JohnC

You told them the naked truth! 😁

If you add Kulich to your rising talent group that will be a fairly large group within a roster. With respect to McCleod and Zucker, even if their scoring production declines a bit, they still play a responsible two-way game that this team needs more of. As you note, the big question mark is UPL? Will he return to the promising composed form he displayed a couple of years ago or will go back to his panic style of play that marred his last season? It's the big question that will determine how the upcoming season plays out.

With respect to Cozens, I believe that he would be better at wing than at center. I also believe that the trade was the right thing to do for the player. It gives him an opportunity to have a fresh start and new chance to refresh his game. He was pressing too hard here.

You make an excellent observation and point that the event was more to serve the interests of Key Bank that it was for the Sabres. The primary reason why they would pay to extend their sponsorship was to seek publicity. If there was no extension or no change in sponsorship there wouldn't even be an event.

Isn’t there also a good chance that both Benson and Kulich have bump up seasons?

As @LTS points out this is a standard press setting to announce a business arrangement. There are plenty of things to be upset about involving this owner and the hockey operation. Whatever irritation you have I recommend that you don’t waste it on this pedestrian event.

Very often in politics one’s personality is more valued than one’s competency. As you point out, he showed competency in how he handled the stadium project and acted in the public’s interest.

I'm out of town so not well informed in the local political scene. Is he going to run again for the Co. Ex position? Or is he term limited? Is he considering other offices? Just curious. Just my impression as an outsider that he seems to be a competent executive and can be tough when necessary.

Your first line with Tage on the middle is very appealing.

I don't understand where you are coming from. At the event, there is an announcement that a local bank will continue with its sponsorship in the naming rights to the arena. It's a standard event involving the business side of the franchise. In today's world of generating income all arenas and stadiums have income generating sponsorships. So why are you so upset with how this particular event was handled? Are you implying that a less vocal majority support Mark?

If anyone foresees him working his way onto one of the top two lines, it is a very small minority who do. I don't think many people think he will be a prolific scorer either. He's an energy and gritty player. The type of player that you have called that we need more of. What I liked in the clips that were shown on this thread is his willingness to hover around the net. Just maybe a young Zucker type of player who is not afraid to station himself in front of the net?

Your point about the city having less resources than the county is why I asked about it. We should soon find out what the implications will be from the announced change. Your reservations about the change go to the crux of the issue.

We'll just have to see how things will shake out regarding who is responsible for paying for maintenance and upgrades. I just don't know. Someone get a hold of @Brawndo and have him inform us of who is responsible for the upkeep costs. He's our designated insider.

Is the city now responsible for upgrades and maintenance? What are the owner's responsibilities regarding the arena?

When you review the various combinations of lines and pairings being suggested what stands out is that they all make sense. Sameulsson is a good example of flexibility. The consensus seems to be that he will be a third pairing defenseman. But it is not out of the realm that he becomes the secondary partner in one of the top two pairs. Benson is another player you can envision on the top line or third line. Lindy is going to have a lot more flexibility when he assembles the lines and when he jumbles the lines.

I’m confident that whatever role he has this season he will have earned.

Terrific analysis of the PP and predictable setups and lack of adjustments. How about the HC intervening and making the required changes?

Isn’t it acceptable to slap someone with a dirty glove if their face is already dirty?

If Wilford is such a bad coach, then why does Lindy keep him on the staff? Is he being forced to keep him on or is he simply satisfied with how he coaches?

Is it unacceptable to slap someone with dirty gloves?

Sending him to Rochester now to become a more finished product makes no sense. What you refuse to acknowledge is that he was an effective player for us last year. He certainly wasn’t a complete player due to his youth and his incomplete physical development, but he was not a liability when he played. If you made the argument that he was playing on a line that was too high, I would consider it a reasonable position to take. But your position that he should be sent to a lower league is off to me.

So are you arguing to deal him so he can thrive on another team. Although Benson still has plenty of upside to draw from that will come to fruition in the future, what you can't say about him is that even while still in the development stage he has hurt us. Whatever limitations he currently has as a young player, he is still based on his play considered an on ice asset.

There are some who are trying to judge the trade as a JJP vs Doan. Framing the trade in that way makes little sense. The primary player we got in return was Kesseiring. The hope is that the defenseman should be a factor in improving a unit that needed to be upgraded. Also, if Kesseiring turns out to be a suitable partner for Power, then the deal looks even better. And if Doan turns out to be an energetic and gritty lower line player, then the evaluation of the trade should look a lot better for us. It's likely that JJP was the best player in the deal. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the trade on balance didn't help to improve our roster.

I didn't see the added commentary that dealt with Jones in a more expanded clip. But the one point they made that I found interesting is that they believed this blueline group is solid or better. I consider that a fair assessment that falls within a reasonable expectation for this unit. The point that they all also made is that this team/franchise has to break through the psychology of losing that has plagued this franchise. It's really important that with its early loaded home schedule that the Sabres start off well. Also, their comments dealing with adding another veteran forward to one of the higher lines is something that is often mentioned by many here.

What will make the JJP trade for the two Utah players even better is KA bringing in a vet second-line player. The big knock on the Sabre roster for years is that it is too finesse and perimeter oriented. If you add Doan to the additions of Zucker, McCleod and Greenway you can see the roster steadily being reformulated to become grittier. I hope that our GM isn't quite satisfied with the current roster and is able to bring in another player before camp begins. From Doan's perspective, he should be excited to be in Buffalo because he is going to get an opportunity to earn more ice time here. Will he seize that opportunity? I sure hope so. Adding what is obviously an effort player sure is not going to hurt us.