Locking up a player through the entirety of his 20’s paying him second pair money today that will soon be third pairing money as he enters his prime is not something I was ever prepared for from a Sabres GM.

We are on the right path.

I feel like I’m having deja vu

Tyler Myers…. I mean Owen power will never be Chara.
- ImThatGuy

Comparing tymy to owpo is not cool

Locking up a player through the entirety of his 20’s paying him second pair money today that will soon be third pairing money as he enters his prime is not something I was ever prepared for from a Sabres GM.

We are on the right path.
- Pegullaville

I also feel like he is young enough that if he doesn’t live up to it we could trade him to someone hoping a “change of scenery” will help.

Hank Balling: Sabres Extend Granato, Samuelsson on Eve of Season
- Hank Balling

nice blog

only dig is samuelsson was was a second rd pick, tech a first but a second rd pick none the less

I also feel like he is young enough that if he doesn’t live up to it we could trade him to someone hoping a “change of scenery” will help.
- IndianaSabresFan

There is risk with any long term deal, but the benefit outweighs the risk.

If he’s a top 4 d-man throughout the contract that would be heck of a value the way d-men contracts are trending including the cap going up.

If he ends up being a third pairing guy, he is slightly overpaid until cap goes up and he’s paid accordingly to the role he plays.

Would much rather take these type of risks then paying a guy about to be on the wrong side of 30 for past performance

Didn't even occur to me that Meatballs had 2 years left on his deal. Makes even less sense now. There should be some pressure on him to improve this season and not an absolute sure thing he's back next year. I don't understand the rush there.
- Lunaion

without getting into a pissing contest regarding the big elephant in sabreland

I wonder if the adams and donnie extensions are so Terry can focus on Kim and watching the bills win a super bowl and leave the hockey business to adams and company

The Busch will always be man's best friend.
- Buff36

nice blog

only dig is samuelsson was was a second rd pick, tech a first but a second rd pick none the less
- homiedclown

You are absolutely right. I was moving too fast and saw 32nd overall.

Can I get away with the "basically a first" excuse


Also, fixed

without getting into a pissing contest regarding the big elephant in sabreland

I wonder if the adams and donnie extensions are so Terry can focus on Kim and watching the bills win a super bowl and leave the hockey business to adams and company
- homiedclown

Let’s be honest with ourselves. I envision the bills either losing to KC or in epic fashion the cowboys.

~Signed bitter 40+ year old

Let’s be honest with ourselves. I envision the bills either losing to KC or in epic fashion the cowboys.
- IndianaSabresFan

For the love of god at least beat KC before pooping the bed.

Locking up a player through the entirety of his 20’s paying him second pair money today that will soon be third pairing money as he enters his prime is not something I was ever prepared for from a Sabres GM.

We are on the right path.
- Pegullaville

I thinks it’s the best contract I seen in a long time from a Sabres GM to be honest

Let’s be honest with ourselves. I envision the bills either losing to KC or in epic fashion the cowboys.

~Signed bitter 40+ year old
- IndianaSabresFan

I'm just happy to be here.

- signed,

person who missed the superbowl years and spent ages 9-27 in the drought with Trent, EJ, JP, Kyle, Fitz, Tyrod and 16 others

There is risk with any long term deal, but the benefit outweighs the risk.

If he’s a top 4 d-man throughout the contract that would be heck of a value the way d-men contracts are trending including the cap going up.

If he ends up being a third pairing guy, he is slightly overpaid until cap goes up and he’s paid accordingly to the role he plays.

Would much rather take these type of risks then paying a guy about to be on the wrong side of 30 for past performance
- Pegullaville

Why do you think third pair money is going up so much? It's always going to be a spot where you save cap to pay the big guys.

For some reason I thought power has played both. But makes sense. It’s not worth it and you need a guy like him more with dahlin than power.
- IndianaSabresFan

Maybe he has….
But the games i watched him play at Michigan,
maybe 6, he was playing on the left side

He has impressed when playing against men in international and late last season. He is a more rounded player than dahlin that’s where I was thinking that. But yes it would be awesome.
- IndianaSabresFan

Dahlin was insane internationally too, if u remember
I think a big part of his struggles early on with us,
were bc we were such a mess
Both with coaching, and with constantly rotation of defensive partners for him- most of whom were subpar

I'm just happy to be here.

