Elliotte Friedman is reporting Pegula will meet the team in Montreal

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, SDS said:

Advocating for new ownership is just one of those wishing in one hand, shitting in the other and see which one gets filled first scenarios. To me, ownership changes occur so infrequently, that it’s just a waste of time to constantly bring it up. 

Regardless of how bad it may feel to not make it to the playoffs, this team isn’t so horribly misplaced from the league that this is seen as a league wide issue that needs to be resolved.

So, it’s your call. Do you fire Adams today or no 

[mjd1001]

1 minute ago, Thorner said:

Also I dunno what you are doing with your post but sounds like a lot of projection.

you should know I don’t think about you at all.. and it sounds like you are dreaming about me 

 

Awful funny coming from the person who can't stop responding to me.

You are like the 14 year old guy who likes a girl but calls her names because he doesn't know what to do.

I'm dreaming about you? LOL....hilarious that not only are you responding to my posts like this...but you are the one initially escalating things with sarcasm, trying to sound 'smart and cute' in some kind of way with the words you chose above. 

Dreaming of you? grow up.

[matter2003]

20 minutes ago, inkman said:

 

The majority of these players have never been coached properly since they have been in the NHL to play hockey the right way.  Ruff not only needs to re-train them to do something they have never done before, but he also needs to untrain them to stop doing what they are used to doing and what they go back to as default.  And it's not going to be easy. But it has to be done unless we want to spin our wheels for another 10 years.

[Believer]

48 minutes ago, EM88 said:

The last part is the most disappointing.

This team could use a shake up.  But even if a trade is not on the horizon, why tell them that?  This team seems to feel comfortable and appears to not push themselves too hard, there is a perception they are fragile mentally. If that is the case, and it appears it is the case, then I want that sword of damocles of a potential trade hanging over their head.

On Accountability in the pursuit of Continuous Improvement.

Tell the team there is always a Canary in the Cage. 

Could be anybody. 

One day they discover who it was.

 

 

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, EM88 said:

It is apparent that no one else's thoughts or opinions matter other than your own. We all want to give our opinion, but you have a  quality in your responses to me where you post wanting to be the sole authority on things. Responding to a post not with reasoning but just to call me wrong because my opinion doesn't meet your standard as fact?  That is really coming from an ego centric thought process of posting.

This is not a court of law. I should not be labeled as *in fact* wrong by you simply because I have not yet proven to you what you want, or do not want, to have proven. 

I don’t need to be penalized against my rep on this board, which obviously precedes me

as it should. I am a legend. If not a poet. But probably both.

but me typing “*fact*” is just that: words on the internet. It doesn’t MAKE it fact just because the great Thorny said it. You can kindly disregard it or call the post inane, I don’t care 

Me saying it doesn’t suggest a board ruling. I don’t have that kind of power. It’s not an attempt at stifling conversation. If there’s one thing I do it’s promote engagement, we can ask SDS but id be shocked if otherwise 

I’m not always right

People just follow me cause I’m awesome

[Thorner]

If either of you two would actually like to, you know, CHALLENGE my opinion that it’s a fact to say Adams was an unqualified hire, why don’t you have at it? Instead of merely arguing me with on the principle?

Does it matter to you so much i think it’s a fact Adams was unqualified?

Make an argument for why he was a qualified hire 

1 “he played in the nhl

2 “he managed a skating rink”

3 … and so forth 

Edited December 16 by Thorner

[SDS]

7 minutes ago, Thorner said:

So, it’s your call. Do you fire Adams today or no 

Sure. But if I was to qualify it, I don’t think there’s a particular impetus on today as if the situation would be better tomorrow. 

I don’t blame Terry or Kevyn or Lindy for Dylan Cozens turning into a waste. I don’t blame them for Jack Quinn, despite two goals yesterday, for being garbage. 

We need a top line and a good second line or we need two great second lines. We need more talent and other teams aren’t just gonna hand it over. That leaves the draft and so far we have not hit any Brayden Pointe home runs.

We have a fan based that wants results tomorrow and it’s not coming.

[SDS]

5 minutes ago, Thorner said:

If either of you two would actually like to, you know, CHALLENGE my opinion that it’s a fact to say Adams was an unqualified hire, why don’t you have at it? Instead of merely arguing me with on the principle?

This just seems like an outdated argument. It was certainly relevant five years ago, but I think that ship has sailed. As an NHL GM for five years he is now more qualified today than any non-NHL GM candidate, although the unknown may be preferable to the known in this case.

[Thorner]

9 minutes ago, SDS said:

Sure. But if I was to qualify it, I don’t think there’s a particular impetus on today as if the situation would be better tomorrow. 

