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Dahlin and TNT would've been traded long ago and Pegula would be icing an AHL team at the cap floor, with a coach he didn't have a personal connection to, to do that. This is worse. They're just this inept and haven't really learned anything about roster construction after 14 years of ownership. They've made a couple strides in the last couple years: they're trying to slowly build around a couple very good players (Dahlin, TNT), they found a good middle six player (McLeod) and haven't lost him yet, and I think Ruff's input last year finally showed that roster roles are more important than friendships and potential (keeping Zucker/Greenway, but moving Cozens). Still no clue with goaltending, defensive defensemen, or center strength -- you had ROR and Eichel (and Reinhart, who's proven to be a wing) and were like... nah, let's go with TNT (a winger) and Mittelstadt, who the coaches didn't like enough to start the season on the active roster over an 18 year-old Cozens, and Cozens himself who will also probably prove to be a wing in the long run.

Wishes Americans would be more like North Korea.

So Pegula’s play is get to about 5,000 fans a game and thus have the excuse to finally sell the team to an owner that will be moving them to Houston? Or Atlanta for the 3rd time? Is that how this plays out?

I have been blunt in my contempt for this clueless stubborn owner. What he has done to the Sabres in degrading the franchise and fanbase is similar to what Danny Snyder, the sleazy former owner did to the Washington Redskins/Commanders. Dan Snyder surrounded himself with sycophants so he could play/meddle with his toy football team. Eventually, he was forced out by the other owners who got tired of him and his sleazy act. But the underlying reason for wanting him gone is that he dramatically diminished the value of an NFL franchise and indirectly detracting from their value. He walked away with many billions $$$$ in profit after the sale but he was so scorned that he had to leave the country for a while to get away from the national and local scorn. He's rich but an un-respected human being. (I want to stress that I'm not comparing the two owners from a personal character standpoint but am do so from how they manage their respective franchises.) What are my expectations for the upcoming season? I still believe that if the organization handles its business smartly that it should be vying for a wild-card position. When one watches a fraction of the playoffs games the realization how far back we are from SC contention is starkly evident. My mentality is to take one step at a time. It's tough to handle knowing that the owner and pigmy GM are still running the show.

Not a huge NBA fan, but oddly enough the entire series has been 3 days between games except for once. Those guys are so soft it is frustrating. They sit for games to rest and need 3 days between playoff games? The league does a lot of things right, but man they could use to add some more physicality and toughness back into the game. The WNBA is a way more physical league. I found myself tuning in to SF SEA last night after the hockey game. I was out at a bar earlier and was paying way more attention to IND/NY than I was the US Open.

He's too ***** stupid to care. Worst owner in hockey history.

They’re bowing to the NBA. When they take an extra day, the NHL does too to avoid going head to head.

I am generally a “the off-season is a time for optimism” guy. I’m trying to engage in my usual off-season routine of considering what I think are reasonable options for improving the roster and moving to being a playoff squad. I just can’t quite get there though. The best scenario that I can imagine realistically unfolding, is that we fluke into a line-up configuration that includes 2-3 players who have career type years and/or who have personalities that transcend the doom and gloom (or both), and we get to a wild-card position. The downside of that is that it will likely mean an extension for Adams and he will then need to prove it wasn’t a fluke, which I would bet against him doing. I’m not a cynic, but I am capable of cynicism. No team in the league for this coming season, will be worse positioned than the Sabres for a “that went south quickly” moment. There is a far higher than zero chance that they get booed off the ice at the home opener. I don’t think the players are going to go through any walls for this owner, GM, and HC.

Believe me, a lot of fans have tapped out. Compare the somnolent fans at Sabre games with a lot of empty seats to the raucous Bandit fans sitting in a full house arena. If the obtuse owner knew what he was doing the arena would mostly be filled on hockey game days. The irony is if the non-talking owner knew what he was doing he would be generating so much more revenue. He saved a pennies with how he operated his hockey business and ended up losing dollars. Not a very smart approach to business for a billionaire!

Marchand and Lundell are both +18 in the playoffs.

Maybe we need all the stars of this team to go directly to Terry and tell him they want out if there’s no changes. Something big needs to happen for Terry to wake up. Dahlin was a start. Now we need more.

I know. You know I was just giving you a hard time. It’s cool to be right sometimes too. I think I’m going to ask for receipts for being to taken to task for saying JJP wanted out.

Yep. At this point, I am not even sure why more Sabres aren’t tapping out.

If you're a republican that is losing illegals and it's affecting you Trump will allow you to keep your cheap labor for now while he creates mayhem in democratic sectors of the country.

Ya maybe we got there in the end.

Maybe some people do but I suspect most people understand why he or anyone else would want out of the stench house.

I think only @inkman may have the ability to see what I see.

Your last sentence captures essence that systemic losing is so corrosive and demoralizing to competitive players.

So when do we all turn on JJ for asking out?

All the negative conditions you list can't be disputed. My worry is that there have been some reported rumblings made by Dahlin that the organization has to show that it is serious about changing things here to get on track. If he reaches that FU get me out of here threshold, then this franchise will have fallen completely into the abyss. And if Tuch doesn't want to sign another contract, that will be another indication that the players (insiders) know how bad things are within this ill-franchise. On a positive note, I really believe that if this front office, with the help of the former GM, can make a few consequential moves and do it adroitly without gutting the roster, there will be a glimmer of hope. I apologize for repeating myself but I strongly believe that if the goalie position is strengthened, that will be the most impactful move this franchise can make. That is not to say that other moves don't need to be made but the biggest bang for the buck is associated with that position. Losing Ullmark was a setback that hurt this franchise. I consider him to be a solid goalie and not an upper echelon goalie. With that type of backstopping this team is much better. Needless to say, this offseason is going to be intriguing to follow. The Sabres don't attract much attention from the hockey world during the season. Ironically, they may be the most compelling story this offseason.

His leverage was provided on day 1 of this regime “we want players who want to be here” I could have read one post more but no

As with a lot of players that have come and gone in the Pegula era, they are put in positions they aren't qualified to perform them. The Sabres in large part have had many more roster construction issues than they have actual player issues. We just ask too many players to do more than they are capable of.

Well said, Archie. Think your post captures the likely given reality most Sabres are experiencing in unspoken public disappointment or discontent. There is no quick fix with Pegula and Adams in place, imo. Prime years wasted by disrespect for the players. Money is not the currency of the spirit.

Peterka for Crouse and Kesserling, I’d certainly do that type of move or that exact move Id even add to it if Utah thought they needed a bit more

I think some players probably look at the Sabres and can’t come up with a team that they would less like to play for. 14 years out of the playoffs, meddling owner, incompetent 1st time GM about to get his 6th year, oldest coach in the league who finished near the top of “coach I wouldn’t want to play for” polling this year, no front office accountability, an eroding fan base, etc.. Then they look around and see all these former Sabres thriving. Nobody is going to look down on a good player for not wanting to be a Sabre. There is no downside to wanting out and asking for it. You won’t be labeled a malcontent or a problem player by the rest of the NHL, for wanting out of Buffalo There is no situation in the league worse. So why not tear off the bandaid and do what you need to do to get out now.