Reviewing Adams' Off-season acquisitions at the half way mark

[GASabresIUFAN]

Adams signed or traded for Zucker, McLeod, Gilbert, Malenstyn, Lafferty, Aube-Kubel and Reimer this off-season.  He also signed Ruff to replace Granato as HC and elevated Appert to Asst Coach.  Have these acquisitions helped the team? Have they given the Sabres what we expected and/or what we needed?

For the most part, these moves have done very little to improve the team.  The team has regressed for the second straight season.  With the exception of Zucker, I'd honestly argue that all these moves have been awful.

1) Zucker - This looked like an overpayment for a declining player when signed.  However Zucker is having a great season and his play has helped the PP improve somewhat.  He has given the team veteran leadership and has lead by example every shift.  He is currently the Sabres 2nd leading scorer with 30 points (14 goals) while only playing 15:30 a night.  He also leads the team in PP goals with 7.  He had 32 points all of last season with the Coyotes and Preds.  He may be the best UFA signing in Sabres history.  That's not saying much given our track record, but it's a huge positive.  He needs to be re-signed for a few more years, but is likely being traded to a contender at the deadline to save Terry money.  A+++

2) McLeod - Was acquired for former 9th overall pick Savoie.  He was acquired to replace Mittelstadt and in the first 18 games produced better than expected with 6 goals and 6 assists.  Since then his game has fallen off and he is now entrenched as the 4th line center and has produced only 6 assists and zero goals in the last 21 games.  Not the step up in scoring Adams hoped for.  He was also supposed to help the PK which was 16th in 2023/24 and is now down to 21st in 2024/25.  Overall, I'd give this trade a C- as Savoie is stuck in the AHL.  He is an RFA at season's end.  Is he even worth re-signing?  

3) Malenstyn - Adams acquired the 26 year old rookie for a 2nd rd pick.  He is big and fast and was supposed to help add a physical dimension to the 4th line and chip in a few goals. He was also supposed to help the PK. Adams gave him a 2 year contract before the season.  Honestly paying a 2nd for a guy who isn't any better than Robinson who we got for nothing last year made no sense and still doesn't.  He hasn't been awful, but is producing exactly at the level Robinson did last year.  Robinson gave us 9 points in 40 games with 72 hits, while Malenstyn has given us 8 points in 39 games with 93 hits.  A wasted move by an incompetent GM.  Grade D if we had signed him as a FA, but F since Adams wasted a decent asset to acquire him.

4) Lafferty - I was hopeful for this signing.  I liked what I saw from Lafferty on other teams and hoped he bring that attitude here.  To say he's been worse than awful would be an understatement.  3 points in 29 games.  Grade F-  EDIT: For Context:  Sam had 13g & 11a in 79 games for Vancouver last season with 191 hits.

5) Aube-Kubel - Another speed physical player like Lafferty and Malenstyn.  He has been injured on and off, but when he's played he's been about as good as Lafferty.  Grade F-   EDIT: For Context:  Nic had 6g & 10a in 60 games for Wash last season with 159 hits.

6) Reimer - Signed, waived and reclaimed.  1-4-1 record, 3.04 gaa and .888 Save%.  Basically he's been lousy, but considering the defense he's playing behind and the only $1 mil cap hit I'd grade the signing a solid D

7) Gilbert - Was supposed to be a physical stay at home D who could give us decent minutes when injuries occurred.  His has been so bad when he's played, the team called up Ryan Johnson from the AHL.  Grade F

8.) Lindy Ruff - He hasn't made any impact what so ever.  Kind of sad.  Is the roster so bad that no one could make an impact?  Has he lost his touch? Are these spoiled kids not willing to listen? All of the above?  Whatever the reason he gets an F as well.

9) Appert - The only new asst coach and he was supposed to make the PP better.  He has failed.  Grade F.

Talk about a terrible group of off-season moves.  None of these moves fixed any of the fundamental flaws with this team such as 2 D first top 4 defensemen to partner with Dahlin, Power and/or Byram and a top 6 playmaker and only Zucker added legit veteran leadership to a team starved for players who play the right way.

 

Edited Saturday at 06:59 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[Pimlach]

Ouch.  
 

[Stoner]

God love ya, GA.

[LTS]

Good stuff.  I think McLeod is a bit higher grade at C or C+. They'll re-sign him and they should. As they hopefully filter some of the top 9 and compress it I think McLeod will slot back up. He's also versatile enough to move up and down the lines with this speed and that helps cover any injuries to the C's above him.

