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Based on recent studies specifically looking at NHL players and Achilles tendon ruptures, the picture regarding recovery rates is more nuanced than a simple "poor record." Here's a breakdown of the findings: High Rate of Return to Play: Studies indicate a high rate of return to play (RTP) for NHL players after Achilles tendon repair. One study found that 14 out of 15 NHL players (93%) with Achilles tendon tears returned to play. Another older study reported a 78.9% RTP rate. Performance Impact: While the RTP rate is high, the impact on performance is where the nuance lies. Some recent research suggests no significant change in offensive, defensive, or overall performance-based metrics when comparing pre-injury performance to performance in the first and second years post-injury for those who returned. However, other studies on professional athletes across multiple sports (including NHL) have sometimes shown a decrease in games played, play time, and performance metrics in the first year or two after return, although performance might normalize closer to pre-injury levels by the second year post-injury for those who successfully return long-term. There's also evidence suggesting a bimodal distribution – some players don't return to their prior level, while others can perform comparably to uninjured players after two years. Comparison to Other Sports: NHL players appear to have a higher RTP rate after Achilles rupture compared to players in sports like the NBA and NFL, where rates of failure to return to play have been reported to be significantly higher (e.g., 20-30% or more). Timeframe for Recovery: Recovery is consistently described as a long and arduous process, typically taking several months (at least three to five months, sometimes longer) before returning to on-ice activities, even with surgical repair and rigorous rehabilitation. In conclusion: While the statement that "players with Achilles injuries don’t have a good record of fully recovering" holds true in a general sense across professional sports, recent data specifically on the NHL suggests a high likelihood of players returning to play. The question of whether they fully recover to their exact pre-injury performance level is where studies show varying results, with some suggesting performance returns to baseline after a couple of years, while others indicate potential long-term impacts or a portion of players never quite getting back to their previous form. Therefore, while many NHL players do successfully return, the concern raised in the paragraph about a player being a "question mark" regarding their same level of performance as before the injury is a valid one, despite the relatively high return-to-play rate in hockey compared to some other sports.

It feels almost impossible not to be sabotage.

Both Chicago and San Jose has two picks in the first round, would they give them away to choose first?

Erik Rasmussen as National Director of "Guy Who Has All the Tools But Just Can't Put it Together"

The team is not good enough Players don't want to come here Respectable GMs and up and coming coaches don't want to come here They are at LEAST 3 solid players away from competing for 8th, and that does not even include goaltending. They're screwed, so I have just come to accept that this team may never be good again. If they luck into the playoffs here and there, great, but that is pretty much all I am expecting over the next few years,

Does it have palm trees ?

should be in azkaban

Brad Park for Playoff Overtime Assistant Coach. @Sabres Fan in NS

All I can think is “we want guys who want to be here”. It’s a fool proof approach.

I would have created a brand new position for Patrik Berglund titled the Vice President of Seeing it Through.

Hard to tell how they'll operate without a GM. They could trade back to 3 and still get Hagens. No idea what a trade like that would look like.

If they actually operate like that, they’ll be joining us in the long term playoff drought bus.

If Pegula was a flavor it would be.... "alas... earwax" IYKYK

It's just so unlikely to work that smoothly. Also Tage is a ppg guy and Buffalo wasn't near the playoffs. Those picks you're counting on will be 18, 19yr olds. We already know that one is probably 2-3yrs away from nhl games and the other unless they win the lottery, is the same. I'm not convinced Eichel signs there just like Kane never signed here.

Tavares left, they have that in their minds.

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they are making changes(or lack of) in an effort to get STH to walk away.

I have no idea what the Sabres think of McQueen’s health, but if this is the way the top 8 drops, McQueen at 9 makes a mountain of sense in terms of upside and need. Like most of you, I think Martin would be ideal, but I would be good with this.

There is a lot of chatter picking up that the Islanders will strongly consider Hagens with the first pick. He’s local and grew up right by the arena in Long Island.

It is, and I hope it takes them 20 years to get back. But, they also don't have Adams as their GM nor are they EEE, and they have $34M to fill a couple of the major holes in their lineup this offseason while still being a lottery team. I can see a path for them to revive quickly, depending on a handful of key things: McAvoy/Lindholm return as 1st-pair capable D-men Swayman regains himself Buyout or trade/retain on Korpisalo and Mittelstadt Hit on their first this year (and 2 firsts next) Then, add an Eichel. I admit, that's a ton -- but it's no more far-fetched than any rebuild on the fly. Pastrnak gives them a legitimate point-per-game guy with seemingly any linemates and a one-line team can do damage in the regular season. The D-corps returning and Swayman returning to his potential track is the key.

Oh I dont know that they run deeper... if you think they run a country club that caters to its prima donnas and has zero accountablility... I think if people thought differently this is a great example... a part time consultant or a scout on the road I guess ok... an Assistant GM... maybe they should be at the games... like all of them unless there is a conflct... wonder if Face timing Lindy during games is next... just a big ol screen of him yelling at players to be in position while drinking a beer in his back yard... they do it with their scouting... can this be next...

Papacy made more significant changes

This draft selection has the scent of, "Buffalo has TNT, so of course they'd go for another super-tall shooting center -- imagine if they had two of them" and not the realization that the Sabres have already moved TNT to the wing. I'm thinking the Sabres are scared by the back injury (Eichel Redux!) and it's a different team that looks at McQueen and says to themselves, "There's an injury risk, but maybe we can have our own TNT."

Paul Hamilton intimated that some key Sabres personnel, like Jason Karmanos, still live in Pittsburgh. I’m kinda speechless at this point. The Sabres don’t require their employees to actually work in the city the team they are contributing to resides in? Ummm… Maybe the Sabres problems run deeper than we all know.

Not that I don’t agree with you, but to be fair that’s not uncommon in NHL circles. Hasnt everbody’s darling Dudley lived in Buffalo his entire stint with the Panthers and even earlier?

They won't. That team is a patchwork of players. They'll need 3-4yrs to fix it.