PerreaultForever

It's a final contract. Do you really want a mercenary on a final contract? That's the first guy to quit if things get tough.

This is how my dominos of hope start to fall one by one...................

I agree with the sentiment but in no way can I see a guy like Stamkos coming here with some sort of motivation to drive this team forward. Kane I can imagine because of his childhood connection but Stamkos wouldn't come here to lead, he'd just be here for the money. If his motivation is a cup there are better landing spots including staying where he is.

I've been saying 3 but 4 would be even better. Totally agree. Jobs need to be earned. No more developing kids in the NHL and just handing them spots or even reserving spaces.

Good deal for Carolina. He was one of the guys I would have targeted. This is the number Samuelsson should be playing at, not the one he got.

Well as I said, too soon to tell, and I think we agreed on the initial point that people claiming Forton has done some sort of great drafting job is kind of silly and most definitely not proven. I actually don't see anybody (at the moment) pushing for an NHL job. There are a few maybes, but they all have to take another step or two forward first.

Yes lots of first rounders. More than anyone else. We've traded for additional ones to the ones we've drafted, and yet we're still not in the playoffs. So I'm not sure I'd spin this as "hardly any room for anyone outside of the first round" unless we were a good team and already competing for the cup. There's tons of room on this roster if you ask me.

E-Rod "hating to lose" https://www.nhl.com/news/evan-rodrigues-lessons-from-past-teammates-paying-off-for-florida-panthers That's the Shorsey refrain I was talking about earlier this year. Too many Sabres players and the general Sabres vibe under Granato was happy to win, but not enough of them hated to lose. Hopefully this changes under Ruff.

When you pick as high as we do and as often as we do with as many extra picks as we often have one would think we'd do better after our first rounders who are obviously highly rated and not that hard to choose. So far Peterka is the only one from the Adams era that has made the team. While it is too soon to tell I think saying he's drafted well is pretty silly.

I could see them moving Laine to Utah. I doubt they'd want Skinner. Waddell is not an idiot. I doubt anybody wants Skinner.

Really? I mean maybe, but I doubt it. I'm not sure any experienced GM, one with clout, would take a job in Buffalo anyway. The story on Waddell is he left Carolina because he was tired or owner meddling. We are the most meddled with team in the league.

I know you are joking, but it also wouldn't surprise me if Adams did this.

Oh heck no, at best Östlund is Tyler Ennis imo. I'm comparing Benson to Briere and I think @Scottysabres was too.

But Karmonos isn't a yes man (I don't think).

It will be interesting to see if they sit Okposo next game and dress Lomberg and/or Cousins. Florida is smart and disciplined though. They won't just go after him unless the game allows it. If it's a close game in Edmonton or they are ahead Florida will just stay the course.

I'm saying Pegula would do this and will do this (hoping we make the playoffs myself and so we never find out). He will only hire GMs that are yes men to him. There is no reason to think he'd change what he's already been doing.

My speculative guess (based on how Pegula has operated so far) is if Adams fails to get them into the playoffs this year he will be fired and Forton will be named as the new GM. Which would be absurd, but I'd bet on it.

But if you invest in the wrong thing.................... I knew what you meant and my comment was joking but there's a point to be made there. You spend money or you don't. You make decisions on thinking certain players will be all that or you don't pay them. There's no difference with these "investments" or with free agent signings. We've grossly overpaid Skinner. At the moment we are overpaying Cozens by a lot and Power. Matter of fact as I've said, at the moment they are all overpaid except Peterka and UPL (yet). (I'm not counting rookie deals like Benson) The key isn't wise investments or prudency or any mathematical formulas it's just can we make the team better and get in the playoffs or not. Adams needs to do whatever it takes to make that happen. If a free agent is too expensive make a trade. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

Yes, and remember Briere wasn't Briere at 18. Benson could be better than Briere.

With Barkov "questionable" the s#it would be hitting the fan right now if it was anybody but Draisaitl (or McDavid) that gave that headshot. Imagine what people would be saying if Bennett had done it to McJesus.

To the first paragraph no, I don't think he'd have the same level of success in Buffalo as in Boston, but that's not the question. The question would be can adding him get us enough more wins to make the playoffs? To the second paragraph yes, we haven't had a real NHL coach (as I've said before) since Ruff and now it's Ruff again. Older and wiser or burned out memory from yesteryear? Remains to be seen. I think a good hire and I think it'll help, but I do not want to go in just thinking he can magically change everything. I want a lineup put in place that will allow him to be the coach he can be. Fill the holes and let's put it all together rather than just trying one thing and wasting another year. Ruff needs to have enough of a roster that should he need to bench Skinner (or somebody else) he can and he can then whip them into shape. We don't want him handcuffed with a have to play this guy or that guy cause there's no alternative scenario. You can't coach successfully in that, nobody can.

You mean like Cozens and Power right.

E-Rod. How utterly fittingly hilarious (as we discuss our need for a 3C).

Too small imo. He looks small too. Doesn't have the squat frame Benson has or the fortitude. So we shall see, but I have my doubts.