JohnC

I want it now!

According to this column "the Key Bank Center is owned by Erie County which says any internal improvements to the arena complex must come from Sabres' owner Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE). " This statement doesn't make it clear if there is a distinction between capital improvements or less structural type of internal improvements. https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/glowing-reviews-for-buffalos-big-weekend-but-what-about-keybank-center/71-6bd39a73-1723-46f9-b5e3-fce99ca30a06

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't the Pegulas have control of the facility? What you describe is disgraceful. This level of deterioration happens when there isn't the day to day and year to year maintenance done on a facility, any facility. That's what is required for any building or facility, big or small. This building may require a major renovation project to get it up to a high standard. But that's not what I'm discussing here. It seems as if there is an inattentiveness and penny-pinching that has allowed this building to deteriorate to a second-rate level. This is appalling and shouldn't be tolerated.

On WGR Granato laughingly said that Cozens shook his hand with a vice grip and told the coach that Canada was going to beat the US.

Paul Hamilton was on WGR yesterday or the day before discussing UPL not being available for the start of the AHL playoffs. He made the comment that outside scouts have told him that they don't consider UPL as a NHL talent. I'm not suggesting he is or isn't. I just don't know. But what I can say for sure is that I am very concerned about his durability.

He's frequently talked about the influence of the Carolina model on him. He stated that he placed a great deal of importance on the locker room dynamic and having the right mix of players/people. And he emphasized that he learned the importance of building a well rounded roster rather than building around any particular player. KA's style of management is a collaborative style. His best trait is that he listens more than the talks when working with his staff.

My answer remains an unequivocal no as it pertains to Mitts. If he wants to play in the tournament, then that's his call. Otherwise, I would recommend that he concentrate on recovering from his bruises and start with the preparation for next season. We simply disagree on this issue. That's okay.

I would include players such as Gergs and Asplund to the unappreciated group where the stats don't come close to measuring the value.

I respectfully disagree with you respectfully disagreeing with me. The coach said that he was playing hurt. Is that an accurate description of his status? I can't say for sure. By the last third of the season most players are banged up. But what was evident is that when Olofsson and Mitts came back from their respective injuries, it took an extended period time before they got back to their normal brand of play. We shall see. 🍷

Don't get too comfortable. Sometimes the situation can quickly change. ☠️

I have a little different understanding/interpretation of the Eichel situation. Stripping Eichel of the captainship wasn't so much a defining moment as much as it was a public statement that clarified to the public that the divorce between the player and organization was not simply inevitable but was already in effect. (The players already knew what the situation was.) I recall that Jack privately made it known to the organization before he publicly made it known that he wanted out and wasn't coming back to the team. Supposedly, he proposed to the GM the option of getting his preferred surgery in which theoretically the return time would be quicker and thus possibly help the GM get a better return for him. The GM wasn't accepting that option because he, on the advice of the medical staff, was steadfast that the organization was not going to approve of Jack's surgery preference. There was no secret that the GM wasn't intimidated by the prospect of trading Jack because he preferred moving Jack and the old core (Risto & Reinhart) in order to reconfigure the roster with a new younger core. KA kept repeating the mantra in almost every interview that he wanted people here who wanted to be here. At this point there was no need for subtlety or diplomacy because the course of action had already been set. Looking back, I believe that the GM dealt with the situation in a masterful manner. With Risto and Reinhart he got what he could get because each of them were going to become UFA players. There is a chance that in the long run the trade with Florida for Reinhart may be the most consequential if Levi becomes the player that many of us hope he becomes. And in handling the Jack situation the GM acted with fortitude in not making a Jack deal out of desperation but instead biding his time and waiting for a fair return for him. I'm not as harsh as many are in my view of Jack. Sometimes the change in circumstances dictate a change in direction. Overall, I'm more than pleased with how the novice GM handled the situation.

If your wife asks you if you kept up with your life insurance payments, I would be more cautious than usual. ☠️

He is going to have to decide for himself what is best for him. The tournament may be only two weeks but you also have to include the training to prepare and the practice time with your teammates. It should not be forgotten that he had surgery during the season and after returning to action he was still playing hurt. Even his coach pointed out that Mitts was playing hurt. Getting back to full health, refreshed and prepared for training camp should be his priority. Working on his golf game will also help him to come into camp invigorated and ready to go. So my recommendation would be not to go to the world hockey tournament. Relax, recover and have a beer or two with the boys and girls in your circle.

