JohnC

I didn't find the fights entertaining. I thought it was idiotic and moronic. However, I did find the play between these teams compelling. That was great hockey!

The difference between the situation that Tage and Mitts encountered is that neither one of them was physically ready to handle the rigors of the big league. Although Benson has a lot more room to physically grow, he has demonstrated in spades that he can handled the physicality of league play. His production stats might not be overly impressive but the eye test indicates to me that the league right now is not too big for this persistent bugger. In addition, if some of the other younger players emulated his tenacity and feel for the game, they would be better players.

No to him going back down. He's demonstrated to me that he can play in the big boy league now, and I'm confident that as he physically matures he is going to get better. He's earned the right to stay in the NHL.

I would rather add another rugged player or two than a designated fighter as a responder who isn't much of a contributor. And it should be noted that many fights, if not most, are pre-arranged between the combatants before they square off. Every time I state my position on this assaultive behavior on ice I get overwhelmed with thumbs down, which makes my positioned hardened even more. I find it so freaking stupid and repugnant.

I believe that fighting should be banned from the game. (I'm aware that it is a very minority here.) However, as you point out, the last two games from a style of play perspective is noticeably different. You can't play this tougher brand of game unless you have the players who are suited to play this more rugged game. Zucker, Tuch, Greenway, Dahlin, Benson etc. provide a better roster mix compared to when the roster is too loaded with young players who lack the physical maturity to play a harder toe to toe game. I have been a consistent critic of the current GM's ability to construct a roster with the right mix of players. Hopefully, he is belatedly recognizing that deficiency with his recent contract extensions. There is still more to do on that roster balance issue but it should be achievable if there is a desire to do so.

The Byrum trade for Mitts is looking good. I hope that we will be able to eventually get a contract worked out.

The description that @dudacek gave to the Samuelsson handling is incisively accurate. There was an over expectation that resulted in a contract that he couldn't match with production. That's an organizational failure that impacted the player's performance. (As he pointed out.) However, if he becomes a good third pairing defenseman, who could move up to fill in when injuries occur, then I'm fine with it. What this fumbling staff have too often done, especially for the young players, is force them to be slotted too high before they are not ready. Cozens is another example of mishandling the talent on hand. As you and others have repeatedly stated, make young players earn their roles instead of bestowing roles that can't be handled at the time. There are so many examples of mishandling players and instead of enhancing careers end up derailing careers.

My takeaway from the game is that even with the shooters out of the lineup, collectively this team played hard and with effort throughout. There were no lulls---the players kept pushing. When watching this game it was apparent why there was a need for keeping veteran rugged players, such as Greenway, Zucker, in the fold. What our young players, such as Quinn, JJP and Kulich, can't bring at this stage of their career is the physicality to go along with their offensive skills. In general, I thought Zucker, Tuch and Byrum played well. Just maybe, Byrum playing without Dahlin allows him to control the puck and freelance more??? Still an open issue for me. This was a good win in another end of season meaningless game. However, if the remaining games are used to instill playing the right way (tougher two-way hockey), then it can be a good lesson for next season. I'm aware that I have repeated myself but I strongly believe that if the organization can make a few smart moves to get a better mix and balance to the roster, this team would be much better.

Zucker and Tuch.

There comes a time when instead of looking back for solutions one should look forward. What our nostalgic thinking owner should start doing is evolve from his old mode of thinking of yesteryear and look forward to today's version of the NHL. If he hasn't learned from his mounting bad decisions over the past generation, then he's too stuck in the past to ever learn. This tiresome silent owner is too insular to consult with a variety of outside sources to get a more objective evaluation of his franchise and organization. This owner can hide behind his silence but what he can't hide is his team's record. It's embarrassing. A generation of failure in a cap system designed for the down teams to have advantages over the up teams is an absurdity. It's a level of ridiculousness beyond anyone's imagination.

Compare how the Washington Capitals have handled the last couple of years to how our minimalist GM has handled the past couple of years. The Capitals handled it smartly, and it catapulted the team. The Sabres handled it with timidity resulting the team sliding back. As you point out, the opportunities were there for us to advance, however the GM was frozen with fear. His record speaks for itself.

I'm with you. I'm really tired of his interminable incompetent stewardship that has lasted for a generation. He could make a tidy profit by selling the team thus enabling him to buy another aircraft carrier sized yacht. He has turned this franchise into being not only irrelevant but made it a joke franchise. He's a classic demonstration what an owner shouldn't do. He needs to find another toy to tinker with. Enough is enough of his odd ownership.

Your last sentence identifies one of the primary faults that has made KA a failure as a GM. His rigidity and unwillingness to adapt in a business of constant change has kept the team stuck. KA's draft and develop approach to rebuilding is a standard approach. There's nothing innovative about it. However, if you over rely on it without some enhancing moves, then not only will your team slide back but the young players you have will not have the support system that promotes their development. Another damaging effect is that constant losing is over time is poisonous to players mindset. The negativity sucks the joy out of playing the game. What's apparent is that the GM's stubbornness in sticking to his plan when a measure of flexibility was needed, has kept this franchise stuck while other teams have passed us by. It should not be forgotten that it was the owner who made this odd hire.