- signed,

person who missed the superbowl years and spent ages 9-27 in the drought with Trent, EJ, JP, Kyle, Fitz, Tyrod and 16 others
- Hank Balling

I spent game 6 of Dallas Buffalo at my girlfriends house only to get told it’s time to leave at the end of 2nd OT. I listened to the disappointment on the way home.

I watched every Bills Super Bowl loss with family and high expectations as a 10-14 year old.

without getting into a pissing contest regarding the big elephant in sabreland

I wonder if the adams and donnie extensions are so Terry can focus on Kim and watching the bills win a super bowl and leave the hockey business to adams and company
- homiedclown

Could be. Does feel like they are chasing stability and have no urgency or pressure to win.

without getting into a pissing contest regarding the big elephant in sabreland

I wonder if the adams and donnie extensions are so Terry can focus on Kim and watching the bills win a super bowl and leave the hockey business to adams and company
- homiedclown

Possibly
But it’s not hard to see that there’s been a positive change in direction under Adams/Granato

Obviously the Sabres still have a ways to go
But there’s reason for Terry to think they’re on the right track (finally)

I spent game 6 of Dallas Buffalo at my girlfriends house only to get told it’s time to leave at the end of 2nd OT. I listened to the disappointment on the way home.

I watched every Bills Super Bowl loss with family and high expectations as a 10-14 year old.
- IndianaSabresFan

This post should be hung in the Hall of Depressing Buffalo Sports Stories after the Bills win the Superbowl.

I have my own miserable stat to contribute:

The combined age of the Bills playoff drought ('99-'17) and the Sabres playoff drought ('11-???) during my lifetime is nearly as old as I am. 28 years vs 32 years.

Why do you think third pair money is going up so much? It's always going to be a spot where you save cap to pay the big guys.
- Lunaion

Erik Gudbranson just got $4M per. Risto got $5.1M last year.

Samuelsson is the 75th highest paid d-man in the league at time of signing, how quickly before he is border line top 100 paid ? Not to mention the deal doesn’t kick in till next year.

Even if he doesn’t improve at all I feel comfortable saying he’s a second pair guy.

Very minimal risk this doesn’t age well but it’s possible (injuries)

I spent game 6 of Dallas Buffalo at my girlfriends house only to get told it’s time to leave at the end of 2nd OT. I listened to the disappointment on the way home.

I watched every Bills Super Bowl loss with family and high expectations as a 10-14 year old.
- IndianaSabresFan

it was a long cold ride home from minnesota after the second super bowl loss

This post should be hung in the Hall of Depressing Buffalo Sports Stories after the Bills win the Superbowl.

I have my own miserable stat to contribute:

The combined age of the Bills playoff drought ('99-'17) and the Sabres playoff drought ('11-???) is nearly as old as I am. 28 years vs 32 years.
- Hank Balling

While the droughts have certainly sucked,
I’d say they made me more of a fan of the leagues overall, instead of being so focused on the Bills/Sabres

Great to see the Bills doing so well,
and the Sabres moving in the right direction

This post should be hung in the Hall of Depressing Buffalo Sports Stories after the Bills win the Superbowl.

I have my own miserable stat to contribute:

The combined age of the Bills playoff drought ('99-'17) and the Sabres playoff drought ('11-???) is nearly as old as I am. 28 years vs 32 years.
- Hank Balling

This is all very sad. It’s a joke with most my bone WNY friends about Buffalo. Everyone knows that ain’t won poop.

I just hope the Bills get healthy. If they are, the only thing that can beat them is themselves.

You are absolutely right. I was moving too fast and saw 32nd overall.

Can I get away with the "basically a first" excuse


Also, fixed
- Hank Balling

Could be. Does feel like they are chasing stability and have no urgency or pressure to win.
- Lunaion

I think or at least hope there is pressure to compete and have meaningful games in march

but it's odd to reward the coach and gm who already have term, extensions for finishing in the bottom 8 of the nhl

unless terry has a new lease on life and has learned from the past sabres mistakes