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"That being said, this top 10 is damn strong. That’s why I’m not willing to call it a weak draft"

Remember liking his game watching him play against the Amerks with Utah. He's two years older and this is his 3rd contract, buying one UFA year, but statistically he's a Jack Quinn comparable.

It's a terrible cycle we're stuck in: KA: "We want players who want to be here." KA: [Does a dozen things that make players not want to be here.]

I don't want to trade JJP. But if you gave me the choice of trading either JJP or Benson, I would deal JJP. There is a tenacity to his game that this team desperately needs more of. What is his scoring upside? You are more upbeat about his production numbers than I am. For me, his importance to the team goes beyond the goal numbers. We need a couple more Zucker/McCleod/Benson types to this loose/soft roster makeup.

Levi might but the next great one but thus far he hasn't shown it in the NHL. That said we need a legitimate 2nd line player besides bring back JJP that. Moving him isn't going to help unless we get someone equal or better to him back. Yet we also don't have any tough guys, Greeenway has size but I mean he isn't what I think as gritty. As need a Vaclav Varada/Matthew Barnaby type for the 3rd line. The 4th line is non existent in that can't score or defend so that needs improvement. Our defense is a mess outside of Dahlin. Power got paid way too early in his career and same with Samuelsson. Clifford looks like he was a product of Boston's system and was a bad signing. At Goalie UPL regressed last year and have nobody to pair with him. Yet guys like Norris and Levi give us some hope but still need that top 6 forward and top 4 RHD and legitimate 40 game goalie to pair with UPL until Levi can be a consistent player in the NHL to take a step up just to be a playoff team but so much more to expect to do anything in the playoffs.

I will note McLeod is probably only a 15g, 25a player so we need to pay him accordingly. He's not going to shoot 20% steadily.

Hope so, he was one of our best players last year. Actually plays defense.

D'oh! I glossed over "Brand New" -- thought it was a descriptor phrase that was mistakenly capitalized.

I mentioned Zucker in a previous post. It's going to be interesting to see if McCleod signs a contract here. I think he will.

The attention that is placed on players who don't want or do want to be here is misplaced. I don't care what line of business you are in, no one wants to be part of a failing enterprise. Let's put aside the internal discussion about our players and what their preferences are. What team is most cited to be on players NTM clauses? Our dysfunction is not a secret. You can't hide your record. It's bad enough that outsiders don't want to come here but it's gotten to the point that it has become a concerning issue that key players here will opt when they are in a position to do so. This is not a novel situation; this disorder has been going on for a long time. Eichel received a lot of criticism when he vociferously expressed his desire to get out of this manure pit because he didn't see an avenue for success. As time has passed, no one can say that he was wrong in his assessment about this turbulent organization. How do you get out of this treadmill run to nowhere? There's no quick solution. There is a segment here who believe that you have to become composed of fighters. That's fanciful nonsense. The solution is to have competent staff making a series of smart decisions that accumulate and build up to a critical mass of good decisions that reshape this roster. My position is well known about my feelings toward KA, our embarrassing GM. He's simply a dolt. On the other hand, I'm encouraged about the addition of Karma to the staff. I don't know how much influence he will have in decision-making but I'm sure it will be beneficial if listened to. I don't foresee any blockbuster deals being made. However, I do see the Sabres soon making a series of medium range deals that will somewhat reshape the roster and make it more coherent. And it is my strong opinion that upgrading and stabilizing the goalie position will be the most impactful decision that this flailing organization can make.

Zach Benson. But your point still stands.

I was listening to a couple of Leaf podcasts this week. On the Dangle Podcast they were referring to the Thompson interview as a cry for help; they also think Adams should be fired and that it is crazy the Sabres are entertaining offers for Peterka. On The Leaf Report, they had Dom L. on (he’s the Athletics’ analytics guru). He was discussing the Leafs’ pending loss of Marner and how they will be down to 2 star players (Nylander and Matthews) and having to compete with the Panthers who have 3 stars (Barlow, Tkachuk, Reinhart) on more team friendly contracts. Also, there seem to be a lot of teams interested in Peterka. Also as I pointed out earlier, Peterka had more points in his D5 year than two of the stars referenced above (Nylander and Reinhart). You need stars to win in the NHL. You also need depth and grit and leadership. But you need 2-4 elite level offensive players. Thompson is one of the best goal scorers in the NHL. Dahlin is an elite defenceman. It is not a certainty that Peterka is that just yet, but who do we have on the roster or coming up that is more likely to be a star? I see nobody. If Peterka is traded then it needs to be a big franchise altering deal that everyone who knows hockey looks at and says: “the Sabres are now a playoff team, it’s your move Lindy Ruff”. Short of that, I’m hoping for a Peterka extension, and I will hold-out for Adams to be fired.

Heavy game from what I remember, no idea about his 2way effectiveness. I've seen some Sens reporters putting him with Cozens and Batherson in mock lineups.

Yep. Pretty much everywhere you look there are signs and signals of what needs to happen. Adams traded Eichel and Reinhart and others because of the need for a culture reset and then built his team around those who “want to be here”. Year after year we watch the discarded hoist the cup and finish near the top of voting for end of year awards. And five years later with no on-ice success to show for the changes he made, Adams is having to entertain offers for at least one player (Peterka) who doesn’t want to be here and maybe another (Byram). And there are whispers of simmering discontent (Dahlin’s meeting, Tuch’s non-committal, Thompson’s interview). What exactly are we doing here?

I confess to not knowing much about Zetterlund’s game. He is built like a tank (5’11” and 220 lbs). Does he play a heavy game or a good two way game. His offensive numbers are very similar to Jack Quinn’s.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brand_New_(band)

You should expect a mountainous bowel movement very shortly. Be respectful and give the air refresher an extra spray.

So apparently you are allowed to fire assistant coaches in the league. Interesting.😁

I'm not to far away from you. Since I was a little kid (under 10) I have followed this team. Through the drought, I wasn't happy but I followed the team. the Kruger losing streak? Never walked away from the team. I posted about pretty much every game on this forum over the last few years. BUT, last year I wavered a BIT after the 1st of the year. For the first time ever, in almost 40 years since I was in elementary school I wavered a bit in my fandom. Now, for no reason that I know of, this offseason I have wavered a bit more. I think in the past 2 months I have maybe posted on this forum 20 times? I would do that in a few days in the last few offseasons. I think a guy like Alex Tuch, a Sabres and Bills fan his whole life...WANTING to come here to play here.......even the rumors of him wavering hit me hard. They need to start next season strong. If they aren't in a playoff spot after the first month, its a problem. If they aren't in (or competing) for a spot the entire season (meaning to NOT ever fall more than 3-4 points out of the 8th spot), its a big problem.) If this team fails to make the playoffs last year, and/or is a negative goal differential team again, I personally might get to the point of canceling the cable package and agreeing with you. Many fans have walked away from the team in the past decade. Others (many/most of us on this forum) haven't, and some never will. Its getting to the point where everything is just negative, I'm a happier person when NOT thinking about the franchise.

Yeah, any player saying he wants out so he can play in the playoffs is unacceptable to me. Figure out how to get your current team there.

Yo - what’s the band’s name??

I think we could lose JJP, Tuch and Thompson in the next 365. (Not predicting. But I'm saying it's possible.) If that happens I think we should go the other way. Start leaving roadkill on Ter-Bear and Kev Kev's front door. Don't quit, declare war.