Curt

Describes Sabres?

Oh man, confidence? I don’t know that I have real confidence in much of anything regarding this team. I like Adams fine. I like what he says he wants to do. The sample size is a bit small to evaluate him beyond that. A major potential obstacle is ownership. Will they allow Adams to be the GM, or will they be overly involved? Most recent report was that Adams went to FL to meet with them and got sign off on his plan moving forward. Hopefully that’s a good sign. If Jason Karmanos is brought on board, as is rumored, I like that move. He is very experienced in high level positions, but not ancient. He led the way in building out the analytics department in Pittsburgh, something that Adams has said he wants to do in Buffalo. Beyond that, I would like to see another prominent voice brought in. Whether that is a second experienced AGM, or someone with GM experience (Rutherford? Carolina gang?) in an advisory role. I would feel comfortable with that “brain trust”. I don’t think Adams NEEDS a PoHO above him, as long as he has (1) a few good people around him to discuss ideas with, and (2) a mostly free hand from ownership. As long an a good support team is around Adams, a lot of it will come down to, “is Adams good at being a GM?” We just don’t know yet. What FO additions and/or structure would make you feel comfortable?

*ding*....*ding*....*ding*....*ding* just kidding.......I hope.

Nothing that hiring an entirely new hockey department and turning over the entire roster can’t fix!

@PerreaultForever What players off this team would you want to keep? Im thinking: G- I’d bring back Ullmark. D- Dahlin, Jokiharju, Borgen, Bryson Would you bring back McCabe? F- Skinner almost has to be back for contractual reasons, Cozens, Girgensons, Lazar, Reider and Sheahan are whatever/maybes, Asplund can stay I guess. Would you try to salvage Mitts? He’s been a little better lately, but that might also be a sell high moment. Is this too many returning guys?

I don’t for sure this is the only way forward. Maybe, maybe if most of the roster is turned over a couple of the better players (Jack? Sam? Risto?) from this team could be part of a good Sabres team. However, I’m at the point where I will not be the least bit upset if the decision is to blow it up and move everyone out for a combination of players, prospects, and picks. They have already dumped a lot of the front office, players might be next. Rebuild the entire organization starting with a couple quality FO people who will decide on the coach who is aligned with their vision, and commit to keeping him in place for at least 3 years. Then FO and HC work together to ID and acquire players who really fit that vision, not just kind of fit it. The players need to be driving the vision as much as the FO or HC. I would rather field a less talented team of players who all have the same mindset, and bring the new prospects up through that environment, than have a more talented team of players who kinda/sorta have the same mindset. Just pretend that it’s an expansion team plus Skinner. They could just embrace the whole narrative of being scrappy underdogs, and everyone thinks they are a joke, but they are going to show everyone different. At least that is an identity that the right group of players can get behind.

The Sabres had the largest scouting department in the league from like 2013ish to 2020.

That’s not terrible. This offseason is when it starts to seem like a reasonable option, numbers wise.

Sorry to hear this. You are going to be feeling that for a while. Take it easy, heal up quick.

The first one. I think they might have fired the skating coaches.

Oh, yeah, sucks for Hutton that it was 5-3 that’s not his fault. I thought you meant something happened on the goal itself that was bad luck.

Was that a bad break?

Very aggressive PKing. A little bit too aggressive by Montour

So, is everyone going to get Covid again in this game?

Please say “Renewable Energy Implementation Specialist”.

Oh, I’m sure. It’s something he can improve on. He’s 20.

This discussion really makes me want to get my hands on that player tracking data that is coming next season. I don’t think Dahlin is slow at top speed, his acceleration is probably a little below average though. I think he hesitates (confidence) all the time and it makes him look slow. Plus taller guys always look a little slower.

I didn’t say one single word about Reinhart. I have no interest in discussing him with you. As far as I’m concerned, crusade on man. Thats your thing. Im just trying to point out a major defect in your pet statistic. This season, Sabres have one EN goal for and 8 against. That -7 differential is going to impact some of the guys who are on the ice at end of games fairly heavily.

@pi2000 Why is a poor +\- automatically indicative of poor defensive play? Is it not just as likely to indicative of poor offensive play. It’s not a defensive statistic, it weights offensive and defensive results equally. Also, the Sabres have given up 8, 8!, EN goals so far this season. Your stat is deeply, deeply flawed if those are just ignored and counted the same as an ES goal.

Id give Skinner a big thumbs down too, for a few reasons. He also has never been part of a winning team. He doesn’t play a complete 200 ft game, so he can’t lead by example in all areas. He is personally struggling mightily as a player right now, he doesn’t need any extra pressure.

No! Is Jack a good leader? If we are discussing who would be a good replacement as captain for a questionable leader in Jack, would you choose an equally questionable leader in Hall? On a somewhat related note, my goodness does this team need to add a few more guys who have played on good NHL teams! They are almost all career bottom dwellers.

As long as Jack is on the team, it’s moot, but why is Hall a leader? He has never even been a part of a good team.

Zero

Yes, I believe that it is Adams’ mission statement. I definitely understand why you feel that way. Adams has been in the job since June. I think he is honestly contemplating how to best rebuild the team in that image. Seems like he has been trying to figure out what he can get for just about everyone on the trade market.