Pimlach

Oh, Sarcasm ...

So you are saying ... @PASabreFan is a contrarian,

Dude, I don't think being fearless is adding an established goalie. I think that is typical and prudent. Fearless would be trying to go with Levi/UPL as the 1/2.

Loved that game.

Yes indeed. It was the Buffalo Evening News. The Courier was the morning paper (and Sunday). The days of two newspapers and only one hour of TV news - better days. Now many cities today can barely support one paper. I think the Courier died in 1982, and the Buffalo Evening News became The Buffalo News. You are still a kid 11.

I think I coined the phrase "Contrarian" for @PASabreFan , but not for being a voice of reason. He is the often the voice of the overlooked, other side of the coin, as he strives to avoid the pitfalls of groupthink. Back when I worked for a living I always sought out a person like that on my leadership teams.

Then C should mean average for all. The problem you created is that "average" does not mean "met expectations" unless you have the same expectation for all. Dahlin's expectations should have been higher as compared to Joker or even Power. Similarly, expectations for Thompson versus Krebs, or Skinner versus Quinn?

I give Dahlin an A and Power a B+.

Three more years? He should be in Rochester next year then.

Hey, I was a paperboy! Thems fighting words.

In the first two questions from the Presser he said everything I wanted to hear. This team is going to go for it. How he gets there is up to him. He has to sign players, set the roster, deal with other GMs, and have another good draft. He knows what's expected and he wants it.

I have never seen a quote from him dissing Krueger. That has to show you at least a little grace, plus a lot of accountability for his own game and effort.

Listen closely to the first two question and his answers and you will have it. First question: The "universal theme" from players is they expect to get in (to playoffs) ... as the leader of this, should that be the expectation going forward? Answer: Yeah, it is exciting to see the players raise expectations .... <not gonna type the whole response> ... He ended with "no one external to the team wants it more than those internal to the team". Second question: What is going to make you better? He responded to that as well. Players improving, age, strength, and addressing areas that they need to improve on such defense in front of the goalies, special teams, etc.

Adam’s essentially said that the playoffs are the goal right up front. Warrow asked for a guarantee. Adams is already being held accountable. He does not need to guarantee it, he is accountable for the entire hockey product. He is accountable for the coaches, the players, and their final record. That is true for every GM

There is a big difference announcing you are striving to be "playoff caliber", putting up signs and showing commitment versus your GM verbally guaranteeing the playoffs next season at his end of the season Presser. These two things are not the same. Ask Adams if his expectations for next year are playoffs and he will say yes. Ask him how he can guarantee they make the playoffs, or what will he do to guarantee it, and he will react as he did to Warrow. This issue is on the journalist, who was given a reset on the question, only to ask a worse question by editorializing that it was a wasted season. I saw the difference between polished, prepared, and professional (Adams) and ill-prepared and awkward (Warrow) on display.

Adams gave a very positive shout out to Bales in his Presser.

Yes, I have interviewed for many jobs, and lived in several cities, states and countries. I did not have an agent, a father in the business, and 4 years to figure it out either. You are talking about taking a risk. A calculated risk. My experience is that people that take a few calculated risks usually end up better for it. There is nothing wrong with keeping options open and evaluating alternatives. All I am saying is that at every step of the way he has not shown he wants to play for the Sabres. He actions, or inactions, indicate that he will go somewhere else come 15 August. He will get paid. He will get paid enough to not have to live in the city that he plays for year round. Most players do not.

Marcus Foligno

Maybe, but if true he is not very bright. If he bases it on hockey, then his agent can tell him every team's roster and prospect pool. They should have an honest assessment of where he stands in the prospect pool. Together they can evaluate his odds to make a certain NHL and in what time frame. That could have been done prior to the start of his last college season and then refined and updated throughout the season by his agent. If he bases it on non-hockey variables then he should know what he likes and his priorities. A college student should be clever enough to research those things. He has been to Buffalo several times, he knows the GM and the coaches and some of the other prospects and players.

I have to ask. Are you his neighbor of Kevyn, a friend, or a former teacher of his at Clarence High? You seem to know know a lot about his personal traits and leadership style. He has a plan and he appears to keep things on track. He has made a few mistakes along the way but that is understandable. The jury is still out on the sterling success part. There is a lot of winning that needs to happen before I can go that far.

Words from my mother.

I don’t think so. If he does sign with Buffalo, it will be because it was his best option of the team’s interested in him. If he wanted to be here, he would have signed already. He could settle for Buffalo.

There is a lot more big hits, late hits, fighting and rough stuff in these early playoff games. More than I can recall seeing in awhile.

I doubt that he will be in camp without a signed contract. There is a risk of injury that might be a concern.