SabresVet

Indeed. Even if he maximizes the talent on that roster, it won't be enough to be better than a bottom quartile NHL franchise. A coach has a limited sphere of influence over an organization. Even the best coaches need more talent and it's a complete unknown how Adams provides that. Otherwise, Granato is set up to fail.

IMO, Adams has been on the clock since the day Krueger was fired. It's his show now. And just because the team isn't yet bad doesn't mean people can't see what a mess it is for at least 2021-22. The forwards especially need serious additions and Adams looked at trading Eichel to form that added talent. Without that, I fail to see where they add those players and become a playoff team. Furtherhmore, I'm not sure the timeline is ever met (2-3 seasons) for them to reach the playoffs if Eichel isn't traded. KA didn't want to relent on the surgery...OK given the risk involved. But if Eichel is as toxic as some are making it, how do you sell at your (Adams') asking price that player to another team?

Why do you assume the Sabres wanted a long term deal? Knowing how this off-season has gone, they're not in big spending mode. I do think it's equally likely that the player and agent are going to use these 3 years to gauge how the team improves. Especially considering his production depends on their forward depth which right now is among the worst in the NHL. My best guess is, 3 years works for the Sabres because they're not trying to spend a lot now as the team continues to lose money. And, for the player/agent to see what changes for the better in those 3 seasons.

Players and their agents expect teams to prove themselves before inking long term deals regardless of money offered. If the Sabres are winning in the playoffs then I can see Dahlin re-signing long term. If not, well, it'll go a way Buffalo fans know all too well.

Disagreement over surgery was reported as a major sticking point between the team and player and I'm confident other teams had concerns as well to trade for him with this injury. Yet now, with Brisson taking Eichel as a client we're moving toward the surgery after all? And, was it not the team doctors opposed to the ADR? I'd love to know why there's a change of direction on this issue. I'm all for Jack getting healthy and on the ice, but why could this not have happened months ago? Was that the Peter's being hard-a**es? Or, is Brisson more persuasive? Seems like the last few months were wasted.

I think much of the instant credibility assigned to Adams is just plain homerism combined with him being a new entity. He's got almost no track record leading an organization aside from being the in-effect #2 while Krueger was HC. Now, if he turned Jack into those 4 assets including top prospects then I'll give him the benefit of the doubt - for a while. At this point, the major moves aside from naming a HC have not been made. It's hard to judge Adams until he re-signs Dahlin and trades Eichel. He's got a lot to prove.

I see it as Jack's tired of the losing and knew a rebuild was ahead. He didn't want to hang around for that and eat up his prime years continuing to lose. But I also think that players know about organizations and saw the Pegula's stewardship as insufficient. Specifically, that it would not anytime soon produce a winner.

You think Adams has all the cards? How do you know the agent is boxed in and has no room to maneuver? Or, that Brisson, who just picked up a big client very unhappy with his team's management, will help said team? You've got to be kidding. This is a negotiation not a party dude. Brisson doesn't care what the return Buffalo receives back. I'm not predicting what this agent will do, only that something will happen where pressure is placed on the organization. Or, they'll come to some agreement that moves them out of the current stalemate.

I wouldn't approach this with a conventional mindset. There are untold variables that can change to drive a new result.

Some items to consider. If this drags into camp, Eichel shows, fails the physical and goes on IR. It'll be a topic of conversation hovering over the organization regardless. That's not what a youthful team that is going to hang out near the bottom of the standings wants as a distraction Or, if he shows, what if he passes the physical and begins playing...does a team losing money and sure to do more of that in 2021-22 want that contract? Pegula has reportedly balked at retaining any of Jack's salary, so I could see that hastening a move if this goes to camp. Brisson can wait out Adams as well. He's the biggest agent in the NHL and I'm pretty sure he can play hardball too.

You are entitled to think what you want, but the change in representation is about getting desired results for the new client. People here are speculating the situation remains status quo and praising the GM for that. I wouldn't be so quick to believe things won't change....whether that benefits the Sabres or not.

I have no doubt that Brisson knows how to make things happen and will generate the necessary leverage in any way possible. Time is not on Adams' side in this.