You may not know who to primarily blame but I do know: It's the owner. He has made all the critical hires and has structured the organization the way he wants it to be. The team has not made the playoffs since he became the owner. And because of his long-term mismanagement the fanbase has dramatically been eroded. Some issues are tough to figure out. This is not one of them, at least for me. You can keep looking but I've found the person most responsible for badly damaging this franchise. He can hide behind his silent act but he can't run away from the record. This is an easy issue to score.

The owner has made the critical hires. When he is trying to determine what the problem is he should look in the mirror.

I agree with your well-reasoned and stated comments with a slight deviation. With the assets this team does have with cap room and assets in the system, I believe that the GM has the coinage to make at least three solid moves to manifestly improve the roster. It's not unreasonable to believe that our GM has the resources to add a couple more Zucker/like players and a rugged defenseman to the blueline unit. I'm not counting on a blockbuster deal to upgrade this team. In my opinion, a few astute mid-level deals can make a difference. And the expectation/hope is that players such as JJP, Quinn and Kulich step up with their development. Does the GM have it in him to accomplish that? I'm not sure.

I'm not challenging Dr. C's credentials as being one of the best and esteemed doctors in his area of expertise. And I'm not disputing the issue of the quantity of surgeries in the area we are discussing here he has performed. He gave his professional opinion, and it certainly was well reasoned. But that doesn't mean that other opinions are less reasoned than the opinion that the Sabre doctor gave. As it turned out, the procedure that Dr. C would not sign on to was signed on to by another team's medical staff. And to reinforce the notion that it was the right, if not better approach for Jack, is that he came back sooner than if he had the Dr. C surgery, and his career has been going strong with no ill-effects from the procedure that he insisted on. The hindsight judgment has indicated that, at least to me it does. I also recognize that this was not an easy call/judgment for doctors. But in the medical profession, as in the legal profession, as in the scientific profession, as in the business profession, as in the military profession etc. tough judgments are made by highly trained and respected people without unanimity.

I have had two back surgeries. There are no guarantees about outcome. It worked out for me. In the medical profession there are a lot of judgments made on the best approach. That's why it's prudent to seek out other opinions before deciding on the approach.

You can be an acknowledged brilliant surgeon and have an opinion on a case that other prominent surgeons disagree with. That's not unusual in the medical field. What I can say in hindsight is that Vegas and Jack were right regarding the best approach for him. People have different treatments for cancer with different medical advocacies. In my view, the patient has the right to choose.

You make a great point about Risto and our poor handling of him/ players. It's well known that Risto was not a great thinker on the ice who had special intuit hockey traits. But that doesn't mean that with proper usage he couldn't be a good player for us. He needed to play in a simplified and structured system. He never was going to play a defensive role that required roaming and freelancing. As you point out, many here are screaming to add a physical defensive/defenseman. As usual, we squandered what we already had. Just stupid laid on top of stupid!

Pegula has owned the franchise for nearly a generation. If the reticent owner isn't aware of how successful NHL teams are constructed at this stage of his ownership, then he should be mandated to read NHL Hockey for Dummies. Something so basic to pro hockey is not difficult to discern. In addition, if he isn't regularly talking to the coach to get some feedback, then he's to blame for being out of the loop.

I agree with you that there are no guarantees with any surgery. However, Jack and his advisors certainly did extensive research as to the best medical course for his injury. Buffalo and their medical staff declined permission for him to have that procedure. He ended up being traded to a team that allowed that procedure. It worked out well for him. After he had the procedure that proved successful, other players had the same surgery for similar injuries. I do have the luxury of hindsight in assessing what happened post-surgery. That's why I'm concluding that Jack was right and the organization was wrong on the surgery issue. There's nothing unusual about premier medical people having respectful conflicting views on a health issue. But let's not forget that the Vegas medical staff allowed him to have the procedure that the Buffalo staff would not approve. Looking back, Jack and the Vegas medical staff made the right judgment. I'm aware that the league has a clause in the player agreement that requires a player to get permission for medical treatment. In my opinion, that rule should change where the player has the ultimate responsibility for his own health.

I’m confident that PTR and his wife will be treated well. That doesn’t mean that the Canadians are going to feebly respond when provoked. There are plenty of ugly Americans in the US. The PTR clan doesn’t fall in that unappealing group.

When you get kicked in the balls don’t expect a congenial response.

I'm just addressing the injury issue which after the fact proved that the player was right. There was a lot in stake for Eichel regarding his neck injury. He certainly did his research as to what was the best surgical approach for his injury. Although the procedure was considered experimental in the US, it was an accepted practice procedure in Europe. Europe is more accepting of new procedures because their medical system/s are more receptive in approving trial treatments. The American system is much more conservative in accepting new procedures. Whether that is a good thing or not is a different issue and a complicated issue. After the surgery, Eichel was able to get back on the ice sooner than if he would have followed the Sabre recommended procedure. And after Jack's successful outcome, other players had the same procedure. I can't prove it but I believe that this medical issue was used against Jack because they resented his desire to be traded. On this issue, I'm with Jack. And it should be pointed out to those who booed Jack that he wasn't the only player who wanted out of this amateurishly run franchise, so did Reinhart, Ullmark, ROR, Montour etc. I'm a harsh critic of our owner, GM and how the franchise has been run. But I will also acknowledge that notwithstanding the mistakes and questionable hockey judgments, the franchise is much more professionally run than before. There is less tumult and more order.