I don’t blame Terry or Kevyn or Lindy for Dylan Cozens turning into a waste. I don’t blame them for Jack Quinn, despite two goals yesterday, for being garbage. 

We need a top line and a good second line or we need two great second lines. We need more talent and other teams aren’t just gonna hand it over. That leaves the draft and so far we have not hit any Brayden Pointe home runs.

We have a fan based that wants results tomorrow and it’s not coming.

Right, my issue with Adams is he’s had 1,800 tomorrows. The results haven’t come in any of them 

[SDS]

Just now, Thorner said:

Right, my issue with Adams is he’s had 1,800 tomorrows. The results haven’t come in any of them 

That’s perfectly fine. I don’t wanna win one for Ruff. I don’t wanna win one for Adams. Everybody has an expiration date.

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

 

[Thorner]

8 minutes ago, SDS said:

This just seems like an outdated argument. It was certainly relevant five years ago, but I think that ship has sailed. As an NHL GM for five years he is now more qualified today than any non-NHL GM candidate, although the unknown may be preferable to the known in this case.

That’s my point. He started off with nothing to his name. He didn’t have the qualifications to support a hiring. IF we are counting his 5 years as anything, I struggle to see how it can be anything but negative. Where are we looking to find body of work that supports him? 

on his resume before we hired him? No

since taking office? Also no

theres no argument FOR. Just a bunch of “well we haven’t isolated each variable individually” nonsense because the sum total is so inarguably bad 

[DarthEbriate]

9 minutes ago, SDS said:

Sure. But if I was to qualify it, I don’t think there’s a particular impetus on today as if the situation would be better tomorrow. 

I don’t blame Terry or Kevyn or Lindy for Dylan Cozens turning into a waste. I don’t blame them for Jack Quinn, despite two goals yesterday, for being garbage. 

We need a top line and a good second line or we need two great second lines. We need more talent and other teams aren’t just gonna hand it over. That leaves the draft and so far we have not hit any Brayden Pointe home runs.

We have a fan based that wants results tomorrow and it’s not coming.

Hagel is a tier below, but he's certainly been a good pick (for someone else). The problem is, unlike Tampa, the Sabres didn't need to hit lower round home runs because the following top-15 picks are still active in the league: Myers, Ristolainen, Nylander (sorta occasionally), Reinhart, Eichel, Mittelstadt, Dahlin, Cozens, Quinn, Power, and maybe Savoie someday.

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, Carmel Corn said:

TP was confused and thought he was in the Bills locker room.

[That Aud Smell]

48 minutes ago, EM88 said:

Adams was hired with a General manager title, but he was not hired as a general manager.

His job duties are that of one of a group of many in the hockey department, but also a shield for criticism that belongs to Pegula. A lap dog for Pegula. Someone to implement the fantasy hockey wishes of Terry Pegula.

I wish to see what Kevin Adams can do as an actual General manager with some autonomy. I do not believe he has had it. Judging someone as a bad GM over 5 years when he has not been allowed to operate as an actual GM over those 5 years does not cut it for me.

Prior to now, I was hard-pressed to imagine a more disqualifying resume for an NHL GM than the one that Adams had when he was hired into the role for the Sabres.

But the scenario you lay out above creates an even more disqualifying CV: A guy who was totally unqualified to serve as GM, but was given the job title just the same, and thereafter acceded to serving as the buffoon owner's toady for five years.

I mean holy sh1t. Talk about awful.

[DarthEbriate]

Just now, Thorner said:

That’s my point. He started off with nothing to his name. He didn’t have the qualifications to support a hiring. IF we are counting his 5 years as anything, I struggle to see how it can be anything but negative. Where are we looking to find body of work that supports him? 

on his resume before we hired him? No

since taking office? Also no

theres no argument FOR. Just a bunch of “well we haven’t isolated each variable individually” nonsense because the sum total is so inarguably bad 

Heck, I could be GM for the Sabres. There's no reason to suspect it would take me longer than Adams to make the playoffs. Future internet posters could all say "yeah, they made the playoffs, but it was with Adams' roster." As if that mattered.

2 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Prior to now, I was hard-pressed to imagine a more disqualifying resume for an NHL GM than the one that Adams had when he was hired into the role for the Sabres.

But the scenario you lay out above creates an even more disqualifying CV: A guy who was totally unqualified to serve as GM, but was given the job title just the same, and thereafter acceded to serving as the buffoon owner's toady for five years.

I mean holy sh1t. Talk about awful.

I wouldn't even need to be the owner's toady!

