Weave

I think Taro got the biggest part of the problem identified correctly. The chase to land Eichel required the team to jettison nearly every quality NHL player on the team. Since that fateful decision this team has not had a full roster of quality NHL players. In fact, for portions of that time we may not have had 2 lines worth of quality NHL players. As a consequence of this the team has had to rely on a few quality players, a few kids elevated to roles they weren’t ready for, and more than a few NHL/AHL tweeners. Its a combination that resulted in kids with too much pressure to develop quickly under very adverse conditions, complicated by the knowledge that most of the players around them weren’t qualified to even be there. Add in team management and philosophy turmoil, substandard goaltending, and a couple of unchecked egos and the situation was a perfect storm. we are almost at the point where we can say we are icing a full roster of actual NHL players. Now they need the goalie, and a few cagey and successful vets to show them the sacrifice needed to win at this level.

Reloading. 😁

Thanks to all of you that are commenting as the presser went along. I just hit refresh and I get a good sense for the content and tone. You guys rock!

Must win!

Logging for gold? Looking for God? Laughing fart gas?

I think the only issue it highlights is, a lack of enthusiasm for the future indicates a likely morale issue. And losing will do that I am sure. It is really important that this offseason, whatever it may bring, has to be focused on winning next season. We are losing the tank generation players to constant losing. We cannot lose another generation of players to the same issue.

I don't know you but I'm betting it's an improvement LOL

I look in the mirror these days and I think I see Thorny staring back.

Beleaguered. Bewildered. Bedeviled. Bepegulad.

Yeah, the Dominic Hasek treatment. If we are moving him it has to be now so he doesn't get that kind of control. I don't need to irrationally hate another former Sabre.

Except GMTM. He gets pilloried for risk taking moves.

This is why Jack cannot be traded for futures. If he is moved, he needs to be moved for actual NHL assets. I also believe that the acquisition of Hall is a clear sign that ownership is done rebuilding and the time to ice a winner is now. I do not expect KA to have the luxury of a time buffer for success whether Jack is moved or not.

I'm guessing timeframe is the issue. "Resolve on their own" takes time. A professional athlete's enemy is time.

You have a weird, I'll cut my nose off to spite my face outlook regarding this. Take the best deal and maximize the Sabres benefits, not accept a lesser deal so team X doesn't get my player.

I think the "plus" assets that go with it determine how much stomach I have for a 1-2 season player.

So, Zibanijad, Buchnevich, does that work? I realize term isn't on our side with Z. Don't know about Buchnevich. Can we make a win-win with those two as the base?

It's been a bad Sabres news day. Don't piss in my evening whiskey.

My gut tells me if Jack goes, Sam goes too, so we'll still need that 1C. In a classic, something for now and something for later trade it might look more like Zibanejad and LaFreinere plus. Or how about a blockbuster where Jack AND Sam go to the Rags? What would that look like? Mid career 1C, not youth.

I'm envisioning a trade with a team that wants to upgrade 1C, so yes, we get their 1C plus for our 1C. I don't see a swap of RW's as the likely trade for Sam. I don't know why. Unless it would be a mutual change of scenery thing. Otherwise I feel like we move our 1RW and get something else back and we now have a 1RW hole to fill.

I think it would have to be up there. Richards/Carter was probably bigger because Philly was a really, really good team at the time of the trade (if my memory is accurate). Not gonna lie. This is all very intriguing to me. I don't need a star coming back for Jack if I can fill 2-3 holes (including 1C) with very good players. I'm actually more concerned about how we replace Sam. At minimum we'll have a hole at 1RW and I don't think we get a 1RW back. What would be the point of the team picking Sam up, right? Weird that a Sam trade would be more concerning to me.

Given I have received almost no joy from this team over the last 7 years, I am looking forward to this part.

If you are planning to do it, it is tanking.

Nah. 05-06 Sabres will be the model. Four 2nd lines. Not four 4th lines. Noone wins with four 4th lines. Most of the last 7 years have looked like that.

4 lines with 2 guys that can’t skate, 1 guy that can’t score, and without a Hasek level goalie? Yeah, that would be a train wreck.

Its the Matt Ellis of plus sides.