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If you have a GM with a half decade long track record of being a total ***** up then him making a move that defies all logic is likely the way to bet.

That is exactly what I believe will happen, this model is a flawed failure it has been repeated over an over.... I do not see it changing... it seems that it may have been a proper strategy once upon a time... in the beginning of the rebuilding 10 years ago... unfortunately it has been our mantra and now it may be the only choice left as players dont want to come here, rumblings of desire to leave and or are reticent to stay behind closed doors... it is further compounded by the fact they have eradicated the brand so viciously that they are a running joke and attracting solid talent with the win or die trying attitude is about impossible... and if you do a player for player swap you are all but limited to players with no trade clauses... and you have to typically over pay in that space... or rarely get the best player... Until the over all lay of the land changes here and the team is immersed in credibility and competence this is likely the way its going to continue to be... you are probably going to get your best on paper value out of prospects and picks... you are likely not getting the best player i the trade... so you trade for picks and prospects with upside or you over pay. and the last dirty secret as I see it... as I am watching Tuch get older and hearing rumblings there... Dahlin having conversations with KA seemingly not amused with what is going on, Peterka showing resistance, how long is it before these core players want out... like how many seasons is Dahlin going to accept never being in the playoffs... currently 7 years out of his NHL career? ... When is Thompson going to demand to be moved after spending 7 years of his career with no playoffs? The reality of this is we may be closer to rebuilding again then we are to making the playoffs... if it doesnt happen this year... Is Dahlin and Thompson gonna want to go into year 9 looking for their first appearance... If it doesnt happen this year or at the outside next. I think their will be anarchy in the locker room from some of our core leaders... trades demanded and the rebuild begins again... Who knows... it may have already been forced on us and our FO doesnt know or accept it... this summer will tell us a lot more...

There is no way that the Sabres would trade him for a 1st and not package the two 1sts for a player. If they created another hole on one of the worst Ds in the league and just used the draft picks, that arena would be a ghost town next year.

A lot of it comes from cap acrobatics trying to fit the large contracts with the 6mil Skinner dead cap. Murphy is an ok player, neither great nor bad but is more of a defensively skewed style player.

But all the futures they traded to win. Versus all the 1st rounders Adams has used to get Buffalo to... no where.

All this gloom and doom that we won't get a good return for Byram. If there are really several teams interested in Byram then a savvy GM can play that to his advantage. Lets not forget we have Jarmo now, maybe he can help make something good happen for a change.

There's multiple reports he had to approve of Jokiharju for a 4th trade. Pegula is not involved enough to know hockey but still thinks he should chime in on a trade of a 3rd pairing defender.

Ok. Touché. But expansion.

Vegas didn't.

The situation that this franchise is currently in has to be put in context. A generation has passed by where this franchise has been an irrelevant NHL franchise. The time frame in which this franchise has not been in the playoffs is at a historical level. The fanbase has steadily eroded to the point there are games in which the opposition fans outnumber the hometown fans. If that isn't a call for a demonstration of some urgency by this front office, then what would it take? No one is suggesting that the organization should make a number of deals that deplete the system in order to squeak into a playoff spot that turns out to be a meaningless one-shot accomplishment. But that is not to say that a number of smart deals can't be constructed that improve this team in the short term (now) without mortgaging the future. There are tradeoffs between addressing the now at the expense of the future. All teams wrestle with that issue. This is an offseason where our usual leisurely pace of action needs to turn out to be accelerated to boost a fading franchise. And let's be clear, this isn't an issue of old timers vs youngsters differing perspectives on the direction of the franchise. It's about an abnormally run failed franchise becoming a normally run successful franchise. If not now, then when?

To give credit where it's due: Steve Dangle is the guy who came up with that line on his podcast.

I agree. If JJP wants out then his new team can put together a package worth trading him for. Otherwise it's "suck it up, buttercup."

Why trade a LHD for another LHD with a similar skillset? Aka Cam York? While I don't like Liljegren at least I can at least justify it because give us a RHD that can play in the top 4.

Ok literally this is epic... I think going forward when we simply type Smithers... that we all understand who we are referring too... because this one is a mic drop.

Some of you think that it is players agents rumblings, but in the case of Peterka, he must really want to leave to have his agent rumbling for him. The Peterka rumors go back to the last trade deadline and there is the Dahlin story out there, indicates some unrest with Peterka. I agree with taking a hard line with him if that is the best choice for the team and fair compensation cannot be obtained in trade The Sabres do not have to accommodate a trade. Caving to RFAs sets a dangerous precedent in the future and this team is already known to quickly move people out when they are unhappy.

I know these sports writer “experts” aren’t always right. But most lists I’ve seen have Byram as one of the top and priciest trade assets on the market. No reason he should pull in an underwhelming return.

I couldn't care less. What I DO care about is that last season was a biblical catastrophe and getting something back for Mitts that prevented that from happening would've been an actual win.

No. You stop thinking your way. lol. Look, I get it. It’s been way too long since we’ve been in the playoffs and people are getting impatient. But you can’t sacrifice your entire future just to put up a winning team finally. Because that success will be short lived. I’m young enough where I plan on being a fan in 10-20 years still. I hate seeing all these old and impatient fans getting mad when we might dare draft a player in the top 10 when he might not help us win “right now”. It’s ok if a player needs 2-3 years. We need those type of players too. Every successful franchise does.

What kind of pick do you think Mitts would garner today?

I have a different interpretation on the Pegula involvement from the clip. Maybe he did meddle before, but I don't think that is the case now. The owner wants to be informed in what's going on and what the staff is doing. KA may not be the most astute hockey person in the business but he is wise enough to keep the owner informed so that he will not be surprised when something is proposed to him. Is more attention given to this particular owner than other owners? Yes. But that doesn't mean that he is dictating any particular action.

The Sabres had to do something to change the mix with their roster. And it was evident to all that Cozens desperately needed a change of scenery. He was pressing to the point where he was frozen. It was apparent in his play and more apparent in his stiff body language. Moving him was the right thing for the player and the team. As everyone else is saying, the overhanging issue with Norris is his injury history. For the sake of this discussion, let's assume that after an offseason of rest, rehabbing and training, he comes into camp fully healthy. This deal has the potential to be a good hockey trade for the Sabres. And if one factors in the Dockery addition, it could be more beneficial than expected from a KA transaction. What really sticks out to me in this clip is that the staff is very determined to change the mix on this team. It's just not getting better players as it is getting different players on this roster. This should be an indication that deals will be made this offseason.

There are competing views on whether Pegula is too involved or disengaged. This video seems to want to dispel the notion that he is disengaged. And yet, it provides evidence that he is a meddler to those who think he is too involved. I haven’t watched such videos for other teams, assuming other teams produce similar content. Do other owners sit in on such discussions? Is Pegula unique? The video, to me, displayed odd editorial choices.

Trading one asset that isn't helping your team for another asset that isn't helping your team is not a win. A win is trading an asset for an asset that improves your team. What makes it even more hilarious are the rumors of Byram being traded for a late first in a horrible draft.

Watching the BBC yesterday and they did a piece on companies in America paying people to protest. So bizarre. They show up and are given signs to carry and shirts to wear. Nice to know we have a lot of folks with too much free time that stand for nothing.