Pimlach

You called it and so did I. The cycle is repeating unless someone gets here and stops it. The GM neglected his very promising young Core of 2021 (Dahlin, Power, Thompson, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, Muel). This young group could not carry the team beyond 91 points without better defensive structure (includes all 5 players on the ice) and better goaltending. A balanced roster needs a more mature and more physical presence. And of course legitimate NHL level coaching, which they did not get from Granato and his group. Unfortunately Cozens, Power, Quinn and Mule all regressed under the higher expectations that Ruff had. Lindy's best accomplishment last year was exposing how limited the current plan is and that it needs to be changed. Hoping that Pegula listens to Ruff, and that Ruff does not protect Adams. Adams is forever fumbling with the 4th line and the 5/6/7 defense while trying to insert kids like Benson (put out there in place of Quinn in top 6 at only 18 years old) and Kulich (plays center on top line after playing wing in Rochester) to fix their big holes. These two kids did ok, but these moves (or non-moves) reinforce that the FO is trapped into a continuous development mode of operation and cannot take the next step. And for some crazy reason Ownership clearly shows a tangible lack of commitment, they still do not spend to the cap, they refuse to replace any people (i.e. coaches) that are on contract so they hang on to them no matter their performance, they are still operating under the EEE Covid standards. Adams loses all credibility when he says otherwise but he is always there to defend the boss. You can be a fairly young team and have a strong regular season and make the playoffs (see Montreal, Ottawa and even Carolina) but you need good goaltending, sound defensive structure, and good coaching. Veteran teams and certain veteran players take over in the playoffs, especially when the refs put their whistles away.

But we don't need Perry to be another Hall or a Staal. If we pay a vet we need a guy that sets the right example and wants to help, not one collecting big money and saving himself for a deadline trade to a playoff team. Zucker has been that kind of player. I actually think that Zucker is stretching his stories a bit when he talks to the media about Buffalo not having a stigma. That sounds like calming words to his young teammates to stop worrying about the outside noise and fix what's happening inside. You have to believe that Dahlin and Thompson read the buzz on social media and wonder how long they have top remain committed to a team that lacks the same commitment at the top (owner and GM). Which is why I cannot blame any of them for wanting out. The Dahlin talk with Adams must have touched on the topic of the FO doing more to help right now. The team needs the Core group to elevate the team and of course veteran help is required as is better balance, and most important is what has been ignored the most in the Adams tenure - goaltending.

Corey Perry still doing it.

Bat Girl from the 60’s is also the green dancer in Star Trek. Yvonne Craig, 100% naturally hot, no artificial enhancement and ahead of her time actually.

Cheap way of fighting Lundell. The NHL has succeeded in removing fighting for all intents and purposes. Most of the players don’t even know how. Instead they push, grab, and wrestle around. They leave their gloves on because everyone visors or cages. The anger is still there, but contained.

Yes, I like him and he is a big upgrade. He will not work for Adams. He probably not want to work with Adams, meaning he will not get the job.

End of thread.

Wow. JJ Peterka - A guy Adams made sure not to block under any circumstance, a guy they put in their top 6 right after one year in the AHL. Complaints about his defense? Didn't he play for a coach that said he would "teach defense" in year two? He gets a new coach in year three who doesn't like to have to shelter him and wants more of a two way game from everybody. So Peterka wants out and they are blaming it on the city? Is that correct? He is looking for more action or something? He probably doesn't want to waste his career in Buffalo, this is his first chance to get out, and he is taking it. Just say the magic words JJ . Peterka is a very good player and is capable if playing a two way game. He is 6' and 190 lbs, he looks like he is built with a strong lower body which is an advantage in this sport. He can get better at the two-way game. I see another trade that we should not be making. This team keeps getting into situations were we have to move our best players. Anyone wonder why?

Bryson. KA’s favorite blocker.

Unless, he hires someone from one of the fallen playoff teams.

I first heard it from the clowns on After the Whistle.

