GDT: Buffalo Sabres @ les Canadiens de Montréal 12/17/24 - 7:00 PM EST - TSN2, RDS, MSG-B, WGR550

[Thorner]

Just now, apuszczalowski said:

I don't think I can blame Ruff for giving them a day off before the game. Sometimes that can be what struggling teams need instead of grinding them through another practice. For a lot of teams and players, long losing streaks or personal slumps can be fixed by just taking ti easy and relaxing because you start putting too much pressure on yourself/selves to break out. Unfortunately in hindsight, this was not looking good for them because it didn't help a single bit. I'm sure the media getting wind of the Owner making his way to the arena to speak to the team, and then everyone finsing out it was to 'give them participation trouphies and pat them on the back for trying their best' didn't help either. But this should have been expected when Adams continued to be employed by coming out to the media during a losing streak and basically becoming even more of a laughing stock by just telling everyone "they tried to improve but its hard because 'Taxes and no palm Trees' in Buffalo". But a competent Owner would have also told the media in attendance at that point to hold on 5 minutes after the PC so he could make the announcement that Adams was being let go immediately and 'They do not wish him well in his future endeavours'

We forget how young the players are, and how easily accessible social media is: they have plenty of time to be on their phones and social media and to see how much of a laughing stock we’ve been since the palm tree bit. And it was at quite a humorous level before that. This situation just looks beyond them - the league is hard enough for a young player on a good day 

[JP51]

1 minute ago, apuszczalowski said:

I don't think I can blame Ruff for giving them a day off before the game. Sometimes that can be what struggling teams need instead of grinding them through another practice. For a lot of teams and players, long losing streaks or personal slumps can be fixed by just taking ti easy and relaxing because you start putting too much pressure on yourself/selves to break out. Unfortunately in hindsight, this was not looking good for them because it didn't help a single bit. I'm sure the media getting wind of the Owner making his way to the arena to speak to the team, and then everyone finsing out it was to 'give them participation trouphies and pat them on the back for trying their best' didn't help either. But this should have been expected when Adams continued to be employed by coming out to the media during a losing streak and basically becoming even more of a laughing stock by just telling everyone "they tried to improve but its hard because 'Taxes and no palm Trees' in Buffalo". But a competent Owner would have also told the media in attendance at that point to hold on 5 minutes after the PC so he could make the announcement that Adams was being let go immediately and 'They do not wish him well in his future endeavours'

I don't disagree in concept. But rewarding lack of effort and unprecedented failure is not where i would be i would bag skate em 

[apuszczalowski]

4 minutes ago, Indabuff said:

I just can't see Ruff signing up to be a lap dog.  I feel like this organization gave him the smoke and mirrors treatment.

Or he was given a ton of Money/incentives to come back to help them save face with the fanbase to sell tickets for this season while the front office continues to believe that one day, all of these young players/prospects will just click and become an NHL Dynasty.....

 

[Archie Lee]

5 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Maybe not worse, but not a permanent hire for Karmanos or any of the current guys.  If you named him your permanent GM, you miss an opportunity for a full housecleaning, an opportunity to bring a fresh set of eyes in from outside the organization and have HIM pick the guys he takes advice from.

Neither of us know whether the next guy will be successful, regardless of who it is. We know the current guy has failed. Adams had a plan and stuck to it. Credit to him, I suppose, for holding firm to his vision. But since April 15, 2023, the Kevyn Adams tenure has been an absolute failure. 

[JP51]

Just now, mjd1001 said:

The part about Karmanos is my main point.

This is probably a pipe dream, but maybe Pegula told the team that to calm down any rumors and right now, this very day he is starting a search for a GM and will ask that GM to put together his entire hockey department. In a few days or a week, he'll announce the changes. No one stays. No chance of the same ideas, the same group-think from before because everyone will be new.

I know, that is probably not happening.

From your lips to God's ears I am hoping the same thing 

[Sidc3000]

7 minutes ago, Indabuff said:

I just can't see Ruff signing up to be a lap dog.  I feel like this organization gave him the smoke and mirrors treatment.

He wasn’t even allowed to bring in his own assistants. They made him take appert because he is the heir apparent. 
 

ruff is absolutely lap dog

Edited December 18 by Sidc3000

[Scottysabres]

Perimeter team. Constantly playing perimeter.

Bad board work team. Constantly losing puck battles along the boards in both the D and O zone.

Bad urgency, hustle team. Constantly being muscled off of and out hustled to the puck.

Bad possession team. Coughing up the puck is their signature hockey move.

This organization has destroyed this brand over the past 14 years, and I mean destroyed it. I question whether they are even an AHL team at this point.

[K012010]

3 minutes ago, Believer said:

Where is the pride?

Where is the heart?

Where is the anger with their dismal performance again this evening?

All of that evaporated. They’re totally numb and going through the motions. They definitely know they can’t execute what Ruff wants and now they’re checking out. 

[Turbo44]

So….who’s currently teaching learn to skate at harbor center? There’s your odds on favorite for next GM

Edited December 18 by Turbo44

[Pimlach]

2 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

Cozens JJP Quinn line back together

[Carmel Corn]

Anybody disappointed the Habs didn’t score 10 tonight?!?!

