Believer

I remember listening to Hamilton on WGR 550 pounding the table early in the season that “Hits don’t matter!!”… They mattered plenty when teams figured out the Sabres are soft… and came out in 1st periods hitting early and often to slow the Sabres speed and set the tone for the game. Think Hamilton likes to hear himself talk.

Dr. Bob Rotella: Widely regarded as the "Godfather of Sports Psychology for Golf", Rotella has worked with over 100 companies and countless professional golfers, including players who have won over 300 tournaments and 74 majors. He spent a day with a small group of executives 25 years ago… Fascinating stories.

Will be shocked if Adams makes any roster moves before getting a new HC and his input.

You mangled @dudacek’s post with your cut and paste… That aside, agree with your opinion about Leaders. They step up when frustrated to fill the void… Very well reasoned and stated, @Thorny. Do put more importance and value on the C than you, though… Your Tuch proposal had me laughing… Would be just like Adams to replicate the KO mistake… Earnestly, of course… Believe Mr. Peabody has the best idea.

Adams put such a high value on Character… Fail.

Two or three… Fine by me… Let the strongest leader emerge… and allow the new HC to give his input and blessing.

I like your guideline. I’m generous by nature… and I know Compete and Enthusiasm are difficult to acquire if you aren’t born with them… unless you are in a culture and on a team that has them… Krebs has them… Benson has them… Dahlin has them… Maybe a few others… It’s a start.

Big fan back in the early years… Scotty, Gil, Renee et al… Got distracted by demanding career and only checked the standings and didn’t follow the news or stories… Started following the Sabres closely again 20 years ago when I retired.

No… Overpayment is $49M for 7 years to Cozens… or $58M for 7 years to Powers… both Come Bets… I’m willing to pay for Krebs’ shift-in shift-out High Compete and Enthusiasm … attributes in short supply on the roster… It can be infectious in team-building… Giving Krebs a couple years at $2.5-3.0 per to prove his worth is my Come Bet… Hope he gets a chance to prove me right or wrong.

Disagree, and that’s ok.

Total money.

Quick trigger… Kid exhibits High Compete… is 23… 6’ 185 lbs… Can put on 10-15 lbs of muscle with work and time… Would have no issue signing Krebs 2 yrs for $5-6M to let him find his identity unless the new Coach doesn’t see any potential.

Don’t know… Wasn’t following the Sabres that closely back then.

Would have gotten the message across, “This is not ok. Ever. Don’t care who you are. We will not disrespect ourselves, our fans, or Buffalo.” Would it have made the team play better?… Long term? I think so. We all heard Dahlin, Tuch, and Thompson ask for more accountability and one of them mentioned repercussions… I take that to mean discipline and consequences… Short term? Depends on who was benched and for how long… Must be a couple slackers or even an asshat or two on the roster Granato couldn’t manage or wouldn’t address. Give the message in the strongest terms… So every player has the information… Then, get back to work.

Amerks are flyin’…

"I think a lot of times this year, we got away with some stuff that we shouldn't have gotten away with," he added. "I think if you clean those things up, then it sends a message." Who thinks Ruff would have let that juvenile fan rebellion stunt go on for two weeks?… Would bet a bunch he would have benched the ringleaders without hesitation to send a message to the team, the fans, and the town.

Nope… Disgust is different from mad or sad… Disgust is a deep personal affront at themselves and their teammates… The context is their Clean Out remarks after missing the playoffs again and every year they’ve been a Sabre. Tuch loves his teammates and isn’t afraid to show it… UPL would agree… Never heard Tuch naturally upbeat in an interview… When he is positive it is measured… He’d be thrilled to be Captain, no doubt … Maybe he’d rise to the challenge… He’s 28 next month… Into the straightaway of his career… Time to get some serious focus.

Neither exhibits the game in game out fire of a great C, imo… In their Clean Out interview, neither is sufficiently disgusted with missing the playoffs again this season and every season they have been Sabres… Five years and running for Dahlin… Three years for Tuch… Both lack a positive and determined persona, tone, and vocabulary… Cliches and excuses, mostly… (Okposo was an awful example for them)… Yet, one of them is likely the next C… Dahlin, if you believe the poll results. We aren’t privy to what is said off ice, at practice, in the locker room before, during, or after games… I do believe a gifted C can make a difference to any team.

Agree… I like Krebs… He has high compete and enthusiasm… Loves the wall battles… Always has a smile on his face when the camera catches him on the bench… usually talking to teammates… Kid has got to show his skills and embrace an identity if he’s not traded and given a chance by the new HC… Will be rooting for him.

Just listened to Adams’s presser… 44 minutes… First time he’s been humble in his public comments in my memory… Took his mask off… Admitted his failure as GM… Rightly took the bullet for Granato… without letting the players off the hook… First time Harrington, Lyskowski, Hamilton et al put hard questions to him publicly … and he answered every one he could with patience and intelligence… Provided great insight into his thinking, his relationships and his process… Bravo, Adams… Looking forward to his off season decisions.

If you’re asking is the poster Biron, the answer is can’t be. Biron is 46. Poster says he’s been a fan 50 years. I would hire Biron as an Assistant Coach in a skinny minute. Smart, huge hockey IQ, great analytical and communication skills, and enthusiasm for the Sabres and Buffalo.

Good question… We can assume it’s not because of his performance coaching the PP all season… He came to the Sabres in 2020 as Director of Player Development after his playing career ended, so he has worked closely with most of the kids on the roster. Think the best answer is his relationships… with Pegula, Adams, the hockey staff, and the players and prospects. Imagine he may be the eyes in the room for the owner to keep an eye on Adams… and the fraternal continuity Adams lost when he fired Granato. Bearing in mind… All business is people business.

Ha… If what might be “dangerous for his career” is a coach’s focus… we wouldn’t want him anyway… The focus has to be an “exciting opportunity.” The Sabres can offer their next HC every bit of an exciting opportunity… Only those who see it need apply.

Was an early critic of Granato and thought he lost all credibility when he was mum on the player rebellion and let it go on too long… Evidence for me he wasn’t strong enough for the leadership demands of the job… Despite excellent hockey IQ, analytical and verbal skills, players stopped listening to him… Wasn’t surprised… Most pro athletes are alpha males and don’t respond to weak leaders…They think they know better. Granato gave it his all… Walks away with some valuable experiences, great relationships and financial security… He will be fine whatever he ends up doing.

Without insight into the dynamic between Adams and Pegula, agree the firings were six months too late, but only if Adams had the ability to do it at any point sooner. Perhaps he didn’t. Expect any experienced NHL HC will want to partner with Adams on future changes to the roster he inherits. Unless the new HC is on board, offseason trades and FA pick ups will be all Adams and Pegula. Makes me think the new HC will be named soon.