mjd1001

Adams time is up, but you are putting way too much of this on just one person.

That would be the worst case scenario for me also. I've gone from last year and even this summer. Hoping for an Alex Tuch extension... To about a month ago. Thinking... I'm on the fence about it.. to now today thinking I'd rather have them not extend him unless it's the most team-friendly deal ever. With the way this franchise works... That's probably going to trigger them to give him the biggest extended contract in franchise history... At the exact time they shouldn't. You also have to remember that we have a lot of arguments on this board as to who is the bigger problem... Adams... Or the owner.... But remember if they do sign him to an extension that's absolutely ridiculous and crazy that that it doesn't get done without The owner's approval and blessing.

I'm thinking... There might be a good general manager out there that would love to take the Buffalo job with certain conditions. Why? There might just be some people out there who enjoy the rebuild. Also, you do have assets on this team that are very good or can be used to bring in other assets to help with the rebuild. Now what are those conditions and how come they haven't happened yet? The top of the list for me would be to sign a contract and have it written that this person has total control over the hockey department.0 They can hire and fire coaches and staff and front office members at will, and they don't have to run trades or draft picks by the owner. I just don't think our current owner will allow that to happen or anything even close to it.

For the last few years I have thought their O-line is overrated. We hear from many places it is one of the best in the league. I haven't seen it. The analytics say they are good at pass blocking, but what I see is a QB who isn't as mobile as Josh would be sacked at least 2 times per game more than him. I also see the OL in the run game sometimes open some holes vs bad run defenses who are tired AND playing guys off the line to defend against the pass...but I don't see them doing much at all against any run defense that is above average or is actually trying to stop the run.

Isn't that what was supposed to happen 2 years ago when they took all the 'cap hits'? Wasn't this year supposed to be the first year they were able to have more flexibility, to build the roster without one hand tied behind their back (with regard to the cap?) I have a feeling you have a top 5 player in Josh Allen, and the rest of the team is average-to-below average. (meaning they would struggle to be .500 with a middle of the road QB). -They should have lost to the Ravens (they were outplayed most of the game) and apparently they are the only team that can't tackle Derrick Henry and have holes blown through their D-line by the Ravens -They blew out a terrible Jets team -They let a pretty bad Dolphins team stick around way too long at home. -They were outplayed at times and honestly needed a few breaks to beat a bad Saints team at home. -Lost to the Pats at home -Last nights loss to the Falcons. They are not a good team. Even with Josh Allen, they have a 'good' record but don't look all that great. They need to look at some coaching stuff and make some changes in the bye week, and hope some of the injured guys returning and guys coming off of suspension are real difference makers.

The high danger area is right in front of the net according to NHL edge stats. 0 (ZERO) of Alex Tuchs shots this year through 3 games were taken from high danger areas in front of the net. Last year he had 68 taken from right in front of the net, and another 13 taken from the side of the net but very close to it. Tage Thompson, This year he also has 0 (ZERO) shots taken from right in front of the net, where last year he had 41 on the season. Your 2 best scorers are not going to, or at least not getting off shots from the front of the net. As for the team as a whole, those 'high danger' areas right in front of the net...last year they had 520 shots from that area (or 6.34 per game). This year they only have 7 total among the whole team, or 2.33 per game. Last year, 22.83% of the teams shots were from in front of the net. This year, its only 11.86%. I know its only 3 games, but this team is not going to the net, the entire forward group has seemingly turned into perimter players. (also a side not, so far through 3 games they have ZERO speed burts of skating recorded over 22mph...last in the league. Last year they weren't great, but they had 61)

