Real issue with the Sabres

[Pimlach]

Its the middle of the 2023 season.  The Bill have many injuries and need veteran help at CB.  

Beane gets this guy for a 3rd round pick and he has been their starter ever since.  

This is the mind set we need on the Sabres.  First, the GM takes action to fix a problem.   Second, the player fits.   I don't know if Rasul Douglas had this mindset before he got here, or learned it since he got here, but it is the EXACT one the Sabres need.   

Blowing leads because something bad happened is avoidable.   

 

 

Edited Monday at 04:00 PM by Pimlach

[JohnC]

23 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

In 2021-22, Don Granato coached a team that had the following players play 40+ games: Rasmus Asplund (80), Cody Eakin (69), Mark Pysyk (68), Jacob Bryson at age 23 (73), Vinnie Hinostroza (62), Anders Bjork (58), John Hayden (55), Robert Hagg (48), Peyton Krebs at age 20 (48), Samuelsson at age 21 (42).  The goalies were Anderson and Tokarski and when they couldn't go, and they frequently couldn't, in went Aaron Dell, Malcolm Subban, Michael Houser, and a 22 year old UPL.  The leading scorer was Thompson who finished with 38 goals and 68 points, which is his exact pace for this season.  Tuch would only play 50 games after the Eichel trade.  That team finished with 75 points, or 5 more than we are pacing for this year. 

Then the team only got younger, but improved to 91 points.  Then they slipped to 84 and Granato took the fall.

Ruff gets lots of excuses:  He didn't have goaltending in Dallas and NJ.  The current roster is too young (it is).  He needs to erase all the harm that Granato did.

Maybe Granato just better knew his roster.  Maybe Adams changed direction after last season and decided he wanted a team that committed more to D and somehow concluded that the answer was hiring Ruff, a coach whose recent history involves him coaching teams to mostly really bad defensive outcomes.  Telling the media about the importance of defense, and calling out your top two centres, and yelling in practice, and publicly acknowledging an admittedly embarrassing performance, is something I guess, but it's not coaching. 

This isn't on Ruff (though, objectively, he has been awful), and it isn't on Marty Wolford, and it isn't on Matt Ellis, and it sure isn't on Don Granato. 

Kevyn Adams did an ok job on the teardown.  That was always going to be the easiest part.  Since April of 2023 though, he has shown repeatedly and to consistent disastrous results, that he is not the GM to move this team to the next stage.  The sooner Pegula figures this out the better.  Hopefully, him being in Buffalo this weekend drives home the contrast between the Sabres and the Bills.  The Sabres don't need another rebuild. They don't need a major roster overhaul where half the team is shipped out. What they need is a competent GM who can build a playoff caliber roster and a head coach who is capable of coaching that roster to its strengths. There is no mystery.  It's not rocket surgery, Terry.    

The conundrum is that the owner got the kind of GM he wanted: a sycophant who was going to "yes sir" him and his whims. And let's not forget that the organizational re-structure was shaped the way the owner wanted.  Until the owner comes to the realization that he needs to put his franchise in the hands of people who know what they are doing, this franchise will continue to flounder. The model for this sphynx owner to follow is the Buffalo Bills. But so far that reconfiguration has not happened with his hockey franchise because he prefers to play his toy. 

 

[HumanSlinky39]

Nothing is going to change as long as Kevyn Adams remains as GM. This roster & pipeline is largely his creation and he has been steadfastly stubborn in going outside of the organization for any real improvement because he seems to be convinced the roster he's built is good enough to win and just needs more time to develop. And each year, that can is getting kicked further down the road. This core of players is on their 3-4th year together. If he cannot see that the problem lies beyond their "youth" and more in the poor construction of the roster, he's a lost cause.

They're not going to do anything this year because they are not serious about winning this year. They lost 13 straight games and the damn owner addressed the players and told them they are not making any moves. My only hope is that the pressure of a 14th straight playoff-less season will be enough for TP to finally move on from his boy and get some people in here that are serious about actually winning hockey games rather than sticking to a failing plan. I have my doubts that'll happen though. I think TP doesn't know much about hockey at all and has misplaced trust in KA who keeps selling him on the "youth" excuse...which he is taking hook, line, and s(t)inker.

