nfreeman
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Posts posted by nfreeman
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Whoa. This isn't just "good skater for a tall guy."
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I respect Tom’s opinion, but I would be stunned if Stahl were named GM of any team in the next 3 years, and I can’t see KA and JK staying in their current roles for more than 1 year.
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15 hours ago, Thorny said:
Is it? I’m mostly just trying to make myself feel ok about it all
But yes that’s what I’m hoping for - the jarmo is in essence already GM. He takes over and Adams gets bumped up or he takes over and Adams gets bumped down
4 hours ago, tom webster said:There is no scenario where this is “career suicide.” As others have pointed out, it’s a no lose situation. If things work out, he’s the genius who saved a sinking ship. If they don’t, the narrative will be “he could only do so much with what he had to work with.”
Most people taking on new assignments prefer to take over an under-performing business or department as opposed to a thriving one and this is no different.
Upon some reflection, I think JK is likely to be the next GM, but it hasn't been promised to him and it won't be this summer.
I think TP wants to take a look at JK, see how things go this summer with JK a full participant and see how the season starts off. If it's a poop show, KA is gone and TP can decide about JK at that point. If it goes well and the team looks good, he can decide about both of them at that point. No one is hiring either of them away in the meantime.
From JK's perspective, the 2024 and 2025 GM hiring seasons went by and he wasn't able to grab a spot. So this keeps him in the NHL and in the on deck circle for a GM job that is reasonably likely to open up soon (and for a billionaire owner who hasn't done so lately but previously spent to the cap and showered the franchise with money). That's a pretty good landing spot and probably the best one he could find.
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3 hours ago, Thorny said:
I think the deal was that if Adams can successfully hire his replacement they both stay (Adams “up” to a more behind scenes position, Jarmo to official GM), otherwise there’s a total shitcanning at end of year
Interesting, and very plausible. Not sure that JK would perish in the Red Wedding, being an experienced and presumably leaguewide-respected GM who was very recently brought in -- I'd guess he'd probably just replace KA or, possibly with Lindy, advise TP on choosing a new GM.
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Ekblad is a RHD who turns 30 in February and has played 61, 71, 51 and 56 games in his last 4 seasons (56 this season, with 33 pts, and 51 last season, with 18 pts). His AAV on his expiring contract is $7.5MM. Florida probably can't afford to keep him.
Would anyone rather have Ekblad at, say, 5 years x $8.5MM -- which is what the Sabres would need to pay, because they'd need to beat the market to get him -- than Byram on the same deal? Or for that matter than Power on his current $8.35MM per year?
In other words, if you can have 2 out of Power, Byram and Ekblad at the contracts stated above, which 2 do you want? Byram turns 24 in a couple of weeks and Power turns 23 in November.
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Serious question: was hiring a real, experienced NHL GM as a senior adviser KA's idea? Or did TP give him an ultimatum?
It seems pretty unlikely that it was KA's idea -- when does a GM ever want to bring in a guy to look over his shoulder, especially when the GM has overseen a crappy team for years and the new guy is an obviously strong candidate to replace him?
If that's right, and it was done at TP's instruction, it at least shows that TP's Sabres heart is still beating.
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This move has restored hope in me that they are still trying to be a real NHL franchise. At some point about 2/3 into the Bills’ pre-TP drought, I realized that Ralph had stopped trying and was just cashing the checks — and this past season I kinda got there with TP and the Sabres. I hope I’m wrong. This move helps.
But I won’t feel confident that TP is all in until I see them spending close to the cap this year.
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This is an interesting and, I think, an encouraging move. JK's track record isn't great -- in 10 full seasons as CBJ's GM, they made the playoffs in 5 of his 1st 7 seasons, but only won one round in total, then missed the playoffs the next 3 seasons, then he was fired during the next season.
Still, JK is a real NHL GM with real experience. And he's someone from outside the organization. And FWIW, he had a number of obstacles in Columbus that were difficult to overcome -- i.e. losing Panarin and Bobrovsky as FAs, Laine's injury, etc.
He's also almost certainly the Sabres' next GM unless they magically don't stink next season.
Good move by KA, if it was indeed his move.
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On 4/30/2025 at 4:31 PM, Night Train said:
I tend to agree. It's not a defense of Beane but his last 2 top picks prior to last week were Kincaid and Coleman. Those 2 and Samuel were all hurt for long stretches last year. They should all enter the summer healthy. Then he signs Palmer who does get separation and cuts on a dime. Shakir gets paid.
I do think a lot of this noise is blowback for not picking Worthy last year. He has twice been accused of domestic violence, so I'm sensing a pattern in the character dept.
When you lead the NFL in scoring, the issue is the D. We all saw what Philly did in the SB. They had 1 vet WR visit and I'm guessing more will be talked to.
Beefing up the D was prudent.
Speaking of the Bills' D relative to Philly's...
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On 4/18/2025 at 1:33 PM, Porous Five Hole said:
Spain is elite!
If you're still there, and if either team is playing, and you are in the vicinity, I would recommend going to a Barcelona or Madrid soccer game. I'm not a soccer fan at all, but went to an FC Barcelona game around 10 years ago (they still had Messi, who had a hat trick!) and it was really a cool sports experience.
In any case enjoy your trip! I really like Spain.
