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It's always possible. The lineup is in desperate need of a legit playmaker. Right now there are 12 forwards under contract: Norris, Thompson, Tuch, Zucker, Greenway, Quinn, Lafferty, Krebs, Malenstyn, Benson, Doan and Kulich. McLeod and Kozak are RFAs. That's 14 guys for likely 13 jobs. I'd have no problem at all moving on from Krebs and Lafferty and bringing in an actual playmaker.

It looks like the forward plan right now is to hope a mix of Norris, Benson, Quinn and Kulich replace Peterka’s production. While I hate the JJP trade in general even I will admit that the idea that it is possible for those four if the stay healthy and if the younger guys continue to improve for the offense to overcome the loss of Peterka. That said it’s a typical hope and pray from Adams especially given Quinn and Norris’ injury histories. This looks on paper like another attempt Moneypuck.

It’s less about position and more about an opportunity to replace JJPs production. That said Quinn can play either side and was drafted as a RW. JJP can play both sides as well.

Power is a defenseman who can’t play defense. It’s his friggin job to play at least decent defense. Power offense is not elite enough to make up for his horrific defense. JJP job as a top 6 forward is to score with defense a secondary consideration. In Adams world apparently it’s more important for the forwards to play defense than score while D need to score and who cares if they can play defense. How is that working so far? We had 3 D in the top 35 in scoring yet our goals against was one of the worst in the league and tanked our season.

Big opportunity for him with JJP gone.

It's very sad. They argue that he was lousy defensively. Who cares! He's only 23. Last I looked his job was to score and create offense, which he does very well. Why don't these same people criticize Power? Last I looked his job was to play defense. He can't. To make matters worse he's also on an albatross contract. Byram is basically the same, except he actually tries on defense (not successfully, but at least he tries). Our defense is one of the worst in the NHL. Maybe start fixing it, not by weakening the offense, but by clearing out the 17+ mill in bad contract being paid to Power, Samuellson and Clifton.

Trade grades The Athletic - 3 A- for Utah, 2 B and a C+ for Buffalo ESPN - U A+, Buf B- CBS - U B+, Buf C+ Daily Faceoff - U A-, Buf C USA Today - U A-, Buf B Yardbarker - U A, Buf C+

"I wouldn't be surprised" That's not an accusation, it's stating a possibility. An accusation is saying " I know Adams spread negative information about a player." Those are vastly different things.

I didn't accuse Adams of anything. I said I wouldn't be surprised if Adams bad mouth JJP to the media to give him an excuse to avoid keeping him and it's just as possible that Rivet is parroting what he heard from "insiders." You should know by now that agents and management use the media to get out their "message." How many times has Adams utilized the phrase he "only wants players who want to be here." What a great built in excuse for his continued failure to acquire and keep the necessary talent to build a winner.

Lol, so it’s all JJP’s fault that this team didn’t make the playoffs. Not the bad coaching, poor management, defensemen who can’t play defensemen or the crap goaltending. No it’s JJP’s fault because he was out for himself. I’m sorry, but that’s really funny. Yes he did. He’s also only 23.

Well I guess if Craig and Petey said it must be true. They have never ever floated pure BS during a podcast. Give me a break. No one goes from the AHL at 19 to a nearly 70 pt player in the NHL at 22 without working hard.

Please people stop with the Marner talk. He isn’t coming to Buffalo for $20 mill a year. He wants to win and win now. Adams and Pegula don’t believe in winning in the NHL.

You don’t think Mitts had earned an extension after back to back 50+ pt season and being our best utility forward?

lol, I love the sudden bad mouthing of Peterka. I guess it’s human nature. All this kid did was work hard and improve every year he was in the organization. I wouldn’t be surprised if Wormtongue Adams spread the rumor JJP wanted out so he’d have an excuse not to pay him. Remember this is the genius GM who gave out long term deals one year wonders Cozens, Samuelsson, UPL and Power and didn’t give deals to players who earned new deals like Ullmark, Reinhart, Mitts and Peterka. The only brightside of this deal is that we have a top 4 RHD. The fact it’s 3-4 years too late to save this sinking ship is another issue. Can’t wait to see what his new deal will be when he gets traded because his contract demands will be to much for the incompetent Adams.

That’s completely un-true. Go back and read the articles about the McLeod trade, or every talent pool analysis or every discussion of a player’s career. The perception at the time of the Savoie trade was that we didn’t get enough for Savoie. Whether it matters on the ice is a second question, but it amazing how many opportunities former 1st rd picks seem to get such as Jeff Jillson for example. The truth is it does matter.

I like the addition of Kesselring, but giving up JJP for him was much too high a price.

Talk about apples to oranges Harrington. Fans have wanted to dump prospects for real NHL players for years. Fans also wanted to move especially from some of the Smaller forward draftees. What fans didn’t like was getting a 3rd line forward for a top 10 draft pick. This is completely different trade. We gave away the better player, an emerging elite forward for decent RHD and a young forward who doesn’t score goals and may only ever be a 4th line forward. We didn’t get good value for a 23 year 1st line forward. Also for all Adams moves last year, the team regressed even if McLeod and Zucker played well. So could this work out? Sure it could, but the team trading away the better player rarely “wins” the deal.

I'm sure they will enjoy their season here until they are traded at the deadline as Terry and Adams don't want to pay anyone to try to actually win.

Rochester

As if that’s happening. He trading Byram for a cost controlled depth D and a draft pick. The D group for next year has now been completed Dahlin Kesselring Power JDB Samuelsson Clifton Bryson Depth D from Byram trade. Very exciting times in Sabreland.

Here is something to make everyone feel better. Kesserling is an RFA after next season. So who is he getting trade for at the deadline so that KA can keep Samuelsson and not pay the newcomer? Bo Byram/Mitts trade 2.0 with the same future results. To make matters worse he has given every young player who is “unhappy” a way out of town. This franchise is just about dead. By the way no one is going to “like” Doan. He isn’t his Dad. He is at best a bottom 6 forward who has shown no ability to score goals. At least he’s young and cheap. The only person thrilled with this trade is Quinn. He now gets a chance to prove he can play in a top 6 role. When he plays well, Adams will trade him too. Very exciting times in Sabreland.

After 54 years I’m done as well. This Sabres are now the Marlins of the NHL, but at least the Marlins won 2 WS.

I’m going to call BS on that stat. There is no way that 14.7% 5 on 5 is an NHL record. I also disagree that a regression is going to happen. The kid has improved all 3 NHL seasons. He may top out as a 75 pt guy, but how many forwards of even that level have we drafted and developed since the tank? 2, Eichel and Reinhart who were both 2nd overall picks. We didn’t draft Thompson.

Happy for Alex. When does Rick Martin get in?

Belicheat won Super Bowls, Adams has won ……nothing as a GM.