Around the NHL: 2024-2025 Season

[Broken Ankles]

21 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Ristolainen wasn't a stay at home defender when here.

Fair.  But also not puck moving. Hybrid. I still offered three others in each of the previous GM administrations. My larger point is we started the experiment in 2019, and it only seems to have gained momentum under Adam’s.  I would qualify Ras as hybrid today.  

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

Even during the Housley era the Sabres D iced three stay at home D.  Zack Bogo, Risto, Scandella and McCabe. The 2019 roster has Scandella (traded in season), Risto, McCabe and Colin Miller.  After trades they started to change the pairings where two puck moving D played together. 2020- Montour, Pilut, Joki, Bryson, Dahlin (who as a young D would only qualify as puck moving).  Samuelson as a rookie was considered stay at home but still weak and undeveloped. 

Yes, and everything about the team has been about fast and offensively oriented because that is what Pegula likes and wants. He said as much many years ago. I don't remember the exact quote but he said he likes offensive hockey and there was a belief that the league was moving towards more wide open offense and the Sabres were going to be ahead of others in this direction. That was like 10 years ago or something. 

As we have seen, the league is faster than ever before, but good defense and physicality is still very much a thing. Pegula however has not changed his view it seems.

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Ristolainen wasn't a stay at home defender when here.

Because we asked too much of him and wanted him to be all things and he just isn't that guy. Poor development and a failure to recognize what a player is (or isn't). Now, as a defensive defender in a structured system he's pretty decent. You don't go backwards but as he is right now, what he is, he'd actually be the defensive partner we all want for Power. I'm not saying trade for Risto, just pointing out that we do not develop players well and that is a big part of our problem. 

[pastajoe]

 

[Wyldnwoody44]

1 hour ago, pastajoe said:

 

So sad how other teams function... Well. 

Imagine if we did this with Ullmark years back, what could've been. 

[mjd1001]

There was an article on NHL.com (I think) about how McKinnon is the favorite for MVP this year.  I'm having a hard time thinking he should be over Draisatl.

They are both over 100 points already (McKinnon 102, Draisaitl 100), but Draisaitl has 49 goals including 10 game winners this year.  He's 'on pace' for 61 goals, almost a +40...and while most think McDavid is the better player, Draisaitl is outproducing him by a decent amount this season.

[pastajoe]

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

There was an article on NHL.com (I think) about how McKinnon is the favorite for MVP this year.  I'm having a hard time thinking he should be over Draisatl.

They are both over 100 points already (McKinnon 102, Draisaitl 100), but Draisaitl has 49 goals including 10 game winners this year.  He's 'on pace' for 61 goals, almost a +40...and while most think McDavid is the better player, Draisaitl is outproducing him by a decent amount this season.

But Draisaitl has McDavid to help him and take the top defensive opponents off him. Plus McKinnon is the true leader of his team. It’s more than just points.

[JohnC]

16 minutes ago, pastajoe said:

But Draisaitl has McDavid to help him and take the top defensive opponents off him. Plus McKinnon is the true leader of his team. It’s more than just points.

There are certain players that can't be measured by stats. His ferocious desire to compete and win elevates everyone else. Leadership can't always be quantified. However, he's the personification of it. He doesn't tolerate slackers in the room. And everyone in the room knows it. He's a special player to be admired. 

[North Buffalo]

Spring is coming, you know what time it is, Leaves are already turning colors... almost time lol.  Watching them against Ottawa...  

[Pimlach]

14 hours ago, North Buffalo said:

Spring is coming, you know what time it is, Leaves are already turning colors... almost time lol.  Watching them against Ottawa...  

Spring means golf, and baseball, and the Misses and I getting our garden in order.   

Hockey playoffs?  oh yeah, I remember that too.  

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Hockey playoffs?  oh yeah, I remember that too.  

That name tourney no longer has any meaning for me.

[North Buffalo]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Spring means golf, and baseball, and the Misses and I getting our garden in order.   

Hockey playoffs?  oh yeah, I remember that too.  

Which is more disappointing, not making the playoffs for years on end or losing in the first round for years on end?  Agree both are depressing. 

[JohnC]

On 3/13/2025 at 3:42 PM, PerreaultForever said:

 

 

Because we asked too much of him and wanted him to be all things and he just isn't that guy. Poor development and a failure to recognize what a player is (or isn't). Now, as a defensive defender in a structured system he's pretty decent. You don't go backwards but as he is right now, what he is, he'd actually be the defensive partner we all want for Power. I'm not saying trade for Risto, just pointing out that we do not develop players well and that is a big part of our problem. 

