Cranky old man

The issue here is the continued failure of this franchise. This gm was hand picked and trained on the job, and after 4.5 years he’s no further along. New players, another coach; same story. So we are left to aim our rage at ownership who can’t seem to get it right and is spending under the cap every year. The nhl is watered down so almost everyone can get back to the playoffs and still Buffalo fails. Considering the waves of cost cutting inflicted on the organizations’ staff, scouting, and operations since the Pegulas took over, one can see that on ice performance is second to real estate, downtown development and the Buffalo Bills. TP kept the Sabres here and for that I am grateful. The hard truth is, the Sabres are run like Walmart, which is a fine retailer, but it will never be confused with Harrods. Until ownership is $$$$$committed we will continue to flounder. Soft on ice, soft in the owners box. Mooey gooey.

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams didn’t have too much new to say at his press conference today . He began playing defense from the top: “I’m going to go to war with these guys, and I will not change, I will not back down from that. I believe in the people in our room, and I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t know the opportunity we have,” he said. “I know what it takes to win a Stanley Cup in this league,” Adams continued. “It’s not easy, and you have to be really diligent with the decisions you make. And you put your team in the best position, which we’re going to continue to talk about and debate. And you’re going to work at things, and certain things unfortunately don’t end up working out. Then other opportunities and doors do, so we’ll stay on top of that. But do I believe in this team and do I believe we’re going to be a team that takes a step here.” There was the usual plea for patience: “There’s some things that I look at when you try to step back and zoom out and take some emotion out that are positive signs,” Adams pointed out the trades that brought in current players like Tuch, Krebs, Byram and Greenway. “You have to earn it,” he said. “You become a perennial playoff team, you make playoffs, you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup year after year. You are on less teams’ no-trade list.” “We don’t have palm trees,” Adams continued. “We have taxes in New York. Those are real, and those are things you deal with.” Adams cited the Bills as an organization that has become a destination: “Look at the Bills,” he said. “That would be a perfect example. I would assume that this wasn’t a destination or a place that a lot of people were signing up to when they were in a 17-year playoff drought, and they’ve done a phenomenal job over there. You get Josh Allen, and people are lining up because they have a chance to win the Super Bowl every year. And I think that’s what we’re working to building.” This is a curious example in my view, one that reflects poorly on Adams’ record. The Bills with McDermott and Beane went to the playoffs in year 1 and continued winning. Adams is in year four and he’s asking for patience. There was the usual defense of ownership and spending below the cap. “Terry’s all in. I talk to him every day. He wants this as bad as any of us, trust me. And he wants to be part of the solution with me to talk about where do we need to find success or what do we need to do to help this team…….we’re not going to go and just make a trade so you guys can say we’ve spent to the cap, if we don’t think it makes sense for now and into the future. You just can’t operate like that.” Several of you predicted the talking points yesterday. (You must be psychotic )

If you lose your best defenseman, then the team gives up maybe two goals on a bad night. These millionaires still have their heads firmly up their keisters. It will be mid-season (if we are lucky) before we hear the pop.

We need to trade some of our poodles for some good old mutts.

I’m sorry, did Pegs blow a four goal lead last night?

This trade idea is very 2022-2023. We are in a new spot now, with a new coach. 20 odd games in and the team is jelling. It’s been said already, we need help on defence now. A team on the brink maybe adds Kreider, we aren’t there. Maybe kn the brink of going backwards at any given moment. 😉

Kevyin keeps the payroll down. He doesn’t have big expensive ideas. He “believes in his guys” which by definition means he’s not going out and spending money on your guys. He’s a homegrown talent which TP likes and trusts. He believes and supports the maintenance of the lifestyle. And, as long as the Bills win Kevyin knows the Sabres will just have to muddle along. If the Sabres miss the playoffs this year——he might be gone. He’s got the rest of the year to pray, hope and do what Lindy says .

