Dahlin Met With GMKA, Turn it Around or He’s Gone

[Stoner]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

@Stoner, looks like Chris Pronger thinks Dahlin is a “ absolute stud”.  

That's fine. Maybe he is. But there's zero success attached to him. That will have to be reconciled.

[DarthEbriate]

9 minutes ago, Stoner said:

That's fine. Maybe he is. But there's zero success attached to him. That will have to be reconciled.

A Cozens Conn Smythe this season ought to do it.

[Sidc3000]

10 hours ago, 7+6=13 said:

This is actually quite ridiculous.

Maybe. I don’t see TP listening to a players opinion and then acting on it. 

[Sidc3000]

11 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Probably because they are just one piece of a team now, not the center of the freakin' universe. They can't get away with acting like they did here.

Or, stay with me on this, they hated how the Sabres were being run and felt like their talents were being wasted and showed it.  I know that idea is out of left field but you never know 🙄

[Archie Lee]

1 hour ago, Stoner said:

That's fine. Maybe he is. But there's zero success attached to him. That will have to be reconciled.

I'm not saying Dahlin is above criticism or shares no blame, but it's pretty easy to reconcile, isn't it?  O'Reilly, Ullmark, Montour, Reinhart, Eichel. How many examples are needed to draw a reasonable conclusion?

 

[Stoner]

10 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I'm not saying Dahlin is above criticism or shares no blame, but it's pretty easy to reconcile, isn't it?  O'Reilly, Ullmark, Montour, Reinhart, Eichel. How many examples are needed to draw a reasonable conclusion?

 

I guess my question is, if Dahlin is such a "stud," why can't he just once drag the team into a playoff spot?

[thewookie1]

8 minutes ago, Stoner said:

I guess my question is, if Dahlin is such a "stud," why can't he just once drag the team into a playoff spot?

No single skater can do that unless they're a goalie

 

[Archie Lee]

46 minutes ago, Stoner said:

I guess my question is, if Dahlin is such a "stud," why can't he just once drag the team into a playoff spot?

That's a good question.  I've come around to the point @Thorner has made a few times (forgive me Thorner if I don't get this quite right): "We are no longer talking about winning a Stanley Cup or even being a contender.  We are talking about making the playoffs. Once." The Sabres need to get in.  Once they get in - once - then they can worry about becoming a contender.

I would say that the fact that we haven't been able to get in even once is an indication of just how poorly this franchise has been managed.  The streak has now reached 14 seasons. The first two years of the streak we were still trying to compete.  Then came the tank.  I would argue that in the 12 seasons since the start of the tank in 13/14, we have only truly tried to make the playoffs, maybe, 4 times (we haven't always been tanking, but there is a big gap between actively trying to lose and legitimately prioritizing winning). I would argue that in the post-Eichel years, since Dahlin became our franchise player, this is the first year where making the playoffs was a true stated priority.  That's just not how normal NHL team's operate.   

Edited 5 hours ago by Archie Lee

[That Aud Smell]

44 minutes ago, Stoner said:

I guess my question is, if Dahlin is such a "stud," why can't he just once drag the team into a playoff spot?

Bro. Do you know puck?

(I know you know puck. So you also know why (that) a single elite d-man can't drag a team to a playoff berth.)

[K-9]

20 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

What a nothing burger this is

Would you like nothing fries with that? Can we talk you into a norhing meal deal?

[Stoner]

48 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Bro. Do you know puck?

(I know you know puck. So you also know why (that) a single elite d-man can't drag a team to a playoff berth.)

OK. We have an elite d stud and he can't even get the Sabres out of the basement of the conference. There's something odd about that. Does he produce when it matters most in games?

[Stoner]

Anyway Sneaky Joe on GR picked up on some of the things I did re: Dahlin's bad acting.

Reporters (or one reporter) told him Dahlin requested a media huddle, then acted like he didn't know anything about the Biz Nasty report.

He also did two things I've recognized in others and myself when the heat is on. He said, That pisses me off! when asked about the veracity of the report, and when he actually denied it, he did so in an odd way, saying he never said the word "leave." What about vamoose, skeddadle, take the next boat to Tuna Town?

This is kinda fun. My verdict is he probably said some version of, If things don't change I'm gone.

I mean, he did come out and say stuff has to change. And there actually was a meeting.

[LGR4GM]

20 minutes ago, Stoner said:

Anyway Sneaky Joe on GR picked up on some of the things I did re: Dahlin's bad acting.

Reporters (or one reporter) told him Dahlin requested a media huddle, then acted like he didn't know anything about the Biz Nasty report.