When that other guy plays, he is better than Cozens. When that other guy doesn't play, the question becomes is Cozens better than the guy that replaces that other guy? Its not really 'one' guy replacing Norris, as the minutes are split up. You could say Kulich moves up the lineup, and at this point I'd take Kulich over Cozens as he makes far less mistakes. If you go by the theory of the minutes are split, I'd still take 1/3 McLeod (despite him playing awful the first 3 games), 1/3 Kulich, and 1/3 whoever else. That combo doesn't bring that much less offense than Cozens did the last few years, but they still make a ton less mistakes. I don't know if we have short memories or not, but Dylan Cozens in some cases single handedly ruined games for the team with blind passes, turnovers, and mostly being totally out of position allowing goals in close games for the Sabres last year that they lost by 1 or 2. Cozens needed to go, he wasn't going to contribute here. If he turns it around in Ottawa, good for him (by the way, he's not turning it around yet in Ottawa. He's played 30 games there now, 7 goals, 13 assists, and a -10...and 82 game pace of 19 goals, 35 assists and a staggering but famaliar -27 on an Ottawa team that has been better than Buffalo) In other words, he is still who he has been. The real question is, should the Sabres have taken 'futures' for Cozens instead of Norris? A mid-to-late 1st rounder and/or a prospect?

As I said before, most things with Pegula after the first year or two of ownership have been about (or a combination of) being a.) Cheap b.) a shortcut c.) about nostalgia d.) about him not hiring anyone that will talk back to him

With a lot of other advantages in Florida that do not exist in Buffalo. Not all... For many of the mistakes his franchises made since pegula has taken over was because of shortcuts... Rushing things... Doing things for nostalgic reasons... Doing things because they're cheap... Or convenient. Most failed moves had at least one of those qualities... If not multiple ones.

Then you trade for them or you wait until the off season. If that is the best thing to do long-term... In my opinion is that's the way I would go, I'm not going to pass up that just because I have to wait a few months.

No, not like them at all. Well maybe a little bit like the reputation housley had. I'm talking about finding a team that's very successful... Looking at the assistant coaches.. And not just as a fan but as somebody close to hockey... Identifying and assisting coach who is exposed to a winning culture... And who has a reputation for working well with players, being a rising star, maybe instrumental in running one of the best penalty killing or power plays. I don't know who that is... But you have 60 to 100 assistant coaches out there to choose from. Identify one, throw some money at them. I'm not a big fan of "old man hockey". If the team is going to fail, I'd rather have them fail looking toward what the game might be in the future, not trying to play how it was played 5 to 10 years ago.

Not me. I don't want any of the retreads that aren't good enough to have a current job despite history. Find me someone up and coming again. I know housley kind of had that reputation but... This team needs a total blowing up and starting over and I want someone who's at least interesting... If not innovative and keeping up with League trends as a coach.

I mean.. not to go too far down this rabbit hole but I'm not sure why Pegula wants to keep this team and not sell it. He's got a crumbly old arena... But his NFL franchise is moving into a shiny new Palace. The hockey team has a dwindling fan base and whoever's left is in an uproar... While the football team has even the most casual fans stumbling over themselves to buy more merchandise with the logo on it. Anytime he spends with the hockey team... He could probably just as easily be more around the football team and be getting more national attention and adoration. The football team generates so much more revenue and is worth so much more... Pardon me thinks why does he even want to bother keeping the hockey team.. just find somebody to sell it to in facilitate the sale. That.. And at least for the next couple of years his life becomes so much more enjoyable. Maybe he can even keep a very small minority stake in the hockey team... Just so he can still be acknowledged as a minority owner and get his luxury box seed if or when he wants to show up to a game.

I think it's both at the same time just in different ways He's too involved and that he wants to take part in every decision... He has ideas of his own and he has people around him that enable those bad ideas... Including his fingers on the roster. It's not enough because he doesn't put the time in... The research in himself... He doesn't have enough conversations with people and the organization who are experts in a certain field. Basically to him, the sabres are like a fantasy hockey team that he spends 5 minutes thinking about but then wants to make all the decisions. He's too involved... But doesn't put the time in.

I'm not liking McLeods game all that much recently. I thought at the very end of last year, his overall play (defensive positioning) slipped a tad, but I chalked it up as a 'blip' in an otherwise breakout season. His positioning and play in all 3 zones seems to not be up to where it needs to be in the first few games this year also. I like McLeod, big fan, but something to watch.

