Adams explained why he fits.

Say what you want about the guy, but he appears to have a long term vision for the players that he wants to collect. Good for him I guess.

"Identity type player.. speed.. intensity.. relentless.. type of player I feel like we need more of in our lineup"
- TheSabresTaco

100%.

He needs to add talent, too, but it's not about how you get there, only that he "gets there".

It's been 10 years for us, but 1 for Adams. He needs to chip away one step at a time and be smart about things.

He's got a plan, obviously.

Speaking of Satan.

Does anyone remember when he had that long goal drought?

And his celebration when he finally scored??
- sgk56

Was that when he "walked" across the ice?

Was that when he "walked" across the ice?
- Powerslave

2000-01 was when he flipped the jersey from 81 to 18

buffalo news has an article on it, but I used my article of the week yesterday

I think it was like a 3 week stretch w/o a goal

2000-01 was when he flipped the jersey from 81 to 18

buffalo news has an article on it, but I used my article of the week yesterday

I think it was like a 3 week stretch w/o a goal
- homiedclown

Pretty bad when most of our current players can do three weeks standing on their heads

Pretty bad when most of our current players can do three weeks standing on their heads
- Powerslave

I think I saw the word truism used here before.

I think I'd like to use it again.

Seems like a silly exercise because that won't be the roster on opening night.

Also, the season never seems to go as it looks on paper. One of these years it might be true in our favor. As we've seen the right coach and the right goalie make a world of difference.
- Slump Buster

I posted what the forward roster looks like for next season as of now because it both gives a clear idea of where improvements are needed and it also comes into play regarding the expansion draft.

Here are my 7 forwards I would protect for the expansion draft:

Eichel, Skinner, Reinhart, Mittelstadt, Olofsson, Asplund, Thompson

I understand those that would want to protect Girgensons over Thompson.

I only took Thompson for the higher upside hope and due to the injury Girgensons had.

I posted what the forward roster looks like for next season as of now because it both gives a clear idea of where improvements are needed and it also comes into play regarding the expansion draft.

Here are my 7 forwards I would protect for the expansion draft:

Eichel, Skinner, Reinhart, Mittelstadt, Olofsson, Asplund, Thompson

I understand those that would want to protect Girgensons over Thompson.

I only took Thompson for the higher upside hope and due to the injury Girgensons had.
- kingcong39

I can't imagine anyone wanting Girgs over Tallness, but then again nothing seen here would surprise me. We'd be doing backflips if that contract came off of the books.

Even more reason to bottom out, at least for me.

I’d rather lose this lottery tbh because if there is a chance we suck again next year I’d rather win that lottery for Wright
- Pegullaville

I’d rather they just play the kids in the top 6 and pp and add vets to roles in the bottom 6 and assisting with pk. I thought the same at the beginning of this year on the basis a lot of the prospects were ready to sink or swim.

granato is killing me...every time i want to stick by my initial thought that the sabres can't afford to hire another rookie head coach, i listen to one of his interviews he pulls me into a thought process i so much agree with

ahhhhhh!!!
- Michael Pachla

I agree. Then I realize that every Stanley Cup winning coach was at one time a rookie too.

Every time we think about getting a “proven winner” some smart guy will chirp that no coach has won a cup with 2 different teams since Bowman.

Gonna have a young team out there. It's gonna be interesting to see how Adams and company go about the offseason. Hoping they target younger players that fit into there mold they want to play.

Even more reason to bottom out, at least for me.

I’d rather lose this lottery tbh because if there is a chance we suck again next year I’d rather win that lottery for Wright
- Pegullaville

That's a rabbithole hole of suck that I am mentally unprepared to think about here in April of 2021

The Sabres need to stop thinking that way and start winning

Current Head Coach probabilities:

Granato: 50%
Boudreau: 20%
Gallant: 10%
Field: 20%

If you recall, Eakin was benched in one of Granato's first games.. until Cozens was injured. With Rutso you can even swap out Reider and put him with Cozens and Okposo with Sheahan and Caggiula. He wasn't claimed to sit, and he definitely wasn't claimed because we need a body like we did with Remi Elie. Adams went out of his way to talk about why he liked him, so he's going to play. With him, you can bench Reider and Eakin. Neato.
- TheSabresTaco

I'm all for it, but Eakin is still seeing regular shifts today.

The Sabres or Adams and whoever the AGM ends up being, can have another offseason where they add a future HOF'er and a Taylor Hall caliber player, but if all of Eakin, Okposo and Ristolainen are still here it won't matter

That's a rabbithole hole of suck that I am mentally unprepared to think about here in April of 2021

The Sabres need to stop thinking that way and start winning
- jcragcrumple

Hey man I was all for bottoming out for Cozens cause I knew that team stunk despite the 10 game winning streak but I can honestly say I didn’t expect to be talking about the top 5 or even top 10 of this years draft myself.

I wouldn’t trade Eichel unless he was putting a gun up against my head but if that’s what it comes down to then it’s something we have to think about. 2022 and 2023 have some incredible talents at the top of the draft.

Hey man I was all for bottoming out for Cozens cause I knew that team stunk despite the 10 game winning streak but I can honestly say I didn’t expect to be talking about the top 5 or even top 10 of this years draft myself.

I wouldn’t trade Eichel unless he was putting a gun up against my head but if that’s what it comes down to then it’s something we have to think about. 2022 and 2023 have some incredible talents at the top of the draft.
- Pegullaville

2023!?!?

