Drag0nDan

Yeah - i think goalie was part of it. It didn't seem like they had capable forwards or defensemen though. Risto and McCabe were mediocre. Scandella was bad. Bogo was bad. Sadly, it went to hell when sobotka got hurt... how sad is that?

I feel like they mostly tried to use the 2 d-men to try and limit cross ice passes. But it felt like if they completed the cross-ice pass it was a goal. Half the time theyd fake it and it was still a goal from the shortside. There was just a run where it seemed like every goal was a PP goal

No okposo love?

Why would he come here anyway?

Any other business would be largely the same. They overspent on a lot to try and fix the team be it, 2 compliance buyouts + the hodgson buyout. Moulson contract. Bogo throw-in on the trade. Okposo deal. Multiple coach/GM firing buyouts. Trading o'reilly was definitely a cash issue. They could've probably waited to trade him and got more - but 7.5 mill cash for a guy to not play, when you're most likely forced to bring back salary in return just is a huge dent in the bottom line. If they were losing 10s of millions as it sounds like, that would have been a tough pill to swallow even before oil prices tanked. I think vegas and carolina show that having the most scouts doesn't necessarily mean you have the best scouting. Between the salaries of the people they let go, and travel budgets they're looking at saving several million dollars, and can probably ice a team as good a team as they have had the last couple of years. Plus a lot of that severance can just hit the 2020 P&L - and they can look to create a profitable healthy organization in 2021 moving forward. They're also better prepared for a lost season, or a season without fans. I'm not particularly sold on Adams, but i think they have faith in Krueger. Maybe fewer cooks in the kitchen will result in a better product.

Yeah - the website isn't particularly clear. But my guess is they lease his land and hes a consultant or something.

I'm sure he still owns land - and is a partner in some new companies that are likely struggling. But i also think he didn't like, double down and re-invest in them when the business tanked. They likely did what all these companies did, paid out bonuses and immediately moved money elsewhere to a more stable/secure spot in the market while anticipating a bankruptcy, and forfeiture of land holdings belonging to those companies.

Makes sense on the sabres front. The Bills are profitable every year, and probably spun even more profit in year 1 under beane when they unloaded dead money since it was already paid out on previous year P&Ls. The Sabres need to be leaner since, oil money is likely not coming in to bail out a non-profitable business - the revenue coming in needs to pay everyone. I don't think there's a question of their wealth though. We'll never know for sure, but no wealth management portfolio is going to be supremely tied to oil (be it his businesses or futures). While he may be a principal owner of fracking wells, he's probably not 100% owner of anything oil related since traditionally its pretty easy to find independent investors for those types of businesses. There's likely money tied to hedge funds etc. that the plan is traditionally never to touch, and to just pull bits out here and there when needed. Put urself on the books with a salary for each team, do the same with your businesses - that way whatever you have left is nest-egged for stadium improvements and re-investment.

Yeah - i feel like he would want a level of control that he can't get here. Reporting to adams/krueger probably isn't in the cards.

Why is this guy getting canned every couple of years though? Is he that hard to work with? Has he won any cups? I know TB and Chicago he had acquisitions that helped them win cups, before he was fired.

what ever happened to cliff pu?

yeah - i just don't know what buffalo gets back. I'm honestly kind of OK with a prospect and a pick.

yeah - the problem is you have to have a team that needs a puck moving D, while also needing to shed salary.

Yeah, i live in buffalo so i was always under the impression that i was supposed to watch games on MSG. But i have a fios non-sports package so i don't get MSG. Interesting thought. A fair amount of the space will go to reinhart ullmark montour and oloffson. I'd be wary on taking on too much bad money (we already have okposo and skinner) or too much term (looming dahlin extension), but i think there's some players out there who will need to get moved.

Thats my thought... also the 2nd line PP was a gaping hole anyway so that could probably use somethin different. Who's camping in front for slot shots though? Okposo maybe? TBD?

It can work - sort of like a triangle offense, always 2 places to go. I just wonder if teams will take away that pass to the slot first leaving you with D shots from the circle. Without a real goal scoring d-man i'm not sure this is super plausible for buffalo. It also takes the shots from oloffson and eichel on cross ice passes and tries to create opportunities close to the net, where i'm not sure buffalo even has a guy that thrives.

I feel like his contract was up though or something along those lines.

Yeah. Since the Pegula's don't really know him (well, im sure they've met, but who knows) - it'd have to be like under adams in name at least. Yeah right, a plan? gtfo ?

What do you hire him as? I don't think they'd make him hockey op's president. If hired, it'd likely be adams saying he wants him - so the pegulas would want him to report to adams.

Money is money sure - but this is hands down the worst organization to play for at the moment. Tampa bay would likely just trade him. I think reinharts number will be north of 7 if he's giving up UFA years. Olofsson is kinda in the same boat - will want more than he probably gets slotted.

Why is someone signing an offer sheet to come to buffalo? Why are all the RFA's signing below market deals?

I don't think he was a star, but he was likely a serviceable defenseman if given time. If all he asked for was a 1-way contract - the results the same, but you at least get a look at him in camp to see if he can stick before you waive/trade him.

I like the Assistant director of scouting move. From a business perspective i look at it like, these 2 departments were always under the GM, but they now have to integrate and interact more than in the past. The analytics piece should help drive conversations on players from a pro personnel standpoint, as well as young players.

I always hear the hedman comparisons, then when we play TB all i think is - wow that guy is just... good. He always seems to be making the right plays, great skater, tape to tape passing, and just takes the puck away consistently. Dahlin's improved as the PP quarterback but hedmans on another level at getting your shooters the puck, in space, in the right place for a one-timer.

Haha - i guess so? Playing with a bit of an edge we'll say, I have no idea how he fits in and he was injured last year so he didn't even get a chance to play up under krueger. TT and CM both seemed like they were just gripping their sticks tight and trying to remember what they're supposed to do, instead of just playing hockey. I think with the amount of UFAs and RFAs cozens probably starts here. I just hope there are players brought in to like, complement them? Not just sign our RFAs and just plug 3 youngsters in and just hope for the best.