Pimlach

Good point Mango, and according to Adams even Power said words to this effect in his exit interview. So maybe the kid gets it and will dedicate the off season to getting better? As the cap dollars get spent the window to finding him a vet RHD is closing. I still do think we can bring in a reasonable cost vet that can help him, the teams problem is that the better ones want to play on contending teams. I know the game has changed over time but do you remember when the Sabres drafted Schoenfeld? They smartly brought in Tim Horton to play with him on day one. This helped to settle him down and teach him how to be a pro in the NHL.

@7+6=13 Please stop with your eyerolls. You recently said you would ignore me but I am seeing more negative emoji's the past few days. When you do this it comes off as antagonistic and next will be the insults. If you disagree with my comments try instead to make a viable and compelling counterpoint. If you do not have anything substantial to offer then go back to ignoring me.

This has nothing to do with Byram's ego to skill ratio. He wants to play a big role, and he wants to lead a PP. I want a guy like that. The problem the Sabres have right now is the money tied up on defense already due to the foolish contracts given to Muel and Power. This was talked about after the trade was made. We traded our best two way center at the time (Mitts) for a rental. One year after the trade it is clear we got the better player, but in typical Sabres fashion they can't or won't fit him in.

Other than height, the two players are totally different people. Tage did not just get older and naturally “fill out”, he actually worked out like a maniac. He was seriously weight training for several years before he broke out as a player. The 2019-20 season he was unfortunately injured in the season opener, but prior to that season he really put the work in. His payoff finally came the year after Covid. He is known to be very dedicated to his craft. Power is a more natural talent, but he has a lot of work to do to become a top NHL defenseman. Waiting to “fill out” is not the answer. He needs to work a lot harder in the off season and play a more emotional and physical game. He needs to get invested in winning. Right now he is miles away from becoming even a top twenty-five defensemen in the NHL. His game is not anywhere close to the promise of a 1OA. That may be unfair, but it’s the reality of it. He is a 1OA with a huge contract. Power is young but he is not inexperienced. He was already played 242 games at 22 years old. It is time for him to take a step up. We can’t wait 4 more years to “fill out”. Any player his age can get stronger in the off-season, and he really needs to do that. The time is now, parts of his game simply have to improve, he is a liability on defense and he stinks on the PK. When Dahlin was hurt neither Power or Byram stepped up. Everyone but Adams realized when that trade was made that there is not enough ice time or cap money to keep them both along with Dahlin. If we believe the rumor, it looks like Power is the choice for Adams. Ok, now Power better prove himself worthy. And Adams better get a good player back for Byram. This team is just so poorly managed.

Dude, don’t make that trade. Say no to EP. Norris, if healthy, will be a good player. Östlund looks good so far.

I hope you’re right. I could use a reward.

The organization? The same organization the gave Power a huge contract after 80 games. That would be the GM that traded for Byram, then a year later admits he didn’t have a plan on how to use him.

Byram had a better year. Right now I prefer his game over Power. Both are very young. Compared to Power, Byram can play just as many minutes, probably more. He did not get nearly as much PP time and still finished just 2 points behind Power. Byram was +11, Power -13. Coincidence? Byram was much more physical and more involved. What is Power doing to make you so positive?

Slavin with OT winner. Great player.

Canes v Caps has been slow until 3rd. Ready for OT.

I have seen numerous PIPs in my corporate days. Never saw one that helped "fix" a persons performance unfortunately. They may be intended to help but the reality is that it is a tool to prevent a lawsuit. I doubt Terry is worried about a lawsuit. I think he truly likes Adams. Terry could still be spooked about his reputation around the league as being impatient. He must be counting on Lindy to make a difference. Promoting Adams higher into the FO to get him out of the way was never going to work. If you don't want Adams involved in the FO decisions anymore you release him.