Aube-Kubel is basically the back-up for Malenstyn at this point.

Zucker is probably one of the best, if not THE best UFA signings this team has ever had. If his energy and attitude are not rubbing off on this team at all then there's literally no hope. I think it is but the inertia it has to overcome cannot be understated. While I like to be a realist there is a big part of me that hopes like hell he says "F it" and tells Adams he's on for another year, don't trade me. A decision such as that could spark the beginning of some players considering signing with this team in the future.

 

[Broken Ankles]

39 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Adams signed or traded for Zucker, McLeod, Gilbert, Malenstyn, Lafferty, Aube-Kubel and Reimer this off-season.  He also signed Ruff to replace Granato as HC and elevated Appert to Asst Coach.  Have these acquisitions helped the team? Have they given the Sabres what we expected and/or what we needed?

For the most part, these moves have done very little to improve the team.  The team has regressed for the second straight season.  With the exception of Zucker, I'd honestly argue that all these moves have been awful.

1) Zucker - This looked like an overpayment for a declining player when signed.  However Zucker is having a great season and his play has helped the PP improve somewhat.  He has given the team veteran leadership and has lead by example every shift.  He is currently the Sabres 2nd leading scorer with 30 points (14 goals) while only playing 15:30 a night.  He also leads the team in PP goals with 7.  He had 32 points all of last season with the Coyotes and Preds.  He may be the best UFA signing in Sabres history.  That's not saying much given our track record, but it's a huge positive.  He needs to be re-signed for a few more years, but is likely being traded to a contender at the deadline to save Terry money.  A+++

2) McLeod - Was acquired for former 9th overall pick Savoie.  He was acquired to replace Mittelstadt and in the first 18 games produced better than expected with 6 goals and 6 assists.  Since then his game has fallen off and he is now entrenched as the 4th line center and has produced only 6 assists and zero goals in the last 21 games.  Not the step up in scoring Adams hoped for.  He was also supposed to help the PK which was 16th in 2023/24 and is now down to 21st in 2024/25.  Overall, I'd give this trade a C- as Savoie is stuck in the AHL.  He is an RFA at season's end.  Is he even worth re-signing?  

3) Malenstyn - Adams acquired the 26 year old rookie for a 2nd rd pick.  He is big and fast and was supposed to help add a physical dimension to the 4th line and chip in a few goals. He was also supposed to help the PK. Adams gave him a 2 year contract before the season.  Honestly paying a 2nd for a guy who isn't any better than Robinson who we got for nothing last year made no sense and still doesn't.  He hasn't been awful, but is producing exactly at the level Robinson did last year.  Robinson gave us 9 points in 40 games with 72 hits, while Malenstyn has given us 8 points in 39 games with 93 hits.  A wasted move by an incompetent GM.  Grade D if we had signed him as a FA, but F since Adams wasted a decent asset to acquire him.

4) Lafferty - I was hopeful for this signing.  I like what I saw from Lafferty on other teams and hoped he bring that attitude here.  To say he's been worse than awful would be an understatement.  3 points in 29 games.  Grade F-

5) Aube-Kubel - Another speed physical player like Lafferty and Malenstyn.  He has been injured on and off, but when he's played he's been about as good as Lafferty.  Grade F-

6) Reimer - Signed, waived and reclaimed.  1-4-1 record, 3.04 gaa and .888 Save%.  Basically he's been lousy, but considering the defense he's playing behind and the only $1 mil cap hit I'd grade the signing a solid D

7) Gilbert - Was supposed to be a physical stay at home D who could give us decent minutes when injuries occurred.  His has been so bad when he's played, the team called up Ryan Johnson from the AHL.  Grade F

8.) Lindy Ruff - He hasn't made any impact what so ever.  Kind of sad.  Is the roster so bad that no one could make an impact?  Has he lost his touch? Are these spoiled kids not willing to listen? All of the above?  Whatever the reason he gets an F as well.

9) Appert - The only new asst coach and he was supposed to make the PP better.  He has failed.  Grade F.

Talk about a terrible group of off-season moves.  None of these moves fixed any of the fundamental flaws with this team such as 2 D first top 4 defensemen to partner with Dahlin, Power and/or Byram and a top 6 playmaker and only Zucker added legit veteran leadership to a team starved for players who play the right way.

 

I hope adjunct teaching is not in your future.  For the kids sake.  Harsh criticism. 

