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If this is what’s going on, why the charade of arbitration? Why not just take one of the futures assets already offered? Also, why trade Cozens for an even bigger contract just a few months ago? The Norris deal pays near $2.5M more in actual salary this year and will cost Terry about $7M more in real money over the duration.

Greenway?

Good

Not a Calder winner, not a perennial all star, peaking at 6th in Norris voting, out pointed by a Dman taken 5 picks later in the same draft and started a full year later is evidence enough. Court finds in favor of Weave.

Adams said he was Lindy’s idea because Lindy coached him in NJ. So I’m sure we will see him in the lineup for a handful of games anyways

Based on what we have seen from Adams and Pegula, I'd be surprised if he isn’t traded, and furthermore traded for assets that net less AAV in than expected AAV going out. All of his recent moves (as you astutely documented in another thread) outline a plan to add 'perceived' value while lowering the salary or long term commitment. I'll add one that qualifies not in your list. Jeff Skinner's $4.4M in buyout cap charges saves Pegula $2M this year, as his obligation to Jeff is $2.4. Pegula was on the hook for $10M in 2024, and $7M in 2025 before the Skinner buyout - and after he pays out the $2.4m Jeff is owed this year, it's a $12M savings in real dollars over two seasons. If Byram trade happens and it's for futures then I'm convinced that Terry is shopping the team. There are only a few bad contracts, and maybe only Samuelsson is an albatross. Can a $4.4M AAV qualify as an albatross-like contract? The GM, coaches, AGM all on their last year of a contract. It's what you would want if you are selling a team. Especially to a private equity group. Mergers and acquisition flexibility - if you have an "asset-lite" structure, it would allow for an easier integration and repositioning strategy.

Utah just signed McBain to a 5 year deal after electing arbitration with him.

The blueline is Dahlin, a bunch of maybes, and some less then maybes. There are still 6 rostered D (with Byram) that are mediocre or less defensively. Neither Timmins or Kesselring are true shutdown D. Both played about 17 1/2 minutes per game last season and started their shifts 55% of the time in the O Zone. Neither is very physical despite their size and Kesselring doesn't kill penalties. Timmins, to his credit, started played the PK this past season for the first time in his career. Byram, Samuelsson and Power still stink defensively and with Wilford as coach I'm not expecting any improvement. In fact, both Samuelsson and Power have regressed since Wilford became the coach. This D group, while offensively talented, big and better balanced (R vs L), is less physical than last year and still a black hole defensively. I don't expect any real improvement in goals against unless the goalies play out of their minds. Sorry, but the genius Kevyn Adams has sold everyone that Kesselring and Timmins are defensive improvements over the replaced Joki and Clifton. If they are it's nominal.

lol, if you think about it, this team has already broken you. Your bar of expectation is buried under ground and you're okay with it. You accept it. You have already given up even though you will think you have hope and you will feel the pain of having even that taken away slowly.

Dang you for giving me a reason to drink some hopium. I’m excited about Kess and equally excited to push Muel to the third pair. Dahlin/Byram Power/Kess Mix and match the rest for 14 min a night with protected zone starts. The blue line is a legit improvement.

I can’t mentally get to the place where I actually think any part of this team will be good. I will believe it when I see it.

It's all good my friend. Sadly, this team has become a laughingstock and we have to survive it somehow. I just hope we return to relevancy sooner than later.

We could go back and forth forever on this. You say start with a capable and decorated FO and then use the Bills as an example and it's 100% not what happened to the Bills. Even if that was true, we're not getting that for the Sabres. I'm shocked we landed Jarmo TBH and it's some weird work from home role. IDK man, we had Eichel for 33.33% more than he's been gone, we sucked. Ok you want Eichel, Sam and who Montour? Then you don't have Tage, Tuch and pick someone. If you think Buffalo, as a place to live, is attractive, then you're just not paying attention. Kelly and Thurman like it because they wouldn't be adored if they lived anywhere else. Ray wouldn't sniff the job opportunities he's gotten here, elsewhere. C'mon. The population has massively declined over the last 30 years and even since the 50's. You can laugh at palm trees and taxes all you'd like, but it's absolutely a factor. It doesn't make me feel good to say that because I love Buffalo. The people are fantastic, among the best even. I feel one of the factors is because, the grind of being a Buffalonian brings out a character in them/us that can't be manufactured. It produces an amazing community of people. Plenty of athletes have bought into that vibe and have absolutely realized something different than they thought. But they thought it, because they all do.

The most intriguing player for me on the blueline is Samuelsson. It would be a terrific redemption story for a player who has received a lot of criticism, most of it deserved. He's not a banger and because of it he is targeted for scorn because he is a big fellow. He's best when he plays a simple game of getting the puck out of his zone. It would be such a bonus if he can come close to what originally expected of him which was probably too high.

There's potential. I think Kesselring will be a nice addition. Dahlin is elite. Power needs to show strides this year; I thought he took a pretty big step back last season. His injury was very unfortunate because he really needed to put in work this summer. Timmins should be serviceable. Byram is fine, good puck mover, meh defensively. I just assume Samuelsson is going to miss about 40 games and be underwhelming when he does play. All in all, I think there's a decent chance they're better as a group than last year, but who the hell knows.

Power and Muel need to really ratchet up their games before I’m sold. Really like the addition of Kesselring hope he rubs off on them. Don’t know a thing about Timmins.

If we can get some consistent goaltending the picture looks much more promising. Possible flicker of hope?

Yeah, no. You need a Rubber Man toy to stretch generational that far.

We're all hoping for that. Hope ain't a plan.

Man, last season I said I was more concerned with the forward group than the defense. They let me down. They played alot worse as a group than I expected. This season, show me, Im from Missouri.

3 of our defensemen were drafted as the top defensemen in their draft year. Dahlin 1st in 2018 Byram 4th in 2019 Power 1st in 2021 There is the potential to have a dominant defensive core. if the development can get them there.

You ever see how good he is on this tire fire? Imagine what he could do with teammates that can play this sport.

I took it wrong. I apologize. Following this franchise has taken a toll on simply talking about hockey. Talking about prospective deals and the roster is the fun part of following a team. It's sad to say that this franchise has been hollowed out by incompetence to the point where the rest of the league doesn't take this franchise seriously. What makes the situation even more agitating is that I don't see a sense of urgency in the organization. It is ambling along while everyone seems to be running hard. It's a sad situation.