JohnC

I’m older than you are Mr. Youngster. You have become a frantic fan who buys a ticket just to boo. Freaking calm down and cool off. You are loosing your marbles over a bloody game. You need to tune out for a tad to get your stressed out batteries recharged.

Have you read my posts on the owner and GM? You have become a hysterical zealot on the Sabres. Everything this GM has done this offseason has not been wrong or at least defensible. If one can't be fair in making a judgment on individual transactions, then what's the point of even commenting because the automatic response is going to be critical even if the transaction makes sense. If you allow me, I would like to offer a suggestion that will help you cope a little better. Try taking an ice bath and cool off the raging furies that you have built up. But don't overdo it because your lower aperture might freeze up causing a clog. That's not a good thing if you eat a lot of processed foods. 😃

This is a trade that most likely benefits both teams. We dealt a good young player for two players that not only can help us but will help alter the mix to toughen up the unit. Even if JJP is arguably the best player in the transaction that doesn't mean that the Sabres won't benefit more from the deal because we addressed a greater need area. What's still hovering over this team is the Byram issue. If he is traded and the return is a top two-line player, then the JJP trade looks even better. The irony is that there was a loud call to toughen up the roster. The JJP trade helps in that area. Trades are not an act of charity. You have to give up something of value to get something back of value.

JJP less than interested two-way play was on display for everyone to see. What is a coach to do when after a number of “discussions” about one’s inadequate play over the same glaring deficiency is a coach to do? Just because a player is soft doesn’t mean that a coach shouldn’t be hard. When you hold a recalcitrant player accountable the other players see that. And usually the rest of the players in the room nod in agreement that what needed to be done got done. There is nothing wrong about kicking a player in the arse when the ears are not working.

I have a different take on JJP's "reported" attitude problem that is less lenient than your interpretation regarding the player. More than a few reports indicate that the source of the problem was that JJP was too lax when it came to his defensive role. So the coach got on him for that deficiency that even we laymen saw. What's wrong with that? Whether you call it hard coaching or good coaching, I have no problem with a coach addressing a problem with a player's play. That's what a coach is supposed to do. It seems that the player was not receptive to that type of authoritative style in coaching. My response is: TOUGH. There is no question that consistent losing is demoralizing for the players. The issue then becomes how do you change that toxic environment? You create an environment where the coaches and players hold themselves accountable. And when he was held accountable, he reacted poorly. So this talented offensive player was traded for players who addressed some weaknesses and had a more positive attitude about playing in a responsible way. The problem with the Sabres is not necessarily about the talent as it is about the attitude and "how" one plays. The bottom line is that this trade was the right thing for the departed player and it was the right thing for the team to do to alter the mix on the roster.

You have to accept the players you have and recognize who they are and what they can do and not do. None of the three highlighted players you noted would fall into the category of being gritty and muscular players, and most likely never will be. That doesn't mean that they won't be good players. You need to create a balance. If they don't provide certain physical attributes that doesn't mean that you can't add players who do add those complementary attributes. I believe Power is going to be a very good defenseman. Maybe not the type you want but an effective one. And I'm also hoping that Quinn gets fully healthy and becomes the goal scorer that was expected of him. Our GM jumped the gun by giving Samuelsson such a long-term extension. In my view, a minority view for sure, is that I believe that he can be a good third pairing player who can be moved up the ranks when needed.

Let's summarize the transactions and the aftermath. The Sabres are better on the blueline, and that is before knowing how the Byram issue turns out. In general, I would say that the Sabres are grittier than last year's version of a team. The issue that hangs over these player maneuvers and renders them helpful or not is the state of our goaltending. Is the addition of the new goalie going to be helpful? Will UPL become an adequate to solid #1 goalie? Will Levi eventually force his way onto the Sabres and relegate UPL as expendable? If the Sabres get consistent and solid goaltending, then at least we can hope for a credible playoff race. If not, then we continue to be stuck in the abyss. For me, it's not an issue of being confident or not about the position. I just don't know. So entering the season I find myself as being queasy about this team's prospects.

Is the level of spending due to the boundaries that the owner has established? I believe so. And have the cap boundaries been loosened this off-season? I believe so. And to what degree? As you noted, we shall see.

Great clip!

Making a mistake with a non first round pick is not something to be exercised over. There are plenty of other issues to draw one’s attention to.

I thought he responded well to the questions asked. He wasn't evasive or defensive. He gave clear and succinct answers to the questions. I thought his answer regarding Docker and why he was not signed was reasonable and made sense. He pointed out that his arbitration comps would be higher than how they valued him. I have been critical of him as a GM but I don' see why this clip should provoke any criticism. I'm not going to read too much into this interview and come away with any negative or positive feelings. It was a standard presentation that most GMs do.

I'm confident that you have more growth potential to work with. However, no need for any demonstrations. I'll take your word for it.

I gotcha. I'm a dullard whose obtuseness is often publicly demonstrated. 😃

I'm sure you are aware of my attitude toward the GM and owner. I have been castigated for repeating my scorn. To put it mildly, I'm contemptuous of the both of them. When compared to the rest of the league for the caliber of other GMs and owners I rank the both of them at the bottom. It's imprisoning and tough to break out of. That's the ugly reality that we are contending with.

If you are saying that Ruff isn’t much of a factor in these offseason transactions, then I respectfully but strenuously disagree with you.

My calculation is simple: if you don’t get a fair value return for him I. e. second line forward, then your team is not better if he is dealt. He’s more of an offensive defense than defensive stalwart. I recognize what his assets and liabilities are as a defender. But not getting a reasonable deal for him doesn’t help this team, it sets it back.

I strongly believe that the Docker departure is a Ruff influenced decision. What did you expect from Ruff-KA-Pegula organization? If you expected some smart and strategic thinking coming from this faded group, you are being unrealistic. Mediocrity begets more mediocrity.

It shouldn't be a surprise that a franchise with an odd silent owner who oddly selects an unqualified person to be a GM who makes odd decisions. From an overview standpoint, the GM is mostly sticking with his build from within and draft and develop strategy. It is being tweaked with more emphasis on physicality, a Ruff influence. The biggest gamble relates to the goalie position. Was it sufficiently addressed this offseason? I would say no but not at a conclusive level. We shall see.

My guess is that this was a Ruff influenced transaction. I really don't think it was a money issue because the player who replaces him will be in the same contract strata.

I believe that you hit on what the source of the Docker decision was: a preference for Johnson. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out. The bigger and more consequential decision on the blueline relates to what is the organization going to do with Byram. I'm starting to lean towards keeping him, especially if they can't get a second-line player for him.

What love are you talking about? The fringe is getting magnified into something bigger than what it is. If I had to make a choice between having Docker or Bryson, I would decisively take Docker. I suspect that the decision to not sign Docker was primarily a Ruff decision.

As I said in prior posts, I liked Docker. I would have preferred to have kept him. I’m baffled as to why he was dispatched. I strongly suspect that this was a Ruff influenced decision. However, this wasn’t a significant loss in the grand scheme of things.

It’s not excuses. It’s the reality of the situation. You work with what you got. Imaginary players don’t skate because they are a figment of our created fantasy.

I liked Docker. But he’s a replaceable player whose loss is inconsequential.

I consider the sixth d-man to be a replaceable player. I'm not saying that that slotted position is unimportant, but I'm not saying he is a critical player whose loss can't be compensated for.