K-9

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.

Like I said, he lacks the savvy required for these pressers. Many ex-players now in management positions do.

If that’s the case then I, too, have to withdraw my objection. I just assumed the report of KA leading with the statement was true.

True, KA didn’t have to make a statement, but the Mike Harringtons in the room were hellbent on doing it for him, anyway. There was no way Adams was not going to have to say Eichel was no longer captain. Still, Adams lacks the necessary savvy required.

Great point about Eichel going straight to the media after his exit interview and I agree totally that he didn’t take a moment to cool down. I suspect Eichel wasn’t totally aware of the Sabres’ position vis a vis the insurance issue and he just couldn’t accept the reality of the situation. So I don’t believe he was ever in the frame of mind to hear “let’s figure out a solution together” in the first place. IMO, he got pissed, drew a line in the sand, and he and his former agent set about their propaganda campaign. But as I’ve said repeatedly, I give him credit for wising up, firing his agent, and choosing a more professional one in Brisson, so perhaps there’s still a chance for those cooler heads to prevail after all.

I think everybody involved sees it as the tough situation it is. But I see a team not indemnified against a certain type of surgery on an asset they have tens of millions invested in and a frustrated player. The only “my way or the highway” sentiments I’ve seen expressed have been from Eichel’s camp starting with his exit presser in May and culminating with the propaganda stunt with the doctor in Colorado in the summer.

I think that’s worth a lot in terms of pointing towards a wider circle seeing the same thing Sabres coaches are seeing. It’s a shame that the pandemic short-circuited the plan.