Pimlach

Spelunker? You guys talk about some stuff I never heard of or did. Most of you guys played video games, the seniors here had Monopoly, Stratego, and Battleship. Then on to poker, the race track ....

Wow. Avs GM is Chris McFarland. That is pretty good GM'ing in mid-season. Tokarski and Dell must have retired.

I travel quite a bit and I attend Sabres road games when I can. No doubt that everything I have ever heard from the outside is that the Sabres mishandled and mistreated Eichel. They might not know all the dirty little secrets that people in Buffalo know, but Perception is Reality. And the reality concerning Eichel is that the Sabres were wrong, and are incompetent to let a player of that caliber, who was under contract, get away. The message they sent to NHL players was that we don't care what you think about your well being, we know better. On top of that Robin Lehner also did a lot of damage with his comments.

Continuous improvement is what Terry should be looking for. He is too patient with losing and with excuses from his hockey FO. Of course, he may be the biggest reason why they are failing and he just might understand that he is.

I am always willing to teach you the gospel according to Punch. Look at the outer rim of the hockey rink, the trim in green. The hockey stick (white) makes a break in the green outer rim. That makes the C. Good to have PA back to his fact-checking. Stoner lacked this same energy and wit.

Power and #9 for Barzal and Dobson improves this team immediately. Barzal adds more depth to the center spline, and more playmaking, and it allows Tage to move to wing. It gives more options on how to use Norris and Kulich and McLeod. Ruff likes a lot of centers and centers that can play wing. All coaches like that. Dobson is comparable to Power. Does Power have a higher ceiling? Who cares right now, we have Dahlin locked up and he is better than both of them.

Thank you. He is 82, he is not going to be the GM. Advisor means what? We don't even know yet. I would accept Dudley taking an Advisor role for the Sabres, many others said they would too. Bill Zito in Florida uses him. So given that Lou is more accomplished and has more recent GM experience on top of that, why is Lou as an Advisor a problem? Maybe Lou is an asshat that will be disruptive? Ok, then you let him go and try again like every other team does.

In 6 years Adams lack of boldness has got us what? Nothing but misery. I am tired of his excuses, his minimal moves in the off season, and no success. Go out get the next Mogilny. Trade Turgeon for LaFontaine. Bring in Drury and Briere. The Sabres had not done nearly enough bold hockey moves in 55 years. Vegas has done more in 8 years. Who has a Cup?

Geesh, I have to defend a HOF GM? I guess he could not win a Cup in Toronto or with the NYI so that cancels his prior success in New Jersey? Toronto - he was 118-95-33 in the regular season and a 5-8 playoff record. The Maple Leafs achieved 100-point seasons and qualified for the playoffs in each of his final two seasons. Better record by far than anything Buffalo has seen since 2007-08. NYI - he was 268-195-71 over seven seasons. He guided the Islanders to the playoffs five times, including a 103-point campaign in the 2018-19 season. Better record by far than anything Buffalo has seen since 2007-08. Why didn't he win more Cups? Maybe he lacked the right players or coaches, or maybe other teams just were better and couldn't catch them, or he doesn't understand the cap and won't hire someone who does, or the scouts that helped him in NJ are all old and retired, or maybe the game passed him by as many like to say? I do not claim to be a big fan or a student of this man. Here is the bar - In the entire history of the NHL only a two GMs have ever won Cups with more than one team. Tommy Gorman (back in the ancient 6 team league GM) and Jim Rutherford (Canes and Pens). Lou did not do it. Does that nullify his accomplishments? Does that mean he can't help a neophyte like Kevyn Adams? The Sabres should interview him, see what he brings and if he fits, understand what they are getting, and then decide if he can help them. They should be doing this with at least a few other candidates as well. I just want new action to try to make this team better. The improvements with this organization must be top down because the decision made at the top are failing massively. Give Lou and interview and then decide. That is all I want.

Every winning coach or GM has great players. Every winning coach or GM adapts to current league rules, salary cap constraints, etc.

I think Pegula’s personal involvement with the Sabres is a problem, and it was the EEE structure that stagnated the team, and the Bills did not have that nor would Beane be a party to it. Adams has not improved the team and he shows no signs of being capable to build a winning culture.

