Yes old timer. We're gonna pound some Schlitz and smoke some Pall Malls! The whole board is invited
- kaleta36

You young kids would die from a 12 pack of Schmitz malt liquor bull and Pack of Pall mallS without the filters

That is old school parting!!

Nice come back Win baby!!
- Buff36

This is not the Raiders!

Regardless of the name, they've needed someone with a hockey vision to steer the ship. They've been utterly rudderless going back to Ted Black and Russ Brandon and now Kim Pegula
- Hank Balling

Ted black story.

Friend of mine's grandmother was a long time season ticket holder. Maybe 10-12 years ago.
Pegula's built the harbor center in her parking lot/ taking her longtime parking spot.
Somehow the story got back to ted black.
Ted black gave her a lifetime parking pass to harbour center parking

Regardless of the name, they've needed someone with a hockey vision to steer the ship. They've been utterly rudderless going back to Ted Black and Russ Brandon and now Kim Pegula
- Hank Balling

It really is crazy that we've ended up with Kim + KA.

Ted black story.

Friend of mine's grandmother was a long time season ticket holder. Maybe 10-12 years ago.
Pegula's built the harbor center in her parking lot/ taking her longtime parking spot.
Somehow the story got back to ted black.
Ted black gave her a lifetime parking pass to harbour center parking
- Boss34

I've heard a lot of those kinds of stories. Seemed like a pretty good guy. They need a real hockey guy (or gal) though

https://buffalonews.com/s...ec-94e0-a349be1f0d4b.html

It really is crazy that we've ended up with Kim + KA.
- Lunaion

You merely adopted the darkness. Kevyn was born in it

You merely adopted the darkness. Kevyn was born in it
- Hank Balling

He was an absurd hire. He's learning on the job, hired an analytics department, and I like most of their prospects. It's getting better, but it's a dollar store organization atm.

He was an absurd hire. He's learning on the job, hired an analytics department, and I like most of their prospects. It's getting better, but it's a dollar store organization atm.
- Lunaion

I like that they brought in Karmanos as associate GM. Idk the dynamic, but I figure he's shouldering more of a role than your average assistant might.

I like that they brought in Karmanos as associate GM. Idk the dynamic, but I figure he's shouldering more of a role than your average assistant might.
- Michael Ghofrani

Agreed. KA with no AGM's...I'd ask what they were thinking, but it's obvious.

Agreed. KA with no AGM's...I'd ask what they were thinking, but it's obvious.
- Lunaion

They're definitely going for the "wisdom of the crowd" approach with the front office rather than traditional hierarchy. It has a history of success, especially with ummmm...financially prudent teams (nicest way I could put it).

They're definitely going for the "wisdom of the crowd" approach with the front office rather than traditional hierarchy. It has a history of success, especially with ummmm...financially prudent teams (nicest way I could put it).
- Michael Ghofrani

President Adams

They're definitely going for the "wisdom of the crowd" approach with the front office rather than traditional hierarchy. It has a history of success, especially with ummmm...financially prudent teams (nicest way I could put it).
- Michael Ghofrani

Ventura was their best hire, and you'd have to think he has a strong voice. If you're going to be a budget organization, that's where I'd spend the $.

Ventura was their best hire, and you'd have to think he has a strong voice. If you're going to be a budget organization, that's where I'd spend the $.
- Lunaion

Dom was a pretty good one too. I agree, the only thing is, you hope the budget org. is temporary.

Obviously, you don't have to spend like 2011 to be a great team, in fact often times you are way better off not doing that. However, at some point there will be a series of moves/decisions the analytics department uncovers that are huge W's for the team, but do require some spending.

Basically, I don't wanna see the team make a run to 9th next season, the fans return to the arena, and then open the off season with another Bishop trade.

Montreal trade the first pick to the sabres for pick 9 16 28 and the 2 ACE BLOGGERS on the sabres site . The QUEENS fritz and breadie
- Rsh

Dom was a pretty good one too. I agree, the only thing is, you hope the budget org. is temporary.

