JohnC

I'm sure it is a minority view but I would rather keep Samuelsson and trade Byram. The hope with dealing Byram is that we can get a good player in return who has some grit to him. I thought that for the last dozen games or so Samuelsson game was solid. No doubt it was because he was paired with Dahlin. It didn't hurt Dahlin's game and it stabilized his play. Another factor, if Byram gets the contract he is likely to seek, it would be significantly more costly. As the link below indicates Samuelsson's contract runs to 29-30 at $4,285,714 per year. Bryram's expected market price would be more and longer. https://www.google.com/search?q=Buffalo+Sabres+Samuelsson's+contract&oq=Buffalo+Sabres+Samuelsson's+contract&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.16470j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The Samuelson contract is difficult to get rid of. The inflated contract that we assumed is not the inflated contract that anyone else wants to take on. A bad contract can be not only a simple mistake but also a compounding mistake.

The Byram contract length makes me uncomfortable. Not saying that he doesn't deserve the contract but considering how much is already committed to Dahlin, Samuelsson and Power and the blueline, I don't see how the Sabres can commit to him for so long. I like Byram but if we can get a reasonable return in a trade, I would make it. If we could get a younger Zucker-like player for him, I would be more than satisfied.

There are plenty of high caliber people who wouldn’t take the job under the parameters the owner has established. The main reason for declining is that the system and conditions established by the befuddled owner is a situation designed to fail.

You’re right.

The initial discussion related to the Staal hiring for an ill-defined position. In that particular situation I have little problem for him not to permanently relocate to Western NY. For the GM position, my position is different. With respect to Karmonos at his current position and where he resides, I would prefer he lives in the Buffalo but accepting to another arrangement if it is working.

What in the world are you talking about?

His background is mostly in training ballet dancers. And he regularly wears tights that bulge below the midsection to the office. And he wiggles his tushy when he walks.

John Tortorella will be the new director of public relations. When members of the hockey press learned who the new hire was, they went to their bosses and asked if they could cover the weather.

Where did you come up with that implausible figure? Stay away from those conspiracy sites. You are being captured by the zany world of basement people.

In retrospect, the owner’s hiring of KA was insane. The primary reason to bestow this challenging job to someone so ill-prepared for the most critical job in a hockey franchise is that it gave him more unchallenged space. Unsurprisingly, the ugly results followed from there. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that our fool owner continues to keep this failed GM in his position. In a normally run franchise it would make no sense. In a Pegula franchise, what is odd to most people is normal to this diseased franchise. I just wish this fool owner would get on his big boat and sail off into oblivion. He has crippled this franchise and snuffed the life out of this once vibrant but now moribund fan base. note: I didn't intend to underline my post. I don't know how to undo the underlying.

An interesting question is will Karmanos remain with the organization and will his role and influence change? I don’t know how much influence he has had in making prior deals or whether it will increase or decrease if he stays with the organization? I would appreciate it if someone can tell me who was most responsible for bringing him in to the organization.

We have an assist. GM who lives in Pittsburgh. And the same non-residence applies to many of our scouts. So what's the big deal about him not residing here.

The position that Staal was hired for is a typical entry level job for a recently retired veteran player that most franchises have. The advantage of this type of hire is that the new employee knows a lot of current players and is tapped in to a lot of coaches he has been involved with. So he should have a lot of information about other players and whether they would be a good fit if pursued. People getting upset over such a standard practice/hiring is perplexing to me. (As your post demonstrates, there is nothing novel about this type of hiring.)

Google, it's quicker.

Look up the definition of piddling.

It’s not a “weird experience”—-it’s gross incompetence practiced for an extended period of time. It shouldn’t be a surprise that when your owner is out of step with the norm, your franchise becomes abnormal.

I’ve stated my position of the contempt I have for the owner and this sycophantic GM many times. The adding of Staal to the staff in an ill-defined role is inconsequential. The retention of KA as the GM is consequential in a negative way. Having Terry Pegula as an owner is an insidious presence that has crippled this franchise. I don’t expect a major change in the organizational structure because it’s structured the way the owner wants it to be. My attention is now directed toward what transactions are going to be made to improve this inadequate roster this offseason. Will they be meaningful? I simply don’t know. As you well know the Sabres are not a normally run franchise. I don’t say that snidely but do say it sadly. Staal is not worth being bothered about.

There are plenty of things about this ragged organization to get upset with. This inconsequential hire is not one of them. Whether they brought him in or not, who cares. If people find this hiring as a trigger to stoke additional anger about this backwater franchise, then I recommend that they tune out for a spell and get refreshed.

Just because you hate someone doesn't mean that particularly scorned person doesn't have something to contribute.

Attached is a WGR link where Eric Staal was interviewed on the Sabres Live Show. What does his hiring add to the organization? He's been with a lot of teams and still is familiar with a lot of players. If he can give some insight in some of the players the Sabres are interested in dealing for, then why not have another voice in the room? https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/hosts/sabres-live

A lot of players had problems last year. No question, that his play was inconsistent. Young players, especially defensemen, are not instantly good. It takes time. If you consider dealing him away as a solution to his at times substandard play, then I'm not on board. My recommendation is to find a better partner for him. Tage wasn't instantly good when first acquired. Now he is a goal scoring dynamo. Follow that more patient model and you will be rewarded. I'm confident of that although many here are not.

You ask a good question as to why was Byram traded for? The reason is not too difficult to understand. Our GM is a shallow operative who looks to add pieces whether they fit or not. From his perch, he should be making decisions based on constructing a well-balanced roster. It's apparent for all to see that he is ill-equipped to handle that essential aspect of his job. It's not a challenge to find the primary cause as to why this franchise has been so dismal for so long. When your owner is a hockey dope, you don't stand a chance. Drink up and don't drive.

You make a keen observation that much of the jaundiced view of him can be attributed to the wrong expectation of him. The problem isn't the player as much as it is the excessive expectation and assessment of him. I'm confident he is going to be a good player. And for many that is not good enough.

The Byram acquisition is a perfect illustration of our GM's ineptitude when it comes to roster construction. (As you clearly note.) It's hard to move forward and build on what you have done when you constantly have to undo and redo and then again undo what you have done. While other teams move forward, you do the outdated cha cha dance and stand in place. If this shallow GM would have systematically addressed areas of need, then this team would be more complete instead of having an incomplete roster that is made up of redundant and missing pieces. In a cap system, you can't afford to misspend your cap allowance, especially when you don't spend up to the cap max.