JohnC

It would be interesting to know what the terms of agreement, even if only verbal, were with Keka and KA and with Keka and the owner.

I wasn't referring to Keenan although his style of coaching is beyond being outdated for this era of hockey. If Torts is so durable then why is it that wherever he goes he ends up being asked to leave. In my view, his approach to the game is passe No thank you. Looking to the past for solutions is not the way to go.

I agree with you that it was an understandable approach for a novice owner. The problem is that he hasn't learned from his mistakes. That's the maddening aspect of how he has handled his ownership. There's a stubbornness that he is going to do it his way without the benefit of enough consultation from more knowledgeable people inside and outside the organization. Hopefully, the hiring of this experienced executive is a step in the right direction. He needs to build on it.

If that happens, the Dallas GM would be committed for insanity. And Jarmo would be charged for a felonious theft. However, I do see Jarmo working to bring in a veteran goalie to our questionable mix at that position. You may be right that UPL could be dealt in the offseason. He had a big-time opportunity to secure the position for himself. He didn't live up to the task.

Making a critical hire based on demonstrating a connection to the fans is not the smartest way to make a decision for such an important position. But let's put that aside and look at the owner's overall record in hiring the top hockey staff. They haven't worked out for a variety of reasons, some of it having to do with the churning of staff resulting in a start and stop and restarting again approach. Each hire at the GM and HC position brings in a different system and philosophical approach. The constant changing and instability is a hallmark of the Pegula era. The hiring of KA to be the GM made no sense other than he presented the owner with an appealing cheaper plan to rebuild. And I'm comfortable in saying that not only would KA not have been considered for a GM position by any other sober owner but am absolutely sure that no owner would have kept him on after five years of an excruciating rebuilding plan that resulted in the team being a bottom of the pack team. What's interesting about this new senior advisor addition to the staff to help the current GM is that if he would have been the replacement for the current GM, there would have been even more positive feedback. From an overview perspective, this franchise has been flailing for a generation because of a pattern of bad management/ownership decisions. What's obvious is that when you shoot yourself in the foot you can't run very well. It gets tiresome.

It would probably be beneficial for Sammy not to wear the C. It would take some responsibilities away from him and allow him just to play and not worry about anything else. And to be blunt he hasn’t earned the letter.

What about LaFontaine? He certainly falls into the nostalgia category. And that hire turned out to be a fiasco. What’s to be learned? When searching for solutions it’s better to look forward than backward.

I’m sure the coach has a feel for which players are buying in to the program and which are not. And I’m sure he has communicated his thoughts on that issue when trades are discussed.

As you are staying, rational skepticism is a reasonable response to this odd owner. No one is giving him short shrift in assessing him. For some "believers" a generation of ownership is not enough time to make a judgment. If there is one person who doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt, it is this silent owner. I'm open-minded and waiting to see how things transpire this offseason. As you also noted, adding an experienced hockey man to the staff is a positive action.

I'm aligned with you in thinking/hoping that bringing in this experienced executive is a positive sign that the owner is more invested in the success of this franchise and not just coasting along. This is going to be an important offseason. I more inclined to think that there will be some consequential deals that will make this team better. We'll soon find out as the playoffs conclude and the draft approaches. What can't happen is this being a status quo offseason. That would be demoralizing.

There are a number of reasons why this franchise has failed during the full tenure of this owner. Maybe for you but not for me, it isn't much of a challenge to determine the primary reason for this generation of failure: Terry Pegula. There has not been one season under his ownership which can categorized as a success. That's appalling. He, more than anyone else, is responsible for almost irretrievably damaging a franchise and obliterating a once vibrant fanbase. If you want to be oblivious to this owner's stupendous incompetency, that is your prerogative. I want him to succeed as an owner but what I'm not going to give him is the benefit of the doubt. At least for me, he hasn't earned it. And let's be clear, the fans are not betraying this arrogant and hubristic owner----he's betrayed the fans with his generation of foolishness. If he's not interested in being a serious owner, then he should sell, walk away with a bountiful profit and sail off on his big freaking boat. To be very blunt, I'm tired of this fool billionaire.

If that’s the case I salute him and like him even more. Based on his record he is not afraid of making deals. I think you are over reading the situation based on your worries about the franchise history.

No, I do not believe the annual failures were due to the same reasons. The organization was innovative each year on how it failed. This is an example of creativity going bad.

Why do you say that? I'm not arguing for or against it. Just don't understand your reasoning why the trade possibility became less likely.