The sabres need to get him heathy, play him a teeny tiny bit and trade him. Let his potential tease the life out of some other club. Even if it’s its little more than a salary dump, he has to go. The money we are wasting on him is needed for players who contribute throughout the year.

McLeod is and should be the second line center. In fact Kevyon betttter start putting together a contract offer in an effort to keep McLeod here. I don’t mean another 8 year contract—a bridge. It’s all we can afford anyway. His unwavering belief in the kids continues to not pay off. Samuelsson needs to be moved, while others still see potential. Cozens is the one who is our current head case. Put him on the wing and take off the pressure. By all means let Benson sit. It would be nice if these “4th liners” played more than 8 minutes. (Malensten) Let the bangers play Lindy. Grit has to be more than just a word.

Another guy we don’t need. We have young talent, why pay for more, especially a guy who had a down year? The same rumours that indicated he might be available also stated de ducks wanted to be overcompensated for the bum.

Nothing like the off off off off season. How about an analysis of European players in the Sabre pipeline. We could be number one with a bullet in Stockholm.

This is instructive. I’m not suggesting Benson will not become very good player. He has a lot a tools. But historically, and statistically speaking, it is unlikely he will double his point production. Further, the addition of Jason Zucker at $5M per annum places him in the top six, at least for a while. They want his “mantality” to help those younger players get their minds right for 82 plus games. Benson can’t do that, he doesn’t know how yet.

Benson will have to score more to keep his minutes. He averaged around 14 minutes per game, I see that decreasing as Lindy uses other pieces in his top lines. Benson went through long scoreless stretches last year, the Sabres can’t afford that this year. While Granato liked Benson’s hustle, we now have some age and muscle. I did not see the merit in playing an 18 year old on the youngest team in the nhl. While he did well for a 18 year old, he didn’t really move the meter for the team. The Sabres need scoring, if Kulich and Rousek bring it, Benson can watch from upstairs.

The grades are hilarious for the previous years. All of Adam‘s actions this year are the actions he should’ve taken before the start of last season.

We don’t need this winger. Ottawa isn’t trading him in the 3rd year of a long term deal, unless someone overpaid super stupid. He hasn’t done enough to deserve that. Brady Tkachuk is overvalued by some because his brother’s team won a cup and because of his last name. I’d take a superior grade experienced defenseman from a willing partner to move Quinn and Samuelsson. Teams aren’t blind though, they see two guys (talented for sure) who get hurt every year like I do…..

Good luck Jeff! Here’s to a brand new life!

I have no faith in Adam’s to get a major deal done.

I’m glad he is back. I like his size and grit. He may not make it up to Buffalo without injuries to other players but one never knows how competition and a new coach changes things.

I’m happy for Girgs. Finally he is going to a winning organization. Good luck fella.

Kevyn exhausts me with his baby step approach to improving this club and his misspelled name. Perhaps he gets a big bag of cash under his porch if he only spends to 85% of the cap. In exchange he takes our abuse and distain. This the year he will give the players his rah rah guarantee they will get EVERYTHING they need to lose in the first round of the playoffs..

So far the needle has moved very little. The same bunch of disappointments are coming back in the fall with some new fourth liners, am I to believe Lindy will turn that bucket of dirt, water, grass and sticks into actual playoff stew ?

Skinner has honed his annoyance skills, driving people bananas for years. What better jibe to the sabres and their fans could he concoct ? Oh yes , oh yes.

It’s time to move on from Skinny. If nothing else, it is an example to all the young guys. Even if you have a thousand games and 9$m in your pocket, it is expected that you play a 200 foot game. It also creates space for a trade acquisition or Murray, Biro or Kulich. They need the ice time more than we need Skinny this year. If a trade is possible, fine. If not buy him out Pegs.

Lindy knows that without players who are willing to fight and or have that extra punishment in their game, the Sabres will continue to be pushed around by the better teams. Think about pivotal games against the Wings last year. Once they got physical, the Sabres melted.

Move out the zero playoff vets on this team. Their experience has not proven to be all that helpful.