JohnC

I don't want to trade JJP. But if you gave me the choice of trading either JJP or Benson, I would deal JJP. There is a tenacity to his game that this team desperately needs more of. What is his scoring upside? You are more upbeat about his production numbers than I am. For me, his importance to the team goes beyond the goal numbers. We need a couple more Zucker/McCleod/Benson types to this loose/soft roster makeup.

I mentioned Zucker in a previous post. It's going to be interesting to see if McCleod signs a contract here. I think he will.

The attention that is placed on players who don't want or do want to be here is misplaced. I don't care what line of business you are in, no one wants to be part of a failing enterprise. Let's put aside the internal discussion about our players and what their preferences are. What team is most cited to be on players NTM clauses? Our dysfunction is not a secret. You can't hide your record. It's bad enough that outsiders don't want to come here but it's gotten to the point that it has become a concerning issue that key players here will opt when they are in a position to do so. This is not a novel situation; this disorder has been going on for a long time. Eichel received a lot of criticism when he vociferously expressed his desire to get out of this manure pit because he didn't see an avenue for success. As time has passed, no one can say that he was wrong in his assessment about this turbulent organization. How do you get out of this treadmill run to nowhere? There's no quick solution. There is a segment here who believe that you have to become composed of fighters. That's fanciful nonsense. The solution is to have competent staff making a series of smart decisions that accumulate and build up to a critical mass of good decisions that reshape this roster. My position is well known about my feelings toward KA, our embarrassing GM. He's simply a dolt. On the other hand, I'm encouraged about the addition of Karma to the staff. I don't know how much influence he will have in decision-making but I'm sure it will be beneficial if listened to. I don't foresee any blockbuster deals being made. However, I do see the Sabres soon making a series of medium range deals that will somewhat reshape the roster and make it more coherent. And it is my strong opinion that upgrading and stabilizing the goalie position will be the most impactful decision that this flailing organization can make.

You should expect a mountainous bowel movement very shortly. Be respectful and give the air refresher an extra spray.

There’s no question that stars get preferential treatment in the NBA. However, NHL refereeing is even more erratic.

Stubbornness in certain circumstances is an admirable trait. And it some other circumstances it is a debilitating trait.

We can use another younger Zucker. He was both productive and tough.

The basketball comparison that you made is relevant and applicable to hockey, and all team sports. You have to have a sufficient supporting cast for your star/s in order to attain championships. And, as you point out, you need a wise coach who can fit the pieces together.

Zucker.

My understanding is that it was Pegula who “encouraged “ him to add some experienced people to the staff to help him. And it was up to KA to choose who he wanted. I can’t say that for sure. I’m conjecturing here. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t matter much to me who was behind the change compared to the fact that it was done. There is nothing novel about having “senior advisors” working as consultants and as a sounding board. Many teams have this type of added structure. Florida has this type of senior consultants. I consider the addition of Jarmo to be a positive move.

I'm not sure who was the main initiator was for the Jarmo hiring, TP or KA, but I like it. It seems to me that outside eyes are very often better at seeing things than taking an insular approach. And to a lesser extent, the hiring of Staal, even if it is for a lower consultant position, adds an outside perspective to the team and in evaluation other players in the league.

I’m not sure that even if he was allowed to have the surgery he preferred that he would have stayed. He made it clear through a variety of reps, one of which was his father, that he wanted no part of another rebuild project. The organization tried to placate him by bringing in some veterans but it was less than adequate . He was right in his judgment of the franchise and didn’t want to get stuck here. He didn’t demand to go to any particular team but was determined to get out of this stink hole and start afresh somewhere else. He made the right decision for himself, just like Reinhardt and Ullmark were. The lesson to be learned is that systematic dysfunction has costly consequences.

Losing is a contaminant.

I agree with you that the KA hire was an odd and inexplicable hire that has set back this franchise and not allowed it to move forward. The main reason that KA was hired was that he presented the owner with a rebuilding plan that was cheaper. That was the appeal and reason why he was hired. It’s not unusual that even someone with an impressive resume simply doesn’t work. You then move on in this highly turnover business. There is no rational reason for his retention after five years of less than mediocre work. The onus is on the stubborn owner for this faltering franchise.

