Pimlach

Tell Dad that Norris for Cozens is a pretty fair trade. The rest is immaterial. They kept Greenway and Zucker so hopefully they are more of a vet team next season. Off season trades and signings are more impactful. As for the plan moving forward, that’s up to Terry, Adams and Lindy. No one else knows what their plan is, they probably don’t have one.

He just doesn’t do it for me. Talking about team toughness and 5 man pack mentality, they need to fight at times, and yet he trades Gilbert and tosses in a #2. He tries to sound accountable and promises to be better and more “self aware”. Yet every off season he never does enough. Every off season is a fail. The team gets worse every year, it’s not getting better. I just can’t believe the guy. He said he asks “Do you want to be here and why?” in his conversations with a player. How about “what are you working on to improve your game and how?”

He had the same recurring shoulder injury for several seasons. They think its finally fixed now.

I think a Joker did a decent job, he often played up one pairing from where he should have. He is only 25 and could I think be one of those long career consistent players down the road. Not a star or difference maker, but a solid contributor. I can’t believe Adams could not get a #2. Pitiful work Kevyn.

Good points. I never understood why Cozens stayed at C. But I have to give Riff credit for giving Kulich a good look at C.

I pretty much saw he checked out on the Sabres in that game. Normally he jumps into the fray. Adam’s probably told him he was shopping him.

When he plays he looked pretty good against us. The guy can put the puck into the net.

Ok. But it’s rare the forwards 33 years of age keep going strong, but some do.

Buffalo has not been the place to turn around your career. If he never reaches 100 points again then why gamble on him? His contract is higher than Dahlin. Not a fit imo.

Pettersson is not what this team needs.

Yes, I agree. Which is why I closed my comment by saying Cozens may end up getting fixed and become a good player. I would have preferred Adams do nothing and let the better GM fix the roster.

His age is a concern to me but he had a good year and I hope they can squeeze another good year out of him.

I am pretty surprised that so many here don't like the trade when most here felt that Cozens leaving in any capacity is addition by subtraction. Whenever we played Ottawa Norris always stuck out to me as a good player, and a dangerous player. I was not aware of his injury history. Looking at the stats Norris, like Cozens, does not appear to be a playmaker but he is a better scorer/shooter than Cozens. There is a very reasonable chance that he is a better overall 2C than Cozens was. Gilbert for Docker - Docker has more upside and is a RHD which are in short supply on our roster. If he can be a steady 5/6 instead of Gilbert as a 6/7 that is a win. Gilbert provides muscle that is needed and that role will need to be replaced in the off season, preferable with an everyday player. The 2nd rounder is not a big deal to me, typical Sabres overpay tax I guess. I am willing to let it go to move on from the Cozens contract and the Cozens noise which has been a distraction. I truly wish Cozens well. I am disappointed that he didn't turn out for Buffalo because I thought we were getting a skilled, big, tough Canadian kid from the Yukon. The Sabres development of Cozens may turn out to be a case of too much too soon. It won't surprise me to see him get his head straight and fix his game.

UPL has not been great but he is on a island much of the time. The way this team plays with a lead is criminal, but he has been missing on some "expected saves" to often too. His confidence is down and he is probably getting sick of the poor support. Trading him and "hoping" that Levi is ready would be repeating past mistakes. If Levi beats him out, then the team just got better, lets try that method. I would love to see Levi plays so well that internal competition forces UPL has to up his game or became a tradeable asset. It is similar to Kulich, who was called up and earned a spot, eventually working his way to the first line and PP2.

Good leaders are constantly evaluating themselves and their organization. They set goals and they hold themselves and others accountable to reach them. They are proactive in the management of their teams performance, not passive or reactive. The Sabres have to get rid of the win later mentality. That starts with Terry. Terry's stated goal was "winning Stanley Cups" and he lost his mojo on that goal when he fired Regier to tank and then win later. Adams goal for the past two seasons was publicly stated to be "playoffs". The team got worse each season, some of his core players have regressed badly. There is no reason to keep Adams around for one more try. There is no reason to believe that Lindy and Appert are making a positive impact either. Is Terry capable of finding the right POHO to build a winning organization and reset the culture to win now?

This "want to be here" stuff has to be eradicated from the culture. Every player brought in should be expected to provide 100% effort and loyalty to the team to make the team successful. Players that do not do that are currently being rewarded with this stupid "want to be here" policy. If Peterka gets traded for this reason, even it is just one factor in the reason to trade him, then it really is making the Sabres an NHL farm team under Adams. Think of the worst performing franchises ever - Seals, Barons/Rockies/Scouts, Flames/Thrashers, Coyotes, and the Sabres. Think of the least desirable geographical destinations. Did any of them ever have a strategy like this? I don't think I ever heard these words before from any franchise going back over 55 years. Adams thinks he is creating unity but all he did is make the players think they are doing us a favor by signing to play for the team. Recall when Granato told the Buffalo media "some of these players signed long tern deals to be here" when asked about the booing at HSBC. That was just days before Boston got booed and both Marchand and their coach said the Boston fans are right and the team deserved it.

I would not complain if Lindy and his entire staff get replaced, but I would hate just turning it over to Appert. UPL showed us his "A" game last season and even in spurts this season, but we are no longer seeing his best play, I can agree to that. Dumping UPL for Levi and another TBD backup is probably a mistake. It is just more "no blocker" mentality. Levi would have been ruined playing behind this team this season, moving him to the AHL was one of the few smart things that the Sabres did. Fix the defensive game and let Levi push UPL. It needs to be a competition to determine who should be the #1. If Levi turns out better that is fine. If UPL gets his game back because he is being pushed that is even better. Fans here calling to dump UPL for Levi have not learned a thing from the past.

I think you nailed it. He probably wants out but will stay for a Cozens type contract. Peterka is the better player so why wouldn’t his agent push for it? Adam’s mistakes are coming back to haunt him. The Cozens and Power contracts were huge mistakes made by a foolish person who had no business being an NHL GM.

The UPL bashing is lazy. Looking at his stats does not tell everything. He was better last year but so was the team. He keeps them in games, and they choke right in front of him. Lindy’s Alamo, which he calls teaching them how to close a game, is the big reason for the many 3rd period collapses. Team defense is most disappointing this season. Lindy was supposed to teach a two-way game and accountability. I see nothing of the sort.

Vacation time in the land of palm trees and low taxes. He even wore a suit.

I told them not to order the fish.

If Adams was getting fired why would they (meaning Terry since Buffalo does not have a POHO) let Adams sign Zucker? Or Greenway for that matter? Adam’s and Ruff have contacts so they will be back next season for their swan song.

Ok.