He also did two things I've recognized in others and myself when the heat is on. He said, That pisses me off! when asked about the veracity of the report, and when he actually denied it, he did so in an odd way, saying he never said the word "leave." What about vamoose, skeddadle, take the next boat to Tuna Town?

This is kinda fun. My verdict is he probably said some version of, If things don't change I'm gone.

I mean, he did come out and say stuff has to change. And there actually was a meeting.

I mean, if you ignore the rest of what he said, sure. 

“I’ve never said I want out of here. I’m not happy with where we’re at and I don’t want to lose. We have to get better, but I never said I want out of here. I thought that was pretty clear. That bugs me. I get pissed off by that. I haven’t even mentioned the word leave. That’s just how it is.”

"“We have to do a lot of stuff,” Dahlin said. “It takes everyday work. You have to do hard work every day. We had a really good discussion. We were very honest with each other. Stuff has to change. That’s how it is. I absolutely hate losing. I don’t think that’s a part of who I want to be. Stuff has to change."

“I’m part of it. I haven’t been good enough. We haven’t won games. I take responsibility, too. Stuff has to change. That’s the bottom line.”

- Rasmus Dahlin

30 minutes ago, Stoner said:

OK. We have an elite d stud and he can't even get the Sabres out of the basement of the conference. There's something odd about that. Does he produce when it matters most in games?

Quick question, remind me again when the 13 game losing streak that ended the season occurred and where Rasmus Dahlin was? I keep forgetting. 

[sabremike]

2 hours ago, Stoner said:

I guess my question is, if Dahlin is such a "stud," why can't he just once drag the team into a playoff spot?

Because hockey is a team sport?????

[Stoner]

OK. What if "stuff" doesn't happen? Do you think Dahlin means tinkering at the edges of the lineup?

What do you think he meant?

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, Stoner said:

OK. What if "stuff" doesn't happen? Do you think Dahlin means tinkering at the edges of the lineup?

What do you think he meant?

I think he means winning and being a legitimate team. Don't think I don't view what you said as possible, in fact your conclusion is the logical one. Dahlin just hasn't gotten there, yet. Adams needs to be aggressive to fix the rosters shortcomings this summer or by next year's trade deadline, Dahlin's tune very well might change. 

[Stoner]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think he means winning and being a legitimate team. Don't think I don't view what you said as possible, in fact your conclusion is the logical one. Dahlin just hasn't gotten there, yet. Adams needs to be aggressive to fix the rosters shortcomings this summer or by next year's trade deadline, Dahlin's tune very well might change. 

That's just it. The reporters let him off the hook. They didn't ask him if he told Adams he would ask out if things don't turn around. They just accepted his non denial denial that he hadn't already asked out. 

Anyway, as most here know, I don't care if Dahlin is a Sabre or not.

[thewookie1]

47 minutes ago, Stoner said:

Anyway Sneaky Joe on GR picked up on some of the things I did re: Dahlin's bad acting.

Reporters (or one reporter) told him Dahlin requested a media huddle, then acted like he didn't know anything about the Biz Nasty report.

He also did two things I've recognized in others and myself when the heat is on. He said, That pisses me off! when asked about the veracity of the report, and when he actually denied it, he did so in an odd way, saying he never said the word "leave." What about vamoose, skeddadle, take the next boat to Tuna Town?

This is kinda fun. My verdict is he probably said some version of, If things don't change I'm gone.

I mean, he did come out and say stuff has to change. And there actually was a meeting.

LGR effectively cleared this point.

If you and Sneaky Joe want to buy into some grand conspiracy that Dahlin, a player not known for over exaggerating or long winded media responses who speaks English as his 2nd language, decided to put on a show because his secret meeting with an ultimatum was leaked. 

With as much of a hell hole this team has become Dahlin could of denied ever having any meeting and played dumb, but he didn't. He fully admitted to meeting with Adams and stating he was very unhappy with the state of things but also vehemently denounced the idea he wants to leave. Dahlin legitimately likes it here, his family likes the city; he just set up a charity here and he has a great deal of pride in both himself and what he can do. Unlike Eichel who had ties to another region in the US, Dahlin is a Swede living in the US meaning this is the only city he's lived in over here and there is an inherent connection that creates. I can fully buy him being angered by a false narrative being created by a 2bit controversy maker over him telling Adams to fix stuff.

I think its very likely that there is a matter of pride to him about leading this team out of the darkness. Some people are just built that way; they don't see value in jumping ship and would rather go down fighting win or lose.

