DarthEbriate

Fine for Ottawa to be roster balancing. But --- who initiates the trade. The Sabres are looking to trade Cozens. Fine. But that's not required to be at the trade deadline. They're not going anywhere; he doesn't have a NTC/NMC kick in for 2 more years. Ruff could've just moved him to 3rd line wing, but he also wasn't showcasing Cozens between Benson & Thompson for a trade. On the other hand, Ottawa wants to move Norris. They need a more physical player for the playoffs. The NEED someone who will be healthy and available going into the playoffs (Norris already has his ---oblique?--- strain). Norris is a better overall player than Cozens right now, but is he a 3-for-1 trade better than Cozens if Cozens reaches his potential, or is at least moved from center to wing? Adams wasn't operating from a place of need in that trade; Ottawa was. Why was Adams the one feeding in the 2nd?

More pitchforks and more torches?

One note: Living out of market and being able to watch the opposition broadcasts on ESPN+ is very helpful. But, you know, those broadcasts are critical of the Sabres, too. (also, you could do this within market with VPNs, etc.)

What, exactly, does uncritical Brian Duff look like? I guess Biron will have to go elsewhere because he won't be able to break down the play in between periods with any sense of integrity (if they have a poor period).

And then he assistant-coached a Sabres squad that had Miller/Enroth and Vanek and... Drew Stafford's best season, though the goals probably all came in 3 games... the last time the Sabres made the playoffs. But they had goaltending.

^ Lyon got the Panthers to the playoffs over the Sabres in 22-23. They lost in the Final to Vegas. Then, Lyon went off to Detroit and the Panthers have gone back-to-back. Must be nice. So many playoff seasons to choose from.

And are fine sitting in the press box. That's a critical skill. I still think he gets waived at the end of preseason. Every team has that guy. It was just the silly optics of it -- he's not someone you build around. You re-sign him on July 2nd and say "we got a great guy in the locker room to be our 7/8" and then you send him to Rochester.

He could have a jump in his game (doubtful he'll have great number behind this Sabres defensive lineup, although they'll be better this season in their own zone with Cozens/JJP swapped out). But thus far, he's still only a backup goalie and he's never been a starter (unlike Reimer/Anderson). Anderson had been a great goalie in his prime.

They've gotta get bigger -- as of this offseason. But that wasn't the mandate when Bryson was extended in-season. Adams can only focus on one thing at a time. 4th line. RHD. True, not this year. But life the Sabres finds a way.

If Luukkonen or Levi have improved their game (overall) the last couple seasons, then the answer would be yes. UPL had a regression last season for sure, but I'd take 2024-25 UPL over 2022-23 UPL (although they won his starts, they needed to score 5 to do it). But it is crazy how Adams undervalues the goalie position on a team that's supposedly trying to get good. (And I like Levi's potential.) But he's signed experienced backups to be backups to backup-caliber goalies [at this point in their career] for his entire tenure. Adam has had 1 starting-caliber goalie in his entire tenure and he let Ullmark walk in free agency.

Unless Levi erupts. Of course, he could as easily get an offer sheet this week that crosses the Sabres' EEE internal threshold for combined goalie salaries for the team. Someone offers Levi a little bit of cash and Adams can recoup a 2nd rounder to trade for a 7th D-man at the deadline.

I figure you get one pick over 180OA to hit once every 10 years. Olofsson (2014-181), Paetsch (2003-202), Wideman (2002-241), Gaustad (2000-220). Had a good run in the early 2000s. TBD: Kozak (2021-193) I don't think Mancari and his 42 career games counts (2004-207). Best of luck to Rucinski.

He's not a fraud. He's doing his master's bidding. Until Pegula says EEE is over, he's happy to shave the cap and keep the savings. Probably he justifies it because of fewer STHs and lower attendance. He has all the resources he needs. He doesn't have to save his job; he's not going anywhere.

Jacob Bernard-Docker

I think if Byram-Dahlin had to hold up against the Florida forecheck in the playoffs -- let's say at the end of this season: a) holy hell, they're in the playoffs, and b) Yes. That pairing would be the absolute least of the lineup's problems and we'd want them skating 58:00 minutes per night. We'd just want to make sure that he didn't retaliate when they hacked him and he'd have to school himself not to cross the line.

A "Lindy draft" makes no sense, even for this team. But hypothetically, if any coach -- but particularly a lame duck coach one season away from retirement -- was given control of the draft -- then every pick and prospect would've been moved to get the best team available on the ice for that year. Lindy's going out with a veteran roster and a true #1 goalie.

Say what you will about him... but Adams never missed a QO deadline with a jammed fax machine or anything. Hasn't just let an entire RFA wave walk to market. So he's got that going for him.

Anyone hoping for Adams to be able to play in free agency with the 2nd-tier wingers (like Ehlers)... the big fish are already off the market. Ehlers now is the 1st tier UFA.

In summer 2024, they didn't qualify Bryson, then signed him the next day. JBD could follow suit, unless... you know... he doesn't want to be here.

Only willing to sign a pre-trade extension with 1 specific team. That's fine and well within the player's rights. You can still trade the player to that team, but the return might not be as much.

The NCAA kids don't participate in the prospects tournament because school is already in session.

I wonder what the contract is... 2 years, $8M per, with guaranteed "season-ending surgeries on 9/28, with estimated returns on the following 4/10" of each year?

The sentiment of the tweet is fine, but the execution is a failure. The photo on the right is the first practice. The poster needs to wait until 7/3 and take the photo. It will still be a stark contrast because it'll be in Harborcenter and about half the players. But it will at least be an apples to apples comparison.

Somewhere, Eichwalker is yelling: I have brought peace, justice, freedom to want to be here, and Trade-Only-to-Vegas Clauses to my new Empire!

It'd be the first thing I'd inquire about as a reporter. If Adams has a 5-word response about it (i.e., "at a family wedding..." or whatnot), then cool. If Adams can't help himself and rambles for 90 seconds about it without saying anything, there'd be much to read between the lines there.