important to whom?  Maybe to Sabrespace, but I highly doubt it matters to KA or TP.  That would be ridiculous and just another type of cheapskatedness, not to mention stupid -- "yes, we're spending a ton of money, but we look like we've made a bunch of really savvy deals, so it doesn't matter that the zillions of dollars we're spending aren't producing wins."

No one writing the checks would think like that.

Wanna call them incompetent?  It's sure hard to argue at this point.  But if you want to call them cheap or obsessed with getting a good deal at the expense of having a good team -- I can't agree.

YMMV, of course.

[SwampD]

7 hours ago, nfreeman said:

More important to whom?  Maybe to Sabrespace, but I highly doubt it matters to KA or TP.  That would be ridiculous and just another type of cheapskatedness, not to mention stupid -- "yes, we're spending a ton of money, but we look like we've made a bunch of really savvy deals, so it doesn't matter that the zillions of dollars we're spending aren't producing wins."

No one writing the checks would think like that.

Wanna call them incompetent?  It's sure hard to argue at this point.  But if you want to call them cheap or obsessed with getting a good deal at the expense of having a good team -- I can't agree.

YMMV, of course.

I could see it mattering to them,...

 

 

 

...in which case we're f****d. 😂

[Brawndo]

On 2/12/2024 at 11:48 AM, Thorny said:

Someone like Brawndo can correct me if I am wrong, but I think it’s an actual established fact that Botterill would have kept his job had he been willing to cut staff.

It’s basically saying the quiet part out loud: it struck me at the time and I said as much. Botterill wasn’t being fired for performance. Performance wasn’t a sticking point to Terry. The money was.

This is pretty compelling to me. People will refer to context, to the Covid situation perhaps, but it doesn’t appear the mode of operation has changed, since. Until otherwise, it would be tough to form a cohesive argument, imo, for why winning is as important to this is franchise as its performance in a business sense, up to and including cost of payroll 

I could be wrong; I just don’t think so. I think that’s what we are seeing 

This was reported at the time, but Adams had been embedded with team for a few months before the actual firing occurred. He was around the locker room and traveled on the team charter for a few road trips. The writing was on the wall that a change was coming imo. 

On 2/12/2024 at 12:01 PM, That Aud Smell said:

This squares with my memory. I recall the discussion here about how the scouting department was being gutted, whether the Sabres were going to the "video scouting" model, the role that analytics would play in creating player evaluation efficiencies (Karmanos? (sp?)), and so on.

This would also square with Adams' having assembled talent but not built a team.

One of Adams first goals was to expand the analytics department when he took over. It took Pegula almost a year to approve it though.

On 2/13/2024 at 7:42 PM, nfreeman said:

I do not believe that being economic and efficient is a priority for TP or KA.  I think that was the case during the uncertainties of the Covid era, but it is no longer the case.  I think the buildout of the front office and the fat contracts given to multiple young players indicate that the franchise is ready and willing to spend.

While I will not be a-tall surprised if DG is retained, I think that decision will not be based on cheapskatedness.  It will be based on (i) TP's desire not to look like a clown organization that keeps firing people and (ii) KA's belief in DG.

Still a crappy outcome though.

There is a rumor that this will be the last year the team operates under a budget restriction as Pegula is still attempting to recover from pandemic losses. Yes  they have signed young players but they have remained at the bottom of the NHL in terms of salary cap spending for three seasons. They have not taken on any bad contracts in exchange for assets nor have they been a third team broker at the TDL either. 

 

 

[SwampD]

41 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

This was reported at the time, but Adams had been embedded with team for a few months before the actual firing occurred. He was around the locker room and traveled on the team charter for a few road trips. The writing was on the wall that a change was coming imo. 

One of Adams first goals was to expand the analytics department when he took over. It took Pegula almost a year to approve it though.

There is a rumor that this will be the last year the team operates under a budget restriction as Pegula is still attempting to recover from pandemic losses. Yes  they have signed young players but they have remained at the bottom of the NHL in terms of salary cap spending for three seasons. They have not taken on any bad contracts in exchange for assets nor have they been a third team broker at the TDL either. 

 

 

JFC!! Lucky us!

What a shocker. Everything we've been saying is true. They don't care about winning.

FU Terry, if you don't want to be a real NHL owner, then sell the team. 

Has there ever been a worse one? Certainly not by record.

 

[#freejame]

8 hours ago, SwampD said:

JFC!! Lucky us!

What a shocker. Everything we've been saying is true. They don't care about winning.

FU Terry, if you don't want to be a real NHL owner, then sell the team. 

Has there ever been a worse one? Certainly not by record.

 

It’s interesting that in one thread we have FU Terry for not wanting to be a real owner and in another thread we have FU Terry for sitting in on meetings and showing interest in the team. 

Not criticism of either posts, just think it’s funny. I support all FUs to Terry regardless if they hold weight. 

[Big Guava]

These decisions are not made in February, they are made in April or May.

