SabresVet

Correct. I mis-read your post originally, so my apologies.

Athletes signed to long term multi-million dollar contracts possess slightly more leverage than do lesser paid associates working within a large corporation. I really wish social and cultural debates would not occur on a professional sports team message board, but this is 2023 and understand it will invariably happen.

I'll put it this way: even if it's 600k in new spending on analytics, that's a pittance for a franchise that has a budget probably approaching or beyond 75M. That includes all coaches, players, front office employees, etc. Pretty confident that's a low-end budget estimate as well. In other words, less than 1% of new spending.

The cost of 3 employees within the analytics department is probably no more than 70% of the NHL minimum salary for a season. It'd be like signing 70% of Cody Eakin for next season. Insignificant in the big picture.

They've committed ~130M in contracts to Thompson, Cozens, and Samuelsson out to, I believe, the 2029-30 season. I expect they'll sign Dahlin to the largest contract in team history within the next year. Attendance this season is up 60% this year and would expect they'll be more than a cap floor team next year.

That's like saying you can measure inflation taking out gas and food from the analysis. "...Mostly within 1.5 goals in every game." Wow. Let's get the participation trophies distributed while we're at it.

Buffalo is 12-19-4 against top-16 NHL teams (as of 19 March), have a -39 goal differential, score 0.6 less goals per game, and allow more than 4 on average in those games. They were 5-11-3 at home against the top end teams. Need to be much more competitive there to demonstrate being playoff worthy.

Absolutely. These last 2 off-season Adams has led the organization the big moves he's made were essentially made for him. He traded players who wanted out and, to date, has decided to retain players acquired before his time who obviously produced (Thompson, Cozens) or they expect to (Samuelsson). And yes, they're rebuilding a moribund farm system with prospects who are not traded away. But they aren't a few tweaks away either from being a playoff team as evidenced by recent play. The gap is much wider that most people wanted to believe, myself included. Sure, they're young and getting experience, but something is amiss there. The offense goes silent against top-end teams. The defense is still a mess and the goaltending, well, that's been covered. This after almost 2 full season with his hand-picked coach in tow. There's some heavy lifting left to do...whether they pursue it or not. Can't be in safe mode to continue this rebuild given their problems.

In the words of Drill Sergeant Hulka:

Quint, your lookin' for da great white and mist the killer whale headed in you're direcshun. Its ackshully gonna be hard too correct all dis gramma and misspelings here.

I had heard they drove the EIchel deal, the captaincy and were none too pleased when Jack wanted out. Cannot confirm that, but suspect as well. The Pegula's, prior to the health issues, tended to trust those they hired/inherited, and when results did not come they axed those people. They just didn't make good decisions on leaders and the revolving door continued. McDermott wisely saw an opportunity in Buffalo after their front office and coaching staff was in complete misalignment. He demanded authority to clean it up and of course they were in a tough position, but acquiesced. Paul Hamilton has reported they later regretted granting that control, but the die is cast. I think the Pegula's took too long to understand pro sports and it showed in their hiring/retained management from 2011-2021 with the Sabres and 2014-2017 with the Bills. Regardless, they were all in with McDermott because everything before was a cluster and it was clear he had a plan. Adams' hire was borne of trust issues they had with the previous 2 GM's.

FWIW, I know someone who has covered the team for some time. Trust me or don't, not my concern. Terry was against taking Russian players for years and demanded the O'Reilly trade after those end-of-season comments. He also pushed for the Skinner contract extension. Before that, he was spending wildly, chose to retain Regier, and then had the fiasco with LaFontaine, while seeing Murray and Botterill get hired and fail. I am appreciating that, under Adams, ownership has authorized spending ~130M on Thompson, Cozens, and Samuelsson. And I fully expect Dahlin to get a significant contract as well shortly. Sure, there's a lot left to be done and leaving the arena after the Dallas game reinforced that. It's good to see them spending to retain and not being a farm system for the large market teams now.