[That Aud Smell]

 

1 hour ago, Stoner said:

Reporters (or one reporter) told him Dahlin requested a media huddle, then acted like he didn't know anything about the Biz Nasty report.

Very odd.

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

“I’ve never said I want out of here. I’m not happy with where we’re at and I don’t want to lose. We have to get better, but I never said I want out of here. I thought that was pretty clear. That bugs me. I get pissed off by that. I haven’t even mentioned the word leave. That’s just how it is.”

"“We have to do a lot of stuff,” Dahlin said. “It takes everyday work. You have to do hard work every day. We had a really good discussion. We were very honest with each other. Stuff has to change. That’s how it is. I absolutely hate losing. I don’t think that’s a part of who I want to be. Stuff has to change."

“I’m part of it. I haven’t been good enough. We haven’t won games. I take responsibility, too. Stuff has to change. That’s the bottom line.”

- Rasmus Dahlin

The bolded above strikes me as the most interesting thing he said. He's admitting there was a meeting. And he's saying he thought he made it clear at that meeting that he wasn't saying he wanted out of here if things don't turn around.

Sounds every bit to me like he made some significant demands and probably some vague (thinly-veiled?) threats when he was in that meeting with Adams (and others from the FO).

Further, when he goes on to say that it pisses him off to hear the way Biz reported it -- who's Dahlin pissed at there? Biz? Or the Sabres FO person who was in that meeting and who -- directly or indirectly -- leaked this information to Biz? I'm guessing it's more the latter.

"That pisses me off. I thought I made myself clear in that meeting."

Edited 3 hours ago by That Aud Smell

[inkman]

So we’ve established Rasmus said something to Adams. What exactly we aren’t sure, something about making the team better.  Anyone curious as to the timing of all this?  The trade deadline seems a bit curious.  This should be an offseason conversation unless Rasmus was trying to light a fire under GMKA to do something at the deadline.   
 

Regardless, I doubt anything actually happens that makes any difference and a year from now Rasmus will be swirling in rumors. 

[Archie Lee]

This is the sort of thing that happens when an organization is an absolute $^!#-show. This is the sort of discourse that surrounded the team in the dying days of Krueger and during the Eichel controversy.  It only ended when the Sabres exceeded expectations late in 21-22 and 22-23.  Now we are back to being a laughing-stock, only it's arguably worse because we are in year 14, and this was the year it was supposed to get better, and not only didn't it get better it got exponentially worse. Unless and until the owner takes the step of replacing the GM* and set the team on a new path**, expect the media narratives around the Sabres to only get worse.

* I realize that replacing the GM will not alone fix the issues. Depending on who gets the job and what they do, it could get better or worse.  What's clear is that it is looking more and more unlikely that Adams has the answers and that a change at the top is needed.

** By new path, I don't mean another rebuild. 

[Flashsabre]

14 years without the playoffs and no vision or plan of how to fix it. Why would any player want to stay or any player want to come here.

Adams is an unqualified moron. Everytime he talks he embarrasses himself and the organization.

”I like that Terry and I have honest conversations m. If I make a mistake I say I made a mistake and if I have a solution I say hey I have a solution.”

WTF solutions has he had for 5 years? 
 

If I were Dahlin, Tage, Tuch I would be demanding to talk to Terry and want to know WTF is going on here.

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, Stoner said:

That's fine. Maybe he is. But there's zero success attached to him. That will have to be reconciled.

The lack of success of this franchise has little to do with this Swede's performance here. He's acknowledged to be a top tier defenseman by his peers and people associated with the NHL. If there is a lack of success attached to him it is due to the miserable way this franchise has been run since Pegula became the owner. Jack Eichel didn't have much success here but in Vegas he got a cup. ROR did have much success attached to him here but when he got dealt to St. Louis, he ended up with a cup. Reinhart didn't have much success attached to him her but after he got dealt to Florida he ended up with success. I'm sure you can see the obvious trend. 

[LGR4GM]

Easy solution to buy more time is to fire Adams but Pegula seems unwilling. He's gotta pay for all those stadium overruns. 

[JohnC]

21 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Easy solution to buy more time is to fire Adams but Pegula seems unwilling. He's gotta pay for all those stadium overruns. 

In general, I agree with the sentiment of the need to fire Adams.  Where I have a slightly different take is that if a competent person is selected to run the hockey operation with minimal interference from the owner, the time frame for competitiveness would be sooner rather than delayed. The Sabres are not close to being Cup contenders. (Obviously so.) However, with a proper assessment of this roster added with a few smart deals made to better balance and enhance it, this team should be participating in the playoffs sooner than most people think. If managed properly, the Sabres should be a playoff team by next year.