Hockey Heaven!

[LGR4GM]

14 hours ago, TRIP65 said:

Are you not entertained??????

[Archie Lee]

1 hour ago, GoPuckYourself said:

I just don't believe this to be true at all, so everything they've done right is dumb luck, everything bad is because they meddle? And take Josh Allen out of the equation and what do you have? Ok take Tom Brady away from the Pats, take Patrick Mahomes from the Chief, that's a terrible argument imo.

I'm pretty sure Pegula has alot of say at least on the hockey side of things but I don't think it's lack of trying at least for head coaches... He wen't with with old coaches Ted Nolan/Lindy Ruff/Dan Bylsma, new coaches in Ron Rolston/Phil Housley/Don Granato and the outside the box hire of Ralph Krueger. Also I don't think it was a lack of trying for players either as they drafted Jack Eichel and he stayed with matt Moulson's family, had Brian Gionta as captain while bringing in guys like Evander Kane, Ryan O'Reilly, Brandon Montour. Also drafting Sam Reinhart, Linus Ullmark amongst other and later even adding Taylor Hall.

Where I think we've gone wrong since Regier is that every GM we hired was a 1st time GM, this time around we should go with a GM who has done it before and even if he wasn't successful lately I think having any sort of past success will be beneficial to us but that's my take on it.

To your last paragraph, I agree…but think it will be near impossible to attract a veteran GM with a winning track record. The most likely best case scenario is we get lucky with a rookie GM and head coach combo similar to how the Bills did. 

For a brief while it looked like we might have that with Adams / Granato. But they failed to strike when the irons were hot. After 22-23 there were reports from hockey insiders, and even Adams had said, that the word from agents was that the Sabres were starting to come off some no trade lists. Rather than capitalize on this, he squandered that off-season on Connor Clifton (no disrespect to CC), Eric Johnson, and internal growth. The moment was staring Adams in the face and he blinked. 

Edited December 8 by Archie Lee

[Sabres Fan in NS]

What in the blazes is going on in here these days - not just this thread.

[gomper]

Just now, Sabres Fan in NS said:

What in the blazes is going on in here these days - not just this thread.

I agree. Some of our dear posters are becoming as unraveled as the Sabres. 

[Kristian]

 

Just now, Sabres Fan in NS said:

What in the blazes is going on in here these days - not just this thread.

I think we’re seeing where that unused cap space is going 😂😂

[JohnC]

25 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I really like Adams. I have empathy as I’m sure he was having that kinda day on Friday and that if he could do it over he would strike the exact opposite tone (lord knows McDermott has said at least one thing even more regrettable). It’s going to be hard for Adams to survive this though. Pegula’s support will need to be nearly unbreakable. 

There is not one organization in the NHL that would have considered KA for a GM position other than this one. And there is not one organization that wouldn't have fired KA for the work he has done during his multi-year stint other than this one. 

Without a doubt, the position is a challenging multi-faceted position. One essential quality that the position requires is an overseer of a franchise is having a wider perspective associated with what type of roster he wants to build, and then going out and getting the pieces so that they fit. A person can be a great scout or coach and still not be suitable for the position because the job requires a broader vision than most people even in the hockey business don't have. 

I don't want to lay all the blame of this franchise's problems on this congenial and earnest fellow. But the obvious fact is that he was not suitable for the job when he was hired, and his accumulated work product underscores that assessment. 

It's gotten to the sad and also laughable point where its best players desperately wanted out and got out. Only to thrive with their new teams while their former teammates continue to be stuck in a losing situation playing in front of a diminishing fan base. It's sad and pathetic.

 

[Pimlach]

11 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I really like Adams. I have empathy as I’m sure he was having that kinda day on Friday and that if he could do it over he would strike the exact opposite tone (lord knows McDermott has said at least one thing even more regrettable). It’s going to be hard for Adams to survive this though. Pegula’s support will need to be nearly unbreakable. 

Sure, he is a good guy, smart (kind of), likeable (sort of), etc.  His press conference was a disaster.   Right now he is in his 5th season and there are no signs of improvement on the ice, or off the ice for that matter.  

It is no longer relevant to even discuss the qualifications that got him there.  What has he done in his tenure is the question, and is the team going in the right direction?  