I just read on social media that Samuelson is hurt and out again. Not that it's terribly unexpected with him, but these injuries are beyond comical.

But actually we do, or at least I do. I put in my 20 minutes, 30 minutes, maybe an hour of discussion... Then I walk away and do something else. Another sport, listen to some maple leaf talk out of Toronto... A big part of changing things up for me though is when I'm traveling to turn on the radio and to be able to hear more than talk about one team over and over. Here isn't the only place though. In the early 2000s I lived in Boston and... As good as the Patriots were about to become. Sometimes WEEI was all Red Sox all the time. You would think even the bruins and Celtics didn't exist, and the Patriots would get a nod occasionally but nothing more.

I can understand that. I think I'm different for a couple of ways. 1. This team and this franchise brings very little joy to my life... And it's been like that for a while.. 2. For a good part of my life, I had moved away from Western New York before returning recently, and I found out that I didn't need the daily talk about a local team for me to enjoy the sports. 3. I used to love the bills. Watched every game, always played with them when I was a kid in video games, memorized the rosters. Mega fan. Now I really don't care about them much at all. My life hasn't materially changed having the bills being a big part of it versus not. So no, I don't want them to leave but if they did.... It wouldn't have a major impact on my life... I would fill the void with something else and honestly... That's something else would probably actually be better and make me happier.

I will admit I'm no longer a big Bills fan. Through the first 25 years of my life. I was a much bigger Bills fan but not anymore. Even with that said... What I don't get is when I do listen to wgr about the bills... It's just the same things over and over and over non-stop. Then the next show it's the same things over and over. I guess more people tune in when they talk about the bills so that's what they're going to do. But at some point... Doesn't the general population get tired of just listening to that repeated non-stop and want something a little bit different?

It's 40 minutes before face off... And WGR is still talking about the same football stories over and over and over. Is the pregame show... And maybe even the game on a different station? Anyone know? I'm out of town and fumbling through my audio/radio streaming apps and I'm not sure where to look to find it

I'm not there with you on moving the team yet, although.. to be honest.. it wouldn't crush me if that happened. As far as everything else... Trading players, even the Stars... Coaching or front office moves.. Even a new owner... I'm all for as many of those as possible that can happen right now.

You're correct. I posted in a different thread earlier.. Or maybe this one, I'll buy back in when they have more points than games played and they have a positive goal differential. So even though you're correct, it's hard to be positive about this team in the current state, state and position. They are in two games in.. at least for now. Thompson has approached 50 goals two of the last 3 years. Tuch has been north of 35 two of the last 3 years. It will be really nice to see one... Or both of them break through. I get it on the holidays but as others have said... This isn't a holiday that many people have off for. I actually like the afternoon 1:00 p.m. games on Saturday. I wish they would do more of those.

I'm not dismissing that point... As that is part of the game day experience and yeah that needs to get better too. It's just I never really thought about it because as much as we complain about stuff like that and the arena and the seats... That is way, way down on the list of problems with the team at this moment. A two-game winning streak.. outscoring the opponents by five or six goals can turn opinions on the team around pretty quickly, but you're right, even the arena experience they can't get done correctly. I heard some people like the overpriced food though.

The frustrating part... Actually that's a bad statement because there are so many frustrating parts... But for a lot of us we don't ask for a lot. Just a little relevance early in the season. To not feel like you're playing Catch up one week into the season. For the first two months of the season, I don't need them to be battling for first overall in the league. To be leading the division... Just have a positive goal differential and just have more points than games played. Two games into the season and those two things look like monumental tasks already.

I think a lot of people are there already. For different reasons. For some it might be that they want that top pick in the draft... Kind of another version of a tank. For others they want changes, massive changes. General manager, coach, the more people have to go the better. And I think there is a third group of people that is growing. People who just want to feel something with this team. If they are truly awful, at least it gives some emotion and something to talk about.