Yes, they got run over in a few of those games. It was an awful stretch. That makes you question him as a coach? I didn't like those moves either but they are blips on a much larger canvass. The guy was exactly what we needed.
- Slump Buster

Timing of those blips are relevant.

They quit in a few of those games. Donnie's inexperience in meaningful games was showing. Benching Jost and JJ vs Philly was the lowest of lows.
- Lunaion

This is not directed at anyone - but it’s becoming a plague of Sabres fans trying to rewrite history to make them look good or competent at every turn.

The Sabres tanked immediately after the deadline and took themselves out of contention with the ugliest play of the season.

Granato deserves criticism for that

Timing of those blips are relevant.
- washedup20

I must have missed it - do those games count more? And why only the handful of games after the trade deadline? Because they fit the narrative, of course.

So this was a young team going through a playoff race . The vast majority hadn't been through one. They had a rough stretch and then got the ship righted. Jesus H, they had a bad few games with a very young roster, injuries and awful goaltending.

So let me guess: the fantastic run that they had down the stretch after that didn't mean anything? Didn't they do a number on several teams that made the playoffs?

Zemgus Girgensons
- Buff36

Good post

I must have missed it - do those games count more? And why only the handful of games after the trade deadline? Because they fit the narrative, of course.

So this was a young team going through a playoff race . The vast majority hadn't been through one. They had a rough stretch and then got the ship righted. Jesus H, they had a bad few games with a very young roster, injuries and awful goaltending.

So let me guess: the fantastic run that they had down the stretch after that didn't mean anything? Didn't they do a number on several teams that made the playoffs?
- Slump Buster

So when people wanted a veteran or two at the deadline for a meaningless third rounder or one of the seconds, we instead got a reclamation project and a #7 D.

Nothing you twist is going to make what happened at and after the desdline look anything but a fumble by the coach and GM

Too much flipping, let's go get a righty dammit!
- RhinoFan

Find one and get back to us, and I'm not talking older veteran type players.

So when people wanted a veteran or two at the deadline for a meaningless third rounder or one of the seconds, we instead got a reclamation project and a #7 D.

Nothing you twist is going to make what happened at and after the desdline look anything but a fumble by the coach and GM
- sbroads24

I was fine with the deadline. You and I disagree on this, I know. I want to do everything I can to win a championship and that means playing the kids in every situation. I was fine with Stillman and Greenway as I think at least one of them has a chance of being a long-term answer. Should have gotten a D earlier, absolutely. Again, there is cherrypicking over a specific set of games. They were fighting for the playoffs all year long, not just after the deadline.

Again, if Adams isn't as patient as he is then you don't get many of the monster seasons that so many of the players had. And I think that all came together at the very end of the season.

So again, where was Jack wronged? They bent over backwards for him. Showered him with tens of millions of dollars and made him captain. Made moves that he wanted to make.

The worst thing that you can say about this franchise over the last 10 years is that the owners couldn't hire the right people to run it. That's really it. And now it appears as though they have.

This whole topic is such a little man complex, and it is something that buffalonians have struggled with for decades. Every team has someone that left on bad terms. So freaking what?
- Slump Buster

OK, has nothing to do with "little man complex", Jesus Christ 2 supposed trades were vetoed by Players this past offseason. Vibes are changing, but that's bullsh!t players don't talk or see what Buffalo was or how they were run as a Organization.

I was fine with the deadline. You and I disagree on this, I know. I want to do everything I can to win a championship and that means playing the kids in every situation. I was fine with Stillman and Greenway as I think at least one of them has a chance of being a long-term answer. Should have gotten a D earlier, absolutely. Again, there is cherrypicking over a specific set of games. They were fighting for the playoffs all year long, not just after the deadline.

Again, if Adams isn't as patient as he is then you don't get many of the monster seasons that so many of the players had. And I think that all came together at the very end of the season.
- Slump Buster

Can you expand on this? What do you mean?

I was fine with the deadline. You and I disagree on this, I know. I want to do everything I can to win a championship and that means playing the kids in every situation. I was fine with Stillman and Greenway as I think at least one of them has a chance of being a long-term answer. Should have gotten a D earlier, absolutely. Again, there is cherrypicking over a specific set of games. They were fighting for the playoffs all year long, not just after the deadline.

Again, if Adams isn't as patient as he is then you don't get many of the monster seasons that so many of the players had. And I think that all came together at the very end of the season.
- Slump Buster

And to this point, they absolutely collapsed after the deadline for three weeks. Simultaneously as they got within a game and technically controlled their own destiny.

