SabresVet
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Posts posted by SabresVet
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13 minutes ago, The Ghost of Yuri said:
I don't think that's what KA is doing at all. I think he's building consensus with the Pegulas and getting their buy-in on his plan for the team. He listens to them and to the extent that it helps the team, he implements their suggestions (ok then, no retained salary on Jack). But I think when he disagrees with them he sells why he wants to do whatever it is and convinces them to back his plan. No toadying, no rebellion, just honest two-way dialogue.
This is probably the crux of the disagreement between the team and Jack on treatment. One side sees it one way and the other side sees it the other.
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.
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4 hours ago, Gabrielor said:
1. Don't label anyone a savior.
2.Don't give 80 million dollar contracts well-before they're earned.
3.I know it's a marketing thing, but don't force the captaincy on your best player, just because they're your best player.
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.
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4 hours ago, Flashsabre said:
I like what Adams is doing so far. As a first time GM in a brutal situation he has navigated the waters pretty well so far. He is a good hockey man, has a real connection to the city and is passionate about the team and area. Whether this all works out or not is to be seen but I feel like for the first time in a long time there might be a light at the end of the tunnel here. He seems to:
1) Have a plan that makes sense. Identified the issues with the core, broke it up and has specific players he targets based on vision: speed, character, desire to be a part of the solution.
2) He doesn’t claim to be a know it all. He has surrounded himself with quality people and he listens to them. The two drafts under his watch look very promising and the move towards analytics is legit. And I have no doubt that Adams will listen to his Analytics people, it is not just window dressing.
3) He will not be rushed into decisions and waiver from his vision or plan. Be it the coach search, the Eichel trade, he takes his time and is thorough and patient.
4) Maybe the biggest, he can handle the Pegulas. He has worked there and succeeded for a decade because he knows them, what they want and how to deal with them. He might kiss their butts from time to time but I have no doubt that they trust him and that ther e Israel communication and that Adams can probably talk them down on certain things where others haven’t.
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.
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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.
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8 hours ago, The Ghost of Yuri said:
Contrast that to the deadline imposed on the ROR trade and the way JBot crumbled to the Pegulas' pressure, and got a questionable return that turned sour very quickly (Berglund/Sobotka). I really think the important thing about Adams as GM is that the Pegulas trust his judgment, listen to his reasoning, and he can get them on board with the way he handles various situations. I personally think Adams comes off poorly in interviews. I wonder if he's ever had training to help him with public appearances and how to handle questions. But I think behind the scenes, dealing with the owners and with other GMs around the league he's doing an admirable job. He's all smarts and no polish, which is a contrast to XGMTM and JBot who looked more polished but couldn't really formulate and implement their plan (and granted, the jury is still out on Adams' ability to do so, but the plan seems more methodical and more consistently executed, at least to me).
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.
26 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:Just listened to the latest After the Whistle podcast with Peters, Rivet and Friedman talking about the Jack Eichel deal. Worth the listen but this quote from Craig Rivet stood out like a sore thumb:
"He was a hart candidate on the ice and the exact opposite off the ice. The way he treated people around the rink, in the dressing room, and around the city wasn't a positive thing."
That's pretty damning from Craig Rivet. I think we have known all along but Rivet is dialed right in. Peters followed up and said that Eichel said that if he had the surgery he would come back and play for the Sabres to drive up his price but they didn’t want him anywhere near the dressing room.
Who does Rivet get paid by again?
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35 minutes ago, Pimlach said:
They didn’t play scared. They took time off and watched the game. They choked
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.
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3 hours ago, mjd1001 said:
One more thing Friedman just brought up, said Buffalo should be worried about how they handled the injury situation and the fact that they wouldn't let Jack get his surgery of choice.
When the question was asked to press Frieedman on that, he said that a few players have told him they would have second thoughts about playing for Buffalo because of how they treated Jack regarding the injury.
He said behind the scenes the situation between Jack and the sabers was personal and nasty, more than most people know.
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.
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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.
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1 hour ago, Taro T said:
There needs to be a real GM before there is a real coach.
Maybe Adams & Granato are those. Jury remains out. Have to hope they are because this walk in the desert reaches Bills levels of longevity if they aren't.
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.
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1 minute ago, Thorny said:
If Adams is smart enough that this is worth worrying about, ie, we want the Pegula's to stick with the plan, then he should be smart enough to be honest with them about how long this should realistically take, right? I can't imagine how they could possibly sign off on the plan without being understanding of the near-term financial implications. Adams must have given a time frame they were ok with - or they are OK with indefinite.
I guess they could get "cold feet" half way through, but I'd consider that unlikely because as mentioned I'd be surprised if Adams didn't attempt to give an honest timeline. He'd know the plan needs time and he'd be smart enough, if he's concocting a smart plan, to tell the Pegulas it needs time, upfront.
How long they should be asking the fans to support a team that doesn't win (if they don't win) is more of a complicated question, but they may not even be asking it.
I don't disagree, but owners do crazy things because they can.
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2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:
If the Pegulas don't realize their rushing, short sided, stupidity is the reason we're here, then all hopes already lost.
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.
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2 minutes ago, The Ghost of Yuri said:
I think Adams has a rapport with the Pegulas, and a level of trust, that GMTM and JBot never had. I get the sense that he can explain hockey moves to them in a way that makes sense and that he knows how to participate in a give and take with them to eventually get what he wants. I think he doesn't confront them head on but rather works with them over time to get their agreement and backing on his strategy for building the team. I get the sense that XGMTM and JBot didn't have that same level of communication and trust that Adams enjoys.
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.