• He gave contracts to Dahlin (C), Thompson (A), Samuelsson (A), Cozens (A), Power, and UPL.  Based on his comments, he apparently has saved cap room for Peterka, Quinn and Byram.    
• He traded or let go (players of note) - Eichel, Reinhart, Montour, Risto, Ullmark, and Mittelstadt 
• He acquired - Greenway, Levi, Clifton, Byram, and the most recent contingent of Malenstyn, Zucker, McLeod, Aube-Kubel, and Lafferty 
• He drafted (top two rounds in order of seasons):   Quinn (8), Peterka (34), Power (1), Polpatov (32), Savioe (9), Östlund (16), Kulich (28), Leinonen (41), Benson (13), Wahlberg (39), Helenius (14), Kleber (42) 
• Best point total - 91 pts
• One winning season  (91 pts) 
• No playoffs appearances in his tenure
• Coach search - one candidate formally interviewed (Lindy Ruff) 

State of team:  

• Currently 5th in division, 14 of 16 in conference, 2 points from last place.  
• Team currently on a 6 game losing streak, includes 5 of 6 home ice losses
• The team is on pace for 76 points this season after 27 games (33% of season played) 

It is going to take a dramatic turn around to make the playoffs and his Core group has to do much more to carry the group and prove worthy.  That means better and more consistent leadership and play from  Dahlin, Thompson, Cozens, Power, Samuelsson, Tuch and UPL.    He is also counting on big contributions from Peterka, Quinn, and Byram.  Several key vets could leave, or ask to leave,  after this season (Greenway, Byram, Zucker, McLeod).   

 

[Indabuff]

If not many people saw KA as a villain before that presser, I have a feeling that a lot more people do now.  I sure as hell do.

[GASabresIUFAN]

The Sabres are 0-4-2 in their last 6 game with 21 GA.  They have gone from a playoff spot to nearly out of contention in a 2 weeks.  How can they not make changes?  

Same old Sabres and TP & his yes man Howdy Doody are killing hockey in Buffalo.  

[Cityo'Rasmii]

🌴🌴

[Gatorman0519]

KA should be fired immediately and the job given to an experienced outsider. An experienced NHL front office could have this team in the right direction in few years. When Florida did this, Zito brought in his people and turned them into a juggernaut very quickly. 

[mjd1001]

1 hour ago, Gatorman0519 said:

KA should be fired immediately and the job given to an experienced outsider. An experienced NHL front office could have this team in the right direction in few years. When Florida did this, Zito brought in his people and turned them into a juggernaut very quickly. 

It can't be just Adams though, you have to clear the entire room.

[Mango]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sabres-gms-comments-on-no-palm-trees-and-taxes-miss-mark-in-buffalo/

Am I the only one who wants to see McD locked in a steel cage with Kevyn Adams.

From the article: 

“ McDermott started his (postgame) press conference by thanking New York state governor and Buffalo native Kathy Hochul — who is responsible for the same taxes affecting Bills players — for helping clear the roads to allow players and fans to get to the game.

Then, he recalled what he heard about Buffalo early in his Bills tenure.

"When Brandon and I first arrived, being at the combine, someone saying, 'You know, it's going to be hard to get players to go to Buffalo,'" McDermott said. 

"I didn't say anything but in my mind, I was saying to myself, 'We'll see.' When people get a chance to be in this environment and play in front of these fans, I think it makes a huge difference. This is a place where people love their professional sports teams, they love sports overall. It's a true connection to me that I've experienced in eight years (where) the team and the fans are one."

 

 

 

[Thorner]

20 hours ago, TRIP65 said:

Wanting things tends to get you more and more in trouble without accepting your blessings

Thank you for saying the quiet part out loud.

accept and be happy with whatever hockey team we have, no matter what.

[Mango]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

The Sabres are 0-4-2 in their last 6 game with 21 GA.  They have gone from a playoff spot to nearly out of contention in a 2 weeks.  How can they not make changes?  

Same old Sabres and TP & his yes man Howdy Doody are killing hockey in Buffalo.  

I’m starting to lean into “don’t do a thing until they fire the GM”. I took me until around the trade deadline last year. I’m already there now. 

If you thought the failure to even attempt to negotiate with Mitts was bad, it will certainly get worse. 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Gatorman0519 said:

KA should be fired immediately and the job given to an experienced outsider. An experienced NHL front office could have this team in the right direction in few years. When Florida did this, Zito brought in his people and turned them into a juggernaut very quickly. 

Let Lindy bring somebody he knows well from the Devils. Then let’s get this ship righted, move Lindy to the FO, and a new HC comes in. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s definitely going to be Jerry Forton. Former club coach of Niagara University hockey and UB soccer. 

[Flashsabre]

Why do people think Lindy should be in the front office? He’s In charge of this mess behind the bench right now. He had Adams ear and helped to shape this offseason.

Lindy doesn’t have front office qualifications and no way is he putting up with Pegula’s nonsense.

 

[Carmel Corn]

Yes….fire him yesterday and replace him with somebody who wants to build a team that is fast, physical/hard hitting and relentless.  Win, lose or draw - I can watch a team that plays this way.