Edited Monday at 06:52 PM by HumanSlinky39

[ExWNYer]

3 hours ago, bunomatic said:

Tightwad Terry

 

[DarthEbriate]

7 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Its the middle of the 2023 season.  The Bill have many injuries and need veteran help at CB.  

Beane gets this guy for a 3rd round pick and he has been their starter ever since.  

This is the mind set we need on the Sabres.  First, the GM takes action to fix a problem.   Second, the player fits.   I don't know if Rasul Douglas had this mindset before he got here, or learned it since he got here, but it is the EXACT one the Sabres need.   

Blowing leads because something bad happened is avoidable.   

 

 

I miss 'Sul. I know why he was traded and it certainly galvanized the Packers last season, but dang if I didn't want him on the field all this season especially since Alexander cannot stay healthy.

[Flashsabre]

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

[ska-T Palmtown]

25 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

I am fascinated by this. Like, if you are there, how do you even react to this?

[LabattBlue]

These 3 must have drawn the short straws.  If Adams doesn’t have the spine to show up and face the tough questions, then just cancel it. 

[Weave]

So, just like on the ice, the kids are fed to the wolves unsupported.

Noice.

[Pimlach]

3 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

Every poster in this forum that defends Pegula and Adams, and there are several, should at least try to explain this one.  

Byram, Benson, and Quinn show up and no management.  Byram an RFA.  Benson a 19 year old kid.  Quinn another guy with no contract after the season.  That is who they send?   

We know that Terry Pegula has checked out of Sabreland, but what about Gueli, Minter, and Adams?    These are the top execs.  Not one of them could be bothered?   

I’ll say it again, this team has been destroyed. Everything the Pegula version of the Sabres does is second rate, at best.  Glad I stopped buying tickets.  

 

Edited Tuesday at 03:15 AM by Pimlach

[Dreams Burn Down]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

Perhaps they can make this Episode 4 of The Blue & Gold Standard in Buffalo Sabres: Embedded.

[ExWNYer]

44 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Every poster in this forum that defends Pegula and Adams, and there are several, should at least try to explain this one.  

Byram, Benson, and Quinn show up and no management.  Byram an RFA.  Benson a 19 year old kid.  Quinn another guy with no contract after the season.  That is who they send?   

We know that Terry Pegula has checked out of Sabreland, but what about Gueli, Minter, and Adams?    These are the top execs.  Not one of them could be bothered?   

I’ll say it again, my team had been destroyed. Everything the Pegula version of the Sabres does is second rate, at best.  Glad I stopped buying tickets.  

 

The actions...or should I say inaction...of Pegula and Adams is indefensible.

[LGR4GM]

3 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

But what happened after that?

[DarthEbriate]

4 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

That's flippin' pathetic.

[HumanSlinky39]

5 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

[bunomatic]

This ownership is spineless.

[MISabresFan]

16 hours ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

Nothing is going to change as long as Kevyn Adams remains as GM. This roster & pipeline is largely his creation and he has been steadfastly stubborn in going outside of the organization for any real improvement because he seems to be convinced the roster he's built is good enough to win and just needs more time to develop. And each year, that can is getting kicked further down the road. This core of players is on their 3-4th year together. If he cannot see that the problem lies beyond their "youth" and more in the poor construction of the roster, he's a lost cause.

They're not going to do anything this year because they are not serious about winning this year. They lost 13 straight games and the damn owner addressed the players and told them they are not making any moves. My only hope is that the pressure of a 14th straight playoff-less season will be enough for TP to finally move on from his boy and get some people in here that are serious about actually winning hockey games rather than sticking to a failing plan. I have my doubts that'll happen though. I think TP doesn't know much about hockey at all and has misplaced trust in KA who keeps selling him on the "youth" excuse...which he is taking hook, line, and s(t)inker.

Looking at the playoff graph and comparing to the last two years, this team is on course to have the worst record.

[Stoner]

11 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

But what happened after that?

There doesn't appear to be any mention of this event on Sabres social media or website.

[Pimlach]

5 minutes ago, Stoner said:

There doesn't appear to be any mention of this event on Sabres social media or website.

I went to Chloe's X page and there is not much on it.  Just a few fans throwing shots at the inept management.  

It looks like attendance was very sparse.  

