All Activity

Tribute bands - I did see The Strictly Hip in North Tonawanda on July 4th. I sure miss Gordie.

Fabulous band. They are all true craftsmen of their instruments.

Lots of data there to consider. Tage, Dahlin, Tuch and many question marks. I wish I could get excited about this team.

1. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/32-in-32/buffalo-sabres-nhl-edge-stats-for-2025-26-season-32-in-32 2. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/32-in-32/buffalo-sabres-inside-look-for-2025-26-season-32-in-32 3. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/32-in-32/buffalo-sabres-three-questions-for-2025-26-season-32-in-32 4. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/32-in-32/buffalo-sabres-fantasy-projections-for-2025-26-season-32-in-32 5. https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/32-in-32/buffalo-sabres-top-prospects-for-2025-26-season-32-in-32 The most interesting stat in the Edge article (Article 1) is the Mid and long range goals scored by the Sabres last season. The Sabres were among the league leaders in mid and long range goals last season. Is that sustainable or subject to a reversal of fortune? I'd like to have seen some advanced metrics on our crap goaltending. In article 3, they got 2 of the 3 questions right (but not in the right order). McLeod building on last season is not even on the radar of a major issue other than a regression will make it even harder to replace JJP scoring. The top issue facing the Sabres is can the "revamped" defense improve defensively. The No 2 issue is UPL and goaltending and the 3rd issue is replacing JJP's scoring.

So add her to the list of people who did nothing good for the Sabres?😁

IMO, I would have liked one more center added and have Kulich moved to 4th line center. Since we haven't I would not want Kulich as the top line center. I'd make the below adjustments before I let that happen. Benson Thompson Tuch Zucker Norris Quinn Greenway McLeod Doan Krebs Kulich Danforth

I agree with your comments about the level of spending is no guarantee for success. We are in accord. However, this owner, himself, has made some critical hires in staffing that have been less than mediocre. The unimpressive results shouldn’t be surprising. The Sabres during the owner’s 15 year tenure has been a dismal failure. It’s not a surprise that this franchise is most likely to be on players’ no trade list. This is third-rate franchise that Terry P presides over. If a sense of urgency is not exhibited now, then when?

I do remember that Polian did criticize the owner’s daughter’s football acumen within the organization. Wild Bill was a terrific GM and also very volatile. I distinctly remember that Polian and Littman had ferocious clashes about spending. Supposedly, Littman told the owner that he had enough of the GM’s belligerence and either he or the GM had to go . Littman had the longer association with the owner, so Polian departed after the football season.

Ratzlaff is 20. Leinonen is 21. I assume they battle for the #2 spot with the Amerks.

Wilson's daughter, I believe her name was Linda Bogdan, was a pioneer in the NFL when few women held any positions. I don't know her level of skill as a scout, but one player she did find for the Bills was linebacker Carlton Bailey. Which led to hockey's Justin Bailey to be born in Buffalo.

It’s not about being afraid it’s about analyzing the risks and prioritizing. I’m not disagreeing with you but the fact of the matter is about one third the league will spend at all costs, one third will spend in cycles and one third will have to be convinced. It’s really a fact throughout professional sports. Most owners don’t prioritize winning as much as their fan base does.

If the owner wants an ironclad guarantee about his return on his sports investment, he should instead put his money in CDs or bonds. No one is suggesting that he should be a profligate spender. However, when you act like a chicken-shiiit owner it isn’t surprising that you get chicken-shiiit results for a generation and still counting.

There is a very dangerous combination that happens to some people as they age: 1.) As one ages, some lose their 'mind' a bit quicker than others, I think Jones is not 'senile' by any stretch, but he seems to be going down that path a bit quicker than some. 2.) He is, and always has been arrogant. Put those 2 things together and you have a recipe for some REALLY bad decisions/really bad chances to run your company/team poorly. I think that is where Jones and the Cowboys are right now.

And that's what's so friggin' frustrating about current ownership. They KNOW from past history plus how things go with the Bills and Bandits that if they put a competitive team on the ice that they'll make a lot more money. But they don't pull out all the stops to try to do so. And they're financially in a position where they should be able to absorb a downyear or 2 to get to the point they're consistently having good ones.

Everything you said about financial impact of such a move are true but none of it is guaranteed. If you could guarantee that such a move would result in increased attendance, increased success leading to increased revenue, everyone would do it. The reality is that half the league’s franchises operate within some kind of budget which leads to similar cost/benefit analysis which has led to a similar haves/ have nots league we saw before the salary cap.

Your last sentence indicating that you don’t expect the Sabres to make such a move captures why the Sabres are not considered to be a serious franchise. The irony is that making such a money $$$ decision will ultimately result in a loss of revenue.

Rust's salary is ~$5.12MM. The Sabres have $5.19MM in cap space with a full roster. Presuming no rostered players go back to the 'Burgh and there's no retention, the Sabres would have only ~$900k in space after adding Rust (presuming a guy on a 2 way deal would be the eventual casualty of Rust getting added to the roster). Personally, am OK with the Sabres running that tight to the cap (heck, wanted them to do that the past few years) but doubt Adams will be comfortable operating in that space. As soon as you have 2 guys out on IR you start to have to make use of BF-LTIR to fit everyone onto the roster. So, expect the Sabres would say no.

If the Pens say no to any retention on the cap hit, you would then say no to the deal? For the sake of argument, if Rust was a factor in a playoff run and possible qualification, the revenue return would more than compensate for not getting a Pitt’s retention. Ultimately, a nickel and dime approach to business will end up losing dollars.

IF the Sabres were to cut a deal with the Pens, would expect they'd retain ~$1MM of the cap hit. Trading Rust would cement that the Pens are in rebuild mode. And they've got ~$13MM in cap space with a full roster currently. When Malkin's deal goes away next year, they'll never even notice that $1MM they'd be retaining.

If Pitts wanted to move on from him and his contract, then the compensation for him should be reasonable. A 5 mil per for the next three years for a second line forward is not outlandish, especially when the cap is going up. However, if you are a penny pinching and not serious franchise, then he is a player you would not be interested in.

HAPPY 100th Birthday Marv Levy!!

Rust is under contract with a 5mil cap hit for the next 3 seasons.

Both your views make sense. I lean towards Rust because it sure would be advantageous to have another veteran presence in the room when facing a tough spell. Last year, when we were subjected to the losing streak, the team couldn't handle the adversity and lost its confidence. The team never recovered from that season sabotaging spell. It just seems to me that if the GM could add another second line forward to the mix, (whoever it might be) it will provide a lot of line flexibility.

Thinking there might be some big trades still to come. I doubt they involve Sabres even if we have assets to trade with. Seems like the McTavish situation with Ducks, and the fact a lot of teams with cap space and assets to trade with need a top6 upgrade on C, has the trade market on hold.

Biggest problem I have with their plan and the pace they operate on is that they forever get caught in a cycle of people wanting out as they reach their limit with the most recent plateau. I firmly believe Dahlin is at his breaking point and if this season goes badly (which it most likely will with what they did and didn't do) he's the next one who will want out. and so it will repeat yet again.