He should be recovering, resting and working out during the offseason. After his surgery and rehab he got back on the ice although he was not completely healed i.e. without pain. The medical staff made the judgment that returning to play wouldn't aggravate the injury but he would have to endure some pain. His first priority is to get fully healthy and prepare for the upcoming season.

I am an Italian. Take precaution when you turn on your car ignition. Something may go boom. ☠️

From what I have read about his mind-set at this stage of his career I don't think he would make a two year commitment with any team because of family considerations. He's at the stage of his illustrious career where he is in position to consider presented offers without having to pursue offers. It's really hard to say what he will decide. I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to hang the skates up. He's in a similar situation that Anderson is in with mulling over whether to go one more year or settle down due to family reasons. I look at your Buffalo proposal for Fleury and it makes me even more entrenched in my opinion that KA made a mistake in not signing Ullmark.

From the player's standpoint I just don't see him having an interest in coming here. If he is going to continue on with his long career, it is more likely that he would want to go to a team that is a serious cup contender. I'm not arguing that I wouldn't like to have him on this team because he is the type of player/person who you would want in the locker room and in net for you. Everyone who has had any association with him raves about him not only as a player but also a person. In Tuch's end of season interview he cited Fleury for being a wonderful mentor for him in Vegas. I just think that the Sabres are maybe one year away from being the caliber of team he would want to join.

Looking back, when negotiating with Skinner, the figures that you cited would have been appropriate figures to have signed Skinner at. I'm glad that Skinner is on the team and producing at the level expected under Granato. But his contract is outsized compared to the talent level. However, that overpayment has had little affect in deterring the organization from doing whatever it wants to do to upgrade the roster, at least for the near term.

This is just my impression but I don't think that he would be willing to subject himself to the grind of coaching at the expense of taking away time from his young family. The same issue of commitment would apply to an entry level front office position. There is no doubt that he is the type of person who is knowledgeable about hockey and who relates to young players that you would want involved with your program in some capacity. No organization can have too many good people working for it. He's one of them.

At the podium answering questions he comes off as being impressively thoughtful and incisive. As you point out there is a genuineness and not an ounce of phoniness about him when he is dealing with the media or people in general. He has a natural presence about him that allows him to influence the room without having to say much. He's a high character guy and a humble person. As you point out it's easy to respect and like him. He's such an impressive person.

One of the attributes that KA possesses in how he operates that is the opposite from how Krueger operates is that cited by people who know him and have worked with him is that he is a collaborator and a listener. He is open-minded and receptive to ideas from others. It was reported by many that Krueger dispatched Chris Taylor, the coach in Rochester, because CT wasn't sold on what he was espousing as it related to coaching in the NHL. If that situation happened with KA he would have asked the subordinate coach why he thought what he did and seriously consider the difference. That is not to say he would have agreed with the different opinion but he wouldn't out of hand dismiss it. KA is secure enough to surround himself with experienced people. Karmonos was a major hire for him. Although as a GM KA was inexperienced he was confident enough to hire an experienced executive who had strong thoughts about the game and running a franchise. It isn't just about surrounding yourself with talented executives. More importantly, he empowered them to do their job and solicit their opinions. The bottom line is that he has the final say on the hockey operation. But before he gets to that point he genuinely seeks input from the staff so that the final decision has been made after a thorough and thoughtful process. I'm simply impressed by him in the way he has rebuilt the organization where everyone is working together and moving in the same direction.

The roadmap was easy to follow. Whatever the predecessor did---do the opposite. Even in the darkness you will be assured to be on the right path.

I agree with you that Jeff Skinner is over paid and his term is too long. However, even considering those contract excesses, he is a valuable member of the roster who contributes by doing one thing that this team desperately needs i.e. score goals. Over paying someone who is a major contributor is a salary mistake I could live with, especially when have one of the lowest salary structure in the league. The debilitating problem happens when you over pay someone when they don't contribute. Then the mistake is compounded. The Ullmark contract issue is altogether different from the Skinner situation. There is a big difference between stretching the boundary and blowing up the boundary. The Ullmark situation was a mere stretch that could have easily been absorbed with no negative consequences from a cap and roster standpoint. When you dig a hole you then have to go back and fill it. Simple solution: Don't dig yourself into a hole.