[Doohicksie]

52 minutes ago, inkman said:

 

The perfect response to Terry's speech doesn't exi--

[SDS]

6 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Hagel is a tier below, but he's certainly been a good pick (for someone else). The problem is, unlike Tampa, the Sabres didn't need to hit lower round home runs because the following top-15 picks are still active in the league: Myers, Ristolainen, Nylander (sorta occasionally), Reinhart, Eichel, Mittelstadt, Dahlin, Cozens, Quinn, Power, and maybe Savoie someday.

I am not sure I read your post correctly. But that list contains one first liner and one top defender. I think Reinhart was on the third line when we traded him to Florida. Just hanging in the NHL doesn’t buy you much.

[That Aud Smell]

46 minutes ago, EM88 said:

Were you a player in the NHL? Were you a person who worked inside the building, possibly working with the scouting department? Were you a person who was an assistant coach, undoubtedly having conversatations with members of management while doing so?

Were you (ever) any of those things?

37 minutes ago, EM88 said:

This is not a court of law. 

[Awakens alarmed. Blinks strenuously. Clears throat]: "Where is that bailiff? ... @Stoner?!"

20 minutes ago, SDS said:

This just seems like an outdated argument. It was certainly relevant five years ago, but I think that ship has sailed. As an NHL GM for five years he is now more qualified today than any non-NHL GM candidate, although the unknown may be preferable to the known in this case.

I've seen this here before. It is a madness.

"We gave that chimp a Chevy pickup five years ago. And yeah, he's been careening all over the eight counties of WNY ever since. But his driving qualifications must have improved over that period of time."

[HumanSlinky39]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

 

 

This is not a serious hockey organization.

[HumanSlinky39]

1 hour ago, Thorner said:

Adams gaining traction among the fan base amidst a 10 game losing streak and pacing for 69 points

[bunomatic]

1 hour ago, EM88 said:

Adams was hired with a General manager title, but he was not hired as a general manager.

His job duties are that of one of a group of many in the hockey department, but also a shield for criticism that belongs to Pegula. A lap dog for Pegula. Someone to implement the fantasy hockey wishes of Terry Pegula.

I wish to see what Kevin Adams can do as an actual General manager with some autonomy. I do not believe he has had it. Judging someone as a bad GM over 5 years when he has not been allowed to operate as an actual GM over those 5 years does not cut it for me.

Those were the terms under which he was hired. He knew the constraints going in. He did his best and he has failed.

[That Aud Smell]

The conversation here leads me back to what I - and others - see as the franchise's best hope.

If Lindy can ascend to POHO and alpha Terry the way that McDermott and Beane were apparently able to, then perhaps Lindy can get qualified people in the crucial positions and the process of rebuilding can actually begin in earnest.

Because for the last 13+ years? The Sabres have been Terry's favourite toy. And he's repeatedly made a total hash of things.

Keeping with the seasonal theme: Terry through his clumsiness has been creating his own Island of Misfit Toys. The first one that popped into my head looks like Ville Leino.

(The Bills, meanwhile, are maybe more like his favourite movie. He mostly just watches them.)

[SDS]

22 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Were you (ever) any of those things?

[Awakens alarmed. Blinks strenuously. Clears throat]: "Where is that bailiff? ... @Stoner?!"

I've seen this here before. It is a madness.

"We gave that chimp a Chevy pickup five years ago. And yeah, he's been careening all over the eight counties of WNY ever since. But his driving qualifications must have improved over that period of time."

I get the sarcasm for effect. I don’t see it as that black-and-white. At the very least, both sides could use statistics to make their case. I understand the lack of playoffs and I understand the losing streaks. But if we are talking about Adams and if you agree that he took over when a rebuild needed to take place then we are really talking about at most the last three years.

did we miss the playoffs a couple years ago? Absolutely. Was it by one point? Also true. Does that make him a chimp careening off obstacles in the road? Probably not.

in this losing streak I think we just lost to two of the best teams in the NHL by one goal. Again, we lost. But we lost by one goal to the very best teams in the league. Is that a chimp careening off obstacles in the road? Probably not.

The team has placed irrelevantly a couple spots higher in the league the last two years than any other team in the drought except for the first season after the last playoffs.

I think if you did not know his background and someone just looked at the results during his time here, you would conclude he has not gotten the job done, but has had better runs than previous team GMs. I don’t think anyone would call him a chimp.

[EM88]

29 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Were you (ever) any of those things?

[Awakens alarmed. Blinks strenuously. Clears throat]: "Where is that bailiff? ... @Stoner?!"

I've seen this here before. It is a madness.

"We gave that chimp a Chevy pickup five years ago. And yeah, he's been careening all over the eight counties of WNY ever since. But his driving qualifications must have improved over that period of time."

No I was not but I never claimed to be. Read the context of the entire back and forth of my discussion. You can see asking me if I was every any of those things is not the issue, I didn't bring up that part of the converstation and topic.