Brisson doesn't care about the Sabres at all and that's why it's necessary to take the fan hat off analyzing this situation. His only concern is getting his client out of this dumpster fire of a franchise. Brisson will build leverage and Eichel will be moved at some point before the season begins.

Adams can stand firm on his trade demands, but this waiting isn't without cost. Add in that you can bet Eichel hiring new representation will result in a new strategy to build leverage to get him traded. What that leverage is remains to be seen...but it'll be more that what the Peters delivered on behalf of their client.

Easier to trade Duchene when you've got MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Landeskog on the roster. This franchise has no one on par with those caliber forwards, making the looming Eichel trade much more crucial to future (hopefully) success. Lot of people focusing on winning the battle and ignorant of the war going on. KA can remain stoic and patient, but the Sabres have alienated talented players without having anyone to fill their roster slots. There's only a win if they receive back top end prospects who perform well and help carry this team into the playoffs relatively soon. Absent success in the near-term, it may not matter as much. We're going to find out though.

Or, it could go the route of what NFL agent Eugene Parker did to GM Russ Brandon circa early 2009 with Bills All-Pro OT Jason Peters. That was one-sided, although in this case the player is under contract at a high AAV.

I don't see Jack wanting to play for a rebuilding team in the prime of his career for a poorly run organization that is now focused on cutting costs.

Crosby wasn't demanding a trade, but coming off the concussion in 2011-12, he got a big contract from Pittsburgh. So there's that.

They are at a stalemate. We know Jack wants the surgery (apparently) and the Sabres won't permit it. Teams won't offer what Adams wants because they know the returning asset is not 100%. Unless Adams lowers his price and provides some health update to teams, this will carry into the pre-season. Then they'll have him in for a physical, determine he's not fit and put him on IR. Who knows how long, but you can't trade someone in that position. It's whyI don't believe Adams has a Plan B. Then again, neither does Eichel being under contract 5 more seasons.

Adams' rebuild is about setting the house on fire before the season begins. Murray kept re-lighting the house on fire when it looked like the thing might go out in-season. The first isn't for a high pick and the latter is all about it Agree that by the end of season 2 they need to be in the playoffs. I'm also intrigued to see how long Adams sticks with players he didn't draft or re/sign. And there's still a significant number here who aren't "his" guys.

By no means is this a deliberate attempt to run the team into the ground to obtain a top draft pick. It's a classic rebuild, not a Tim Murray special circa 2014-15.

There's no need to wait and see with the roster and how it'll fare against a tough division. We know the goaltending is suspect and the forwards group is not much better given previous performance. The defense I'm not extremely concerned about, though this won't carry them if they aren't scoring. It seems all people have to hang their hat on is that Granato's scheme will deliver huge dividends. It reminds me of when people celebrated Chan Gailey's offenses who featured nobody and managed to (for a time) score some points. Without top talent over a long season it's inevitably they'll struggle. As someone noted above, you had a last place team in the league and then removed Eichel, Reinhart, Ullmark, McCabe, and Ristolainen. Who replaces those guys and how are they an improvement?

Pushing expectations into the future is always a safe bet because fans are notoriously hesitant to demand accountability of their teams. I'm convinced most people aren't willing to be honest with themselves and hold themselves accountable for their flaws. So it stands to reason that fans, who draw much of their identity from a sports team, won't do the same there either. Unfortunately, ownership is the obstacle and it'll take a herculean effort to overcome their presence.

It's short-sighted to think that one player (Ullmark) dictated the GM's roster planning for 2021-22. Adams knew heading into the off-season that he was going to trade Eichel, Reinhart, and Ristolainen to go with the youth. But based on their goaltending moves, I don't believe they considered Ullmark would move on. From a managerial perspective, I think Adams started formulating his rebuild plan by the end of the season. That is, remove as many of the "guys who don't want to be here" and see what these young players have. Besides, Adams watched this roster fail to perform under RK and has been watching this team for a while - both before his GM tenure and now in that role.

And Granato won't be sneaking up on anyone next season. I guess people think performance carries over from one season to the next as if opponents aren't adapting. Still believe people are minimizing the chasm opened by not having Jack and Sam next season. The remaining forward group will be under a lot more pressure and it's a complete unknown how Mittelstadt and Cozens handle that. Granato's "system" only goes so far and means the players gotta swim or will sink.