SabresVet

All true...but can't forget: ROR trade, which materialized weeks after the player admitted he'd lost his love of the game losing so much. And of course, there's a financial element...he was due a 7M bonus the day before he was dealt. The Pegula's even went so far as to blame the NHL for their recommendations on GM candidates. Sure...as if the Pegula's were innocent bystanders and didn't know anything until it was too late that Botterill wasn't good. The Pegula's openly admit that their lifestyle is important, going so far as to document it on a slide presentation to employees after firing so many from the front office. I get they lost money during COVID, but so did every other NHL team. Removing so many people was eye-opening around the NHL.

That's a nice thought, but billionaires typically get their way. There is a financial component to this franchise and it's going to impact decision making. As in, 40% of the seats are being sold right now. Think Terry or Kim won't eventually look for a way to generate interest in the team? I could see Quinn, Peterka, or Krebs being called up even though Rochester is the best place for them. The Pegula's are so tone-deaf and I don't expect them to stand in the corner observing and agreeing...no matter who the GM is.

In other words, as GM, tell Terry you agree and then get as close as possible to doing the opposite without losing your job. If the Sabres ever become successful again, it'll be in spite of bad ownership. Not because of it.

1) Someone noted in another thread that deconstructing a roster is the easy part. Adams' has done that now post-Eichel. As to the attributes you mention, every team in the league is looking for those and it's no real secret this team emphasizes them. 2) As to the staff, Adams has and will continue to build a staff after the front office was practically purged. That set the rebuild back, but I'm not clear how much. 3) There really aren't many big decisions left. They've hired the coach, added front office personnel, made the trades we expected and not re-signed UFAs. Looking to the next off-season, he'll need to decide on a few UFAs and RFAs. At this point it's when to promote (if suitable) certain kids in Rochester. 4) The Pegula's are an obstacle to success and we can only hope they sit in the back and stop meddling. Can only hope Adams does not get sucked into their vortex of stupid.

Trade deadline deals? That's 4 and a half months away (March 21st). We're not even to the quarter pole yet...gonna be a long season.

It's appropriate to blame Botterill for a lot of bad decisions. Yet, it's convenient now to blame JB now for not standing up to the Pegula's when he's long gone. I think Botterill came into town thinking he'd have discretion to largely do what he needed to...and then those 2 owners started getting antsy. The Skinner contract was pushed by the Pegula's, as was Jack's deal. Trading ROR before that bonus after admitting he'd lost his love for the game. If I'm the GM and owners are making the big moves for me, that's hard to operate within those limits. And we know neither of those 2 owners know the first thing about hockey. Adams has to work out for the Pegula's, because if not, you're looking at a franchise who'll struggle to find another candidate. Marie Antoinette (Kim) needed better communication, but what they really want is control. And there aren't a lot of external types who will sign up for owners having that big of a say. It's why Sean McDermott got so much authority...he arrived and told those 2 that if they wanted him, he'd be the one in control and not them. Who does Rivet get paid by again?

It's early, but I am wondering where Granato is right now. Obviously not all his fault given the roster Adams handed him...but this HC has to motivate players to play a full 60 before getting more praise.

The only way to combat the negative image will be to win. Won't happen this season, but this is what makes Adams' job all the more difficult: he's rebuilding the roster, minor league system and organizational reputation simultaneously...and all during/after trading their best player. And of course, with a fan base that is as disinterested since the post-Rigas years. I'm not sure Adams gained points from the Eichel saga, but having so many players want out and going into rebuild mode with a low-cost roster means they have to earn their reputation as a player destination.

I wish the NHL would allow guys like McDavid to show more often, as this clip demonstrates, how amazing they are. When he's done, I think he will rank with the best in history.

I wasn't enamored with hiring Adams given his complete lack of front office experience. And especially, at that time, with little around him to assist. But he owns it now - his assistants are largely in place. He's pulled the trigger on trading the guys who wanted out. This is his roster, albeit many of the prospects/NHL level guys are from previous regimes. He's hired his HC. At yesterday's PC, he didn't want to talk about when things need to come together. Certainly, I wouldn't commit to a timeline in front of the media, but they had better have an internal one. That, and rebuilds don't have to take 3-4 seasons if properly executed. We'll know a lot more by the end of the 2022-23 season.

I don't disagree, but owners do crazy things because they can.

Definitely. It's impossible in this era of pro sports for a GM or HC to succeed with meddling owners. Them seeing about 40% of the building full is not going to sit well for long. There's a point where the financial state of the team may get them edgy and lead to knee-jerk reactions...like calling up kids from Rochester before they're ready. We know the Tage extension was borne of the embarrassment from the ROR trade. I'd hate to see kids like Quinn, Peterka, and Krebs elevated before they're ready and throw Adams' development timeline out the window.