Zucker A-.  Record precludes any A+  moves. 

McCloud - C+. Moves to a B if Savoie doesn’t crack roster next year either.

Beck - B-.  He is who he is. 4th line grinder who doesn’t cost $3-5m (which is what they were doing in previous seasons).  

Lafferty and A-K - C+.  Again, 4th liners.

Reimer-Incomplete 

Gilbert - C; Your Expectations are high for an 8th D man making close to the league minimum.  More hits per minute of ice time than any Sabre.  Corsi and possession numbers not great but limited use.  

Ruff and Appert - agree with F’s based on regression and minimal roster improvement (can I say this without laughing-no). 

We could consider Skinners buyout as an acquisition - addition by subtraction was supposed to occur.  If the kids he was blocking were contributing it might be a B+ ; based on what’s happening in EDM could also be considered a net positive but they are not and he failed to use the cap space so he gets a D. 

[Archie Lee]

Great post.

I largely agree, except for on McLeod and Malenstyn, and to a lesser degree on Aube-Kubel.

McLeod has been fine and has given us what we were looking for I think.  At some point during the losing streak the organization committed to moving Kulich and Krebs into the middle-six.  This has pushed McLeod to line 4. He is a 40 point, 3rd line centre, who can kill penalties.  He was better when playing with Zucker and Greenway (no shock, most players perform better with better linemates). He is in the age group of our core.  There is no reason he can't be a useful middle-six player for us for years to come.

The 2nd rd pick was a high cost for Malenstyn.  $1.5 million is too much for what we are getting out of Aube-Kubel.  The Lafferty signing looks awful. We would be no worse off with Girgensens, Krebs, Robinson* as our 4th line. But, I don't think Malenstyn and Aube-Kubel have been bad.  If Malenstyn stays with us long-term and becomes a 4th line staple (energy player, shot-blocker, penalty killer), I don't think the price was crazy. 

The bigger question to me is: How does this all reflect on the jobs that our pro-scouting and analytics department are doing and how does it reflect on how our coach is utilizing the available assets. The rebuild 4th line and bottom six, was the BIG-DEAL, of the off-season.  And here we not even half-way through the year and McLeod and Aube-Kubel are demoted, Lafferty is a bit of a joke, and Malenstyn looks mostly like an easily replaceable 4th line player. Where is the disconnect. Many fans thought that these acquisitions had "Ruff's fingerprints all over them".  These were not Adams moves, they were Ruff moves.  If this is the case, why has Ruff not effectively utilized these players.    

* How did we miss so wide on Robinson?

[Broken Ankles]

12 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

 

* How did we miss so wide on Robinson?

He clearly aged out of Adams archetype for a Sabre skater.  #Blueprint. 

[HumanSlinky39]

[DarthEbriate]

GM Sheevyn said he was going to add speed to the 4th line and...  he did. What's odd is that Ruff hasn't added that speed to the lineup. I really believed Ruff would have had more willingness (power?) to mix the new, grown-adult, fast skaters, throughout the lineup. Veteran presence on each line, forechecking chops, some willingness to hit, etc.

But instead, all the new mature forward acquisitions were separated from the existing roster on the 3rd-4th line by ice time, then were the first guys (NAK, Lafferty) to get healthy scratches while the Quinns and Krebs and later JJPs, went through their struggles/inconsistencies.

I understood the JJP-TNT-Tuch continuation, but you don't need a kid line (2nd line, no less) if you can split them up and integrate them with veterans.

---

Zucker - has been fantastic. Re-sign for 2 years or trade him (with retention) and get a legitimate package in return. A

McLeod - Just don't understand his usage since Greenway got injured. They were the defensive line (plus Zucker or Krebs). And he was able to step up when TNT was injured because he can play center and can carry the puck. But since then, it just doesn't look like he has a role, and that's on the coach. The goalless streak is bad, though, no bones about it. He needs a goal and he needs a role, and the 4th line is not the place for either.  C- 

Aube-Kubel and Malenstyn - They're there. I was hoping for a couple more goals between them, and more effective cycling and hanging onto the puck. C-

Lafferty - This is the only one I'm really disappointed in. I haven't seen wheels. I haven't seen the "what, this guy? Laffery has 1G, 1A, and 3 hits tonight? We're letting Lafferty beat us?" -- and he had a few of those for Vancouver last year. He hasn't been noticeable on the forecheck. His one goal this year was really pretty vs. the Rangers, but that's only one goal. I thought he'd be more of a Swiss Army bottom 6, and even jump up for a game or two at need. And he's been deflating instead. F

