SabresVet

Pegula's reaction after lackluster hires was to stop trusting anyone outside their organization for the GM role and promote from within. That tells the story about the situation and now it's prompted multiple players to want out. KA didn't create this problem...but I don't see him fixing it. Sending players out the door is easy compared to the scouting, player development, and coaching required to build a roster and system.

The comparisons with the Bills really need to end. McDermott and Beane made their share of mistakes from the outset, but they were bold at QB and it worked. They're also pretty good about admitting mistakes and moving on quickly. And, they were given the money to spend consistent with a league that sends 250M+ to teams from the TV/merch revenue sharing. This as opposed to the NHL where the top C in the NHL cannot control a game nearly as much as a QB does in the NFL. One that doesn't share major revenue with teams. McD was a well-thought of HC candidate when he was hired. Beane had been in NFL front offices. The Sabres meanwhile hired Granato who was not thought of by anyone in the NHL as a top HC candidate. Adams is the "we knew him" hire by the Pegula's who has zero front office experience. The Pegula's can't get out of their own way with the Sabres. They'd made enough mistakes with the Bills (Whaley, Rex) that leaders came in and demanded control. Terry and Kim gave it, but you won't see that with the Sabres. It's gonna be lit when Eichel gets dealt.

It's pretty likely they'll be near the bottom of the standings next season. And it's why I can't wait for people to say, "look, we lost with Eichel, Reinhart, and Risto...ergo, they didn't make much difference" next season. But, the culture is so amazing! The steps it's taken to force this latest rebuild are what's frustrating. You don't have 3 veterans essentially say they want out without there being some deep issues above ice level. Those aren't resolved merely by replacing decent to talented veterans with youth. But what can you do? The GM is entrenched and his strategy to blow it all up isn't gonna change.

Catching lightning in a bottle isn't a strategy. But it's all that's left with Terry and Kim at the helm.

I was watching draft coverage yesterday on ESPN and John Davidson was interviewed about the Seth Jones trade. Davidson made it clear CBJ was backed into trading him when he wouldn't re-sign. Like they were with Duchene and allowing Bobrovsky to hit UFA before him. The balance of power between players and teams is shading more toward players, especially when they're signed with underperforming franchises. It's definitely not good and makes it increasingly hard for poorly run teams to recover. The onus is on management to get good fast and that started in the NBA but has carried over to the NHL and NFL. I'm torn on Eichel because he's their best player and is under contract. At the same time, the Sabres are a woefully run organization with no signs they're near being a championship caliber team. And all the while, the good teams stay good and the bad ones with bad management are stuck in neutral or constantly rebuilding.

That approach will go over well with players and agents.

The Reinhart trade is a symptom of fan anger right now. Of course, his contract status means less of a return, but the real issue is I gather most fans do not want to rebuild. The team of course isn't calling it that, but sending out productive veterans signals a tear down. Besides, most fans didn't have a problem with Reinhart or Eichel along the lines it seems management has. In sum, there's a huge disconnect between fans and management. The former has lost most if not all of their trust in the latter.

I think Granato falls into the category of just wanting to be a NHL HC. He'll go along with the plan personnel speaking. I'm really interested to see an extension with Dahlin. He's the only player on the team who'll be here next season that has the skill to get a long term contract for good money. If he signs a bridge deal it's not encouraging. I cannot see them spending near the cap this year. Take it FWIW, but Hamilton said they were going no higher than 72M this year.

Not arguing with your assessment on today's moves. I don't believe fan sentiment has been lower in years, but management is digging deeper.

Philadelphia is just a dumb team. KA knew their interest in Risto going back a ways I suspect and exploited it. Not big time savvy involved there. Reading this thread I can't help but recall Buffalo selected 1st this year and that story line is being drowned out by this move. And if the returns are as reported thus far, rightfully so. No offense to Power, but losing your 2nd best forward is not out-weighed by a talented kid who may remain in the CCHA ranks next season. In the division no less.

If that happened, get ready for Owner/GM Terry Pegula. Hey, he was involved with Penn State hockey. 🤣

Davidson isn't there just to announce picks. Not after CBJ is now on their 3rd HC since 2013. Or missed the playoffs 4 of 9 seasons and not advanced past the 2nd round in that time.

