PASabreFan

He only mentioned the agent specifically.

Phases of success: "Pride and passion." Adjustments. Signs of real strong potential. The big one is finding a way to win. "Don't wait to win." Talks about Munreal.

Adams: More BS. "Of course! Talking to all of our players." Talked at length with Jack's agent yesterday.

"A lot of petty stuff that happens and you want a response. Organizations can get stuck on petty things." Says Montreal and Tampa both in our division. "If we get distracted, it's going to be harder to find that tipping point." Stay the course. Thousand points of light. Stay the course.

Mike presses on line of communication with Eichel.

What is behind "obligation" he spoke of? DG: "The obligation is really for the fans." Grew up in Chicago. Hockey wasn't big. Finished HS in Minny. "That was an amazing experience... that's what we have here in Buffalo that's amazing." Listens to radio shows and hears shots regarding Buffalo. "What we have in Buffalo is special and (players) love that." "We need to feel and feed off of that." "I like the pressure" of playing in a hockey town. DG talking about Cozens sticking up for this teammates. "Surge went through me" and players. "Players who want to be here" mentioned again. Harrington trigger alert. Big ole meanie.

Adams: "Donnie and I quickly established a rhythm."

Granato on assistants: "We will be discussing in the next week or coming weeks. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the guys who were here. They are obviously in the mix." Adams: "Continous conversation" with players and agents. Vogl asked about an open line of communication with Jack. Jack appears to be persona non grata.

Rick Azar: What can we expect from practices? DG: "I don't see practices changing from the standpoint of tone...Maybe we adjust the time and duration of a practice, but we won't change the competitiveness of practices." We want the games to feel a bit slower or easier than practice. DG's glasses are on point.

Adams: "I'm just a country doctor!" Or "I'm not a doctor."

Adams: "Something special waking up as a Buffalo Sabre." "A disconnect in our fan base." Commitment, passion and maturity seen from young players.

Wawrow telling us he's in Montreal is pompous, though.

That's ridiculous. He didn't say anything wrong.

Compares losing Sam and Jack to losing two key players in the playoffs.

Harrington! Have you talked with Jack, Sam? "You prepare for a range of what may happen." Hasn't talked to them.

Defensive systems are simple. Offensive systems are complex and practice is key.

Hammy Time: "What more is in store from DG as a coach?" DG: "We had 12 practices (laughing)." Talks about getting better offensively. "You're not going to get better playing conservative."

DG says when he first came to the Sabres, he went to the alumni golf outing. He attended an alumni meeting. "I was shocked by how many Sabres alumni were there." Felt like he was wearing a Boston Bruins jersey. Rob Ray played bouncer and asked, "Can I help you?" He didn't feel like he belonged. When he was offered the position of head coach, he wanted to find a way to have players play for something more than themselves.

"The challenge excites me. The demand of the challenge excites me."

DG says he felt that the Pegulas care about the staff. "It energizes me moving forward."

"I feel like i have an obligation to (fans and players and staff)... This is an obligation. I look forward to that."

"Nothing else interested me in the interim. I didn't pursue anything else." —DG

"He wants to be here." "Fits the mold we are looking for." Adams is wearing a light blue dress shirt, no tie.

Adams: "He's a life-learner." Granato told him, "This is the job I want. I'm ready for this."

All right enough with the verbal foreplay.