Benson, Quinn, and Byram.  Why did they get picked for this assignment?  Think that over.  

 

[Taro T]

16 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

So no management even showed up for this even with Season ticket holders. I’m speechless that they don’t have the balls to face the music. I hope none of those people renew for next year

JFC, the preseason and in-season B&GI's are ALWAYS Duff/Dunleavy moderating Q's for 2-3 players.  It is the late/end of season B&GI's that have Adams w/or w/out the HC too.

Great job Chloe getting people bent out of shape about something that is standard practice and has been since they started these back during the lockdown.

[LabattBlue]

10 minutes ago, Taro T said:

JFC, the preseason and in-season B&GI's are ALWAYS Duff/Dunleavy moderating Q's for 2-3 players.  It is the late/end of season B&GI's that have Adams w/or w/out the HC too.

Great job Chloe getting people bent out of shape about something that is standard practice and has been since they started these back during the lockdown.

Does that mean they can never change it up, especially in the middle of another terrible season? Is Adams so busy working the phones that he can’t carve out an hour to meet with some of his most loyal fans?

[Pimlach]

16 minutes ago, Taro T said:

JFC, the preseason and in-season B&GI's are ALWAYS Duff/Dunleavy moderating Q's for 2-3 players.  It is the late/end of season B&GI's that have Adams w/or w/out the HC too.

Great job Chloe getting people bent out of shape about something that is standard practice and has been since they started these back during the lockdown.

Welcome back Taro and thanks for pointing this out. 

We don't need more things to be pissed about.  Being essentially out of it by Christmas is enough.  

[Pimlach]

4 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Does that mean they can never change it up, especially in the middle of another terrible season? Is Adams so busy working the phones that he can’t carve out an hour to meet with some of his most loyal fans?

I hear you but Adams would be the wrong guy to send after the disaster that was his last presser.  You just know that it could easily get contentious and only do more harm. 

Maybe Gueli would be a better choice, and he could focus more on the other factors related to fan experience.  Or, you just stay with the past formula.  

We will get to Adams and Ruff at the end of the season and will probably be unpleasant.  

[ska-T Palmtown]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

I went to Chloe's X page and there is not much on it.  Just a few fans throwing shots at the inept management.  

It looks like attendance was very sparse.  

Benson, Quinn, and Byram.  Why did they get picked for this assignment?  Think that over.  

 

Probably pretty calculated, if you aske me. Young popular players who have been doing "alright" so far this year. No TT to have to answer "why can't you keep the puck in at the point?" 🤣

[Taro T]

33 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Welcome back Taro and thanks for pointing this out. 

We don't need more things to be pissed about.  Being essentially out of it by Christmas is enough.  

This is something they've been doing for the STHers since the lockdown.  The very 1st one was Zoom only and had Mittelstadt and Skinner as the players that were taking questions from the crowd.

They tend to have ~3 per season with 2 of them having players taking Q's and the last one of the year having Adams taking Q's (once by himself, once with Granato, and once with Ruff).  No idea how they choose which players take the Q's.  It seems to be a mix of fan favorites (Peterka & Quinn; Dahlin & Tuch) and newer guys (Power & Comrie; Greenway & Benson; Levi & Robinson).  Girgensons did one as well at a Fan Fest along with Power.  Sometimes they ask for Q's in advance and sometimes they take all the Q's live from the audience and once or twice it's been a fairly even mix.

They're supposed to be nice little events where the fans get to interact (however marginally) with the players.  Somebody mentioned that the Sabres media didn't make a big deal of it; pretty sure they never do because it isn't an event open to the general public.

This one was extremely uneventful as almost all the Q's were submitted in advance and were of the "get to know the players as people better" type rather than "state of the team" type though there were a couple from that line as well.  Nothing mentioned was noteworthy.  

Did come away with the impression that the team is still rather tight though it sounded like the older newer guys aren't necessarily in as tight primarily because the older guys have different interests outside the rink than the younger guys have.  It also seems that the guys in the room have more faith in themselves being able to right the ship than the bulk of the fans have.  Though the fans may have soured on it, these guys still seem to be drinking the Kool-Aid.

For those wondering if Byram would rather be somewhere else, he certainly didn't come across as wanting out.