PerreaultForever

Stars play D first shutdown hockey, which is why they were such a good road team all year. It's not pretty, but it wins.

Oh no that's all fair, but the point that matters to me is that the "full cupboard" can't get it done so I question how good that full cupboard is. That's all. No more no less.

I'm suggesting that he's a potential player that MIGHT be available on a team that MIGHT be enticed by a draft pick. The thread is a hypothetical idea but I didn't see anybody making a viable suggestion so I asked the question. Is Laughton a first round pick in value? No, but it might take a first round pick to pry him away from his team. Added to the Sabres current roster we instantly become a better team as Krebs can be 4C where he belongs (if in the NHL at all). So I ask you, trade the pick so for who? Who would want to make that deal and who will give you what you want for it? Who? I'd offer that pick to Boston for Trent Frederic but I very much doubt Boston would be interested.

I think he's AI generated.

The only one I can up with myself (possibly) is Scott Laughton. The Flyers are rebuild/compete, can't quite figure out which or trying to do both and his name was mentioned as available last year. 2way 3C. They might not want to make that deal any more.

I'm curious but what/who do people think we can get for this 11th pick? Which team(s) do you think have what we need and would want this pick in exchange?

Could easily be. I may have said something similar back then. It does often feel like we are going in circles and things repeat. The names change, the results don't.

Making the playoffs isn't hard? Well if that's true then I guess the Sabres aren't just a sh*tshow, they are a colossal sh%tshow.

That's valid. Optimistic and a little bit in the realm of "hope and pray" but valid. That is sort of how we differ for sure. I'm just more of a burned out cynic after all these years. I don't doubt that Adams is "trying to do" it but I don't see it happening and question how it can happen the way he's doing it. How do you teach kids to be leaders when they aren't surrounded by leaders who teach them and hold them accountable? There's too much faith in some sort of organic process where it all just magically comes together. I will believe it when I see it.

That's all fine, and I said it should be "go time" when we ended last season but he wanted another year of futility so okay, now it's "go time" so what is he going to do to make it "go time"? Stay the course? Just hire Ruff? I will believe it actually is different, and it is "go time" when I see the roster improvement through free agency and/or trades. Until then it's just the same old bs.

True, but the catch 22 comes from the NHL team constantly rebuilding. We don't incrementally improve, we keep tearing down and starting over and changing directions constantly. This is what I'm saying in the other thread. We trade Mitts and now need a 3C (or 2C). We get Byram who is a lesser version of Montour who we already had. It's a constant cycle that gets us nowhere.

Condescending bullcrap. That list you have given is a garbage list. How many NHL games for that sorry lot? That is NOT a group of NHL depth players.

I totally agree and have said this all year. I think he's better on the wing and I don't think his ice vision is great at center. He seems to see and favour one side and hence only one of his wingers. I don't know if it's a bad habit or he thinks too slow for the pace or it's just lazy but it's what he does. There is hope Ruff can correct it though.

I am actually concerned that the Sabres plan for center next year might very well be Thompson, Cozens, Krebs, Savoie and that's it.

It's supposed to be both though. It's a development league and also a storage facility for your depth players. The Sabres don't seem to value that part very much. Ideally what you get from that as well is a mix of good character veterans that help teach these kids and they "develop" just being around and watching pros work. The culture you want starts there. If we are creating a culture of "not blocking" these kids are just putting in their time knowing they will get the call after they put in the days. It's stupid.

You miss the point though. He was never supposed to be a "high output scorer". He's a role player. A competent bottom six player, and what are we all saying this year (and last), "we need to improve the bottom 6" so why? Because we haven't built a roster over the years with our own mix of decent bottom six players. Yes, he's an older Peyton Krebs. At this point still better than Peyton Krebs, so why the F did we have to have a Peyton Krebs as part of a trade of our superstar? Do you get my point now? We keep creating our own holes. We now have a hole at 3C because we traded Mitts for a defenseman that is really just a softer version of Brandon Montour. This is why we do not get better.

Yes, if I'm not mistaken it's just down the road from Tuch's. I think they could car pool .

I know it's easy to criticize the Ruff hire but he is the first real NHL coach since himself so if you want to stay a fan you have to take that hope. He did pretty well with NJ when they had some goaltending. I think he understands the current game pretty well. Honestly if Ruff doesn't work out what's left? Nothing but a Pegula sale and that likely won't happen.

That's what I was saying. We haven't had a real NHL coach since Ruff and now it's Ruff again. But the list in between is laughable. Same for GMs. All green and full of mistakes and then they have to work with a meddling owner. Just saying every year in the playoffs we see ex Sabres doing just fine. The list of mistakes is LONG.

Nothing in there about what the "next phase" actually is and he's just sticking to "the plan" so whatever.

Which is only an issue if you don't build your AHL team with grinders and some failed NHLers. Rochester is a complete mirror of the Sabres and has the very same roster construction issues. It's not really that surprising.

and watching Zadorov in these playoffs you have to add him in. Here's the very guy most of us think our D desperately needs/lacks and we'd drafted him. He could have been a lifetime Sabres but no, we didn't think he was worth having either. Geniuses, just total geniuses.

Remember when the Sabres decided they had no use for E-Rod? Remember when they decided Montour was garbage and had to go? Wonderful management we've had over the years and when you watch these guys filling their roles in solid fashion on other teams you have to come to realize it's never been the players (as a whole), it's always been the coaching. This is why Ruff excites me and gives me a little hope. No, he's not the best coach but he's a real NHL coach. We haven't actually had a real experienced NHL coach since.......well, since Ruff. (I don't count Nolan V2 cause that was a screw job tank and no coach could deal with that). Looks like Bruins will be out in 5.

As will Clifton.