That may be so, but it doesn't remove that a few months ago Sam made it pretty clear he was done in Buffalo. Two players in one off-season is alarming and three if you include Ristolainen. It's not just the losing they're tired of. My belief is their agents have seen how Buffalo operates from an ownership and front office perspective and advised their clients they won't be winning anytime soon. And, if they want to further their career, better leverage a trade out. Tearing down a team is not as challenging as building one back up. Today's trades notwithstanding, it's a tall order for KA or any GM to execute both elements of a rebuild.

Answering the why players with leverage not wanting to be in Buffalo is critical. Because, If you ship out players and accede to their demands, eventually you'll be left with little but prospects and journeymen. Columbus had the same scenario happen today and they keep having to unload elite players. Little wonder some teams are entrenched in the basement of NHL standings.

You'll see it 4 times this season. LOL😉

It's the night before the jail sentence starts. Not sure how people can get excited about trading the franchise's best scorer in 15 years. Besides, he's not the only one who wants out nor will be the only one dealt. It's nearing or equal to the day Drury and Briere left. Prospects who haven't played 1 game in the NHL and less than 2 dozen in the AHL combined.

What are the chances a GM would offer sheet Dahlin just to stick it to the Sabres? Buffalo has a lot going on right now and they'll be cutting payroll this year. If Buffalo doesn't lock him up long term, I'd wonder if Dahlin isn't enamored with the organization either. H

As the old saying goes..."where there's smoke, there's fire." The decision to trade at least Eichel was made long ago. Still agree with the premise that Adams is intent on rebuilding the team, convinced Terry as much, and in that process is giving himself the longest approach to the finish line he can obtain. That conflicts with fan sentiment which is also tired of the losing and doesn't want to see another 2-3 seasons of poor play before young players begin producing.

I remember the 2011 Bills off-season when their GM went full radio silence. Similar sentiments then were expressed by the media that nothing was coming out of the front office. No attempts at subterfuge, talking up players, or anything for insiders to report. Teams rarely take this approach. Perhaps Adams has a grand plan that will be unveiled at the right time. But there are a host of major decisions to be made and they're keeping things very close to the vest. All I can believe is that they see no benefit to talking about the situation. Perhaps they're concerned about the fall-out from trading the two best players on the team or the fact that an expansion draft looms. They're not building much leverage with their assets - at least right now.

Terry's best option if Adams doesn't work out would be to name himself GM. I can't see many decent options outside the organization signing up for the meddling in personnel, reduced front office, and self-imposed financial limitations the Pegula's offer. Then again, perhaps KA's best course is to begin a rebuild hoping it'll buy him time. That's a tall order, as you note, when you're trading away your best 2 forwards and the goalie situation is TBD.

Adams couldn't win with the vets and talent last season, so now it's about identifying the organization's foundation and building from there. I think Adams didn't want to disrupt much after inheriting Krueger and that roster last off-season. He even added to it with E. Staal and Hall. That didn't work, so now that he's selected his HC he wants to put his stamp on the franchise. After all, he'll be judged on the results because the major negative last season (Krueger) has been removed. A rebuild is obviously not what long suffering fans want, but it's the reality now. And that means stripping the roster down to young talent while unloading veterans they can for maximum return. It also helps to become more cap-healthy.

And, they can still finish lower in the standings next year. 😉 Probably a wise move to keep prices the same, but they know fan sentiment has to be at an all-time low. And that's going to dive when Eichel and Reinhart are traded. Amazing to think at one point a waiting list for ST's existed.

It sounds like Owen want to "be here." Just like Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, and Tage Thompson. It's important players want to be here...until they hit UFA or even RFA. 😉

Owners impact the team far more than Jack Eichel ever could. If you can't see that, I'm sorry. The question every Sabres fan needs to ask is why does Jack want out? Because it'd be one thing if he was the lone voice of dissent, but with Reinhart making the same request, something systemic is wrong. If the Sabres are to move forward, that problem must be addressed. Without it, the same problems will continue.

Sure, those hires were seen as mainstream. But when Murray and Botterill didn't work out, going full late Ralph Wilson "need to hire someone I know regardless of qualifications" isn't how you send a message you're trying to win. That's one more element to the hockey community, players and agents included, that your franchise is not competitive. Wrong. We invest emotion, time and the price of tickets/merchandise into the Sabres. The players...well, they invest a little more into their career. I see fans all the time who don't know there's a difference between having a job or having a career.