GASabresIUFAN

While this may be true it still flows from the lack of centers. If Quinn had a good center to play with to get him the puck on a consistent basis I sincerely doubt he be playing center right now.

It's not a negative. I'm simply saying had management done their jobs properly this experiment wouldn't be necessary. My comments are not an indictment of Quinn, but a criticism of the organization.

If the policy had allowed the surgery then it probably would have happened. The stories of the ADR being "experimental" is insurance speak for a non-covered procedure. No one is going to underwrite a new policy with Jack's now pre-existing condition. The old policy maybe re-negotiated because all policies are negotiable in that industry. However too change the risk in the policy would involve more premium or some type of medical proof that the non-previously approved procedure is medically necessary. Had Jack gone to medical arbitration and won, the Sabres would have a great case for forcing the insurance company to waive their objections to the ADR procedure. To date we have no information that anyone has tried to renegotiate the policy or get them to waive their objections to ADR. I thought it was good news on that front when a news story mentioned Jack consulting a new set of West Coast Drs. However, nothing has come of it.

Actually I do know about the insurance. I have a close friend in the industry who creates these types of insurance products. He told me that the Sabres have a policy on Jack and that the typical policy in the industry pays 75%.

What in the last decade has given you any indication that this team has any idea what they are doing? Had we done a better job of draft and developing, we might even have a good team by now. The latest genius to inhabit the GM's office, KA, has drafted 7 wingers and 1 D in the 1st 3 rounds of the last 2 drafts. In addition to not drafting centers, we have a pipeline with zero quality centers outside of guys who have graduated to full time NHL duty. Simply put we lack talent at center in the pipeline. Am I not surprised that are experimenting with one of the wingers at center. No I'm not surprised. My point is it wouldn't be necessary has management done their job properly in the first place. Quinn was drafted to be a sniper and that is what he should be doing. Had they wanted a center they should have drafted Rossi or Perfetti. Honestly this experiment is further proof that they don't have a clue.

Had he received a reasonable offer that wasn't contingent of Jack being healthy, he'd have take it even if it wasn't his 4 pieces so that he could move on. He even took an in division trade to move on from Reinhart. He did draw a line in the sand by standing firm on the medical procedure to follow. He also tried to build a better team to appease Jack. Trading for Staal, signing Eakin and Hall, were all to appease Jack and RK. It failed miserably. He also couldn't allow Jack to get ADR because of the contract insurance. Like I said earlier, I'm not really sure what Adams could have done differently but give Jack away for nothing or take him off the market. Remember I want KA fired. If I could see away to agree with you I would.

Sorry, that doesn't work. You don't experiment with a kid to his non-natural position unless you have no choice. Been saying that for years.

What do you think he could have done differently?

I'm shocked, shocked I say. I wonder if there is an opportunity here for KA to throw Jack an olive branch of sorts by not removing the C. Instead he'll have 3 assistant C's, like KO, Dahlin and whomever as the Jack situation resolves itself. This would help leave open a chance for Jack to return.

6% or 7% is meaningless. All it means is that KA can't sign another 750K veteran replacement player.

It's a fair question, but hopefully the team has made some real progress by then. At least it's a 3 years instead of one or 2.

