dudacek

Not sure if this is serious or random..? I’m thinking I keep the Byram and the McLeod deals And I chuck the Malenstyn and Reinhart deals. I’d rather have a healthy, happy Eichel but given the circumstances I probably keep that deal? TBD on the Cozens trade, based on Norris’ health. The rest all just seem like a big bag of “meh”. And I guess that makes sense because with Adams the issues seem less about the moves he’s made and more about the ones he hasn’t.

I realize this thread mostly exists to vent and crack jokes, but it is such a great question: why indeed? By any objective pro sports results measure, Adams should be fired; the evidence is everywhere. I haven’t done the research myself, but I believe someone posted that he will be among just 2 or 3 GMs in NHL history to get a 6th season after 5 without playoffs. And it can’t be for business reasons. Whatever the money Terry is saving on salaries, he’s squandering in lost revenue opportunities. So why? Does Terry Pegula draw different lines around success and failure than other billionaire sports owners? If so, what are they? Did Kevyn actually present him with an off-season plan for success that he bought? If so, how? Why?

How many of these Adams trades would you reverse? Norris and Bernard Docker for Cozens, Gilbert and a 2nd McLeod for Savoie Pick 14 and Malenstyn for pick 11 Byram for Mittelstadt Greenway for pick 56 Tuch, Krebs, 1st, and 2nd for Eichel and a 3rd Levi and 1st for Reinhart 1st, 2nd and Hagg for Ristolainen 2nd and Bjork for Hall and Lazar Staal for Johansson Just a question, not a statement.

Athletic's instant mock has the Sabres taking Brady Martin over McQueen, which I think would delight most of us. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6335303/2025/05/05/nhl-mock-draft-2025-schaefer-islanders/ Frondell, O'Brien, Mtrka were 6-7-8. Thoughts?

Not predicting anything, but from the outside looking in at team needs and mock rankings, one would think Mtrka would be very much in consideration. McQueen is another obvious need-filler. If they are confident about his health, 9 seems right about where risk meets reward.

Matt Savoie.

Upon further review, it was pretty obviously G for golfing. 😁

Think you guys missed one. The liked UPL, he got a G for good.

For context: https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/9th-nhl-overall-draft-picks

I think the "consensus" that emerges prior to an NHL draft loses all meaning after the first few picks. You take the guy you like the best. You don't ignore your gut and let McAvoy slide by in favour of Nylander. ***** the consensus. Look at the drafts between 5-15 years ago. Most of those drafts tended to follow the consensus. Most drafts are wrong.

2002 birth year like Peterka. 24 goals, 47 points in his first full NHL season. Went one pick ahead of Isak Rosen in the 2021 draft.

I’m not afraid to say this team gets 10 more points playing exactly the same way with good (not great, good) goaltending. It’s the problem from the season that just past that hasn’t got enough attention.

Oh me too. Some risk in that one from Buffalo's perspective, but so much reward. I have no idea if the Bruin/Swayman relationship is beyond repair, but it certainly is in rough shape.

UPL was the NHL’s 5th worst goalie in terms of goals above expected this year. Jeremy Swayman was the 2nd worst. Swayman certainly has a far more onerous contract, and almost certainly has far more talent. Would either team make that trade?

🤣 Me too. Not kidding.

Leone said he probably would have played if it was a must-win game. Speaking of injury, I don't think Rochester missed a beat without Komarov. Brannstrom is probably better, and Brannstrom was probably the 6th-best blueliner last night. Metsa, Rathbone and Clague look very good to me at this level. Prow is longer-term, but from what I've seen he shouldn't be a starter even if he was healthy. From what I understand, Neuchev is not going to be available.

I want to add that a very similar Syracuse team completely neutralized Kulich in last year's series by pounding the crap out him. It didn't work this year. You gotta like the progress.

Watching Östlund these past 3 games, I’m starting to wonder if his future is Ryan McLeod. Hasn’t produced but he’s fast and very responsible and you notice him every shift. Had a really impressive partial breakaway chance snuffed by what looked to me like a penalty, that was all hustle. Kulich hasn’t outright dominated, but he has been the most dangerous guy on the ice. His speed has flashed more than I’m used to and he’s had his chances. Wahlberg looked kinda sluggish last night in his first game. Hope it was just shaking off the bug. Novikov played to his rep. The Crunch were trying to get to the net, but the Amerks were holding up against it and Novikov was a big part. Johnson was quietly very good. You don’t notice him outright, then you realize shift after shift goes by without any chances given up. He’s in the right spots and preventing. Komorov was most noticeable to me for his awkward skating style. He competes. Rosen always leaves me wanting more. He was better in games 2 and 3 after a rough game 1. He’s usually in the right places both ends and has very obvious skill. I just wish he completed more plays and engaged more. Kozak is responsible fearless and he battles. Prototype checking centre at that level. And if this seems overly positive, I just watched them play 8 periods in a row without allowing a goal. Their structure as a group was excellent.

He’s playing wing on a 3rd line with Kozak. Playing well, but not standing out skill-wise? He’s producing and he’s engaged, seems to be buying into the system and playing smart hockey. You can tell he’s got a competitive streak in him and I like how he reacts to the rough stuff. I’ve liked what I’ve seen.

Levi just has a habit of shutouts. 8 in 37 junior games 16 in 66 college games 3 in 7 World Junior games 9 in 45 AHL games this year. That's insane.

How do you know what he wants to get paid and why do you think someone will pay him that? His numbers away from Dahlin are similar to awful young players like Jake Sanderson and Moritz Seider. And if you really believe defencemen never get better after 246 NHL games, or after they turn 23 — or that NHL professionals don't thoroughly scout the players they acquire before pulling the trigger — I don't know what to tell you.

Yep, especially when you’re paying $7M to Samuelsson and Clifton. That’s where the roster construction flaw is, not with Byram. That’s what I hope they can target.

Yes, we should judge every player solely by their most difficult 7-game stretch. And the Buffalo Sabres need to get rid of every player who is incapable of replacing Rasmus Dahlin and add a bunch who are. It’s really that simple.

Cleveland had to win a play-in series first for the right to play the division winners.

Montreal and Ottawa aren’t proven pieces and I am not prepared to say they are on the verge of jumping up a tier yet. Apparently New Jersey is not much different. Neither are Columbus or Detroit Boston broke. PIttsburgh broke. The Islanders might be preparing a reset. Philly is in one. Tampa and the Rangers are declining. I have a feeling Washington just had one of those years. I think you’ve got three good teams in the East: Toronto, Florida and Carolina. It’s not about them, it’s about us. Stop making excuses. Make the right moves. Seize the opportunity.