Sabres have elected arbitration with Byram

[That Aud Smell]

15 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Alex Lyon? We also draft one or two goalies a year.

13 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

He did commit to UPL but he also traded for Devon Levi. He's drafted goalies every year. (Leinonen, Ratzlaff, Leenders, Meloche, Prokhorov) So to say Adams is doing nothing is demonstrably false.

12 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You're right. 2020 and 2021, no goalies. But one in '22, one in '23, one in '24 and two in '25.

Lol, Harrington relying on @PromoTheRobot for content.

Either that or Promo is Harrington’s screen name here. That seems unlikely, though. Harrington’s a hack, but be doesn’t generally carry water for the Sabres FO.

Edited 5 hours ago by That Aud Smell

[Weave]

9 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I remember there was a game against Dallas and we won 1-0 with Ullmark and it was all Ullmark and at that moment I thought damn, Ullmark might actually be really good. And then we let him walk. 

Revisionist history.  We didn’t let Ullmark walk.  Ullmark decided he needed a change of scenery.

[Mr. MVP]

10 minutes ago, Weave said:

Revisionist history.  We didn’t let Ullmark walk.  Ullmark decided he needed a change of scenery.

We could’ve traded him, right?  

[JohnC]

7 minutes ago, Weave said:

Revisionist history.  We didn’t let Ullmark walk.  Ullmark decided he needed a change of scenery.

Ullmark was an UFA. They didn’t know that he was going to walk because they were negotiating with him during that period. What was the backup plan if the UFA goalie couldn’t be signed? There was none, at least an adequate one. 
 

The problem isn’t that a particular player wanted out for whatever reason as it is too many Sabres wanted out and got themselves out. That in itself is a bad indicator.

[PromoTheRobot]

50 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Lol, Harrington relying on @PromoTheRobot for content.

Either that or Promo is Harrington’s screen name here. That seems unlikely, though. Harrington’s a hack, but be doesn’t generally carry water for the Sabres FO.

😂😂😂 Busted! Yes, I'm Mike Harrington. Hack journalist and supporter of all things Pegula. I'm surprised I got away with this ruse as long as I did. 😂😂😂

 

17 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Ullmark was an UFA. They didn’t know that he was going to walk because they were negotiating with him during that period. What was the backup plan if the UFA goalie couldn’t be signed? There was none, at least an adequate one. 
 

The problem isn’t that a particular player wanted out for whatever reason as it is too many Sabres wanted out and got themselves out. That in itself is a bad indicator.

Maybe current Kraken GM Jason Botterill should have been more proactive, no? Not just with Ullmark.

[Mr. MVP]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

😂😂😂 Busted! Yes, I'm Mike Harrington. Hack journalist and supporter of all things Pegula. I'm surprised I got away with this ruse as long as I did. 😂😂😂

 

I don’t pay attention to Harrington (don’t like him and don’t subscribe to BN). But isn’t he a critic of Pegula?  

[PromoTheRobot]

Just now, Mr. MVP said:

I don’t pay attention to Harrington (don’t like him and don’t subscribe to BN). But isn’t he a critic of Pegula?  

Big time. That was sarcasm.

[That Aud Smell]

8 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

😂😂😂 Busted! Yes, I'm Mike Harrington. Hack journalist and supporter of all things Pegula. I'm surprised I got away with this ruse as long as I did. 😂😂😂

Lol. I was going with "Harrington's burner" theory until I realized it wasn't a fit. Far more likely Mike just peruses this board for ideas, content.

Hi, Mike. Can you unblock me on Twitter, you pud?

[Mr. MVP]

6 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Big time. That was sarcasm.

Oh ok. lol.   Sorry I didn’t pick up on it.  

[JohnC]

34 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

😂😂😂 Busted! Yes, I'm Mike Harrington. Hack journalist and supporter of all things Pegula. I'm surprised I got away with this ruse as long as I did. 😂😂😂

 

Maybe current Kraken GM Jason Botterill should have been more proactive, no? Not just with Ullmark.

Poor judgment and foresight have been going on for way too long. Common sense tells you that if any UFA player hasn't been signed at an established point, then you have to consider just in case options. What happens if Tuch decides to hold off contract talks and lets his contract run out? That's an obvious tell that he desires to leave the Sabre scene. The problem isn't that this periodically happens because it happens everywhere. It's just that it happens too much here for the obvious reasons. 

