Taro T

Nah, TO would take the Otters & Moe-ray-all. Sabres would get the Pens & BJs. 😥

Is he better than Farrance?

Born in 69? Huh? Isn't that what mom & dad do when they don't want any special delivery packages? Nobody's born in 69. 😉

Fair enough.

But INITIALLY, when FA opened, Adams had a deal w/ Ullmark that if nobody else beat that offer, he would sign it. And apparently Adams didn't expect anybody to top it. AND apparently Adams didn't make his best offer to Ullmark at that time. We know that because he then offered to match the Bruins offer. Really don't see where Ullmark was in the wrong asking Adams to now top the Bruins offer. THEY were the ones that initially gave him that offer. It sure seems he gave them the same courtesy he had offered Buffalo. Give me your best offer & if nobody tops it, we're good. Players only get in that spot 1 or 2 times in their career. Don't blame one for looking out for himself especially if he found out the GM he'd negotiated the "best deal" from then comes back w/ a better offer once a rival beat that original best offer.

Ullmark told Adams he would sign the Sabres offer if nobody beat it. What in that was he not "forthright" about? Either he would've signed had Boston not beat it or he lied. Which was it?

Not sure why. He had a deal w/ Buffalo w/ a caveat that if somebody beat that, he would take it. Boston beat that original deal & it seems he had the same deal w/ them. If nobody beats it, it's good enough that he'll sign. It never was reported that the Sabres would merely have to match any better deal. IF that was the original agreement between Buffalo & Ullmark, why even bother w/ the months long negotiation? If Adams was really willing to match the B's offer, and that appears to be the case, then THAT should've been the offer.

All true & hope it as well. But it doesn't change the fact that when Skinner comes back neither is in the top 6. And if they DO start playing like top 6 guys, this team becomes REALLY fun to watch.

There absolutely is question as to whether Ullmark lied in the negotiations. (Frame it in pretty words if you'd like, but don't believe he wasn't "forthright.")

And not to beat another dead horse, but considering Adams WAS willing to match what Boston offered AND Ullmark had agreed to sign the offer Adams did originally make PROVIDED IT wasn't topped; Adams should've STARTED w/ the offer Boston made. The Sabres had the cash & cap rto easily absorb it w/ zero affects to the rest of the cap. The Bruins would've been hard pressed to beat that offer. They already had Swayman, thought there was a possibility that Rask could be back later in the year (might be misremembering that part), & were fairly tight to the cap. With Ullmark's injury history, don't believe they could've beat the deal he did sign for.

If they keep playing him every 3rd game, they could very well have him playing & playing well all season. Bump him up to #1 & hope you like watching Malcolm Subban because that's what you get if Comrie isn't ready to go by the time Craig breaks. And break he certainly will.

But were they DeLuca 0.500? That's what REALLY matters. 🙃

But, and granted now Eichel missed much of that season, but in Jack's last season playing for the Sabres the team was on pace for 54 points. Pretty sure there WAS an immediate & impressive improvement. 😉

Like Dahlin?

To the bolded, guess it's a good thing that when everybody is available neither is in the top 6. 😉

IMHO, there have been 4 bad games. 1/3 of the way through the season & w/ the depthless D decimated for 1/3-1/2 of that. Would've been very pleased w/ that few true stinkers to this point prior to the season.

Sabres were sitting in last place in their Division & tied for 2nd fewest points in the conference on Dec 31, 1997. (Granted only 2 points out if a playoff spot, but still right at the bottom of the conference.) Went on a tear in '98 and snuck into the playoffs. They made it the the Conference Championship that year. Just sayin' ...

As frustrating as being a Sabres fan under the Pegulas tenure has been, and as much money the Sabres are losing by still being on the outside looking in, AND as much money as this kid has thrown away going to games during all of it; there is no blanking way, at THIS POINT in season, that Adams should be developing a "sense of urgency." Just don't see any way by getting urgent that he doesn't give up significantly more than he should for whatever gets brought in. Yes, the 1st line is made up of guys IN their prime & understand the fear that by the time things turn around they'll be waning. But the 2nd line (& they're playing like a TRUE 2nd line barely in their 20s, NOBODY saw THAT coming, not just surviving but actually thriving) will nearly definitely still be waxing & there are a lot of highly rated prospects that should be ascending too. The key D still aren't at their prime yet either. Really don't want to see Adams squander a bunch of future to TRY to just sneak them into the playoffs this year. And really expect the switch flips to winning being the goal this offseason. If it doesn't, will be ticked. But will cross that bridge when we get there.

Levi believes in himself. Can't see him staying in school an extra year, literally likely costing himself at least a couple $MM by being an extra year removed from hitting RFA & UFA status because another goalie is in house (especially if Comrie goes out the door as was the original proposal). And if that WOULD cause him to bail, do we really want to see him in town?

Yes. But no love for Sam Cowart?

Fair enough. Like said above, MHO, YMMV. And absolutely expect that winning becomes the goal next season. Would agree though that continued losing will break the fans. GD threads can be darn near unbearable.

With legit GTing - PLAYOFFS. Without - ??? Would need to see the other pieces.

One thing that doesn't seem to get brought up in these discussions is that this team ISN'T going to be "broken" by a losing streak. (Not a judgment, merely an observation. There's good & bad in that fact.) This team really IS a team in that they all like each other (there aren't cliques within the team) & when something good happens to one they are genuinely happy for him. So while watching this team slide down the standings is crazy frustrating, it isn't something that will carry over into next season should it continue. (Personally, don't expect it will carry on all year, speaking there on a worst case.) It isn't going to splinter these guys. They've demonstrated that coming out of last year's mid-season slump and with coming out of the 8 game streak this year. Building that camaraderie is something Adams wanted for this team. He's accomplished that goal along w/ having the top 6 F spots filled & the top 3 D spots filled and 1 of the goalie spots (though likely the 2nd slot rather than the 1st, would be sweet if Comrie can be the 1, we still haven't seen enough to know). He also has already identifiable candidates to fill 4-5 of the remaining F slots and 1-2 of the D slots. The pieces that remain outstanding are (except the 1G) the ones that SHOULD be easy to find. Not happy that this is another "development" year. Not convinced the 3rd teardown was absolutely necessary. But both were advertised well in advance and they are what they are. Also, hate that Ullmark walked and that every legit candidate to replace him (both before & after he walked) that was pursued except for Comrie fell through. But it is what it is. Personally, am very excited at what next year might/should be. And am enjoying watching the kid line, the big minute D, & Thompson is getting to be worth the price of admission all by himself. They ARE fun to watch. Doubt they get to the playoffs, but do expect they'll put on a good show trying. And the resilience of being able to keep coming back w/ a smile on their faces when they come out for the next game as they do see what they're improving on isn't a bad thing. Were they a bunch of 28 year olds, yep, it would absolutely be a damning indictment; but as a bunch of 22 year olds, it's an asset. MHO, YMMV. (And yes, realize almost none of them are actually 22; but take away 4 or 5 of them & it has to be close to the average age.)

Well considering that's less than 3 weeks away ...

Yes to the bolded. But, though St. Louis was in last place, they'd played several fewer games than the other bottom feeders. They weren't the absolute worst team in the league (even w/ Yeo at the helm). Not saying the Sabres are in last nor close to it & as just stated believe they have a (slim) chance.. Just pointing out that stat about the Blues while true is misleading.