LGR4GM

Speaking of Greenway... he's basically JAG and idk why they gave him 2 years unless he's one of the vet leaders in that locker room. He gives you no offense really and just a minor level of defense.

I have never wanted to see a 1st round pick spend 1 more year2 in jrs and then at least 2 years in the AHL so bad in my life. They need to let him develop over a long period of time so he can really turn into a good player. I think his development is behind because of the role he had in Czechia and that he needs lots of coaching and development at lower leagues to build up all those flashes of skills he has.

If Jacob Bryson is your 2nd most games played on defense, you done ***** up.

They gave Greenway 2million more than he's worth, gave Samuelsson 2mil more than he's worth, gave UPL 2mil more than he's worth, and gave Quinn about 1mil more than he's worth. There's about 7million in overpayment. Oh yea and the 4.44 for Skinner this year. 6.4mil is next year.

It is a 3yr weighted average. Byram was bad in Colorado when we traded for him and not great until getting with Dahlin. That said, if he plays great with Dahlin, none of the rest of it matters.

They did dump Cozens -13, and Lafferty -15... but somehow kept Bryson-9. They did dump Clifton's -6 and Kubel's -4

You know what is funny. I bet if he was 1yr away from UFA and Adams signed him to the same 2yr deal, ppl would be all nodding their heads like "oh good good, got one of his UFAs years under contract so we can always re-sign him." Also if Byram sucks you are rid of him in 2years unlike the only 2 million dollar a year less, Mattias Samuelsson.

Question. JJ Peterka was -1 on the season but Zach Benson was -2... who's a better defensive forward?

If the Sabres are F-ed at the trade deadline but Byram has played very well, there will be playoff bound teams very interested in his services, especially with another year on his deal. Or if Buffalo is somehow, someway, by some hockey God's almighty will in the playoff picture, Byram probably helped get us there.

The defense would certainly look worse without Byram than it does with him next to Dahlin (unless Byram's game goes to *****).

This gives us at least 1 more year of keeping all the developing defense away from Buffalo. Novikov, Komarov, (I think Ryan Johnson is the 7th), and it means all 200 rhd in college or Jr's get another year or 2 as well. That's at least a good thing.

Trading Zach Benson would be the stupidest thing Adams could do. He's already an elite defense forward and the points are doing to come in buckets.

But it's still better than Samuelsson and Bryson

Idk where. Big club is packed at forward. You'd have to trade at least one. (Lines are rough estimates not the point of my overall post) Benson - Norris - Thompson Zucker - Kulich - Tuch Greenway - McLeod - Quinn Krebs - Danforth - Doan Kozak - Malenstyn They'd be smart to give him power's pp time but I doubt they will.

I don't think this team is worse. It's just only marginally better. We're an 85pt team.

Every year guys with 1yr left get traded. Byram currently has two. If a GM thinks he can sign him or even just go on a run, they'll be able to trade him either this summer (you're right, no trade there) or at the deadline or next summer or next deadline.

I think that their is a skill to puck battles that Buffalo does not teach, does not draft, and does not value. Zach Benson, Konsta Helenius, and Brodie Zeimer are about the only players I have seen them draft that have a level of skill that goes with being a good checker. Mrtka worries me because of this and I vocally wanted someone other than Power in his draft year because of it. Checking is a skill and it is more than simple aggression or strength, or intimidation. Wilford clearly cannot coach it. Ruff appears to maybe want it. Vinny Prospal in Rochester sounds like he understands the assignment. All of it goes back to team building and the incoherent and ever changing nature of Adams supposed plan. I don't believe in the intimidating factor. I think it is hogwash. It is a skill deficiency IMPO.

Since Adams doesn't have his own thoughts, they are building a chimera of a team based off of the coaches, the assistant gms, and the musing of Terry. Which is why Samulesson is still here... but they went and got McLeod... but they also kept Bryson... but got Kesselring... but drafted Mrtka... but traded Clifton... but did nothing else to the forwards. It's just a scatter shot of ideas that don't coalesce around a legit plan.

I don't believe this at all because I never see it. What I see is guys that are tougher/meaner/grittier, putting forth more energy into getting those pucks so they come away with it. I don't believe for 1 second that Power is thinking "oh man, Sam Bennett might hurt me, better shy away" when instead it is just Bennett is harder, more aggressive, and comes out of the corner with the puck because of it. You are arguing intimidation, I am arguing it is hard work and play style. Zach Benson doesn't win board battles because ppl are intimidated by him, he uses the checking skills he has and works to win those battles while Owen Power goes in stick first with no plan. Dylan Cozens was terrible at board battles because he had no idea how to win them and didn't exert the needed battle to win them. What I am saying is it is less about intimidation by opponents and more about lack of a certain character in our skaters. Wilford coming back after how atrocious his defensive units have played in 3 out of 4 of his years is just the most disappointing part of the offseason for me so far. They need an adult back there. Listen to Prospal talk in Rochester, they need him.

I just keep and will forever wonder if Dahlin or Tage or other leaders on the team said something to Kevyn or Ruff or both. I think it was Dahlin, but someone on locker clean out had this line about everyone needs to buy in to the system or something along those lines and idk if it was JJP but I got the sense the locker room had friction. That alllll said, Peterka is a hell of a player and even if I think we are better, it is marginal.

I want to make one thing clear. I think trading JJ Peterka is risky, I think the return should have been better. I still don't dislike the deal and I think Kesselring is a gem in the vein of McLeod and that Doan might at least be a 3rd liner. Still, everyone who is concerned mad or otherwise bothered by Buffalo under Adams trading away another disgruntled (because we ***** lose all the time) player for some hopes, I get that. If the Peterka trade blows up in the Sabres faces, a real possibility, it will be another in a long line of Adams being totally ***** at his job.