[K012010]

2 minutes ago, Thorner said:

We forget how young the players are, and how easily accessible social media is: they have plenty of time to be on their phones and social media and to see how much of a laughing stock we’ve been since the palm tree bit. And it was at quite a humorous level before that. This situation just looks beyond them - the league is hard enough for a young player on a good day 

I mean just add this to the list of Kevin’s miscalculations. You can’t expect an entire team to grow up in the league. It’s a grown up league, not a developmental one. Half these guys should be maturing in the AHL. 

[mjd1001]

There is one thing that is a minor thing in the big picture, but I think about every few days with regard to this team.

Lindy in the past always had a heavyweight/tough guy/enforcer.

In an interview with Rob Ray in the offseason, he talked about the value of having that type of guy on the roster.

I forgot who he was talking to, but in the offseason he intereviewed with someone else and he said the same thing, there is a value to having a guy like that.

He had McDermid in New Jersey last year for that role.

If Lindy has always had a player like that, including his last year in New Jersey. If he spoke openly about the value of having it at least 2 times this offseason, why have the Sabres not gone out and found SOMEONE like that?

[Thorner]

6 minutes ago, Thorner said:

We forget how young the players are, and how easily accessible social media is: they have plenty of time to be on their phones and social media and to see how much of a laughing stock we’ve been since the palm tree bit. And it was at quite a humorous level before that. This situation just looks beyond them - the league is hard enough for a young player on a good day 

Like this dude needs to be fired purely on the basis of being a terrible front man. If he’s there to be the front man he should be fired for performance on a professional level to every bit of the extent I’d fire him for team building 

bozo the clown making it harder on his players

i say this with the utmost sincerity: Go back to Carolina 

Edited December 18 by Thorner

[inkman]

 

[apuszczalowski]

1 minute ago, mjd1001 said:

The part about Karmanos is my main point.

This is probably a pipe dream, but maybe Pegula told the team that to calm down any rumors and right now, this very day he is starting a search for a GM and will ask that GM to put together his entire hockey department. In a few days or a week, he'll announce the changes. No one stays. No chance of the same ideas, the same group-think from before because everyone will be new.

I know, that is probably not happening.

When has an organisation ever fired a GM (or even coach) and made full replacements during the season?

Almost always they will make the move to fire the current one, bring in an internal interum replacement and then change everything in the offseason.

Right now the only choices available will be guys sitting on their couches out of the league since NHL teams won't let other teams poch from their staff mid season, and most in the minors don't want to abandon their current organisations and potentially burn bridges or get a reputation for abandoning the team during the year.

Best bet is adams is fired, an internal replacement is named to finish the season, then they work on a new front office in the offseason

[Carmel Corn]

The Sabres will remain on the road as they play the Leafs at KeyBank Center on Friday…..Leaf fans will probably fill the entire arena

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, K012010 said:

I mean just add this to the list of Kevin’s miscalculations. You can’t expect an entire team to grow up in the league. It’s a grown up league, not a developmental one. Half these guys should be maturing in the AHL. 

Bozo the clown 

[gomper]

It's really amazing how low the collective IQ on this team is.  Just when you think they've reached the bottom, it's apparent they can actually fall further.  I have no idea what the answer is.  Obviously, they don't either. 

[mjd1001]

Sometime in the future, someone will put together an innocent video on youtube that talks about embarassing moments in sports, maybe it'll get a few thousand views.

The guy who makes that video will not have it focusing on 'on ice' blunders, but more indiviual moments where the wrong thing was said, where something was done that was so innappropriate that it will go down in a book of bad moments in sports history.

I think the story of Pegula coming up to Montreal, Saying what he did to the team, and then having this game be the response...THIS will be on that guys video.

[K012010]

Just now, gomper said:

It's really amazing how low the collective IQ on this team is.  Just when you think they've reached the bottom, it's apparent they can actually fall further.  I have no idea what the answer is.  Obviously, they don't either. 

They’re a frickin AHL team. Some high end talent but these are boys getting manhandled and now they’re cowering. Sad af

[Archie Lee]

6 minutes ago, JP51 said:

That's a really good question i mean literally I would be ok with using Athlon sports magazine mock drafts to pick over adams. But quite honestly I am hoping for more i fear Karamonos would just perpetuate the same pathetic culture we have seen for 14 years only we will have to wait another 3 years for him to get fired and begin the rebuild 17 years out of the playoffs but in a vacuum I would take a dying sheep over Adams

Again, not pounding the drum here, but Karmanos has 25 years of NHL front office experience. He’s a Harvard Grad. He was AGM for 3 Stanley Cup winners. His name has come up for GM openings around the league in the last few off-seasons. It would be foolish to dismiss him as an option, I think. 

[Carmel Corn]

High stick to TNT’s face….not easy to do

[Brawndo]

[K012010]

Just now, mjd1001 said:

Sometime in the future, someone will put together an innocent video on youtube that talks about embarassing moments in sports, maybe it'll get a few thousand views.

The guy who makes that video will not have it focusing on 'on ice' blunders, but more indiviual moments where the wrong thing was said, where something was done that was so innappropriate that it will go down in a book of bad moments in sports history.

I think the story of Pegula coming up to Montreal, Saying what he did to the team, and then having this game be the response...THIS will be on that guys video.

I can see this for sure. It’s one of those moments.