[Thorner]

5 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

To your last paragraph, I agree…but think it will be near impossible to attract a veteran GM with a winning track record. The most likely best case scenario is we get lucky with a rookie GM and head coach combo similar to how the Bills did. 

For a brief while it looked like we might have that with Adams / Granato. But they failed to strike when the irons were hot. After 22-23 there were reports from hockey insiders, and even Adams had said, that the word from agents was that the Sabres were starting to come off some no trade lists. Rather than capitalize on this, he squandered that off-season on Connor Clifton (no disrespect to CC), Eric Johnson, and internal growth. The moment was staring Adams in the face and he blinked. 

There are veteran GMs with winning track records (if you consider merely making the playoffs winning (and I do)) currently out of jobs. Even a GM position in Buffalo is more attractive than not having one at all, I’d say. The hurdle imo is it being an idea Pegula is actually interested in 

[EM88]

5 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

To your last paragraph, I agree…but think it will be near impossible to attract a veteran GM with a winning track record. The most likely best case scenario is we get lucky with a rookie GM and head coach combo similar to how the Bills did. 

I think that there are decent GM's with experience that can be hired and with enough money you could convince to come here.  AFter all, if they fail here, it doesn't look that bad because no one succeeds here anymore and if they do succeed, they will be the first to do it in a decade and a half.

The issue is Pegula. Will Terry Pegula give the power, control, and the money a new GM would want to make things work?

Or will he continue to require that new GM to take the input of a scouting staff and front office that has been a large part of the problem? Or possibly give a new GM the marching orders to win first, fill the building first, and only after that can he start spending to the cap?

[Archie Lee]

4 minutes ago, Thorner said:

There are veteran GMs with winning track records (if you consider merely making the playoffs winning (and I do)) currently out of jobs. Even a GM position in Buffalo is more attractive than not having one at all, I’d say. The hurdle imo is it being an idea Pegula is actually interested in 

 I’m not doubting you. I honestly can’t think of who these GM’s would be. 

Edited December 8 by Archie Lee

[Mango]

Do we think Adams is rooting for Los Angeles today. Because Palm Trees?

I would love to sit Adams down with McBeane and a dozen or so other Bills players.

I grow more disdain for Pegula everyday that this guy is on the payroll from here on out. 

EDIT: Now I’m posting snarky Adams comments at TBD in the GDT. Thanks Kevyn. GTFO. 

Edited December 8 by Mango

[GoPuckYourself]

6 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

To your last paragraph, I agree…but think it will be near impossible to attract a veteran GM with a winning track record. The most likely best case scenario is we get lucky with a rookie GM and head coach combo similar to how the Bills did. 

For a brief while it looked like we might have that with Adams / Granato. But they failed to strike when the irons were hot. After 22-23 there were reports from hockey insiders, and even Adams had said, that the word from agents was that the Sabres were starting to come off some no trade lists. Rather than capitalize on this, he squandered that off-season on Connor Clifton (no disrespect to CC), Eric Johnson, and internal growth. The moment was staring Adams in the face and he blinked. 

I don't believe that to be true, there are only 32 GM job openings in the NHL, if you're sitting on the couch or in a lesser role in some other orginization then I think this would be very appealing to a GM but I could be wrong.

I really hated when Adams only went out and traded for Greenway, it was a great trade but we needed more but this whole "I don't want to block anyone" is garbage, who are you blocking? If there legit NHL players they'll find a way into the lineup. This guy just isn't good enough or experienced enough to make the necessary moves to get us not only in the playoffs but keep us there also.

[Flashsabre]

1 hour ago, Thorner said:

There are veteran GMs with winning track records (if you consider merely making the playoffs winning (and I do)) currently out of jobs. Even a GM position in Buffalo is more attractive than not having one at all, I’d say. The hurdle imo is it being an idea Pegula is actually interested in 

The problem is Pegula.

He fired Botts because he felt he didn’t communicate with him. Adams does whatever he says and probably calls him with every thought that enters his head.

Does a quality vet GM want to have to call Pegula several times a day and kiss his ass and listen to his “hockey ideas” when he knows Terry is full of 💩?

[EM88]

6 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

The problem is Pegula.

He fired Botts because he felt he didn’t communicate with him. Adams does whatever he says and probably calls him with every thought that enters his head.

Does a quality vet GM want to have to call Pegula several times a day and kiss his ass and listen to his “hockey ideas” when he knows Terry is full of 💩?

There are posters on this forum who agree with you.

There are others that think that your thoughts are not true and this is mostly Adams fault.

I tend to agree with you. Something like 4 gms, 8 coaches, roster turnover year after year, but one owner. It has been discussed in much great detail other place on these pages, but I agree with you and your 2nd and 3rd lines summarize Pegula accurately and succinctly.