The Hawks had a surplus of D and D prospects at the time. The Nylander name also has a lot of cachet - plus the draft pedigree - which I think helped the Sabres get the return they did.
- Hank Balling

Good read Hank

I believe his father also was pushing for him to be traded

Happy laborl day everyone

Bad year for a GM, it's been a bad decade for GM's in Sabreland. Especially when your trying to fix some of the mess from the former GM's.
- Buff36

It's quite possible they finish better than last this season while trying to finish last compared to finishing in last the prior season while trying to win and be a playoff team.

That's a startlingly troubling reality to comprehend.

Good answer. Probably the best jbotts trade?

Just wondered if there was any bad effort or fortnite issues.
- Boss34

Definitely imo

There are quite a few that support him, even to the point of absolving him of blame for the moves made last season.

I think that mentality is entirely based on hope and optimism, not competency at this point.
- kingcong39

For some, especially some we mutually converse with on Twitter, it’s as simple as being so obsessed with every little thing Botterill did wrong (there was a lot), that when Adams stepped in and immediately did the same things (not committing to players, bad trades, etc) they just pretended they weren’t bad moves.

I said before it’s remarkable that Sabres Twitter now pretends the GM position doesn’t exist and they solely talk about the owners now

Good read Hank

I believe his father also was pushing for him to be traded

Happy laborl day everyone
- Anderdog

Good call. His dad also played for chi town so maybe that helped

I know some like to wait and see how things turn out before deciding if a signing or trade was good or not.

The two big players (Hall and Staal) the Sabres brought in last year were a cross between bad, terrible, and horrendous on the ice.

They helped 'lead' the team to a last place finish that has resulted in the team's best player in years demanding a trade, and a tear down again with the goal being another last place finish.

Talk about a horrendous first season as the GM.
- kingcong39

The one thing Adams has done that the last two didn't do is stockpile picks. Adams did trade 1 pick - the one to trade up and get Peterka but that looks like a good move currently.

There is reason to believe that this rebuild will be done judiciously and responsibly. I think there's a proven track record in 1.5 years to back that up.

Theyre not selling quick fixes

The one thing Adams has done that the last two didn't do is stockpile picks. Adams did trade 1 pick - the one to trade up and get Peterka but that looks like a good move currently.

There is reason to believe that this rebuild will be done judiciously and responsibly. I think there's a proven track record in 1.5 years to back that up.

Theyre not selling quick fixes
- Hank Balling

They tried the entire last offseason to make a quick fix, and the culmination of the moves made has lead to the point the star player now demands to be traded.

Are we forgetting that happened?

They tried the entire last offseason to make a quick fix, and the culmination of the moves made has lead to the point the star player now demands to be traded.

Are we forgetting that happened?
- kingcong39

And moves not made, as in doing nothing about the goaltending and waiting entirely too long to fire RK.

They tried the entire last offseason to make a quick fix, and the culmination of the moves made has lead to the point the star player now demands to be traded.

Are we forgetting that happened?
- kingcong39

Also as time goes on it’s looking more and more like the Eichel situation has been totally fumbled.

Adams has been a complete disaster so far, but hey, at least he is good at press conferences

They tried the entire last offseason to make a quick fix, and the culmination of the moves made has lead to the point the star player now demands to be traded.

Are we forgetting that happened?
- kingcong39

The difference is that stuff was collected for free. They didn't waste draft capital acquiring it.

There's no debating that it was a waste of a year because it absolutely was

The difference is that stuff was collected for free. They didn't waste draft capital acquiring it.

There's no debating that it was a waste of a year because it absolutely was
- Hank Balling

It wasn’t. The cost was Jack Eichel

Links not working. Just happy to be here.

Links not working. Just happy to be here.

Happy Labor Day!

It wasn’t. The cost was Jack Eichel
- sbroads24

It's tough to say if there was any combination of moves that would have made a Krueger-coached team in that playoff format reach the post season.

There's no debating that the moves failed and that the injury was the stamp on the envelope to send Eichel out of town

He chose *checks notes* Cody Eakin for multiple years over him

Yes he was wrong.
- sbroads24

Cody Eakin has nothing to do with Kahun though
Why are u trying to change the subject??

They tried the entire last offseason to make a quick fix, and the culmination of the moves made has lead to the point the star player now demands to be traded.

