Matthew Fairburn Latest Article regarding Terry Pegula and Adams

[gilbert11]

On 7/14/2025 at 5:28 AM, JohnC said:

Isn't the Sacramento stadium a temporary situation until the Vegas stadium is built? 

When you get to the point where you are comparing your owner with the worst owner in sports (as you describe it), then you are at a bad point. 

The sad, if not ironic, thing about the Sabres and its financial situation is that if the owner had a serious team, the cash/flow and revenue return would put him in a healthier financial position. Penny wise and dollar foolish. Buffalo and the surrounding area are a terrific hockey market. The owner squashed it by how he has mangled this franchise. 

Yes, they’re playing in Sacramento, where I live.

You probably don’t follow it like I do but the latest episode of the clown show was priceless.

The agreement the A’s signed with Vegas had a clause where the A’s had to start building the stadium in 180 days.  Before that deadline, the A’s held a fake groundbreaking where they rented a bunch of heavy machinery for the day for the photo op.  What a bozo?!  And they don’t force him to sell.

[Drag0nDan]

On 7/14/2025 at 12:17 PM, inkman said:

To the bolded, did it?  Kesselring, Doan, Danforth and Timmons are decent players but I don’t know if it’s the culmination of an organization’s offseason philosophy.  They brought in a handful of players that play more like actual NHL players than the guys they replaced.  Not sure if it moves the needle much overall.  
 

Real change would be moving Power in a Turgeon/LaFontaine type swap.  Get another highly touted player in return. If you want to look a defenseman trades, think Pronger for Shanahan.  I like Owen Power but I think the team needs their version of Tkachuk or Bennett.  Get that nasty power forward leader. 
 

As far as the rest of roster, it’s inexplicable that Samuelsson wasn’t bought out (it screams cash poor franchise), and Bryson was resigned (because he likes being here despite the diminished role).  We have Ryan Johnson for that who is absolutely a better NHL player than Jacob.  
 

Even without the Power move, getting Bryson & Mattias out of Buffalo should have been a priority.  Instead of prioritizing getting good hockey players, Adams is working with a different agenda.  One that MUST incorporate finances (like avoiding buyouts) or guys that want to be here (so what if they are garbage like Bryson).   
 

The team still needs more snarl. They’ll still get pushed around even if god forbid Mason Geertsen is somehow are part of the roster.  They need at least one, preferable two crease clearing D and another forward that plays hockey and enjoys the physical aspect of the game. 
 

I seem to recall the org’s insistence on paving the way with skill over Braun. Unfortunately the rest of the league didn’t.  Physical intimidation is still a large part of sports and life.  Guys that are bigger, tougher and meaner than you are going to have an easier time retrieving that puck out of the corner because our skill guys are too worried about getting their heads put through the boards. 

This was pre-NMC's though.  Lafontaine today would have a full NMC and would either pick a destination, or force you to keep him.  

The only move here is for players that don't have clauses and are in their early 20's.  And most of the superstars in that age group are... i suppose no one is "untradeable", but the caliber player you're probably looking for has already been extended and isn't someone a team is looking to move.  

[Taro T]

21 minutes ago, Drag0nDan said:

This was pre-NMC's though.  Lafontaine today would have a full NMC and would either pick a destination, or force you to keep him.  

The only move here is for players that don't have clauses and are in their early 20's.  And most of the superstars in that age group are... i suppose no one is "untradeable", but the caliber player you're probably looking for has already been extended and isn't someone a team is looking to move.  

LaFontaine DID pick his destination.  He was 100% on board with the trade or it would never have happened.

Same goes for the Hawerchuck trade to Buffalo.  His best buddy in the world, Scott Arniel (who was Hawerchuck's best man, and Dale was his), convinced him that Buffalo was a great place to play.  And they were really excited to be back on the same team again, well, at least until they found out Arniel was going back to the 'Peg in the deal.  But due to who he was and what he'd meant for the Jets franchise there was no way they were sending him to Buffalo if he wasn't on board with the change.

[Drag0nDan]

31 minutes ago, Taro T said:

LaFontaine DID pick his destination.  He was 100% on board with the trade or it would never have happened.

Same goes for the Hawerchuck trade to Buffalo.  His best buddy in the world, Scott Arniel (who was Hawerchuck's best man, and Dale was his), convinced him that Buffalo was a great place to play.  And they were really excited to be back on the same team again, well, at least until they found out Arniel was going back to the 'Peg in the deal.  But due to who he was and what he'd meant for the Jets franchise there was no way they were sending him to Buffalo if he wasn't on board with the change.

Fair statements, and my thoughts were probably oversimplified.  There's been a strike and 3 lockouts since then so players have a lot more rights than they might have in the past.