You make a great point about Risto and our poor handling of him/ players. It's well known that Risto was not a great thinker on the ice who had special intuit hockey traits. But that doesn't mean that with proper usage he couldn't be a good player for us. He needed to play in a simplified and structured system. He never was going to play a defensive role that required roaming and freelancing. As you point out, many here are screaming to add a physical defensive/defenseman. As usual, we squandered what we already had. Just stupid laid on top of stupid!

[PerreaultForever]

31 minutes ago, JohnC said:

You make a great point about Risto and our poor handling of him/ players. It's well known that Risto was not a great thinker on the ice who had special intuit hockey traits. But that doesn't mean that with proper usage he couldn't be a good player for us. He needed to play in a simplified and structured system. He never was going to play a defensive role that required roaming and freelancing. As you point out, many here are screaming to add a physical defensive/defenseman. As usual, we squandered what we already had. Just stupid laid on top of stupid!

Ya I think it's probable that Risto is thick as a post. Give the big Viking simple straight forward structure and he can still be effective. We constantly create new holes with the moves we make to fill holes. It does become a rearranging deck chairs kind of scenario. 

The one decent move Adams made was Savoie for McLeod. Now maybe down the road Savoie is a good NHLer but he got immediate help now and that was good. Imagine where this team would be at center if we were going with Savoie now instead? We need to make some big moves using the prospects and draft capital to make this roster better now. Get Power a veteran defensive partner at whatever cost it takes. There's more needed but that's the first biggie.

If this team just tinkers around the edges again and waits for prospects we will just be prolonging the misery and Dahlin will in fact want out (among others). 

 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, North Buffalo said:

Which is more disappointing, not making the playoffs for years on end or losing in the first round for years on end?  Agree both are depressing. 

Not making it years on end.  Its not even close.  

[CallawaySabres]

Nashville and Buffalo will go down to the wire on 3rd overall pick, so at least there is that race.

[JohnC]

3 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Ya I think it's probable that Risto is thick as a post. Give the big Viking simple straight forward structure and he can still be effective. We constantly create new holes with the moves we make to fill holes. It does become a rearranging deck chairs kind of scenario. 

The one decent move Adams made was Savoie for McLeod. Now maybe down the road Savoie is a good NHLer but he got immediate help now and that was good. Imagine where this team would be at center if we were going with Savoie now instead? We need to make some big moves using the prospects and draft capital to make this roster better now. Get Power a veteran defensive partner at whatever cost it takes. There's more needed but that's the first biggie.

If this team just tinkers around the edges again and waits for prospects we will just be prolonging the misery and Dahlin will in fact want out (among others). 

 

I agree with your well-reasoned and stated comments with a slight deviation. With the assets this team does have with cap room and assets in the system, I believe that the GM has the coinage to make at least three solid moves to manifestly improve the roster. It's not unreasonable to believe that our GM has the resources to add a couple more Zucker/like players and a rugged defenseman to the blueline unit. I'm not counting on a blockbuster deal to upgrade this team. In my opinion, a few astute mid-level deals can make a difference. And the expectation/hope is that players such as JJP, Quinn and Kulich step up with their development. Does the GM have it in him to accomplish that? I'm not sure. 

[KC Scouts]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Not making it years on end.  Its not even close.  

Agreed....Having gone through the stretch from 1984-1992 (1st round exit every year except the two they didn't make the playoffs) was way better than this

[ska-T Palmtown]

5 hours ago, CallawaySabres said:

Nashville and Buffalo will go down to the wire on 3rd overall pick, so at least there is that race.

Until the Sabres lose the lottery and slide down the "maximum" two spots ... and pick 5th.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

I agree with your well-reasoned and stated comments with a slight deviation. With the assets this team does have with cap room and assets in the system, I believe that the GM has the coinage to make at least three solid moves to manifestly improve the roster. It's not unreasonable to believe that our GM has the resources to add a couple more Zucker/like players and a rugged defenseman to the blueline unit. I'm not counting on a blockbuster deal to upgrade this team. In my opinion, a few astute mid-level deals can make a difference. And the expectation/hope is that players such as JJP, Quinn and Kulich step up with their development. Does the GM have it in him to accomplish that? I'm not sure. 

Oh he has the "coinage". Question is will he use it? He puts too much faith in the existing players reaching their ceilings than in going out and getting immediate help. I think he believes too strongly in his draft picks (and their ceilings) and doesn't critically analyze what he actually has on the ice very well. Good GMs adapt and change when things do not go according to plan. 

[JohnC]

10 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Oh he has the "coinage". Question is will he use it? He puts too much faith in the existing players reaching their ceilings than in going out and getting immediate help. I think he believes too strongly in his draft picks (and their ceilings) and doesn't critically analyze what he actually has on the ice very well. Good GMs adapt and change when things do not go according to plan. 