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They are playing freebird when USA scores.
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Matthew Tkachuk may be done for the night. Big loss in a 1-goal game with 12 minutes left.
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So far goaltending is the difference.
Also, plenty of USA fans in the building.
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Hi all. I hope this finds everyone well. With the Sabres out early in an extremely disappointing season, I've pretty much checked out for a while.
Anyway, this, in welcome contrast, is a great game with great passion and intensity from every player and coach.
Reino on Canada's top line with McD and Marner, and Eichel on USA's 1 or 1A line with both Tkachuks. And Canada's 2nd line is just a few randos named Crosby, MacKinnon and Stone, while USA's other 1/1A line is Mathews, Jack Hughes and Guentzel.
Holy mackerel.
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10 hours ago, JujuFish said:
I'm not sure if this is supposed to be an insult or not? Shanahan has gone to the NFC CG four times in the last five years and the Super Bowl twice, with Jimmy Garoppolo as his QB for two of those seasons.
Yes — Shanahan is an excellent coach — I intended no insult towards him. My point was simply that yesterday the Niners did not look at all like a well coached team despite having a highly regarded coach — and that those who want to “upgrade” from McD should perhaps appreciate that glitches will occur from time to time under any coach, and should definitely appreciate McD and what he has brought to this franchise and this city.
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BTW, I think Kyle Shanahan is one of the hotshot genius coaches often coveted by those who think McD can't coach.
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This is admittedly me still being PO'd about that poopshow I paid to witness last night, but I am more pessimistic than I have been since they hired Lindy. Their best players were completely ineffective against the Isles, Quinn frankly didn't look like an NHL player (Kulich looked better than both Quinn and JJP) and other than some flashes from Cozens and Krebs none of them looked too worked up about any of it.
I'm not that far from the point I reached after about year 12 of the Bills' drought -- i.e. they aren't really part of their league and I'm not that interested until they prove that they have rejoined the ranks of real franchises.
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1 hour ago, Taro T said:
Milano, Bernard, and Johnson on the field at the same time. So much for short to intermediate passes against.
If those 3 and a few others stay healthy, they’ll have a great D for the playoffs.
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News flash: the Sabres still aren’t a real team.
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Does anyone remember the movie “the omen?” TT might be in trouble here.
Pretty even 1st. Quinn is really weak on the puck and I think Kulich replaced him on Tage’s line toward the end of the period.
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I'll be at the game tonight with a good crew of 6 Sabres fans. If any other SabreSpacers are attending and want to say hello, that would be great -- pls PM me.
IMHO, this game isn't a must win for them to make the playoffs, but it is a MW to ward off fan despair. We've seen this crappy movie too many times before.
Even so, I thought they played very well vs Minny and decently vs Vancouver. They are greatly improved over last season. I don't think they are far off from being a legit good team. Dahlin's mojo is back, the goaltending has been very good, TT has been very good and I think Cozens has found his game again. They just need Quinn and JJP to raise their games and be the good top-6 forwards that @Pimlach correctly notes they are currently missing.
Go Sabres.
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I have admired Kreider for a long time. He is fast, tough, skilled, has good size, plays with an edge and is a very good goal-scorer. He's also scored 48 goals in 123 playoff games. He has 2 more years after this season at $6.5MM per year. I would take that contract on in a heartbeat.
But he turns 34 in the playoffs this season. There are very few scoring power forward types who have been effective at that age and later. Most of them fall off the table pretty quickly. His ice time is down 1:25 per game from last year. So I'm not giving up Quinn or Kulich or JJP for him.
If the Rangers want cap space and an NHL player for him, which I think is the case, I'd give them Greenway or Joki, plus Östlund, Rosen or a #1.
I don't think the Rangers would accept that type of offer, and I don't think KA would part with Quinn, Kulich or JJP for him.
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11 hours ago, French Collection said:
I disagree with comments that the Wild are a really good team. The Sabres outplayed them, by a good margin. Gustavsson is average but is having a good season and despite his shaky start to this one he found his groove and was solid.
They have a good record but are not a powerhouse by any means. This same team did not make the playoffs last year in a weak western conference.
It was a game the Sabres should have won, making it frustrating for us.
Carry on.
I thought it was a really good, well-played game by 2 pretty good teams. Minny struck me as a really well-coached team. They certainly frustrated the Sabres' ability to forecheck and set up the cycle in the O-zone many times. Still, the Sabres were able to create quite a few good chances, but Minny's goalie was outstanding. For that matter UPL also had a great game.
I agree that Minny isn't a juggernaut, but they looked like a very good team last night, have an Art Ross contender and are clearly in a nice groove right now. A team will have to play very well to beat them.
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1 hour ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:
Oven roasted turkey is Meh, even if cooked well... But a good deep fried or especially brined and smoked one.... Different level. I did 2 this year and after the brine, I made an herb butter and slathered the butter under the skin before smoking for 7 hours... That's the move.
You're a good man and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
But I love roast turkey, and I don't like it brined. Too salty.
Ryan Johnson signs 3 year 775k contract
in The Aud Club
Posted
This is how I've been feeling since they traded JJP. It also feels 90% likely that they will be bottom-5 in payroll yet again.
They are officially not a real NHL team until proven otherwise. Such a disappointment.