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1 hour ago, Gatorman0519 said:
We had an elite superstar and our management failed to build a team around him. Bottom line. Inept front office and coaching. Hopefully KA and all the new people in the front office will do this right in rebuild 3.0. Maybe out if the ashes the franchise will resurrect back to the top. It’s honestly been a mismanaged team since 07 and has never stopped. That’s why we are looking at the NHL playoff futility record.
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.
25 minutes ago, Gatorman0519 said:I’m going to miss having a superstar. There is something different when a player can take the whole crowd off their feet and make the most incredible moves and goals. The OT goal against Nashville I’ll always remember.
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.
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53 minutes ago, Taro T said:
Honestly have never expected the Pegulas to be unwilling to spend if they think it'll actually help the cause.
The only time they've EVER seemed to cheap out were when O'Reilly was traded & personally believe that was personal to them (they didn't want to pay THAT guy any more than they'd already paid him & that bit us all in the bippy) & when they made significant cuts to the back office & front office when COVID hit.
Suppose they've cheaped out on GM hires, but at least 2 of those were recommended by people they trusted and this last 1 was based on their own 1st hand interactions with him.
But would be mildly surprised if a majority of that cap space gets spent on FAs. Expect they've got a bunch of it penciled in on raises for guys that are currently here.
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.
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2 hours ago, The Ghost of Yuri said:
We should have been building like KA is building now, 5 years ago. But instead we traded futures that would now be maturing for vets that are all gone except for the two cap hits. Given where we are, I think Adams is doing it right. He's following the McBeane formula, adapted for the NHL world.
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.
2 hours ago, Pimlach said:No more bad locker room. Fair or not, Eichel will always be associated with a bad room. Not saying it’s all on him, but some of it is. It’s already better without him, and with Granato running the bench it should even get better.
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.
1 hour ago, SwampD said:Vegas is winning the Cup. Jack is MVP.
I see no other outcome.
Terry Pegula would spontaneously combust, especially if the returns end up near the ROR trade.
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3 hours ago, Hoss said:
I don’t think for a second Weekes goes to the media with that offer if Brisson is the lone source. The thinking on reporting and sourcing of information here needs to evolve.
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.
54 minutes ago, Brawndo said: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.
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33 minutes ago, inkman said:
This is exactly what’s wrong with social media
WGR's kids need to be in daycare and not out throwing rocks at houses.
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37 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:
Zadorov the same guy that said Buffalo doesn't like Russians ?
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.
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3 hours ago, Pimlach said:
It means simplify the game and play like they did at the start. Speed, aggressive, layers … the things they did well for Granato.
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.
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4 hours ago, Eleven said:
Just a few observations.
1. This team was without energy and boring. This isn't like the Boston loss. This is "hey, we won one in OT so let's not bother too hard tonight, ok, boys?" Terrible, and that's on the captains.
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.
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42 minutes ago, The Ghost of Yuri said:
They will upgrade 25% of the team by the start of next season just based on players already in the system. JJ, Quinn, Weissbach, Laaksonen, Power, and if not UPL, possibly Portillo or Levi. I think it's highly likely that the Michiganders make the jump directly to the NHL and do fine.
And that doesn't even take into account anything coming back in an Eichel trade.
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?
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4 hours ago, Scottysabres said:
But have we? Have we seen the effort with consistency in the past 8 to 10 yrs? Somethings different, and not just a new season imho.
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.
4 hours ago, Jävə Keith said:I have posted about this in detail before. Too exhausted to try to convince those not open to it. My career has been all about leadership development and developing servant leaders. Jack is clearly not currently a leader, especially not a servant leader (serving, being a resource, and building-up those he is in charge of leading).
To Jack's credit, it's not necessarily his fault. He has not been mentored on how to lead men, and has never had to lead before being wrongly made Captain of the Buffalo Sabres. He has always just been the most talented player on every team he has been on. Elite talent does not equal leadership.
Perhaps Jack could still be a Sabre If he could return to the team with humility, not wearing the C (originally I said he needs to surrender the letter, but Donny & GMKA took care of that already), and merely be an elite talent, show up every day to serve his teammates and follow/submit to the leaders around him. Not many men are mature enough & capable of pulling that off well. Definitely not a young man who has had everyone worship at his feet most of his life.
The best thing for the Sabres is to capitalize the best return they can for the asset of elite talent that is Jack Eichel. Bring in a mature proven leader of men who knows his role is as a short term "C" to mentor & develop the next eventual Captain to be on our team (perhaps Cozens or someone not yet a Sabre). But that young captain-to-be must 1st be shown & developed as a leader, then 2nd show/prove/EARN his letter "C."
Jack never earned it. That's not his fault. He was set up to fail by being improperly "knighted" with the "C."
As the ultimate leader, as General Manager, Adams has clearly come to same conclusion and has been making the hard decisions that are best for the long term & sustainable success for our beloved hocky franchise.
Patience is sadly what is in order for us as fans, while we let him execute the strategic plan that was launched the moment Krueger was fired. Get the best Return on Asset (ROA) for Jack and build the future organization the right way, with the right selfless/hard-working culture, and the right leadership (A HC that develops players, and then developing the leadership skills in the future proven/earnex Captain.
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."
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1 hour ago, Scottysabres said:
In the mean time, Sabres are 5-1-1 since the flushing of the major initial rebuild components, care to comment on that Jack?
It's a long season man.
Buffalo sports fans seen this one before.
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1 hour ago, The Ghost of Yuri said:
Yeah, it's starting to look more like the 2019 streak as we get further along. Hate to say it. If this is other teams adjusting to the Sabres style then Granato needs to adjust the Sabres style to overcome that.
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.
Vegas will allow Eichel to have ADR surgery
in The Aud Club
Posted
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.