The player to watch regarding player frustrations and internal frustrations is Tuch. If he shows little interest in signing a new contract in the not-too-distant future, then it will spell another roster setback that continues the exasperating process of filling another hole that previously didn't exist. Will the Ullmark scenario play out again? The SC playoffs have concluded and the draft is soon. So we should soon know what this front office is up to with this roster. It's going to be interesting.

Slick people know how to take advantage of the loopholes. Officer asks the stopped driver have you been drinking. The driver says yes. How much did you drink? I only had one glass of wine, and I spilled a lot of it. Okay, that sounds reasonable. Here's your license back and drive carefully. Thank you officer. I want you know to that I support the men in blue. 😄

The strategy to rebuild or not and to what extent is not what has strangled this franchise. Even if there was no complete tear down strategy but rather build on what you already got, a competently managed franchise would today have a relevant and competitive team. The owner hired an ill-equipped person to be his GM, a person no other owner/franchise would have considered for the position. After five years at the helm, we are not much farther than when we started. This mediocre fellow is still at the helm. Again, no franchise would have retained a GM with such a record. That's not the case for this bedraggled franchise. What's the hope now? It's that the senior advisor brought in will help buck up the GM that has driven this franchise into a ditch. That's not how a normally run NHL franchise functions. And the beat goes on and on. Imprisoned by one's own generational foolishness.

You are right that there is zero chance that half the roster will be flipped. And that would be the right approach to take. There needs to be a few consequential moves to change the roster dynamic. I have little confidence in KA but as @Thornypoints out the $$$ should be put on Jarmo.

@Taro T made the point that a number of young players are at a stage where they have had enough experience to expect (hope) for higher production baseline. Players such as Quinn, JJP, Power, Benson and to a lesser extent Samuelsson. Not far from that group based on his showing last year is Kulich. The big question mark for me is the goalie play. It's a big risk to count on UPL as your primary goalie. What better options are there to be pursued? I simply don't know. And, associated with the goalie discussion is how much will the blueline be remade? Clearly, I don't have much confidence in KA to be wise enough to rework the lineup so that it becomes a serious team. However, with the addition of the former Columbus GM added to the staff. my hope that he can steer the current stolid GM to make enough good decisions to alter the course of this lost franchise. Last year, @dudacek made a list of "questionable issues" that the Sabres had entering the season. He pointed out that the list was long and that it was a big gamble to have that long list entering a new season. He was proven right that many of the unresolved issues resulted in plaguing the team all season long. Again, we are entering next season with a long list. The difference is that there is a young core that should be in a better situation due to the added experience. (A point that @Taro T noted.) I am eagerly waiting for the action to happen soon. I just don't know what to expect from this abnormally operated franchise.

Your analysis is astute and perspicacious. I strongly believe that our biggest priority relates to the net. The next priority is reconfiguring the blue line unit. Bryan is an asset that needs to be smartly parlayed. What I’m hoping for is doable. I’m also encouraged that a wiser former GM was brought in to help our frail GM.

I've tried to be open-minded about the JJP trade discussion. I've leaned toward keeping him because I see more upside from him and was tired of seeing our young players prospering with other teams. I now have come to a position where I'm steadfastly against dealing him. It is now a hard no for me. Many people make the argument that the organization has to alter its roster just to shake things up. I agree with that sentiment. But moving out young players who are already producing and are at an age where there is much more talent to tap into doesn't make sense to me. There is no question that JJP and other young players need to be more responsible in the defensive side of the game. And it is up to the coaching and the players to work to become better all-around players. So on the trade JJP discussion I'm on the hard no side of the argument. I'm attaching a Buffalo News link, Mike Harrington column on this issue. It may not be available for everyone because of the pay requirements. https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/nhl/sabres/article_b2b6a614-e834-4784-ba99-6d3f7eee9394.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

I'm always kind to people who can kill me.

It doesn't matter because he kills his competitors. So the job opening will still be available to him.

The way you describe Kyrou's style of play it seems similar to JJP's game. If that's the case, then it would make more sense to stick with the younger player who has shown scoring prowess with more potential to tap. Peterka has gotten enough playing time where he's not a young player trying to find his game. No question that he needs to improve on the defensive side of the game, as do most young players. Is he willing and have the desire to do so? I don't know. Is he determined to be somewhere else? I don't know. But if he's still receptive to being here then maybe the best approach is to give him a bridge deal as @Brawndo recommended.

He's Jason. He stars in the movie "Friday the 13". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080761/?ref_=ls_t_1