Yes Stevie Y is struggling too. He takes action, and it looks reasonable on paper, but the players on the roster just never gel. DeBrincat is a goal scorer but he gives up a lot too. Detroit brought in some talent with Kane, Copp and Compher. In the past he added ex-Blues like Sunquist, Fabbri, Perron, and now Tarasenko. He is at least is trying to add guys with playoff experience that are "hard to play against" to go with his home grown players. Not sure he has much in the net either. Stevie gets a B for effort and a F for results. Adams gets and F for both.

Thanks for the update. I was referring to Adams 5 on top of the 9 prior (14 year NHL record) which should increase the urgency, but I did not clearly state it.

Great add Mango. His treatment of Doug Whaley was not his finest moment. As for the Bills, I fear the day that McBeane is no longer there.

Fans actually have more leverage than players. Players have contracts to fulfill or they can lose pay and hurt their careers. Fan are not required to attend games just because they bought a ticket. Fans are not required to buy tickets either. If the fans want to make a statement they can: 1. Not buy season tickets - this will provide immediate impact 2. Not but any tickets - this will provide a slower and still painful impact 3. Buy tickets and not go - kind of self defeating but this happens a lot right now 4. If you already have tickets then organize a peaceful walkout/protest - this has never been done to my knowledge and might generate some positive attention if done peacefully and constructively 5. Go to games and then boo the team and complain - this is the current state for many 6. Write letters/emails to Terry Pegula, Kevyn Adams, and Gary Bettman that politely and fairly express your displeasure. 7. Find solace on social media and in fan forums. I have selected items 1, 2 and 7.

If Lindy said they need to start the season in better shape I believe it, but off season conditioning is not the reason they are not a playoff team. Zach Benson doing more push ups and Payton Krebs improving his stamina is great, but that is not gonna move the dial. So they are making a change, and maybe the next guy will be "better", but the players are ultimately responsible for their training and their diet, both in season and out of it. The Strength and Conditioning coach is not going to travel the globe to make sure the players are invested in their careers. That has to come from within the players. This is part show, makes some moves to show someone is doing something.

Multiple days of presenting ...

He leaves the Bandits alone and they continue to win. They won before him as well. One could argue that his success with the Bills was luck. I mean he was big on Russ Brandon and promoted him, and they hired Rex Ryan and both were embarrassing and fired. The NFL provided him the access to a pool of up and coming coaching talent, like Sean McDermott. In a highly unconventional move he hired a HC before he hired a new GM, and he went to the draft with a lame duck GM (Doug Whaley) that he used to get through that draft. The new HC (McDermott) set him up with Beane after the draft. Beane drafted Allen the next season, and Allen is one of the few very unique players that makes everyone else better. This was a case of doing things wrong, or doing things in an unconventional manner, and still coming out ok in spite of it. So he should get some credit. I give him credit for listening to McDermott and Beane and building a highly respectable brand with them. The Bills provide a ray of hope that once he finds the right people he will let them run things. His lack of success with the Sabres is not bad luck, not for this many years of failure. He has to take responsibility for all of this and realize that his decisions are causing the team to fail in epic, never before seen proportions. He should by now realize that he cannot navigate the NHL and hire top Front Office talent. I know he tried this, sort of, and it failed but he hired a bad group of people right from the start and then pivoted to young inexperienced people that he can control. He searches the bargains bins for people he trusts and will listen to him. Rochester is farm team, and therefore a byproduct of the Sabres. Right now they are doing great and Karmanos should get the bulk of the credit for it. Unfortunately winning in the AHL has little to do with winning in the NHL. Pegula cannot blame bad luck with the Sabres. He made mistakes from Day 1 and he continues to make them. Nothing he does works, maybe he should turn it over to someone else?

Terry Pegula hired him and thinks he is doing a good enough job to retain, maybe even promote. Adams is apparently getting a 6th season with no success to show for it. No other team operates like this. No team ever has. It’s shameful and lazy and disrespectful to the fan base. I’m not going to pay for Sabres tickets or merchandise anymore.

No wonder Lance was more outspoken about the buffoonery related to the Sabres. He graduated to the Bills.

This is even better than the thread about Friedman saying changes are coming.

True, they will be sad for awhile, but both teams and their fans will also talk about adding a few more pieces and getting back up in the standings.