K-9

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.

Makes sense that Adams, being able to observe interactions among players, coaches, etc. over the years that he could have seen something he didn’t like. Brian Gionta was on a podcast a couple months ago and he was talking about the kind of people that were around the building and mentioned that some guys were just not good professionals, particularly when it came to respect for the trainers, equipment managers, various other building personnel,etc. Said they were complete pricks towards people at times. I assumed he was talking about the Kanes and Bogos of the world, but maybe it was other players as well.

Kevyn Adams Donates Own Cervical Disc To Eichel In Bid To Facilitate Surgery

Why do you suppose Adams didn’t want Eichel here? What occurred that prompted this view of the best player on the team?

Honestly, is tanking at all necessary to ensure this team finishes last in the standings? Even with that playoff goaltending?

My money is on Watson because Johnny seems to be intractable in his position on the matter and the season will be over by the time he’s ready to resume play. Then again, Watson has the legal issues hanging over his head, not to mention the unknown disciplinary measures the league may impose. Tough call.

If Brisson had the wherewithal to do that, it already would have been accomplished so, apparently, he’s as inept as Adams in that regard. I suspect there are 31 other medical staffs around the league who agree with the Sabres’s doctors as well.

To be fair, Lemieux and Woods had issues with discs in the lumbar region vs. the neck. That said, I’ve learned that both Kris Letang and Derek Dorsett are two NHL players who’ve undergone the ACDF procedure that the Sabres prefer.

We will find out soon enough.

I think that depends on the specific types of mistakes being made on the ice and by whom that lead to the blowout losses. DG strikes me as someone who finds teaching opportunities, regardless.

Finally had a chance to watch the first 10 minutes of Adams’s presser. The first mention of the captaincy issue wasn’t made until nearly 7 minutes in and several other questions had already been asked and answered. Kudos to the press for not making that issue the focal point. And I gotta say that knowing KA didn’t “lead off” with any statement regarding the captaincy issue and after actually seeing and hearing the question and response, I find many of the reactionary takes around here to be completely overboard. The Aud Club is gonna Aud Club, so I’m not surprised at these takes at all.

What other message is KA sending? I haven’t heard him say Eichel wasn’t a good captain and leader.

Brisson is gonna perform the ADR himself?

There were classier ways for KA to handle those questions, but some of what I’m reading here is way over the top. I suspect because of our insatiable need to assign blame for our disappointment. Removing a player from his captaincy is destroying a person? A PR attempt to “beat up” their former captain? Were the reporters who asked all those leading questions in on it, too? If the Sabres had agreed to everything Eichel wanted when he wanted it, would Eichel have wanted to stay here and play? As captain? I strongly doubt it. Here’s a novel idea; maybe Eichel should have done the classy thing, too, and resigned his captaincy voluntarily.

Based on what we saw after he improved their conditioning when Krueger left, I’d say your perception is spot on. He wants speed in every zone from what I saw. Speed and pressure. It’s a good strategy because if you aren’t as talented as the opponent, you especially need to be a pain in the ass to play against.