Perhaps, and obviously the relationship has more foundation than his 2 predecessors. But each GM was at a different stage upon being hired. Adams' tenure was first overshadowed by Krueger's presence. Now out from under that weight, he's deconstructing a roster and rebuilding a porous minor league system. I'm concerned if the team doesn't win that fans remain away how impatient the Pegula's get.

I think it's important to turn the page on the Murray/Botterill years and how colossal a failure they were. Just so many bad decisions, but I'll always have the back of my mind that the Pegula's want a significant say in hockey operations. At this point, all we can hope for is A) Adams is set up for success with a minimum of interference from these owners and B) he uses that and makes solid hockey decisions to rebuild fast. We'll see. I can't help but think this team will resemble Vegas in a few years: solid lines but no star and needing that one player to get over the top.

Something changed with the Sabres going back to the end of the Botterill era. For example, that slide presentation referencing "lifestyle maintenance" or something similar. Firing Botterill weeks after giving him a vote of confidence, which I always took was JB's refusal to gut their front office which later happened. Money has become so important to them when previously it wasn't and winning was more of a priority. I'm not going to demand ownership take financial losses, but if you're not exhausting options then you're not trying to win. And with the virus largely over, it's going to be interesting how they approach spending next season. I see the Pegula's responding proportionally and keeping spending down until the fans return. When that is, I don't know, but it won't be soon. This team has no marketable stars aside from perhaps Dahlin and he's been so-so lately.

The NHL and NFL are completely different in terms of roster composition. In the NFL, having an elite QB gets you down the road. There is no position in the NHL like that, although 1C is perhaps close. And the Buffalo Sabres don't have one, but hope 1 of 3 guys (Mittelstady, Cozens, Krebs) are that player. Adams did not want to answer when this franchise will be competing during the PC, but they need to be competing for a playoff appearance next season. Anything less is trending toward failure. Adams and Granato now have players who want to be here. We'll see how much closer that gets them to winning on the ice. Terry Pegula would spontaneously combust, especially if the returns end up near the ROR trade.

The insider racket works far too well for fans to ever demand and evolving. But I agree still...just people who have sources regurgitating narratives and some truth thrown in for good measure. I can see veterans taking this approach if referenced in a trade to Buffalo. It's clear the Sabres are not designed to compete for the post-season, so there's no reason to go to NHL Siberia and hurt your career.

WGR's kids need to be in daycare and not out throwing rocks at houses.

That wasn't wrong for several years. Check the draft results from 2014-2020 and note how few Russians were selected. Terry had an issue with them.

Granato's system may be significantly improved over Krueger's, but the lack of talent is becoming obvious. Opponents will continue to adapt, so just simplifying their scheme won't work. And besides, I would expect that this group playing together ~6 weeks would be able to handle more.

This is where Granato has to earn his pay because a team with less talent cannot afford an off-night. We all know it's a long season, but seeing compete issues this early needs to be rectified by the HC ASAP.

Nostradamus would struggle to predict the level of play for 7-8 prospects who haven't take a shift/made a start at the NHL level. 25% of the roster is 5-6 players, who by this account will all be 18-21 year old rookies. And, they'll represent upgrades over veteran NHL players. The kool aid has extra sugar in it, doesn't it?

Sweat doesn't count...results do. My main issue with the Sabres' rebuild is they have a significant lack of talent among their top 6 forwards and in goal. They can be the hardest working team in hockey and it won't matter. Adams has a long way to go improving this team and its minor league system. Here's to hoping it happens. I consider personality and temperaments in assessing employees. In my experience, some people are high performers but require significant support around them. Those types may annoy at times, but they'll deliver when needed. . Because I see a young man who is among the hardest working in his field but demands people around him perform at a high level. I've never said he's a boy scout or on par with Steve Yzerman in leadership, but people are blaming him for the inherent problems in an organization which existed before he arrived. Jack is the best forward this team has had in decades. It's funny how "experts" have psychoanalyzed him, determined he's a horrible person, and think getting rid of him is the best option. And I'd like to believe it's because Kevyn Adams said he wants, "players who want to be here."

It's a long season man. Buffalo sports fans seen this one before.

And this was always the issue with the Sabres, especially among the forward group and in goal - that their system/scheme could cover up for a lack of talent. Question is, how long? This is why I think Adams is looking to receive back young talent to help Granato perhaps for this year but more down the road. EDIT: The other thing I see is 3 forwards are shooting 20% or better through these 7 games. That scoring (10 goals) makes up almost half their total for the season (22). Hard to see that lasting, along with a team .942 save percentage.