Reimer - 1 win was good. Since then, he's been below average. So has Luukkonen. D

Gilbert - Is what he is. Tough, but a liability when the other team puts its top line out against a 7/8. Meets expectations. C

Ruff - See above. Throw in the fact that he has to use Granato's staff and it doesn't make sense. I also don't see the fire. F

Appert - Zucker is on PP1 now and it has shown signs of life. Zone entries are still silly, but at least they're moving around away from the puck and it's rarely just a TNT slapshot or bust. It was a F, but now it's firmly in the C- range.

Edited Saturday at 05:04 PM by DarthEbriate

[Pimlach]

My take: 

Zooker - A.   He will be gone at the deadline and in pursuit of another shot at the cup, and he will continue to play hard to show another team he deserves it.  After that he is never coming back.  

McLoed - C+, could be a higher grade but Lindy cannot stop the shuffling.  

Beck -  C, he is what they said he is and they chose to pay a lot for it.  Fast and he hits but no fight and not an angry player. 

NAK and Lafferty  - C-  each.   4th liner guys,  NAK was showing something for a while, then he got benched, could be hurt.  

Reimer - C-    Again, he was a twice waived goalie at the end of the line.   Good soldier and not at all well supported.  

Gilbert - C   He is what most of us thought, and 8D that adds a physical side.  Big and tough but not an everyday NHL player.  

Ruff, Appert, and the rest of the holdovers  - F.    The product on the ice is not even close to better this season, its worse.  The losing streak was hideous.  The home record and the power play are still terrible.  All of this is on this coaching staff and the front office.  

Adams -  F-    What else can you say about the worst GM in team history?   

1. The "exhaustive coach search" was a farce and was the start of the bad off season.  Another example of TP and Adams looking for an easy band aid. Assigning Appert and a few of DG's misfits to Ruff's staff was a red flag.  They are all there because they are on contract, it is about saving money.  The lucky one is the video coach guy that they fired, he got to leave.   

2.  What GM is ever that proud about retooling his 4th line?   Only Adams. 

3.  Buying out Skinner and not bringing in a proven NHL top 6 forward show us again that he is not capable of making a big deal. He simply cannot pull the trigger on a big trade.  

4.  Look at our center spline.  Really look at it.   How did they do in that last four minutes in Colorado?  Now think about why Ruff moved both Cozens and Thompson to wing this season.  Think about why Kulich, a winger in the AHL, is taking critical D Zone face-offs against Nathan MacKinnon?   But hey, we have cap space to sign our young players.  

5.  Who is wearing the letters?   4 guys alternating the "A"s just screams of Adams.   Does any of it make sense?  

6.  Press Conference:  Why hold a press conference if you are going to show up looking like a guy off the street, smirking and eyerolling and wise cracking, and worst of all blaming the "destination" for your inability to improve your team despite possessing coveted resources like Eichel, Reinhart, and more.   He is the joke of the NHL.  

In summary, I refuse to give hard workers like McLoed and Malenstyn the failing grades, no real GM thinks these two guys are gonna turn this sinking ship around.  This GM is unqualified and way over his head.  

 

 

Edited Saturday at 11:33 PM by Pimlach

[JoeSchmoe]

[Broken Ankles]

42 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

[GASabresIUFAN]

Y'all are being much too generous to the Sabres 4th line players.  

Remember they were brought in to improve the dumpster fire that was our 4th line.

23/24 Eric Robinson 40 games 2g 7a 72 hits - acquired for a conditional 7th rd pick (condition not met) -

24/25 Beck Malenstyn 39 game 4g 4a 93 hits - acquired for a 2nd rd pick

How is this improvement?

23/24 Kyle Okposo 61g 12g 10a 61 hits 

24/25 Aube-Kubel 16g 1g 1a  29 hits

How is this improvement?

23/24 Zemgus Girgensons  63g 8g 6a 103 hits

24/24 Sam Lafferty 29g 1g 2a  21 hits -

Remember this guy was expected to be a 20+ pt scorer and a very physical player.  Last season he had 13g 11a in 79 games with 191 hits.  He was also an even takeaway vs giveaway guy.  This season he has 1 takeway to 14 giveaways.  How is this improvement? 

