K-9

The only time people rise up for Doug Allen is when they’re asked to before he starts singing.

Yes, but that sweeping hand gesture to acknowledge us as the “land of the free” to set up the dramatic finger pointing …

After reading the many ideologically charged posts in this thread, I’m trying to figure out why my totally innocuous post defending Doug’s freedom of choice was deleted yesterday. I see the moderation around here is still arbitrarily administered.

I understand and can totally relate to your frustration as a fan. I also understand that KA is simply next in the sight line and a convenient target. I’ll need to see much more of his body of work before I’m willing to shoot. I’d be interested in why you questioned his character when you accused him of backstabbing to get the job. I honestly never heard that before and if there are articles to point to, I’d like to give them a read or a listen. As far as I know, Botterill was unwilling to make the changes the Pegulas ordered him to make and was fired for that. So who did KA backstab to get the position?

Where are your posts condemning the Staal and Hall acquisitions when they occurred? The consensus at the time was they were good, solid gets, even if Krueger had a big say in them. I’d love to see examples of your 20/20 foresight at the time. More kudos to KA for recognizing it was time for them to go as well. KA backstabbed his way to the GM job? I can understand sweet talking to get a job as we’ve all dine that at one time or another. But backstabbing? I don’t buy it. Well, the Sabres found their way to last place under Botterill’s guidance as well and KA largely inherited the same mess, but yeah, let’s place the blame on KA for that poor team. It’s convenient. Did KA run over your dog or something? Your hatred is palpable.

That and Rexy’s act didn’t last very long with the Pegulas.

That exodus of players was job one in establishing his vision for the team. They weren’t up to the task, failed at getting the franchise turned around, and it was time for them to move on and get a fresh start elsewhere. Kudos to KA for recognizing it was time to move on from them. No selling job necessary.

Ah, the refreshing breeze of youthful optimism untainted by the stain of their predecessors’ failure.

True, he’s been here a while and I think he served as a comfort hire for the Pegulas after the Botterrill experiment, but I never saw KA as being a part of the hockey decision making process across three GMs and three coaches since Lindy left so I don’t blame him for their ineptitude at building a good franchise. Most of the time, I thought he was running the hockey academy at Harbor Center before they made him Sr. VP of Business Admin a couple years ago. Great point about his being a fly in the wall as he’s certainly had ample opportunity to see how people relate with others in the building. I wonder how much that informed his opinion on things like character, etc. for various players.

I didn’t realize you were expanding the scope of the discussion to include issues other than the stalemate over the neck injury, so I thank you for the clarification. I agree wholeheartedly with you on what got Jack and the others to this point of frustration and wanting out. Can’t blame them for that at all. But I don’t hold KA responsible for much, if any, of it. And, ironically, Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, Kane, Bogo, ROR, etc. all contributed greatly to the continued futility over the last 10 years as they were here for a good portion of it. They simply weren’t up to the task, KA recognized this and tried to accommodate their desire to get a new start elsewhere. If not for the injury to his neck, Eichel would have joined them by now as well.

I can’t seem to find any articles on college hockey players getting the ADR surgery. Can you point me in the right direction? That testimony would be a boon to Eichel I would think.

Clear to whom? Where is Eichel’s direct quote saying that?

Strict PSE austerity measures. On another note, does Rasmus actually look happy to be there? Like he wants to be there? Or is that just a fake to appease Adams? Hmm.

More like “JACK’S NECK IS A WRECK AS SABRES EMBARK ON NEW TREK”

I agree entirely. But in reading some of the hit pieces this morning, I had to wonder if another propaganda campaign was being orchestrated. Anyone who took the time to actually watch the Adams presser would know how sensationalized those articles were. Hell, before I watched it and just heard about supposed “statement” Adams made regarding the captaincy issue, I was wondering how he could be so callous to the gravity of situation. But after watching it and seeing that Adams was merely responding to the first question concerning that issue, and already seven minutes into the presser, I came away knowing how blown up it really was. It was downright innocuous. Also meant to add, is throwing shade at the team the only way for an agent to show his client in a good light?

The only “role” I see the Sabres having played is their collectively bargained and legally protected role in determining and recommending a prescribed course of treatment. Period. These drama queens in the media with their childish narratives and click bait headlines are absolutely clueless to the facts.

I had heard that Brisson was the consummate professional but then again, he works for Eichel, so it at least begs the question.

Mike Traikos, author of the hit piece in The National and every other myopic writer on this subject should be made to read this post. There are so many legal and medical complications to this and they need to be respected. But no, instead we get hacks like Traikos who accuse the Sabres of “acting out of spite” in relieving Eichel of his captaincy. Acting out of spite? Is Traikos stuck in 8th grade? I gotta wonder if Eichel and Co. aren’t seeking out sympathetic “journalists” in their quest to manipulate public perception. They certainly did in the summer with ex-agent Fish. Would Brisson stoop as low?

Well, I’m not about to wade thru the entire CBA to fiNd out.

I agree, but the agent isn’t in control here, Jack is. Anyway, I don’t see why the Sabres legal team couldn’t at least present those options. I really wish we had a fly on the wall at that meeting with the Sabres, Eichel, and the NHLPA. It’s beyond curious that nothing came from that.

So, why hasn’t Eichel just done that already?

Couldn’t the liability issues be negotiated? Could the Sabres agree to let Eichel have his preferred ADR procedure in exchange for removal of the NMC and a signed waiver saying Eichel assumes all responsibility for any complications that may arise post-op? On the surface it just doesn’t seem like a complicated matter and you’d think the lawyers would have been all over it by now.

Well, that would void his contract so I hope it’s at least a $50m policy. Might be tough finding an underwriter for that.

You say that like it’s a new phenomenon around here.