Edited 3 hours ago by JohnC

[PromoTheRobot]

8 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Poor judgment and foresight have been going on for way too long. Common sense tells you that if any UFA player hasn't been signed at an established point, then you have to consider just in case options. What happens if Tuch decides to hold off contract talks and lets his contract run out? That's an obvious tell that he desires to leave the Sabre scene. The problem that this periodically happens because it happens everywhere. It's just that it happens too much here for the obvious reasons. 

No disagreement from me. As for Tuch, I'm sure he's got one skate out the door. But I think he's giving the Sabres this year to give him a reason to stay. Same for a Dahlin and Tage.

I also think 14 years, plus being cold and high tax Buffalo, makes it that much harder. I don't believe there is a lack of desire on Adams part to make a big swing. It's convincing players to come here. 

Edited 3 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[JP51]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

No disagreement from me. As for Tuch, I'm sure he's got one skate out the door. But I also think he's giving the Sabres this year to give him a reason to stay. Same for a Dahlin and Tage.

100% I said the same thing in a previous post.. TP has let this get way too far... so he wants Adams to say... well fine.. he has this year.. if he fails this year... TP is gonna find out pretty quick as Dahlin, Tuch and Thompson are likely gonna make the decision obvious... and look to leave... sad thing is I think they want to stay, I think they don't want to be known as "One of those players"  but how many years of their career are they going to spend in futility... I cant blame them... I can only hope that Adams is not in charge of their disposal... 

[PromoTheRobot]

Just now, JP51 said:

100% I said the same thing in a previous post.. TP has let this get way too far... so he wants Adams to say... well fine.. he has this year.. if he fails this year... TP is gonna find out pretty quick as Dahlin, Tuch and Thompson are likely gonna make the decision obvious... and look to leave... sad thing is I think they want to stay, I think they don't want to be known as "One of those players"  but how many years of their career are they going to spend in futility... I cant blame them... I can only hope that Adams is not in charge of their disposal... 

We didn't talk much about Jarmo Kekalainen, but he's part of the front office now.

[LGR4GM]

25 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

No disagreement from me. As for Tuch, I'm sure he's got one skate out the door. But I think he's giving the Sabres this year to give him a reason to stay. Same for a Dahlin and Tage.

I also think 14 years, plus being cold and high tax Buffalo, makes it that much harder. I don't believe there is a lack of desire on Adams part to make a big swing. It's convincing players to come here. 

BS. It all comes down to Buffalo not winning. Toronto, Edmonton, NYC all have higher taxes and are just as cold if not colder and they get players. Ottawa, Montreal get players. Taxes and Palm Trees is the biggest load of horseshit that Adams has ever tried to sell. Adams can't get players to come here because he is a failed GM, an awful salesmen, and a constantly has a loser tone about "trying to be better"

[LGR4GM]

So Steve Yzerman... 

2019: 17-49-5 (39 points), 8th in Atlantic, 31st in goals for, 31st goals against, Larkin was the leading scorer with 53pts

2020: 19-27-10 (48 points), 7th in the Atlantic, 30th in goals for, 20th in goals against, Hronek was the leading scorer with 26pts 

2021: 32-40-10 (74 points), 6th in the Atlantic, 25th in goals for, 31st in goals against, Larkin was the leading scorer with 69pts

2022: 35-37-10 (80 points), 7th in the Atlantic, 24th in goals for, 22nd in goals against,  Larkin was the leading scorer with 79pts

2023:  41-32-9 (91 points), 5th in the Atlantic, 9th in goals for, 24th in goals against, Raymond was the leading scorer with 72pts

2024: 39-35-8 (86 points), 6th in the Atlantic, 22nd in goals for, 21st in goals against, Raymond was the leading scorer with 80pts

It's taken a bit but the goals for and against numbers show a roughly steady improvement. I think Detroit's biggest issue is the lack depth scoring and outside of Seider, their defense is questionable. We will see what Edvinsson can do. Yzerman should have a far better defense but he's made some weird trades in Hronek and Walman. With Hronek at least he got something in Pelikka but the Walman trade is just bizarre to me. Anyways, this was fun to look at Detroit and see where they are so thanks Perrault, They actually are slightly better than I thought but also... goaltending and defense are not great looking. 