Are we forgetting that happened?
- kingcong39

That was happening before Adams took over, has it been good NO, but can anyone please tell me he had total control of the Organization before Stank left.

It wasn’t. The cost was Jack Eichel
- sbroads24

We don’t know this for sure. I’d imagine it was the straw that broke the camels back but it’s only speculation.

It's tough to say if there was any combination of moves that would have made a Krueger-coached team in that playoff format reach the post season.

There's no debating that the moves failed and that the injury was the stamp on the envelope to send Eichel out of town
- Hank Balling

Theres probably a middle ground between playoffs and last place in the entire league that would’ve kept Eichel at bay. And they failed to reach that

Acquire a better player than Staal to be a 2C

Get a competent goalie.

Fire RK when it was completely obvious it needed to happen 15 games before they did.

Don’t sign Cody Eakin

Theres probably a middle ground between playoffs and last place in the entire league that would’ve kept Eichel at bay. And they failed to reach that

Acquire a better player than Staal to be a 2C

Get a competent goalie.

Fire RK when it was completely obvious it needed to happen 15 games before they did.

Don’t sign Cody Eakin
- sbroads24

There's no way that was happening.

This isn't to absolve Adams of blame but it's pretty clear in retrospect that Krueger occupied a position in the organization that was at least equal to - if not higher than - Kevyn Adams.

The Krueger effect was real.

Adams and Karmanos are in charge for real now and things look better - imo

That was happening before Adams took over, has it been good NO, but can anyone please tell me he had total control of the Organization before Stank left.
- Buff36

Was he not the GM?

Seems a bit disingenuous to pick and choose when to decide which moves are and are not his fault.

At best, he was culpable in the decision to make those moves as he agreed to make them.

At worst, they were moves he wanted to make.

There's no way that was happening.

This isn't to absolve Adams of blame but it's pretty clear in retrospect that Krueger occupied a position in the organization that was at least equal to - if not higher than - Kevyn Adams.

The Krueger effect was real.

Adams and Karmanos are in charge for real now and things look better - imo
- Hank Balling

Things only look better because the giant decision has not been made yet.

I suspect opinions are going to change when the result of that decision comes in.

There's no way that was happening.

This isn't to absolve Adams of blame but it's pretty clear in retrospect that Krueger occupied a position in the organization that was at least equal to - if not higher than - Kevyn Adams.

The Krueger effect was real.

Adams and Karmanos are in charge for real now and things look better - imo
- Hank Balling

First bold - that’s exactly what you’re doing

Second - better than what exactly? This is literally the worst it’s ever been. It’s rock bottom. They have a superstar who will never play for them again and has all time low trade value. They just finished dead. Last. Again.

The two good things they’ve done this offseason we’re capitalizing on a strong RD market, and taking the obvious pick at #1.

But yes, it’s not Jason Botterill doing these things so they are ok

Things only look better because the giant decision has not been made yet.

I suspect opinions are going to change when the result of that decision comes in.
- kingcong39

If-and-when Adams royally messes up an Eichel trade then he would be rightfully blamed for it. Can't torch the guy for something he hasn't done yet.

I think he's done well since Krueger left. Much has been made about the subpar return for 2-goal Hall, or that Reinhart or got slightly more than Pavel Buchnevich in a trade, but I can find little to roast him for, personally

If-and-when Adams royally messes up an Eichel trade then he would be rightfully blamed for it. Can't torch the guy for something he hasn't done yet.

I think he's done well since Krueger left. Much has been made about the subpar return for 2-goal Hall, or that Reinhart or got slightly more than Pavel Buchnevich in a trade, but I can find little to roast him for, personally
- Hank Balling

What he seems to be getting praise for is simply not doing something stupid.

Think about how incredibly low that bar is in terms of lauding performance.

Was he not the GM?

Seems a bit disingenuous to pick and choose when to decide which moves are and are not his fault.

At best, he was culpable in the decision to make those moves as he agreed to make them.

At worst, they were moves he wanted to make.
- kingcong39

He agreed to make moves that Stank wanted. Hall seems to have been pulled in by Stank because of the past, Eakin is a ? but once Stank left he seemed to find his place in the press box or limited ice time. Yes Adams was GM and has a hand in the decisions and signings. Some moves were made to try and please Eichel to hopefully be able to make him happy and Win. But seems to me a first time GM was playing to his coach and his wishes that came back to smack the Organization in the face.