[Pimlach]

On 2/13/2024 at 1:59 PM, atoq said:

My prediction:

Assistant coaches: Nathan Paetsch and Patrick Kaleta

Matt Ellis promoted to GM. 

Kevyn Adams promoted to President and extended.

We want people that can't go anywhere else, I mean, that want to be here. Hire from within to keep developing the organizational culture. Outside voices concerned with winning will only create conflict in the locker room. 

I assume this is a joke?    Kaleta is no coach.  

Matt Ellis as GM and I just might burn my 1970 vintage Sabres Jersey.   

1 hour ago, Big Guava said:

These decisions are not made in February, they are made in April or May.

... and probably after the best candidates come off the table.  

[shrader]

3 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I assume this is a joke?    Kaleta is no coach.  

Matt Ellis as GM and I just might burn my 1970 vintage Sabres Jersey.   

... and probably after the best candidates come off the table.  

It’s time for some new batteries in the sarcasm detector. 

[That Aud Smell]

23 minutes ago, shrader said:

It’s time for some new batteries in the sarcasm detector. 

[smoke alarm chirping noise]

[Norcal]

On 2/13/2024 at 2:59 PM, atoq said:

My prediction:

Assistant coaches: Nathan Paetsch and Patrick Kaleta

Matt Ellis promoted to GM. 

Kevyn Adams promoted to President and extended.

We want people that can't go anywhere else, I mean, that want to be here. Hire from within to keep developing the organizational culture. Outside voices concerned with winning will only create conflict in the locker room. 

You get it

[Stoner]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

[smoke alarm chirping noise]

You took shrader seriously? atoq was serious.

[That Aud Smell]

21 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

You took shrader seriously? atoq was serious.

I was just riffing off @shrader calling for battery replacement in an alarm.

*chirp*

I took @atoq's suggestions as satirical. (Or am I now missing your joke?)

[Stoner]

4 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

I was just riffing off @shrader calling for battery replacement in an alarm.

*chirp*

I took @atoq's suggestions as satirical. (Or am I now missing your joke?)

It was poorly executed, like a Matt D'Agostini breakaway pass. I was trying to extend the sarcasm ad infinitum.

[That Aud Smell]

Just now, PASabreFan said:

It was poorly executed, like a Matt D'Agostini breakaway pass. I was trying to extend the sarcasm ad infinitum.

The fault here is in the reader, not the creator. At least I'm getting to a point where I can sense that I'm missing a subtle PA joke.

Also: Gold, Jerry!

[Stoner]

Just now, That Aud Smell said:

The fault here is in the reader, not the creator. At least I'm getting to a point where I can sense that I'm missing a subtle PA joke.

Also: Gold, Jerry!

Yeah but when trying to conjure up mediocre defensemen, I ended up with a Canadian ice hockey right winger, thank you Wikipedia.

[shrader]

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

It was poorly executed, like a Matt D'Agostini breakaway pass. I was trying to extend the sarcasm ad infinitum.

You? Never!

[shrader]

Here’s a fun thought for everyone. Last year they could put the puck in the net. This year they can keep it out. Maybe they think next year is the time where they tie it all together. 
 

I’ll escort myself out now. 

[Marvin]

20 minutes ago, shrader said:

Here’s a fun thought for everyone. Last year they could put the puck in the net. This year they can keep it out. Maybe they think next year is the time where they tie it all together. 
 

I’ll escort myself out now. 

We can dream.

[Thorner]

19 hours ago, SwampD said:

JFC!! Lucky us!

What a shocker. Everything we've been saying is true. They don't care about winning.

FU Terry, if you don't want to be a real NHL owner, then sell the team. 

Has there ever been a worse one? Certainly not by record.

 

Certainly jives with the feeling the priority hasn’t been winning. Damn. 

[atoq]

11 hours ago, Pimlach said:

I assume this is a joke?    Kaleta is no coach.  

Matt Ellis as GM and I just might burn my 1970 vintage Sabres Jersey. 

 

9 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

I took @atoq's suggestions as satirical. (Or am I now missing your joke?)

Apologies for making wild exaggerations to suggest someone could be promoted from failed Sabres assistant coach to Sabres GM without first managing the Harborcenter.

[SwampD]

4 hours ago, Thorny said:

Certainly jives with the feeling the priority hasn’t been winning. Damn. 

I just can't get past Brawndo's post.

For me, everything about this team, for the rest of this year, will be viewed through the lens of them pissing on our legs and telling us it's raining. They care more about finances than about winning, and they try to convince us otherwise. It's insulting.

But at least Terry is in those hockey meetings.

[sabremike]

If there was an anti-Jack Adams award given to the worst coach how would Granato not win it unanimously this season. Name a worse coach in the entire league, I dare you.

[Stoner]

Still wish the title could be tweaked to something like Harrington thinks if DG is back it's likely he'll have new staff.

It was not meant to be reporting that DG will return.

[Stoner]

If it's true Terry is ready to spend again maybe it's a good sign. Maybe good soldiers Adams and Granato will get plum reassignments and we'll have real management and coaching next year.