The best that can be said is that Malenstyn is a wash for Robinson who could have been re-signed for 950K (what he signed in Calg for) vs the 1.5 per season we are paying for Malenstyn.  

Aube-Kubel and Lafferty have been objectively a significant downgrade from Okposo and Girgensons.  When you downgrade a previous dumpster fire, the best grade you can get is an F.  

2 hours ago, JoeSchmoe said:

 

2 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

Sadly Vic wasn't going to work here as we have no playmakers to pass him the puck or defensemen who could cover up is lack of a 2 way game.  LV has both.

Edited Saturday at 09:00 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Adams -  F-    What else can you say about the worst GM in team history? 

Maybe the worst GM in NHL history and that is saying something with TM and Jbot in our recent history and guys like Mike Milbury, Ron Hextall and Craig Button floating around out there.

 

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

23/24 Kyle Okposo 61g 12g 10a 61 hits 

24/25 Aube-Kubel 16g 1g 1a  29 hits

How is this improvement?

----

Sadly Vic wasn't going to work here as we have no playmakers to pass him the puck or defensemen who could cover up is lack of a 2 way game.  LV has both.

On VO, it's true. He needs a competent distributor and a defensive structure around him. There's a place for his type. What is really odd to me is that Vegas is able to ice both him and Holtz in the same lineup (different lines). Though, it appears Holtz is gamely attempting to redefine himself as a 4th liner with a 1st-round shot (coincidently, like a VO).

For the Okposo-NAK, though, I have to call out deployment. Okposo skated 13:37 min/game and was often middle 6 and had 78 minutes of powerplay time, even if  his preferred spot was alongside Girgensons. A more accurate comparison to NAK's 9:51 TOI in 2023-24 are Rousek/Jost (10:30) who combined for 58 games to get 8 points and 49 hits.

Okposo's comparable this season is Krebs. 13:30 ATOI, 38 GP  4-8-12 and 69 hits. nice. Which, could end up being an improvement.

[Mr Peabody]

Nice analysis.  I voted no playoffs this summer because 4th line wasn’t the issue last year.  Even so, I thought they’d have more impact than they are.  Really don’t notice being a tougher team and Lindy doesn’t put them out to protect leads. Thought we needed two centers and hopefully someone in the org can now see that it’s painfully obvious we do. 

[Archie Lee]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Y'all are being much to generous to the Sabres 4th line players.  

4th lines are 4th lines. The off-season narrative was that we were bringing in 2/3’s of Washington's 4th line, which had been given one of the toughest deployment’s in the league. The story went that Ruff wanted these players and that they would be a 4th line getting 3rd line minutes; used against top lines and to protect leads late. They are basically just another 4th line; fine, but rarely game changing. I’m not sure where the disconnect is. Were the talents of these players misjudged?  Or are they being poorly utilized?  A little of both I suspect. They were never going to be the difference makers that would warrant the hype that surrounded changes to the 4th line. And our coaching isn’t getting the most out of them. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

22 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

4th lines are 4th lines. The off-season narrative was that we were bringing in 2/3’s of Washington's 4th line, which had been given one of the toughest deployment’s in the league. The story went that Ruff wanted these players and that they would be a 4th line getting 3rd line minutes; used against top lines and to protect leads late. They are basically just another 4th line; fine, but rarely game changing. I’m not sure where the disconnect is. Were the talents of these players misjudged?  Or are they being poorly utilized?  A little of both I suspect. They were never going to be the difference makers that would warrant the hype that surrounded changes to the 4th line. And our coaching isn’t getting the most out of them. 

Which is why Adams gets an F for acquiring them, Ruff gets an F for how he's played them and the players get an F for contributing to the further regression of the team.  They ultimately are symptoms of the greater problem, our coaches and management can't evaluate talent properly to build even a decent team.

[Scottysabres]

I give Adam’s a solid B- for his acquisitions.

He needed to bring in an impact veteran line 2 center and a veteran impact 3/4 stay at home type RHD imo.

He loses the A grade for those failures alone, he drops to B- from B for the Ruff signing. As unfortunate as it sounds, if the playoffs were the goal this season, Ruff wasn’t the right choice for the task. Ruff, to me in any event, looks like another development coach just a slight step up from Granato. Just my view anyways.

[Pimlach]

52 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Which is why Adams gets an F for acquiring them, Ruff gets an F for how he's played them and the players get an F for contributing to the further regression of the team.  They ultimately are symptoms of the greater problem, our coaches and management can't evaluate talent properly to build even a decent team.

