Sabres have elected arbitration with Byram

[Flashsabre]

Utah just signed McBain to a 5 year deal after electing arbitration with him.

[JohnC]

7 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

lol, if you think about it, this team has already broken you. Your bar of expectation is buried under ground and you're okay with it. You accept it. You have already given up even though you will think you have hope and you will feel the pain of having even that taken away slowly. 

You are correct that my bar of expectation is low. This is what happens when you have a Terry P type ownership. It’s his toy to play with staffed by a sycophantic GM that he personally selected.

 

I am far from being broken, just realistic. My low bar of expectation is to be a low end playoff contender. With a little more tweaking it is doable.

[JP51]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

You are correct that my bar of expectation is low. This is what happens when you have a Terry P type ownership. It’s his toy to play with staffed by a sycophantic GM that he personally selected.

 

I am far from being broken, just realistic. My low bar of expectation is to be a low end playoff contender. With a little more tweaking it is doable.

I think some parts of us (all) are broken to a point because we lower our expectations... its hard not to have broken pieces when you are in a relationship that is toxic like this one...  yet... I believe one day... when the acrimony gets so intense that there will be a day of reckoning... Pegula will sell the team OR he will attempt at least to take a different path... attempt to hire a FO office that is experienced and competent,  a tear down and rebuild will ensue again.... and maybe we have a chance to build something... 

tweaking in its current state I agree... it could lead to a playoff appearance at some point... but certainly not the success needed to repair the brand... not sure I even want to set that as my low bar of acceptance (although I would be thrilled to watch playoff hockey) I just don't know that minimal success like that gets us to a place where we can truly try to build a relevant team, despite the fact that we really do need to make the playoffs or players are gonna bail... but will that just postpone what we all think needs to happen.... or are we just happy with an odd 1st rd playoff appearance here and there... 

[Slack_in_MA]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

You are correct that my bar of expectation is low. This is what happens when you have a Terry P type ownership. It’s his toy to play with staffed by a sycophantic GM that he personally selected.

 

I am far from being broken, just realistic. My low bar of expectation is to be a low end playoff contender. With a little more tweaking it is doable.

As I get older I’ve realized that setting high expectations on things over which I have no control is a recipe for a lifetime of frustration. 
 

As fans, we can stop buying tickets and merch and scream into the void on social media and message boards, but other than venting, it doesn’t actually do anything, especially when you have ineffective ownership and management. 
 

It’s (unfortunately) their expectations that matter most.

[LGR4GM]

32 minutes ago, Slack_in_MA said:

As I get older I’ve realized that setting high expectations on things over which I have no control is a recipe for a lifetime of frustration. 
 

As fans, we can stop buying tickets and merch and scream into the void on social media and message boards, but other than venting, it doesn’t actually do anything, especially when you have ineffective ownership and management. 
 

It’s (unfortunately) their expectations that matter most.

Yes it does. It saves our hard earned money and keeps out of the pocket of someone who is ineffective. Billionaires get enough handouts, I don't have to participate though. 

[Slack_in_MA]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Yes it does. It saves our hard earned money and keeps out of the pocket of someone who is ineffective. Billionaires get enough handouts, I don't have to participate though. 

I agree. That was presumed on my part.

[JustOutsideChicago]

5 hours ago, JohnC said:

You are correct that my bar of expectation is low. This is what happens when you have a Terry P type ownership. It’s his toy to play with staffed by a sycophantic GM that he personally selected.

 

I am far from being broken, just realistic. My low bar of expectation is to be a low end playoff contender. With a little more tweaking it is doable.

Penn State got McKenna. Surely Terry was involved. It sounds like they have incredible facilities. Is he just neglecting the Sabres in favor of them?

[DarthEbriate]

38 minutes ago, JustOutsideChicago said:

Penn State got McKenna. Surely Terry was involved. It sounds like they have incredible facilities. Is he just neglecting the Sabres in favor of them?

Penn State funds would be a donation that would be a tax deduction.

Some Sabres business expenses could be shuffled around and could angle for public funds for building construction and such, but the player salaries are just a cost.

 

 

Unrelated note:

Finished the latest Baker Fairburn Hockey Show podcast...  Fairburn's never seen Star Wars. When he finally watches Revenge of the Sith and realizes that Adams has been Palpatine all along it's going to blow his mind.

[Eleven]

2 hours ago, JustOutsideChicago said:

Penn State got McKenna. Surely Terry was involved. It sounds like they have incredible facilities. Is he just neglecting the Sabres in favor of them?

The Sabres just built incredible facilities within the past decade.  

No team can re-make its facilities every year.

[PerreaultForever]

7 hours ago, JohnC said:

You are correct that my bar of expectation is low. This is what happens when you have a Terry P type ownership. It’s his toy to play with staffed by a sycophantic GM that he personally selected.

 

I am far from being broken, just realistic. My low bar of expectation is to be a low end playoff contender. With a little more tweaking it is doable.

Not a chance. 

[inkman]

12 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Not a chance. 

Eh it all depends on goaltending.  If they get some quality play, they will get a sniff of the playoffs. 

[Eleven]

21 minutes ago, inkman said:

Eh it all depends on goaltending.  If they get some quality play, they will get a sniff of the playoffs. 

 

The one thing Adams never addresses.  I can't understand it.

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, Eleven said:

 

The one thing Adams never addresses.  I can't understand it.

He has, just not professionally. The Sabres went from basically never draft goaltenders (2020 and 2021) to taking 5 goalies in the next 4 drafts including using a 2nd round pick on one. Of course... that won't matter for another 3-5 years so your point stands. I just wanted to mention all the goalies we drafted. 

[Skibum]

Probably the best they can do at this point. Arbitration makes it much more likely that he'll remain on the team for at least the coming season, even if they have to overpay. They just can't afford to let yet another good player entering his prime walk away right now. 

But it's sad, because this is something good teams don't have to resort to. 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Not a chance. 

As @inkman states, if the Sabres get consistent solid goaltending the team will be in the mix as a fringe playoff team. Pegula’s motto is strive for mediocrity. He has embraced the loser’s ethos of the less you expect—-the less you will be disappointed. 

[Thorny]

36 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

He has, just not professionally. The Sabres went from basically never draft goaltenders (2020 and 2021) to taking 5 goalies in the next 4 drafts including using a 2nd round pick on one. Of course... that won't matter for another 3-5 years so your point stands. I just wanted to mention all the goalies we drafted. 

Ya Dad I sent out a stack of resumes I swear