Best thing about this win for Tage is he can carry it forward to his team. He needs to start kicking some ***** and demanding more of his Sabres teammates. Second is recognition for the Olympics.

True, and if the player has a family their kids often go to school in the city that Dad plays in. WNY schools are good. I know people from Buffalo that moved to south Florida and then came back because of schools, crime, and the fast lifestyle down there. My wife’s family is one of them. This was in the 70’s, she said she wasted a year of school there because they were so far behind New York State public schools at the time. Anyway, as I said before Buffalo already has good training facilities that can easily be upgraded. Buffalo as a community has enough to offer to be competitive. In my opinion, more than a lot of places. The Bills have no problems operating a first rate organization in Buffalo under Terry Pegula. The Sabres problem is that Terry can’t find the right people and that seems to stem from his desire to implement hockey operations his way.

I’ll be spending most of the summer in Buffalo again and I want to point out that I see more Bandits tee shirts and hats than I do Sabres. People wearing Sabres gear are becoming more scarce. The Bills dominate all of the sports talk and the merch market by a huge margin. Thankfully they are lots of young kids playing ice hockey which is the future fan base of the Sabres if they survive. Yet, I see the league changing and hockey popularity spreading to the south and west and I don’t think the Sabres can survive another 5 years unless things change and they become competitive once again.

I like Dudley a lot but I agree he should not be the big boss and he might not fit in at all in Buffalo. He is up there in years and probably doesn’t want a full time gig either but I think he would a very fine exec advisor to the big boss. Zito seems to love him. His style of play is what Buffalo fans want. I saw an internet rumor, could have been from here, that he did not want to work for Adams.

I would love to get Shanahan. That is instant credibility around the league. He is still young and very well connected. I would trade his successes and shortcomings in Toronto for the misery that is the Sabres past 14 years any day I suspect he would want full reign and that will be a problem for Terry. Probably not gonna happen.

Yes I think about that as well. I am quite sure that Boetrill is well spoken, bright and engaging. Very different than Murray. Terry was smitten with landing a Pittsburgh guy, a former Sabre, and I guess he won a bunch of non-NHL Championships that Terry liked to tout. None of this should have been criteria to me but maybe to Terry it was? Zito would have inherited ROR, Eichel, and Reinhart.

So Pegula was ahead of his time with Harbor Center then? Do teams like Boston, Montreal, Detroit and Toronto have anything even as nice as Harbor Center? Maybe Pegula or Gueli will look at what Florida has and consider a Harbor Center upgrade/expansion since they already have a nice facility downtown and right next to the Arena and they can expand the facilities upward or nearby. I still think showing a real commitment to winning and then actually winning and getting into the tournament is the only way.

I was traveling and on the road. Missed it. I’ll stream it on ESPN+. Congrats to Bandits and their fans. Three-peat. Will they have something downtown, a rally or something to congratulate them?

Florida’s facility is great, awesome, and probably in a league of its own. Reminds me of the Bills facility, which looks much bigger and better than Floridas and includes an indoor practice field for winter. Harbor Center was pretty nice at one time and still is in good repair and probably could be expanded into some of the other levels. The Sabres dressing room was already refreshed to one of the tops in the league when Pegula took over. In the 70’s and 80’s the Sabres were a good destination for many players. The team was always in the playoffs, the Aud was always packed, and players did not avoid Buffalo, lots of players lived in Buffalo for many years and a bunch still do. Anyone who thinks otherwise was not close to the team back then. JUST START WINNING. Veteran Free Agent players want to win. If you’re not a winning team they won’t sign unless it’s for a big paycheck. The action, or inaction, of the Sabres ownership and their FO is telling the hockey world that the Sabres do not know how to win and are not trying to win - probably both.

Florida v Oilers will be fun.

Edmonton came to play.

But they want to be here.

Cheer for Florida, and then spend the month of February down there. Go rogue, get wild.

Pete?