Obviously, you don't have to spend like 2011 to be a great team, in fact often times you are way better off not doing that. However, at some point there will be a series of moves/decisions the analytics department uncovers that are huge W's for the team, but do require some spending.

Basically, I don't wanna see the team make a run to 9th next season, the fans return to the arena, and then open the off season with another Bishop trade.
- Michael Ghofrani

What's the last good contract they've signed, excluding 1 year deals and bridges?

What's the last good contract they've signed, excluding 1 year deals and bridges?
- Lunaion

Lmao, this was frightening to think about. Excluding 1 year deals and bridges, I honestly think the last "good value" (as in if he hit FA at any point during this contract he might have gotten more than he signed for) deal is probably Pominville.

I was going to say Tage or maybe McCabe, but I gather you view those as bridge deals.

Lmao, this was frightening to think about. Excluding 1 year deals and bridges, I honestly think the last "good value" (as in if he hit FA at any point during this contract he might have gotten more than he signed for) deal is probably Pominville.

I was going to say Tage or maybe McCabe, but I gather you view those as bridge deals.
- Michael Ghofrani

Pommer was a cap dump from the Wild. Not sure I'd count that. Tage was a bridge.

McCabe might be right. I think they bought 1 year of UFA, so it was extremely safe.

I was going to say it might be Eichel, and take some heat for suggesting it.

Pommer was a cap dump from the Wild. Not sure I'd count that. Tage was a bridge.

McCabe might be right. I think they bought 1 year of UFA, so it was extremely safe.

I was going to say it might be Eichel, and take some heat for suggesting it.
- Lunaion

I actually meant the original Pominville contract, from like summer of 2008 lol

McCabe is probably it though. I thought Eichel too but, was there any point in his tenure where it looked like he could get a contract better than 10 mil? The contract they gave him was far above market value and a massive bet on potential. I think it was fair, and bought some UFA years, but it might be a stretch to say it was a good deal/win for the Sabres.

I actually meant the original Pominville contract, from like summer of 2008 lol

McCabe is probably it though. I thought Eichel too but, was there any point in his tenure where it looked like he could get a contract better than 10 mil? The contract they gave him was far above market value and a massive bet on potential. I think it was fair, and bought some UFA years, but it might be a stretch to say it was a good deal/win for the Sabres.
- Michael Ghofrani

Wow. That's a statement.

Wow. That's a statement.
- Lunaion

I know he's often disliked, especially towards the end, but his offensive analytics were very strong for a large portion of that contract.

A similar player in FA probably would have cost the sabres much more.

I know he's often disliked, especially towards the end, but his offensive analytics were very strong for a large portion of that contract.

A similar player in FA probably would have cost the sabres much more.
- Michael Ghofrani

Not really thinking about Pommer 1.0, more of the idea that they may not have signed a good deal during the entire Pegula era.

Not really thinking about Pommer 1.0, more of the idea that they may not have signed a good deal during the entire Pegula era.
- Lunaion

Ohh yeah, that's why I said it was frightening to think about. Aside from buying UFA years from Eichel at market value and McCabe, I can't think of any.

Worst part is, I don't know how many opportunities they've actually had. That's the problem with drafting terribly outside picks 1-3. You're rarely going to get those guys at value, though they had several chances with Reinhart.

Ohh yeah, that's why I said it was frightening to think about. Aside from buying UFA years from Eichel at market value and McCabe, I can't think of any.

Worst part is, I don't know how many opportunities they've actually had. That's the problem with drafting terribly outside picks 1-3. You're rarely going to get those guys at value, though they had several chances with Reinhart.
- Michael Ghofrani

That's an easy one. They had chances with Sam, Ullmark, and Montour. JB signed Larsson to a 1 year deal that took him straight to UFA. Lehner's deal was a catastrophe. This isn't fun.