No no no no

no, we're not saying "good job kevyn"...the market is the market and there was one team that an underachieving $8m forward who had all the power wanted to go to...the choice was simple, trade him for that or keep him and let him walk for nothing at the end of the year...it was very underwhelming but he was cutting his losses
- Michael Pachla

Yet, Adams traded him for virtually
+'s:
-Got a 2nd round pick
-dumped $4m in Cap

-'s:
-took on a Cap Dump to reduce the Cap Savings to just $2m+
-traded away a decent, cheap 4th liner who was good in the locker room
-got a 2nd in a very unusual draft year in which their Scouting Dept is in a state of shambles...not very confident the 2nd will amount to anything

Yes, Hall had a full NMC...he controlled the situation ..
That is until a sharp GM points out his value is severely depressed based on past 3 months...and likely to further erode over next month...but going to a PO team would give him the opportunity to rebuild his image...so allow Sabres to trade him to one of several PO teams...or rot in potentially Buffalo costing himself $M's.
It wasn't a 1 way street as painted on this board.

Yet, Adams traded him for virtually
+'s:
-Got a 2nd round pick
-dumped $4m in Cap

-'s:
-took on a Cap Dump to reduce the Cap Savings to just $2m+
-traded away a decent, cheap 4th liner who was good in the locker room
-got a 2nd in a very unusual draft year in which their Scouting Dept is in a state of shambles...not very confident the 2nd will amount to anything

Yes, Hall had a full NMC...he controlled the situation ..
That is until a sharp GM points out his value is severely depressed based on past 3 months...and likely to further erode over next month...but going to a PO team would give him the opportunity to rebuild his image...so allow Sabres to trade him to one of several PO teams...or rot in potentially Buffalo costing himself $M's.
It wasn't a 1 way street as painted on this board.
- IonSabres

Exactly.

Adams seems way too player friendly.

Its as simple as what you said "Taylor, we don't have a legitimate offer from Boston, you can either go to Vegas, on a great team that makes almost every forward they get productive, and make $ on your next deal, or cost yourself millions staying here, up to you"

Exactly.

Adams seems way too player friendly.

Its as simple as what you said "Taylor, we don't have a legitimate offer from Boston, you can either go to Vegas, on a great team that makes almost every forward they get productive, and make $ on your next deal, or cost yourself millions staying here, up to you"
- sbroads24

How do you know that wasn't said? What if he said "then I'll stay"? You keep him out of spite?

Either way there was clearly an understanding in place when he signed here. What is wrong with that? His first preference was to go to Boston but they couldn't make it work. His second choice was here on a multi-year deal and we didn't want that. His third choice was a one year deal and he asked for a NMC as part of that. That doesn't make him a jerk or Adams incompetent. It was the agreement.

Exactly.

Adams seems way too player friendly.

Its as simple as what you said "Taylor, we don't have a legitimate offer from Boston, you can either go to Vegas, on a great team that makes almost every forward they get productive, and make $ on your next deal, or cost yourself millions staying here, up to you"
- sbroads24

You would think more highly of Adams if he got nothing for Hall? That would just be counterproductive spite

Yet, Adams traded him for virtually
+'s:
-Got a 2nd round pick
-dumped $4m in Cap

-'s:
-took on a Cap Dump to reduce the Cap Savings to just $2m+
-traded away a decent, cheap 4th liner who was good in the locker room
-got a 2nd in a very unusual draft year in which their Scouting Dept is in a state of shambles...not very confident the 2nd will amount to anything

Yes, Hall had a full NMC...he controlled the situation ..
That is until a sharp GM points out his value is severely depressed based on past 3 months...and likely to further erode over next month...but going to a PO team would give him the opportunity to rebuild his image...so allow Sabres to trade him to one of several PO teams...or rot in potentially Buffalo costing himself $M's.
It wasn't a 1 way street as painted on this board.
- IonSabres

Agree with some of what you're saying, Adams painted himself into the corner with the NMC, but no way you say fine rot here, still got pieces and that 2nd rnd pick could help.

Agree with some of what you're saying, Adams painted himself into the corner with the NMC, but no way you say fine rot here, still got pieces and that 2nd rnd pick could help.
- Buff36

In like 3-5 years maybe

Agree with some of what you're saying, Adams painted himself into the corner with the NMC, but no way you say fine rot here, still got pieces and that 2nd rnd pick could help.
- Buff36

I don't think he painted himself into a corner at all. I don't think Hall comes here at all without the NMC. If any one of us was Hall we would have done the exact same thing.

Alternate universe: Hall asks for the NMC and Adams says no because he wants to be able to sell him for whatever he can get if things go south. Hall walks. Every single person that has killed him for the trade to Boston would be killing him for not getting a deal done with Hall. You can't have it both ways.

In like 3-5 years maybe
- ImThatGuy

Or a team needs Cap room, or a team can't protect all there players and would rather move him for a pick. Or you use it to move up in the draft.

I don't think he painted himself into a corner at all. I don't think Hall comes here at all without the NMC. If any one of us was Hall we would have done the exact same thing.

Alternate universe: Hall asks for the NMC and Adams says no because he wants to be able to sell him for whatever he can get if things go south. Hall walks. Every single person that has killed him for the trade to Boston would be killing him for not getting a deal done with Hall. You can't have it both ways.
- Slump Buster

At the deadline it hurt him, that's kinda what I meant.

In like 3-5 years maybe
- ImThatGuy

I made this point earlier - we used murrency to move up to get Paterka last year. We've traded 2nds and 3rds in recent years for players.