[JP51]

36 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

We didn't talk much about Jarmo Kekalainen, but he's part of the front office now.

And I think he is there for a reason.. for sure... I think he is Pegula's contingency, I think ultimately he gets this year to really look at our current roster and formulate his own plan should what I think is likely and this is Adams last year... and credit where its due... if indeed that is where we are at then at least Pegula is showing some kind of pulse and prep...  We can debate if JK is the right guy for sure, I am agnostic... I just dont know... but some one will need to set a new course if the reset button is hit and the FO undergoes change after their 15th year of failure...  if Adams proves us all wrong.. well then... he is at least another good asset in the FO...  JK is really no lose for TP. IMO

[JohnC]

12 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

BS. It all comes down to Buffalo not winning. Toronto, Edmonton, NYC all have higher taxes and are just as cold if not colder and they get players. Ottawa, Montreal get players. Taxes and Palm Trees is the biggest load of horseshit that Adams has ever tried to sell. Adams can't get players to come here because he is a failed GM, an awful salesmen, and a constantly has a loser tone about "trying to be better"

As you point out, the tax issue is a lame excuse why players don't desire to come here. Taxes in Canada are higher and taxes in California where three teams are located are higher. The Rangers and Islanders are located in the same state. And the Devils are located in Jersey, another high tax state. The Sabres are a team most listed on NTC contracts because it is well recognized that this franchise is plagued with problems. Agents who are acting in their clients' best interest steer their players away from this organization because they have an intimate knowledge how the operation works. And you really don't need to have inside knowledge to recognize what a third-rate franchise looks like. All you need to do is review the record for the past 15 years. 

Buffalo should be a destination city for a lot of players due to its location. It's close to the border and in close proximity to where a lot of their families live in the offseason. The franchise's fanbase has been severely eroded not because they are not passionate hockey fans but because they are tired of the third-rate hockey offered to them. Their response is no thank you. Compare that response to the Buffalo Bandits where the building is often sold out and the fans are having a fantastic experience watching an entertaining and competitive team? 

[French Collection]

Just now, JP51 said:

And I think he is there for a reason.. for sure... I think he is Pegula's contingency, I think ultimately he gets this year to really look at our current roster and formulate his own plan should what I think is likely and this is Adams last year... and credit where its due... if indeed that is where we are at then at least Pegula is showing some kind of pulse and prep...  We can debate if JK is the right guy for sure, I am agnostic... I just dont know... but some one will need to set a new course if the reset button is hit and the FO undergoes change after their 15th year of failure...  if Adams proves us all wrong.. well then... he is at least another good asset in the FO...  JK is really no lose for TP. IMO

KA was probably forced to hire Jarmo by TP. He must have said that he has one more chance but hire some help, who TP can promote if things do not improve.

KA will be looking over his shoulder a lot, wondering what conversations TP and Jarmo are having.

[JP51]

12 minutes ago, French Collection said:

KA was probably forced to hire Jarmo by TP. He must have said that he has one more chance but hire some help, who TP can promote if things do not improve.

KA will be looking over his shoulder a lot, wondering what conversations TP and Jarmo are having.

I think you are right...  and this is one of the reasons I worry about adams managing assets... desperation is a really bad place to deal from... and hopefully there is something in place that limits what he can do there. 

Edited 2 hours ago by JP51

[SabresVet]

38 minutes ago, JP51 said:

And I think he is there for a reason.. for sure... I think he is Pegula's contingency, I think ultimately he gets this year to really look at our current roster and formulate his own plan should what I think is likely and this is Adams last year... and credit where its due... if indeed that is where we are at then at least Pegula is showing some kind of pulse and prep...  We can debate if JK is the right guy for sure, I am agnostic... I just dont know... but some one will need to set a new course if the reset button is hit and the FO undergoes change after their 15th year of failure...  if Adams proves us all wrong.. well then... he is at least another good asset in the FO...  JK is really no lose for TP. IMO

I don't believe Jarmo is here for any other reason that he's the heir apparent GM.  He gets 2025-26 to become familiar with the organization, Adams gets eased out to save face for him and the owner, and TPegs gains familiarity with the incoming GM when this season ends in another non-playoff season.  

