That Aud Smell

Not for nothing, that former Dallas WR went on record this week saying the player rehab/recovery facilities at OBD are better than they are in Dallas (and they’re pretty good in Dallas). He said ownership here has it right. The Pegulas’ willingness to spend their own money is a mark in their favour.

I'd not heard that one. Like I said: I think that both his criteria and instincts for decision making are below average. I do believe he operates in good faith, though. So there's that. I feel like maybe we've kicked around the idea that, maybe, just maybe, under certain circumstances, it's actually beneficial to have an owner who keeps a close eye on the bottom line, and demands that the team be operated in a sustainable and profitable manner. The idea being: Having a boss/owner with clearly defined fiscal limits can make the decision makers more efficient, more prudent -- smarter. The related idea being: Having a boss/owner who will throw money at any problem may lead to less robust analyses by the people doing the work. Of course, Black Sunday was what it was.

Fair question. I haven't created or kept a note in my phone over time. Maybe I should have. It's an impression that's slowly settled in with me. It's been based on a lot of anecdotal things, here and there. The big one, for sure, is how he talked about McDermott as a faith-based person when explaining why he thinks he'll be a good coach. But there've been many others. He liked Gaustad in 2011. Why? It was the hand shake and direct look in the eyes. Which, fine. Gaustad was a useful NHL player. Years later, Terry was intimately involved in targeting Josh Allen. He really, really likes the kid. Why? That's less clear. But I think of the Gaustad approval in that regard. Housley as a coach was hailed as a HOF player. Wut? Add in those comments he reportedly made at the NFL owners' meeting about the Kaepernick (sp?) stuff. This goes to the business side as well. Kim's brother has a key role in the creative works of PSE. I could create a larger inventory, I'm sure; I just lack the time to do so. And not for nothing, in just listening to him speak ... I get the clear sense that he's no sharp tack. 8 years seems like a fair sample size. And I won't litigate the tank here. I've never had any interest in doing so. I still appreciate that JBOT is more of an asset-manager than a hard-boiled scout. I think that's forward thinking on the Pegulas' part. Fair.

@PASabreFan has an ax to grind? Better believe it. The Sabres have stunk _out loud_ under Terry’s stewardship. Grind away. I voted “no,” because of the old adage: Better the devil you know ... . Fundamentally, I think any observant, analytical fan has to be concerned with Terry as an owner. And it’s not because of the meddling - I’m past that, tbh. For me, I get the sense that Terry is apt to make poor decisions because he’s got questionable criteria and lousy instincts. Blind squirrels can find nuts too, though.

I was dropping in to say, "please, no." Too late, I see.

From what I understand, Whitesell is the X's and O's guy. I also hear that he's had a fairly lengthy career already -- kicked around. So, while he may be able to draw up a play to get a bucket in a certain situation, I don't have any reason to believe that he's the guy to lead your program. So -- it seems like a strange hire. Unless the plan is just to have him as a stop-gap -- to evade further poaching by Oats.

I voted for Rick, but just because. He does not need to continue to call games for anyone but himself at this point. So, if he wants to call games, then more power to him. But as someone else noted, he's lost just about any zip on his fastball -- he's mostly just throwing BP out there, so to speak.

Thing is, people do care -- the overwhelming majority of them (often, my included). This is not just an X's, O's, player-development, player-management business. It's a largely an entertainment enterprise. Phil is one of the main faces of the franchise. How he presents to the fan-base is all we have to go off of. I saw some analytics Tweets a while back indicating that, contrary to commonly received wisdom, Pominville has been a useful NHLer this season. True? My eyeball test probably won't help me. I stopped paying attention to this squad some time ago. From what I can recall, he was ... okay.

I don't think stamina or fitness is the issue. And I think what you're saying is not unfair. This team isn't good, sure. But they're not this bad -- not hardly. Hmmm.

I'm pretty sure that that's not true - like, decidedly so. I understand what you're saying, but I think leadership here is being overblown. The team is bad, as constructed and as deployed. I don't think an additional leadership boost would change much of that's happening. Maybe it'd be worth another win or two?

Quite possibly. In retrospect, and putting aside his brutal honesty during locker room clean-out, I can't quite wrap my head around why ROR had to go. At the time, I was basically like, "well, they must have their reasons. Because reasons." A year or so removed, I'm a little more like: WTF? Holy fish balls. Remember all the talk about ROR being chronically a step behind the play and not really outfitted for the modern NHL game? Talk that I, along with others, engaged in? Yeah. Fook that talk.

I don't think there's any way of knowing whether the team's truly quit on their coach, and, if so, what role Eichel's had in that. I think it's far more likely that the natural wear and tear of a(nother) disappointing season is starting to affect how the team is playing as a unit and individuals. Eichel apparently gave a rousing speech after (?) the MTL game. I suspect he's doing all he can. This team stinks, though. Know who doesn't stink? Eichel. He's a terrific player - a legit 1C.

I don't believe so. The new AD came from ... Memphis?

Agreed. As best I can tell, the team's problem is not its best forward. The team's problem is that it has a lot of other forwards who don't/can't do much.

I now have absolutely no idea what the plan was or is with this guy.

I don't entirely disagree on the first bit above. Emotionally, it resonated with me because I'm so out of sorts with the club. As to the second excerpt, I think that's possible. I still want to see what he does on a team with proper depth.

Who's Mark Alnutt hired at UB?

That's the first thing I've read of Harrington's in a long, long time. It certainly is. But far from being unjustified. A little unfair in spots, but defensibly so. I read the thing, reflexively prepared to shake my head yet again and dismiss Harrington, but found myself agreeing with it over and over again. I don't read Graham anymore either (mostly because I'm too cheap for The Athletic). But his Twitter presence is somehow more repugnant , toxic than Harrington's ever was.

'zactly. This was his time. UB's going to take a few steps back, regardless of who's coaching over the next couple of years. Arguably, he agreed to sign another extension in order to help protect the university and possibly diminish his options with suitors (who may not have liked a big buyout number). Agreed. Godspeed, Nate Oats.

I'm so dead inside that I'm resigned to waiting until the fall to see how the new guys are doing.

@PASabreFan: The new thread title is a bit wonky, IMO. Might I suggest something more like Pegulas' Press Conference of March 26th.

Terry is absolutely the de facto president of hockey operations.

can/should we have a single thread for conversations regarding content from the Pegulas' press conference?

among other things, the *balance* he showed in that fight was very impressive. hey - here's hoping.