Where are you putting Quinn?

When a batter comes up to bat and strikes out 14 consecutive times what do you think the fans in the stadium are expecting? If you believe that it will be a game winning Home Run, you are a longshot gambler. I'm not a long shot gambler.

As @Thorny points out the overwhelming response is positive. You are the one who is being negative, or more accurately anticipating it. How long will the good vibes last? If the season spirals downward again, as it usually does, the negativity will come back in full force. And righteously so.

It is very likely that KA is going to be our GM. Few people would want that to be the case. If that's the case, then the next issue is where do we go from here. My impression is that adding Keka is an indication that moves will be made to reshuffle the roster. I would rather have Keka offering advice to our current stolid GM than not having an added advisor offering advice. I'm more inclined to believe that there will be some upgrading moves will be made this offseason. And without a doubt, I would rather have this addition in the room engaging with the GM before a personnel decision is made. I'm not ecstatic with the new staffer but am positive about it. The bottom line is a positive act is better than a negative or no act.

I'm encouraged by this announcement. Its fresh eyes from an experienced former executive brought into the stale mix. An interesting question is how does this change the Karmonos role?

I don't believe Philly is going to tank. His old school tough guy coach era is long past. You may not be aware of it but dinosaurs died off a long time ago. If our obtuse and nostalgic seeking owner hired Torts as a coach, then all the air out of the "hope" bag would be released. The Philly organization had enough of this obnoxious faux pas strong man just like every organization he has worked for has. If Terry P hired him, he is even a bigger fool than what I already think of him. And that is saying a lot. Terry P is inclined to the past for solutions. Hiring Torts or a Torts like coach would guarantee him as a first ballot selection in the Fools Ownership HOF. No thank you.

The goalie has a strong no trade clause. There are some conditions to it but no goalie who has been involved with a normal functioning franchise is going to come to this shambolic franchise. https://www.google.com/search?q=goalie+dallas+stars+ottenger+contract+no+trade+clause&sca_esv=3cef0c337813fef5&ei=46w5aJfiMLKo5NoPstjS6Ak&ved=0ahUKEwjX39vyoMuNAxUyFFkFHTKsFJ0Q4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=goalie+dallas+stars+ottenger+contract+no+trade+clause&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiNWdvYWxpZSBkYWxsYXMgc3RhcnMgb3R0ZW5nZXIgY29udHJhY3Qgbm8gdHJhZGUgY2xhdXNlMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKMgcQIRigARgKSJ0mUOgJWNUgcAF4AZABAJgBVKAB8wiqAQIxNrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCEaAC4gnCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgIHECEYChirApgDAOIDBRIBMSBAiAYBkAYIkgcCMTegB4iNAbIHAjE2uAfVCcIHCDAuMi4xNC4xyAdQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Unless the Sabres bring in another goalie to be our #1 goalie, or at least compete for it, whatever else is done to improve the roster will be wasted. A reasonable argument could be made that if the Sabres had consistent good (not exceptional) netminding last year, the Sabres could have made the playoffs. Counting on UPL and Levi to assume the role of our primary netminder next season is a recipe for another failed season. I don't know who will be available in the trade market or free agent market. I would be very interested at the suggested of goalies who could be available, and the follow-up question is what is the cost? At least for me, addressing this position is our biggest priority.

I, like you, don't know how enforceable that clause is. I would think that if the NHL had a superseding clause that contradicts the individual franchise clause, it may not have standing. If any lawyers on this board have opinions on this issue I would appreciate it.

The Sabre franchise is in a sense a public trust. No question he owns it and has the authority to oversee it as he wants to. However, the community does have a shared stake in it. He didn't buy a furniture store. He bought a sports franchise where the community is invested in it on many different levels. Not so much at a monetary level but at as a community unifying source. It's supposed to be a community shared experience that offers entertainment and joy. That's not what this franchise has devolved to. Fans want to root for their team and be proud of it. What do we have now? The franchise has become a mocked and scorned franchise. It's gotten so bad that not only do players not want to come here but players already here want to get out. All this has happened during his ownership tenure. In the world of sports, especially capped sports, there are up and down cycles. That's now where we are at. It seems that this franchise is stuck. And that shouldn't be a surprise because during the Pegula era that's where we have permanently resided. I'm tired of it.

It should also be noted that when Golisano sold the franchise to TP there was a no move clause agreed to by the new owner if/when he decided to sell.