GASabresIUFAN

The genius KA waives a 3rd player who he retained/re-signed who any observer of the Sabres knew should have been sent packing this off-season. The Sabres are now paying over $5 mill to Jost, Bryson and Stillman to play for the Amerks. That’s $5 mill that could have been used on players who could have improved the roster. Just further evidence that Adams has no idea how to build a championship roster. Add those three to the retention of Z and KO and you have to wonder if this team will ever turn the corner under its current leadership.

This team can't even win two in a row much less 5.

Why wait? Shake up the locker room. Trading the Captain is a great place to start.

The Sabres are -18 in the differential for the season. That means we are +4 after the 1st period. What this lets me is that the Sabres are coming out flat most nights and are almost always playing from behind. This is a leadership issue from the coaches and top players.

Hope springs eternal. Keep the faith brother.

Here is what should happen with this roster if our GM is truly serious about winning. Forwards Benson TNT Tuch JJP Cozens Quinn Mitts ???? Skinner ???? ???? Greenway Defense Dahlin ???? Power Ryan Johnson Mule Clifton Goalies Levi Veteran?? I think there are 5 slots that should be filled with outside talent: Veteran Goalie, 3rd line center, 4th line center, a 4th line winger, and a top 4 D. Admittedly bringing in that many established players would probably blow KA’s budget. In addition, at least one of top 3 forward prospects will make the team. It will be easier to incorporate one of the kids by moving Mitts to center and opening a winger slot for the rookie. I can see at least one of the 3 top forwards prospects being included in a trade to get a top 4 D.

I hope TNT and his family are ok.

Capfriendly lists our team’s average age as 25.5. Nearly all the Sabres UFAs are among the oldest players on the roster. In fact, the only Sabre under contract older than 28 is Skinner who is currently 31. Clifton is currently 28. Here are the Sabres UFAs (current age) : Okposo 35, Eric Johnson 35, Olofsson 28, Girgensons 29, Robinson 28, and Comrie 28. I’m not expecting any of them back. Here are possible internal replacements (age next season) : Kulich 20, Novikov 21, Rosen 21, Savoie 20, and Rousek 25. RFA’s who may not return (age next season) Krebs 23, Jokiharju 25, and UPL 25. Honestly, I don’t want any of them back either, but I expect at least Krebs to return. Given KA’s stubborn adherence to his “plan,” here is what the team might look like. Forwards: Skinner TNT Tuch Benson Cozens Quinn JJP Mitts Rosen Rousek Krebs Greenway Defense: Dahlin Samuelsson Power Ryan Johnson Novikov Clifton Goalies: Levi, UPL Anybody think this roster has a snowballs chance in hell of making the playoffs?

Bye-bye.

Marty never actually played in the playoff game for the Sabres. I think the 5th one is Fuhr. How sad is that?

Miller, Shields, Roloson, Hasek, not sure who the 5th would be.

Fire Ellis. Waive Jost. Waive Comrie. Trade Okposo. That would be just the start.

Good question. Probably the same as Ellis. Nothing.

Oh look a goal by EJ. Nice screen by Tuch. Imagine if they played like that all the time. Never mind.

How is supposed to improve when he doesn’t have a coach who can teach the position? He does most things well, but nothing great. However, this coaching staff has no idea how to utilize his skills and the GM has no idea how to acquire a top 4 D to partner with him.

Top 5? We have the 6th worst points%. Do you see anything to keep this team from backsliding further?

They have an identity. It’s called the invisible team.

Is there any hope for this team?

No one said the players don’t care about Buffalo or the fans. There is ample evidence they do care, Questioning KA’s commitment to winning is a legit question given how he has constructed the team. The thread asks a question and posters are welcome to argue either side. I believe that the organization isn’t committed to winning, but it’s certainly possible, as someone posted above, is that KA is simply incompetent and doesn’t know how to move the team forward. If you believe that KA and the team is committed to winning, you are welcome to say so and bring any evidence you have to support that contention to the discussion. Maybe the argument is that he is committed but his timetable is longer than the media and fans want.

It is a legitimate question at this point. He says he wants to win. He said this season is about making the playoffs, but actions speak louder than words. Proof that he isn’t serious 1. He has yet to bring in a legit No.1 goalie since Ullmark walked. In fact, he left the goaltending in the hands of 3 players with a total of 100 NHL games between them. Not surprisingly this strategy has failed. 2. Save Tuch, KA has yet to acquire a top 4 D or a top 6 forward in trade or through free agency who actually improved the team. The Tuch acquisition only came through trading away our no. 1 center. Compare KA’s track record so far to Regiers’. Darcy acquire Briere, Drury, Teppo, Connolly, Lydman, Hecht and Grier to supplement his drafted core of Vanek, Roy, Miller, Max, Kotalik, Tallinder, Campbell and Kalinin (plus 4 other drafted regulars). When he let McKee go, he replaced him with another top 4 D in Spacek. Other than Greenway, what moves of similar quality has Adams made? Also remember, while Miller was a rookie, he already had a year in the A under his belt and the Sabres had a proven vet in Marty Biron (246 games) already on the roster. The argument that KA has tried to get the right pieces doesn’t work. This is a success oriented business and Adams has failed time and again to get the right pieces in. Other GM’s manage to get goaltending and complete trades for needed help, why can’t Adams? 3. He hasn’t supplemented his roster in season in a meaningful way despite massive injuries the last two seasons except at the deadline. Even then his best acquisition was a bottom 6 forward in Greenway. His in-season moves have been garbage depth players like Robinson, Subban, and Jost. Admittedly, in-season trades are harder to make, but they happen every year. So far guys like Tatar, Zadorov, and Beauvillier have all changed teams. Beauvillier specifically would have been a very welcome addition to our depleted forward group.

When Benson was in Egypt land, let my Benson go!

Are you saying that many of the people on this site are as disinterested in winning as KA is? Lucky somewhat. He was supposed to be a top 6 pick. The only real question was how quickly he'd become an NHLer not if. He has exceeded expectations and you are correct that Adams was lucky he did as the other 3 aren't NHL-ready, but Savoie is probably close. I think you'll admit that even Adams wasn't sure that Benson would be NHL ready at 18. Regardless of how good our junior scouting is, there is no way they'd have penned in at 18 year old into the lineup unless it was a player like Bedard or even Eichel. 2nd overall pick Reinhart was returned to juniors.

Don't we kind of know that anyway?

If we had that kind of leadership wouldn't you expect a more consistent effort night in and night out? Benson should have been allowed to go, but I understand a GM not wanting a prize player to leave and get injured at the tourney. That said this season is already done, might as well have let the kid go. I guess KA figures the kid (and Levi) will play for Canada at Worlds once the Sabres are eliminated from playoff contention.

How can you say that? Didn't he add the great Mr. Robinson to the neighborhood?