Pimlach

I am opposed to either of these trades.

Series tied 2-2. I love it. Great to see the Oiler's battle back. May the best team win.

Who won the Mitts-Byram trade is strange hill to die on. The Sabres as a team did not improve in the standings, they regressed. Colorado had another post season that disappointed them, but that Sabres fans would absolutely love to experience. It looks to me like Byram is the better player of the two. That’s my opinion based on comparing two players on different teams that play different positions. As @LGR4GM stated, it appears Byram has more value today than Mitts had (he was traded for 3rd line player Charlie Coyle), supporting the notion that Byram is the better player. Did the trade improve the Sabres? That answer unfortunately is NO. The Sabres finished lower in the standings with 5 fewer points, but certainly there were other factors at play as well. Where Byram would fit was always a question. Did we hurt our center spline by removing Mitts was also a question. Mitts clearly did not cut it as a 2C in Colorado, and while Byram was effective when playing with Dahlin (as all other Sabres defensemen were) he did not much bring otherwise. He (and others) did not step up when Dahlin was hurt which is when it was needed most. A big team need is still there - a solid and steady defense first player at RHD to compliment Power or Dahlin. Adams, always late to the party, said himself that he wasn’t sure how to use Byram. A big consideration, since Mitts is a center, is to evaluate the play of the Sabres centers. Lindy most definitely considered the center spline to be a weak spot on the team. There was much line shuffling because of the center play. Cozens folded under the weight of the “A” and the 2C role and was moved out. Even after bringing in McLeod in a separate deal, who was good, the center spline was an area of concern and it still is. Getting the better player is nice. Now they have to somehow leverage that to improve the roster. At some point this was to about improving the team, and not “winning trades”.

Reinhart scores.

Goal in the last minute. Oilers not working enough.

Tkachuk again.

He was following orders. He should have just walked away.

I don't blame Regier for being honest about the suffering. How wants to lose on purpose? He was probably already sick of Terry and knew he was going to mess it up.

Reinhart wanted out when he saw another rebuild coming and the Eichel injury situation unfolding. He did the one year extension prior to that year, and then wanted out. Some people may have said culture changes were needed when the narrative was Eichel was a bad boy, so Reinhart by association must be one too. Of course both players have matured and disproved all of that.

Vegas had a great start thanks to the excellent work of their management team. Vegas is a favored destination for players and is not a good comparison for Buffalo. My point is we had many excellent draft picks, but look at the results. You have to do more than draft a bunch of top ten players.

I know your company and industry as you and I have talked on PMs. As far as his resume, the hiring manager usually gets that from the job posting portal. I have seen this situation a lot and have hired sons/daughters of several employees myself. It can and does work in a very big company with no problems. Since you are in physically close proximity, it is more up to you not getting involved in his workday than anything else. If he gets hired chances are he moves to a new project in the first few years and you never see him at work.

Marketing fluff but what I see: Adams does lots of catering to Terry. Ok, he is involved and he is the owner. Adams is a consensus builder, but how do they handle objecting opinions we don't see that here. Ruff wants players that change the culture. Appert likes Norris. Lindy comfortable that he is a 1C/2C. The rest if the guys playing with laptops, pretending they get a vote. Terry was 100% comfortable, that is so nice. Adams congratulates himself for making "nearly impossible" hockey trades.

Old does not mean impatient. In the case of the Sabres, old fans equate to resilient and steadfast. Since the Tank we have drafted these players in the "top 10 overall": Reinhart (2), Eichel (2), Nylander (8), Mitts (8), Dahlin (1), Cozens (7), Quinn (8), Power (1), Savioe (9). How is the "draft in the top ten" strategy working and when is the "help us win right now" part ever going to happen?

All this gloom and doom that we won't get a good return for Byram. If there are really several teams interested in Byram then a savvy GM can play that to his advantage. Lets not forget we have Jarmo now, maybe he can help make something good happen for a change.

Some of you think that it is players agents rumblings, but in the case of Peterka, he must really want to leave to have his agent rumbling for him. The Peterka rumors go back to the last trade deadline and there is the Dahlin story out there, indicates some unrest with Peterka. I agree with taking a hard line with him if that is the best choice for the team and fair compensation cannot be obtained in trade The Sabres do not have to accommodate a trade. Caving to RFAs sets a dangerous precedent in the future and this team is already known to quickly move people out when they are unhappy.

Yes, direct quote from Adams is that Bryson is loved in the locker room, he sits out for weeks at a time and does not complain. So he got extended.

Taro I think your right on the bold but Peterka and Byram will be missed. Hard to imagine Adams bringing in two or more players that are actually better. A Goalie, two defenseman, more forward help, and they need need more muscle in the line up - but even getting that is hard.

I thought we heard something that his injury in Buffalo was not the shoulder. I seem to recall an abdominal injury? Maybe someone else can remember?

Dahlin was ahead ahead of Morrissey in every stat category but games played. Morrissey played on a strong team, and not in Buffalo. I would argue that Dahlin's defensive game, and his physical game is similar to Hedman and better than all of the others. But no one cares who got 2nd or 3rd. Dahlin's only hope at winning a Norris is to play on better and dominant team. He won most congenial 7th defender.

By fit, I mean Norris health is a high risk, if he is not available he has little value. Is he ever going to be a reliable top 6 center? The two teams swapped high salaried players that they didn't like anymore. With Byram, one year after the trade Adams goes on to say he was sure how to use him. Did he trade Mitts for him because he would win the trade or did he get a defenseman that he needed? I do not get any sense of comfort that he is building an NHL roster that can compete. I think they had a very weak center spline last season and so apparently did Lindy. They gave up on Cozens, moved Kulich from wing to center, and moved Tage from center to wing. One bright spot was McLeod. I like Norris when he is healthy but he is a risky player to carry as your 1C/2C. I just get no semblance of a plan to build a winning team.

The bigger question is why trade for Byram if he doesn’t fit? Why trade for Norris if he doesn’t fit? what is Adams actually trying to build? I just hope Jarmo takes a bigger role than advisory.

Clara Bell. that is a classic ....

I like a healthy Norris better than the current EP40, who I consider to be soft and lazy and not the kind of player I want to build around. I want the team to be built like Florida, EP40 is not going to get us that. Is he "better" than Norris, when he wants to be he is. Demko is better than UPL, but maybe he isn't in another year or two. Throw in Rosen and/or a #2. I prefer not trading for EP40 at all. A lot my feelings are driven by the playoffs right now, and I would rather spend money on two years of Marchand and bring in a player who gives a dam than EP40.

My point. Another trade proposal that keep us young and not competitive. If I am Dahlin or Tage and he trades Byram for a late first (and even with a throw in) I am calling my agent, I just caught the "don't wanna be here disease".

He will help their rebuilds, but what do we get to help ours?