Scottysabres

I've worked both over my time in trade. I am indifferent to it to be honest. Most unions don't have the teeth they once had, and I've always been one to chart my own destiny in trade, goal driven of course. But there are merits to job security. I just happen to be fortunate to of been born and raised in WNY, where work ethic isn't merely words spoken, it truly is the backbone of who we are in this region. And that alone has paid a lifetime of dividens for myself in career field.

I have seen over the last couple of decades a real tangible vacuum in many of the skilled trades. Especially in my field, instrumentation and electrical (I&E). For example, PLC's, there are a good number of what youth there is in my field with 2 year degrees for ladder logic programming, yet, they have 0, and I truly do mean 0, actual instrumentation or electrical, especially mechanical electrical (i.e. installing raceways for wire, gaging proper material needs, etc. etc.) as well as they are missing much of the theory application side. Not that there is anything wrong with educating yourself, but PLC's go hand in hand with nearly all facets of industrial electrical, from power plants on down to an overwhelming number of production facilities. I've had more than my share of apprentices who already had the degree, but get frustrated when they run into the "real world applications" of the entirety of the trade. It really is fascinating.

In the interest of full transparency, they weren't implying their concerns on longevity with the company (although, I suspect some had that view). They were directing their concerns based on ability to do the work. I.E. climb on equipment, ladders, etc. Etc. I don't want to mislead, I should have been more detailed in that aspect. In any event, I have found myself chuckling at times as I have raport with many interviewers.

Disclaimer: This isn't a complaint session, merely observations that lead to some humor, at least, for myself. Laid off Dec. 22nd, I started interviews mid June, after my mum passed from cancer. I've been through 17 interviews to date. Here's my take so far. 52 yrs old, every interviewer to date, from Borthtowns to Southtowns and east burbs all pointed at my age during the interviews as possibly problematic. When initial phone interviews were done, in my field (industrial electrical) there's a test of skills, be it written or verbal via over the internet or on the phone. Now, here's where it gets humorous. After being told my age is problematic, 15 of the 17 companies called me back following their search for a qualified individual. Many of them stating I was the most qualified applicant by far (25+ yrs in field you tend to accumulate a great deal of knowledge). But the age thing seems to persist, with many TAT's (Talent Aquustion Team) asking if I know of some younger individuals in my trade that are looking for work. I oblige them an answer and tell them the skilled trades have seen a reduction in interest over the last 30 years. Now here is the real humor, in each follow up call, they establish they'd like me to come in for a plant walk through and to offer a position. I kindly tell them I will do the walk through but will not make a decision until I've completed a thorough interview process of all 17 of my current offers, and that list grows by the day. You should hear the call backs and/or final in-person interviews. All of a sudden, age isn't problematic, as I've had multiple potentials, especially non-union (no contracts to adhere to) up their pay offers or paid time off scenarios. It really is humorous how fast they change their tune lol.

I believe this sets the Canes roster, no?

I thought it moved to Cleveland.

Doesn't that put the Leafs extremely close to the 10% off season escalator?

GM KA staying the course on developing and building from with in?

As the meme says......"Now that's some high quality H2Olofsson" 🤣

If Olofsson is still on the roster, here is his role in the 23/24 season......

Confused? You won't be, after this Season of SABRES....

I agree

Something will need to happen in Toronto for sure. 1 of their "big 3" ($10 mil + contracts, Mathews, Marner, Tavares) are the low hanging fruit for such a solution, but not the most likely imo. A Nylander and Murray combo move is not out of the realm of possibilities I suppose. We'll see what they do as the off season progresses but as of right now, I don't see the Leafs as a true contender.

If he stays with the Sabres he will be what he always was.

1st rd selections have an increased % of reaching the NHL, let alone be impactful players then lesser rd selections. The drop off is significant. Decreasing the pool for a player that once again, has not led his existing team to a Championship match, let alone a championship, while decreasing the cost control and pool of the existing pipeline, which in turn will have a snowball rolling down hill effect on cap as the team will look to FA, which is far more expensive than KA's draft and develop strategy is one of several examples of why a deal of this nature should not be done. Those assets moved to acquire a player of McDavids value will be missed, whether you realize it or not. Again, all to acquire McDavid, who's led no one to the promise land as of this date.

Some of those assets will reach the NHL, some won't. The ones that do become integral cap controlling assets early on. The idea is to keep that "affordable" skilled/talented pipeline going over the next decade and beyond. You create a rather large hole in that strategy by gutting what is a healthy size of those assets. That back fill will most likely have to come via FA signings, which in normal circumstances not healthy for the cap room, which in turn rears its ugly head in roster issues. McDavid has accomplished nothing of significance towards a championship to date......the ROI for a move like this is far more risk than staying the KA course of build and develop from within.

You and I have interacted in several threads over there, in agreeance of course 😀

No list has ever been published, it was speculated I believe, by some.

And that 2 years is only significant if..... 1. McDavid extends beyond them for the maximum years and..... 2. McDavid can carry a team to multiple Stanley Cup Championships Selling the next 10 years of this team for 1 player, a player that has not carried his current team to a Championship match, let alone a championship, would not be considered prudent or wise. Stay the course, if he's avaliable at the end of his current contract, pitch an offer for a 7 yr contract, utilizing some of those very assets that will be NHL ready to roll in most cases as additional positives to the term and amount of contract.

You won't have to. Just wait until the contracts up and sign as a UFA. No reason to gut the pipeline.

All I know is my son in law used to go to the Otters games, he wanted to play for the Sabres bad, and that was long before he was drafted. He loved Ellicotville I was told anyways. But who knows now that he's matured some. I still see the Sabres as #1 on his list. I mean, honestly, think about the situation he'd be walking in to at the end of 3 seasons from now. A team stacked with skilled wingers, skilled down the line up in centers, with high end blueline talent, all coming in to their beginning core prime years. And he loved it in the area to boot. I believe if he doesn't re-sign in Edmonton, Buffalo it is.

To be completely transparent that early Oilers team was stacked. McDavid, if he goes to UFA, will be Sabres, I have 0 doubt about that.

I do, and I use a different username, because I can 😜

I just didn't pay any attention to him 😂

I wasn't aware, hence why I said, "if he's not a US Citizen".