Your last sentence identifies one of the primary faults that has made KA a failure as a GM. His rigidity and unwillingness to adapt in a business of constant change has kept the team stuck. KA's draft and develop approach to rebuilding is a standard approach. There's nothing innovative about it. However, if you over rely on it without some enhancing moves, then not only will your team slide back but the young players you have will not have the support system that promotes their development. Another damaging effect is that constant losing is over time is poisonous to players mindset. The negativity sucks the joy out of playing the game. What's apparent is that the GM's stubbornness in sticking to his plan when a measure of flexibility was needed, has kept this franchise stuck while other teams have passed us by. It should not be forgotten that it was the owner who made this odd hire. 

[LGR4GM]

46 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Your last sentence identifies one of the primary faults that has made KA a failure as a GM. His rigidity and unwillingness to adapt in a business of constant change has kept the team stuck. KA's draft and develop approach to rebuilding is a standard approach. There's nothing innovative about it. However, if you over rely on it without some enhancing moves, then not only will your team slide back but the young players you have will not have the support system that promotes their development. Another damaging effect is that constant losing is over time is poisonous to players mindset. The negativity sucks the joy out of playing the game. What's apparent is that the GM's stubbornness in sticking to his plan when a measure of flexibility was needed, has kept this franchise stuck while other teams have passed us by. It should not be forgotten that it was the owner who made this odd hire. 

Kevyn Adams is like a lot people who aren't that smart, nor are they truly idiots, he lacks imagination. 

[Archie Lee]

52 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Your last sentence identifies one of the primary faults that has made KA a failure as a GM. His rigidity and unwillingness to adapt in a business of constant change has kept the team stuck. KA's draft and develop approach to rebuilding is a standard approach. There's nothing innovative about it. However, if you over rely on it without some enhancing moves, then not only will your team slide back but the young players you have will not have the support system that promotes their development. Another damaging effect is that constant losing is over time is poisonous to players mindset. The negativity sucks the joy out of playing the game. What's apparent is that the GM's stubbornness in sticking to his plan when a measure of flexibility was needed, has kept this franchise stuck while other teams have passed us by. It should not be forgotten that it was the owner who made this odd hire. 

I was listening to the Athletic Hockey Podcast and they were discussing how Tampa has almost nothing of value left in their system re: prospects or draft picks. And they quoted the GM, BriseBois, repeating a variation of an old saying: “I will have much less regret over trying and failing, than I will over failing to try.”

Going back to the trade deadline of 2023, Adams made the fatal mistake of failing to try. This mistake was an unforced error that he has since repeated. It has set them back another 2-3 years at least. 

I’m still in.  It’s too late for me to be out on the Sabres. But, I really have zero interest and certainly no enthusiasm, for Adams getting another year to do what a good GM would have done two years ago. 

[Jorcus]

58 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I was listening to the Athletic Hockey Podcast and they were discussing how Tampa has almost nothing of value left in their system re: prospects or draft picks. And they quoted the GM, BriseBois, repeating a variation of an old saying: “I will have much less regret over trying and failing, than I will over failing to try.”

Going back to the trade deadline of 2023, Adams made the fatal mistake of failing to try. This mistake was an unforced error that he has since repeated. It has set them back another 2-3 years at least. 

I’m still in.  It’s too late for me to be out on the Sabres. But, I really have zero interest and certainly no enthusiasm, for Adams getting another year to do what a good GM would have done two years ago. 

 

Not letting Adams off the hook here but Tampa trading away late first round picks year after year is the way to go. someday they will turn into Boston and have to start restocking picks by selling off older parts. Picks and prospects are easier to come by than solid NHL players.  

[Thorner]

2 hours ago, Jorcus said:

 

Not letting Adams off the hook here but Tampa trading away late first round picks year after year is the way to go. someday they will turn into Boston and have to start restocking picks by selling off older parts. Picks and prospects are easier to come by than solid NHL players.  

That doesn’t let Adams off the hook at all it’s in line with his points. Accumulating prospects is easy 

[JohnC]

4 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I was listening to the Athletic Hockey Podcast and they were discussing how Tampa has almost nothing of value left in their system re: prospects or draft picks. And they quoted the GM, BriseBois, repeating a variation of an old saying: “I will have much less regret over trying and failing, than I will over failing to try.”

Going back to the trade deadline of 2023, Adams made the fatal mistake of failing to try. This mistake was an unforced error that he has since repeated. It has set them back another 2-3 years at least. 

I’m still in.  It’s too late for me to be out on the Sabres. But, I really have zero interest and certainly no enthusiasm, for Adams getting another year to do what a good GM would have done two years ago. 

Compare how the Washington Capitals have handled the last couple of years to how our minimalist GM has handled the past couple of years. The Capitals handled it smartly, and it catapulted the team. The Sabres handled it with timidity resulting the team sliding back. As you point out, the opportunities were there for us to advance, however the GM was frozen with fear. His record speaks for itself.