Steinbrenner’s kid, Hal, just recently changed the teams facial hair rule.

Power’s +8 is a bit nullified by his D+4 season 79, 7/33/40, -13

But, but you can sit Bryson out and he doesn't complain or get an attitude. The players like him.

The New York Yankees had a tradition of no facial hair and it didn’t hurt a thing.

His tenure in NJ was one of the longest and most successful of any GM in his time. 27 seasons, 5 Cup appearances and 3 Cup wins. Given the past 14 seasons, if he advises Adams I just can’t see it hurting. Not sure this is real though.

Noah Dobson - I like his size and skills. Can he bring a strong defensive aspect to the team? Will he cost as much or more than Byram?

Not if it was Reimers first 9 games, he was not very good until he started playing games at the end of the season that didn't matter. Like UPL, he played poorly and he played good. UPL had one very good stretch and couldn't maintain it, when he started his slide the overall team defense was terrible too. UPL eventually looked like a bad backup out there. Fix the defense and get a goalie, its the same thing every year. How long have I been asking for top 4 RHD? Years upon years

It is todays style. As is skinny leg pants, no socks, and shoes.

The bold has all the making of a Penthouse Forum story.

Yes, Rayzor's link to RJ would be missed. I often watch the Sabre games using the opponents broadcast, and it is amazing how often the other teams announcers comment on Ray and enjoy some humor with him. Ray is a throwback to when the Sabres were a real team and when the played in front of packed and passionate crowds. Those days are long gone. It is sad how many hockey seasons have been wasted in the irrelevance.

So, you own a bottom feeder team for 14 straight years, one that players and coaches avoid, and you ask a Hall of Fame VP/GM with 4 Stanley Cups to work for Kevyn Adams? Holland wants day to day control of the team. Terry is sticking with Adams and wanted Holland for an Advisory role. Terry is embarrassing. How does he even have that conversation with Holland, or did he have Adams reach out to him? I would love to know who talked to Holland. Either way, not a serious team.

Power was not a positive player. He was terrible defensively and was out there for ~22 minutes per game with a -13 overall. He defensive play was a big reason we had a bad season and he did not step up when Dahlin was injured. Whatever the defensive ranking % actually means, being ranked in the mid-40's is not good enough and points to the problem with the top 4 (includes Byram, Power and Muel). I can agree that Power and Muel are grossly overpaid and that Byram brough a lot of value for his salary. But here we are, not willing or not able to pay Byram so we can keep Power.

The goaltending has to improve. UPL was inconsistent, when he plays better we win more. Reimer had a nice late season stretch but you don't bank on that for next season. Levi is a gamble for next season. The Team defense is bad. That includes the forwards. Lindy complained about his centers not playing enough 2 way hockey. For long stretches the team did not look like they were playing together, especially in the defensive zone. The team loses puck battles way too often and the team goes long periods with poor puck possession time which is a reason for the blown leads. Better coaching, some tougher two way players, and better player understanding of what they are trying to accomplish. These are signs of young team that gets pushed around and is mentally unable to bear down and win close games. The 6 defensemen are decent on paper but lack the diverse combination of skills that winning teams have. We have said this for a long time - Too many puck movers, not enough body movers. They traded away Joker, they brought in Bernard Docker. He is bringing back Bryson. Adams should stop dabbling with D5, 6, 7, and 8 and get some help to the top 4. Top 4 - Dahlin, Muel, Power and Byram. Dahlin is excellent. Byram played some good hockey but apparently is not coming back, the first real sign of how bad the Power contract is right now. Power gets to stay because of his pay and his draft pedigree, not for his performance or for inspired play on the ice. Muel had a rough year. He is injury prone, seems below average on the PK, and physically he does not bring the game that we need from a big defenseman. Muel and Power both greatly underperformed last season. This team needs top 4 help. Can this GM move Byram and improve the roster? Can he get the right complimentary pieces for Dahlin and Power? It's been a question for a long time.

I’m sure Terry will spare no expense to make Sabres television coverage the envy of the NHL.