Adam’s gets an F for much more than acquiring the 4th liners.  They are not the problem at all.  It’s the players they expected to be 1st and 2nd liners that are.  

Ruff gets an F for more broader problems than utilization of the bottom 6.  He doesn’t have enough to work with because the players Adams counted on to step up (Power, Cozens, Samuelsson, Quinn, Peterka) are not delivering enough.  Peterka has been very good at times and is now becoming invisible, hockey gets harder after December.  

[mjd1001]

I don't have as much of a problem with the moves made vs the ones NOT made.

Not getting an older, top 4 D-man. Not moving heaven and earth to get a 2C.  Those are the issues. As far as the 2nd line, its not just Cozens, its the ENTIRE 2nd line.  Cozens should be a wing or a 3rd liner.  Quinn and Peterka should have the option of moving between a 2nd and 3rd line depedning on their production.  Putting in INK Cozens as a 2c and Peterka and Quinn as 2nd liners, mabye 1st liners, that is the issue to me.

Mcleod is fine for a 3rd line center for the most part. Would I LIKE 2-3 more goals out of him, sure but not a big deal.  4th liners, they are ok as 4th liners.

I can't even say I have a problem with Ruff. He doesn't have an NHL level 2nd line, he has no good vets on defense, and he is getting below avearage goaltending. Oh, and he didn't get to pick his assisants either.

Not addressing the 2nd line is the single biggest issue with this offseason for me.

[PromoTheRobot]

7 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Adams signed or traded for Zucker, McLeod, Gilbert, Malenstyn, Lafferty, Aube-Kubel and Reimer this off-season.  He also signed Ruff to replace Granato as HC and elevated Appert to Asst Coach.  Have these acquisitions helped the team? Have they given the Sabres what we expected and/or what we needed?

For the most part, these moves have done very little to improve the team.  The team has regressed for the second straight season.  With the exception of Zucker, I'd honestly argue that all these moves have been awful.

1) Zucker - This looked like an overpayment for a declining player when signed.  However Zucker is having a great season and his play has helped the PP improve somewhat.  He has given the team veteran leadership and has lead by example every shift.  He is currently the Sabres 2nd leading scorer with 30 points (14 goals) while only playing 15:30 a night.  He also leads the team in PP goals with 7.  He had 32 points all of last season with the Coyotes and Preds.  He may be the best UFA signing in Sabres history.  That's not saying much given our track record, but it's a huge positive.  He needs to be re-signed for a few more years, but is likely being traded to a contender at the deadline to save Terry money.  A+++

2) McLeod - Was acquired for former 9th overall pick Savoie.  He was acquired to replace Mittelstadt and in the first 18 games produced better than expected with 6 goals and 6 assists.  Since then his game has fallen off and he is now entrenched as the 4th line center and has produced only 6 assists and zero goals in the last 21 games.  Not the step up in scoring Adams hoped for.  He was also supposed to help the PK which was 16th in 2023/24 and is now down to 21st in 2024/25.  Overall, I'd give this trade a C- as Savoie is stuck in the AHL.  He is an RFA at season's end.  Is he even worth re-signing?  

3) Malenstyn - Adams acquired the 26 year old rookie for a 2nd rd pick.  He is big and fast and was supposed to help add a physical dimension to the 4th line and chip in a few goals. He was also supposed to help the PK. Adams gave him a 2 year contract before the season.  Honestly paying a 2nd for a guy who isn't any better than Robinson who we got for nothing last year made no sense and still doesn't.  He hasn't been awful, but is producing exactly at the level Robinson did last year.  Robinson gave us 9 points in 40 games with 72 hits, while Malenstyn has given us 8 points in 39 games with 93 hits.  A wasted move by an incompetent GM.  Grade D if we had signed him as a FA, but F since Adams wasted a decent asset to acquire him.

4) Lafferty - I was hopeful for this signing.  I liked what I saw from Lafferty on other teams and hoped he bring that attitude here.  To say he's been worse than awful would be an understatement.  3 points in 29 games.  Grade F-  EDIT: For Context:  Sam had 13g & 11a in 79 games for Vancouver last season with 191 hits.

5) Aube-Kubel - Another speed physical player like Lafferty and Malenstyn.  He has been injured on and off, but when he's played he's been about as good as Lafferty.  Grade F-   EDIT: For Context:  Nic had 6g & 10a in 60 games for Wash last season with 159 hits.