Terry has been traumatized from the GM hires previous to Adams and he's like Ralph Wilson now: unwilling to hire a GM he doesn't personally know.  Enter Jarmo, whom we have to hope he learns to trust with hockey decisions and not overrule.  That is, assuming Jarmo's up to the task.    

My concern, as you noted above, is that Dahlin, Tuch, and Thompson are gone or working to engineer their departure after this season if they're again finishing near the bottom of the division.  It's the organizational equivalent of an airplane that's lost lift and diving for terra firma.   

[JP51]

6 minutes ago, SabresVet said:

I don't believe Jarmo is here for any other reason that he's the heir apparent GM.  He gets 2025-26 to become familiar with the organization, Adams gets eased out to save face for him and the owner, and TPegs gains familiarity with the incoming GM when this season ends in another non-playoff season.  

Terry has been traumatized from the GM hires previous to Adams and he's like Ralph Wilson now: unwilling to hire a GM he doesn't personally know.  Enter Jarmo, whom we have to hope he learns to trust with hockey decisions and not overrule.  That is, assuming Jarmo's up to the task.    

My concern, as you noted above, is that Dahlin, Tuch, and Thompson are gone or working to engineer their departure after this season if they're again finishing near the bottom of the division.  It's the organizational equivalent of an airplane that's lost lift and diving for terra firma.   

I agree with the vast majority here... I would like to agree with 100% meaning that dismissing Adams is a foregone conclusion... I just have seen too much you can't make this sh(t up stuff coming from them...  but maybe its a split the difference... maybe it is a forgone conclusion and Adams is in the So your telling me there is a chance category...  

 

[HumanSlinky39]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

BS. It all comes down to Buffalo not winning. Toronto, Edmonton, NYC all have higher taxes and are just as cold if not colder and they get players. Ottawa, Montreal get players. Taxes and Palm Trees is the biggest load of horseshit that Adams has ever tried to sell. Adams can't get players to come here because he is a failed GM, an awful salesmen, and a constantly has a loser tone about "trying to be better"

Exactly. I said in another thread that we need a GM with BALLS. KA has accepted that Buffalo isn't a desirable destination and that is dictating what he's doing with the roster. Buffalo is absolutely not an attractive destination right now (partially because of KA), but that can be fixed quickly with some on-ice success. A GM needs to be a salesman and he cannot fall into believing that his org is a lousy one. That's called a self-fulfilling prophecy. We need a GM that has a vision for making the Sabres an attractive org to play for and has the skillset to sell people on it. KA is most certainly not that.

Edited 2 hours ago by HumanSlinky39

[SabresVet]

2 minutes ago, JP51 said:

I agree with the vast majority here... I would like to agree with 100% meaning that dismissing Adams is a foregone conclusion... I just have seen too much you can't make this sh(t up stuff coming from them...  but maybe its a split the difference... maybe it is a forgone conclusion and Adams is in the So your telling me there is a chance category...  

 

I get it...when you've got the worst owner in the NHL and 14 seasons running I have a hard time trusting anything out of that organization.  Doesn't help that Adams is completely unqualified for that job, inept in front of the media, shows almost zero ability to plan ahead, is working with a more limited budget, and both stupid and arrogant.  

I don't think Jarmo takes the senior advisor job without some assurances of a future promotion.  Unless he doesn't want to be a GM anymore and is settling for being a senior advisor.    

[SabreFinn]

2 minutes ago, SabresVet said:

I get it...when you've got the worst owner in the NHL and 14 seasons running I have a hard time trusting anything out of that organization.  Doesn't help that Adams is completely unqualified for that job, inept in front of the media, shows almost zero ability to plan ahead, is working with a more limited budget, and both stupid and arrogant.  

I don't think Jarmo takes the senior advisor job without some assurances of a future promotion.  Unless he doesn't want to be a GM anymore and is settling for being a senior advisor.    

To media here in Finland Jarmo has made it clear he wants to be a GM.

[Thorny]

17 hours ago, Taro T said:

He's had 5 YEARS to address the need.  What is the excuse the OTHER 4 years?

Yes, it is easy to come up with hypotheticals.  It's even easier to just shrug and say "well, there's absolutely nothing he could have done."  

Welcome to the club. Just so you know, I get royalties when someone says that.