Nah, you're not a bad father. I'm a worse friend...went to the game tonight, saw that dumpster fire, and had outstanding foresight a few months ago to organize a guy's get-together for the Ranger game. I'm just hoping to have a nice buffet before the game. It's all about managing expectations as a Sabres fan. 😉

1st world problems - worrying about next season before this one is even over. Getting outside, walking, and more Vitamin D help with anxiety. 😉

Sure, fine. Still leaves some top-end talent available they missed on.

Arizona did it to themselves because Marner, Rantanen, Barzal, Aho, and Connor were there.

It's worthless to complain about inactivity and point to other teams right now....but in 22 hours, well, OK. I get the cynical perspective with this franchise and it's not just about having 16M in cap space. It's the spendthrift ways that have been present for the last 3 seasons as attendance waned. At the same time, attendance is up 70% this season over last through 30 games. But they've also handed out 130M in contracts to 3 players in the past 6 months. They have their 1C and 2C for 7 years. And I highly doubt they let their top D go either...which will carry a large price tag. Not to say they don't have issues which have been covered ad nauseam already.

With less than 2 days remaining there's fair possibility of something happening. Although, it's hard to tell if the Sabres are buyers or sellers at this point after their recent moves One would think it'd be obvious with their performance so far they are not sellers.

Too late. Narrative has been set that the guy is bad. No changing those minds now.

Attendance is up almost 50% since last season and credit to the fans. Have been to a few games this season and it's a better atmosphere. That said, they have home losses to MTL, AZ, VAN, and PHI. They've also lost 3 in 4 days now. I attribute this to what @PerreaultForever said: they're just young.

He's made me forget that guy. Completely. TT has 68 goals in his last 114 games, or 49 goals per season over that duration. He's a top 10 forward right now and I have no qualms saying that as he continues producing even with a opposing defenses acutely aware of him now.

Who? They've cashiered a lot of executives in both hockey ops and business over the years. It's been a revolving door. I implied nothing other than what was written: that through nearly 1/3rd of the season they're on a 75 point pace. 80 still puts them 20 behind what it took last year to be the Eastern Conference's 2nd wildcard. And in the last full season before that (2018-19), that's good for 18 behind the last playoff spot. As for culture (or in this case "cohesiveness") people glom on to this concept when results, i.e. wins aren't happening. When in doubt, pivot the debate into something not quantifiable. As for the tired narrative of "there are 32 jobs"...not all of them are anywhere near equal. You're sadly mistaken if you think working in Arizona or Buffalo is the same as, say Tampa or New York. And that's because ownership will invest financially and provide the authority commensurate with being a NHL GM. I get that rebuilding in the NHL takes time, but as many others have noted, their development plan seemed to clear the decks for the younger players to get PT so they would ascend faster. No matter what a fan's perspective is, this is a results driven business. What I see here is some are questioning why people get re-signed when the results in the W-L column aren't there.

After the front office turmoil from 2012-2020 (Ruff to Botterill and everything in between) where else do the Pegula's go for a GM? They'll ride it out with Adams because they basically are out of options and career-minded front office types will not set foot in that organization without demanding absolute control. I seriously doubt ownership will authorize that in the wake of previous president/GM hires. Buffalo absolutely cannot be a 75-80 point team this season and it be considered progress. Youth or no youth, the wins have to start coming more often.

NHL has changed considerably in the last 40 years. Not an environment suitable for the overwhelming majority of 18-19 year olds, skaters included, to succeed.

This season I expect quantifiable evidence of improvement, not personal subjective assessments that are likely through rose colored lenses. None of what you listed above really helps make the playoffs and win there. It's talent combined with superior game-planning and in-game management (as @PerreaultForever already noted) is what wins. If they are not a ~90 point team by season's end then the rebuild is effectively stuck in neutral. Some will avoid viewing it this way, but that's what it'll be. And I say that because every season players are getting older, another contract year is over, and other teams are improving. Baby steps guarantee you never get there given what I just wrote.