6) Reimer - Signed, waived and reclaimed.  1-4-1 record, 3.04 gaa and .888 Save%.  Basically he's been lousy, but considering the defense he's playing behind and the only $1 mil cap hit I'd grade the signing a solid D

7) Gilbert - Was supposed to be a physical stay at home D who could give us decent minutes when injuries occurred.  His has been so bad when he's played, the team called up Ryan Johnson from the AHL.  Grade F

8.) Lindy Ruff - He hasn't made any impact what so ever.  Kind of sad.  Is the roster so bad that no one could make an impact?  Has he lost his touch? Are these spoiled kids not willing to listen? All of the above?  Whatever the reason he gets an F as well.

9) Appert - The only new asst coach and he was supposed to make the PP better.  He has failed.  Grade F.

Talk about a terrible group of off-season moves.  None of these moves fixed any of the fundamental flaws with this team such as 2 D first top 4 defensemen to partner with Dahlin, Power and/or Byram and a top 6 playmaker and only Zucker added legit veteran leadership to a team starved for players who play the right way.

 

I think your player ratings are pretty biased to the negative, other than Zucker because you'd look silly crapping on that player. I think Malenstyn and Aube-Kubel have been doing what they were brought in for. Laffterty less so but not by much. McLeod showed promise scoring but has fallen off. Overall the 4th line has been good.

[mjd1001]

21 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I think your player ratings are pretty biased to the negative, other than Zucker because you'd look silly crapping on that player. I think Malenstyn and Aube-Kubel have been doing what they were brought in for. Laffterty less so but not by much. McLeod showed promise scoring but has fallen off. Overall the 4th line has been good.

Agree.  4th line as a role, but to me its basically 2 things:  Don't be scored on too much wen you are out there...and chip in an occasional goal.

If you look around the league, most teams, including good teams, have their 4th line chip in at most mid 20's for goals, but some good teams have their 4th line score as little as 12-15 for the entire year for the whole line.

The Sabres line is on pace for the mid-teens in goals, and they are are just slightly negative players. They certainly aren't driving play, but they are a typical, middle-of-the-road 4th line.

And as far as McLeod goes, I don't think hes a 2nd line Center (at times I wish he was given that role/ice time) but he to me is clearly the 3rd line center.   When I look around the league at most teams, the average/typical 3rd liner probably has 6 goals (most are between 4-8), so his goal scoring is what you expect from a 3rd liner. I know we WANT more, but that is what you expect.

This front office's biggest issue was not addressing a 2nd line. (and some below-average goaltending that very few of us expected coming into the year)

Edited Saturday at 11:49 PM by mjd1001

[LGR4GM]

9 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

 

2) McLeod - Was acquired for former 9th overall pick Savoie.  He was acquired to replace Mittelstadt and in the first 18 games produced better than expected with 6 goals and 6 assists.  Since then his game has fallen off and he is now entrenched as the 4th line center and has produced only 6 assists and zero goals in the last 21 games.  Not the step up in scoring Adams hoped for.  He was also supposed to help the PK which was 16th in 2023/24 and is now down to 21st in 2024/25.  Overall, I'd give this trade a C- as Savoie is stuck in the AHL.  He is an RFA at season's end.  Is he even worth re-signing?

 

Lol, are you seriously asking if McLeod is worth re- signing? 

Your take here is bad impo. McLeod should be the 3rd line center but Adams and company are obsessed with making Kulich that. 

[Flashsabre]

Did anyone think the 4th line was the reason this team didn’t make the playoffs Most people can’t name other teams 4th lines. Robinson was fine. Competent GMs fill out their 4th lines in an hour during the offseason.

The fact Adams thought the 4th line and an 8th dman like Gilbert needed to be the focus shows his incompetence.

Power has desperately needed a vet partner. 
 

Zucker has been a great pickup and McLeod has been fine but those should have been the secondary moves.

Adams is just an unqualified yes man for Pegula who agrees with whatever Terry says, won’t spend a penny that Terry doesn’t want spent then turn around and lie through his teeth at PCs about there being no financial restraints.

Adams is gone, he will be the fall guy,  but I have zero faith anyone better will be brought in. Just like with the coaching staff, it will be next man up that doesn’t cost Terry anymore money.

Have to maintain the lifestyle.  Imagine the lifestyle if he did things properly, made the playoffs and had the building full most nights.

Edited yesterday at 01:13 AM by Flashsabre