In defense of Adams what exactly was he supposed to do here? He is between a rock and a hard place. He has a valuable injured player with a potential career threatening injury. He owes that player $50 mill in guaranteed money and has an insurance policy protecting 75% of the liability. This can only play out in so many ways 1) He trades Jack for nothing to a team willing take on the contract liability and the injury. My guess is there will be a buyer or two here, but KA isn't trading him for nothing. 2) He tries to get value for Jack in trade, but no team wants the contract liability until Jack's proven healthy. Therefore he hasn't been traded 3) KA approves the surgery Jack wants, but that potentially voids the insurance and if it fails, KA has no insurance, no player and a $50 mill liability. No one would go down this road 4) Jack has the surgery the team wants. From Jack's point of view, this is a non-starter, because the more traditional ACDF surgery can limit his motion and I believe it has a longer recovery time according to what I've read. 5) Jack has the surgery without permission from the club. This voids his contract costing him $50 mill and if it fails, his career is probably over. Not a risk worth taking 6) Stalemate continues - Jack reports, goes on IR and the Sabres make a claim on their policy. This is where this gets interesting. Assuming they don't try to deny the claim, the insurance company will probably be more open to alternative treatments in order to get Jack back on the ice and playing in order to limit their own obligations on the contract. My guess is to get them to change their opinion, there has to be more medical evidence that ADR is the way to go and additional premium $ need to be paid. Other then the PR battle, I'm not exactly sure what KA was supposed to do differently. I have no affection for KA the GM, but I'm not really sure what else he could do here if Jack won't have the team prescribed surgery? His only other option was to trade Jack for pennies on the dollar. I wonder if Fish got fired for not giving Jack control of his health care in the contract.

And two great safeties in Poyer and Hyde. Now if we can just get a corner to upgrade Wallace.

I believe this team will have more Sabres developed prospects then any team during the rebuild. There are vets here. Anderson, KO, Skinner, Eakin, Miller even Girgensons, but most of the key roles will be kids. There are no Kanes, RORs and Bogosians in key roles.

Maybe - Power is his guy and we know that KA is cleaning house. Maybe - Dahlin likely thinks that this could be his team given the clean out, but does he and his agents think that there is any future here given the current inept management? We have seen both the positives and negatives of bridge deals. We saved cap and we certainly received good value for the money on Reinhart and Ullmark. However now 2 key players are gone because we failed to commit to them long term when we had the chance. We have also seen the problem with long and medium extension. The Jack fiasco, KO, Skinner and even Risto who didn’t play to his $5.4 mill cap hit. I’d offer 6 for 6 and go from there.

Why is this a surprise?

If playing in the olympics was so important, maybe he and his agents should have worked to get this done earlier.

Photoshopped

What does that change? Had they drafted a center or two, they wouldn't have had to experiment this season with Quinn as a center. With Cozens and R2 in the NHL, who is our top center prospect(s)? The only centers in the pipeline are 5th rd Costantini, 6th rd Von Barnekow, and 7th rounders Konecny and Kozak. Odds against any of these four ever playing a minute in the NHL are significant. It's even more unlikely that any of the 4 even become NHL regulars.

FYI - FROM USC Spine center https://www.uscspine.com/treatement-options/back-treatment/artificial-disc-replacement-adr/ If ADR isn't FDA approved for neck surgery, why has this even been an issue?

https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/tapping-into-offensive-talent-may-have-sabres-prospect-ryan-johnson-on-cusp-of-pro-career/article_a2a06b4c-123c-11ec-be65-5f1b5018e74c.html @LGR4GM I thought you'd find this interesting. We could see a much more O oriented Johnson this college campaign. Some final thoughts on the prospect challenge. Maybe had we drafted a center or 2 we wouldn't have to move a winger (Quinn) to center. However, I think JJP justified my high ranking for him and I obviously ranked Murray to low. I'm really interested to se how JJP, Quinn. Murray and Weissbach develop this fall/winter in Rochester.

Honestly I looks like Josh is trying to do to much. The receivers have dropped passes they usually catch and I don’t think Josh is getting the ball out quickly enough with our not great Oline so far. That said two games aren’t a regression. If he is still at 55% six games in then we should worry. It was nice to see a better running game.

Sadly I think he’ll be our 4th line center to start the year. He should be waived and given the Matt Moulson treatment. We need an option of 4th C but inadequate in that role.

I agree I don’t think this “change” has anything to do with Jack’s agent or a softening of the Sabres position. It has to do with insurance money and their willingness to explore the best options to get Jack on the ice to avoid a huge claim.

ACDF, which is the upgrade from standard fusion surgery. I know Jack wants ADR, but I don’t think it’s FD approved here for use in neck surgery.