Curt

Kim Pegula is President of everything. I think that’s the right answer. The titles are a little wonky from an organizational chart perspective because they stick a GM and sometimes Assistant GMs between the President and VPs. Basically it seems like Ventura is going to be head of all data analysis operations. That should be for analyzing prospects, NHL players, the tendencies/strengths/weaknesses of other teams as well as for the Sabres.

That’s all I’ve got too. Karmanos and Ventura have worked together before, so he knows exactly what he is getting. With a VP title, it looks like Ventura is going to be a very central part of this management group (basically pushing Nightengale aside in the process).

The Pens do not, but they also keep trading away draft picks and prospects for NHL players. He’ll be taking coffee and lunch orders soon.

Karmanos worked with Ventura previously on championship teams. No surprise that he wanted to bring him in to work together again.

Wow. This is crazy and shocking and tragic and weird. This is why people tell each other to stay safe around holidays like this.

It would need to be a deal with some salary coming back. If Tampa can assemble a roster with Kucherov, Point, Stamkos, Cirelli, Hedman, Sergachev, Vasilevsky....... then I don’t see why it’s impossible for Colorado to keep MacKinnon, Eichel, Rantanen, Landeskog, Makar, Girard, Grubauer.

I really don’t think that will happen. Eichel might be pissed at the Sabres, but he still wants to play. If he is healthy, I believe he will play. I think that’s his #1 priority.

Your quote was about basketball, no? I know I was late to the discussion, so I don’t blame you.

I’m kind of in the same boat as you. After the Sabres season was done, I turned my attention to the NBA playoffs. It’s been fun, except for all the injuries. Greatest player ever is up for debate.

Why would they? The Sabres don’t own or run the radio station. I say this, but there could be loose affiliation between the station and Sabres.

Disagree. The success/failure of Adams tenure will be associated with the teams performance. If his return for Eichel is generally considered to be surprisingly good, but the team still sucks in 2025, it’s not going to matter much what the return was.

WGR is a daytime radio talk show. They are not the reason that the Buffalo Sabres are bad.

I really don’t think Dahlin is slow, but he isn’t super fast either. I disagree with the characterization that we are in an era of speed skating defensemen and Dahlin is the odd guy out.

I don’t think this is true. Who are all of these incredibly fast and dynamic defensemen? Makar is fast. Fox isn’t really that fast, is he?

The game vs sport classification is not based on the level of professionalism or seriousness with which it’s done. Also, game vs sport isn’t the right distinction, because most sports are also games. An activity is not strictly one or the other.

Would you hire an 18 year old to a job that would entail them being a high profile part of your company for the next 7-8 years without interviewing them? What type of person these kids are matters just as much as their talent.

To be fair, the draft is over 3 weeks away. The draft combine, where most interviews would normally happen, is usually about 3 weeks before the draft. I don’t want to skewer them for something they might be doing this week or next week, which is fine, but if they never interview him, then yeah, that seems neglectful.

Dahlin has already produced at a rate similar to that. 2019-20 he had 40 points in 59 games. That’s 55-56 points over a full season. I think he can do even more. If Dahlin takes an actual step forward next season, in addition to being unleashed a bit, I don’t think something like 10-55-65 is pie in the sky.

I get people are concerned about Pegula making hockey decisions, but this has gone too far.

Wasn’t the report that they had Rossi high BEFORE Adams took over?

That’s actually really nice to hear. Makes me feel like maybe they aren’t terrible at their jobs.

Apparently if they are keeping people through the draft, this guy isn’t one of them. I don’t necessarily think they need to get THIS guy, but they need to get a few SMART guys. Whoever they are.

I definitely see what you are talking about. He sometimes seems hesitant or to be second guessing what to do in the defensive zone, but I’m going to agree with Liger. I think, and hope, that this is mostly to to do with the constraints placed on him. I don’t really recall him being so hesitant during his rookie year, or even when he was playing confidently in the 2nd half of his 2nd year.

Long legs look slow.

Who are all of these extra fast D men you are talking about? Makar and........? Fox is a good skater, and maybe his straight line speed is a bit better than Dahlin, but I don’t think Fox is extremely fast or anything.