You don’t think that any responsibility of that goes on Granato or Adams? I mean come on that’s just crazy.

They don’t need to be taken out back and shot but they fumbled an opportunity

Can you expand on this? What do you mean?
- sbroads24

Sure. For example, we had this same conversation about bringing in a vet like Malkin last offseason. My argument was to let Cousins play 2C, yours was to bring in a vet to have a better chance at making the playoffs. I don't care about the playoffs if it means sacrificing development. I care about what gets me closer to winning a championship - bringing in rentals at this point doesn't get me there.. We played Cousins at 2C and now he is a made man. He has played in pressure situations. He wasn't sheltered at the end of games. That example is symbolic of the differences in how to build a roster.

Well Gerbe's was here and said we won't have pick 13 with a Trade up! Well let's go the other way and trade back, any teams or players interest anyone ? Don't want to drop to far, say 18-20.

And to this point, they absolutely collapsed after the deadline for three weeks. Simultaneously as they got within a game and technically controlled their own destiny.

You don’t think that any responsibility of that goes on Granato or Adams? I mean come on that’s just crazy.

They don’t need to be taken out back and shot but they fumbled an opportunity
- sbroads24

Again, they were fighting for their playoff lives all season. The games after the deadline were no different than the other stretches. They had a huge jump in points last year and finished well higher than most thought they would have. That said, they aren't yet the caliber of a 100 point team. Every team had a bad stretch or two during the year - are their coaches and GMs inept?

Well Gerbe's was here and said we won't have pick 13 with a Trade up! Well let's go the other way and trade back, any teams or players interest anyone ? Don't want to drop to far, say 18-20.
- Buff36

I'd drop if Barlow is dropping. or where Simashev would be. Only 2 i'd drop for.

What do you even get for going 13 to 20. a 2nd? two 2nds??

Well Gerbe's was here and said we won't have pick 13 with a Trade up! Well let's go the other way and trade back, any teams or players interest anyone ? Don't want to drop to far, say 18-20.
- Buff36

I think the only situation in which they trade back is if they think that everyone between 10 and 22ish are the same caliber. they would have to really like someone that others don't seem to like as much. Also, usually people trade back to get more assets - we don't seem to fall into that category.

Sure. For example, we had this same conversation about bringing in a vet like Malkin last offseason. My argument was to let Cousins play 2C, yours was to bring in a vet to have a better chance at making the playoffs. I don't care about the playoffs if it means sacrificing development. I care about what gets me closer to winning a championship - bringing in rentals at this point doesn't get me there.. We played Cousins at 2C and now he is a made man. He has played in pressure situations. He wasn't sheltered at the end of games. That example is symbolic of the differences in how to build a roster.
- Slump Buster

That’s a fair point but wouldn’t we also have had an easier time developing guys like Mittelstadt or Quinn/Peterka in this scenario?

Cozens might’ve gotten a little less ice time but Quinn/JJ could’ve gotten to play with a HOF center. That would’ve probably done wonders for development and confidence.

I also don’t remember really pining for Malkin myself but whatever

Again, they were fighting for their playoff lives all season. The games after the deadline were no different than the other stretches. They had a huge jump in points last year and finished well higher than most thought they would have. That said, they aren't yet the caliber of a 100 point team. Every team had a bad stretch or two during the year - are their coaches and GMs inept?
- Slump Buster

I fundamentally disagree and you even alluded to them being young as part of the reason they collapsed so how do you not agree as well?

That’s a fair point but wouldn’t we also have had an easier time developing guys like Mittelstadt or Quinn/Peterka in this scenario?

Cozens might’ve gotten a little less ice time but Quinn/JJ could’ve gotten to play with a HOF center. That would’ve probably done wonders for development and confidence.

I also don’t remember really pining for Malkin myself but whatever
- sbroads24

I am sorry - it might not have been you, but the point is the same. No, I think it worked out for the best the way that they did it. Bringing in the declining HOF center moves Cousins to 3C. What if brining in a couple vets squeezed guys like Mitts off of the roster? I get the complaints about the deadline moves - there is some validity there. But I think that this management has maximized their assets in a way that few of us thought possible. With the exception of Olloffson, I dare say that they got way more out of just about everyone on the roster than we thought they could. That means a ton and bodes well for the future.

I fundamentally disagree and you even alluded to them being young as part of the reason they collapsed so how do you not agree as well?
- sbroads24

They got run over a few games, sure. Nobody quit or gave up. Not sure what your point is - every team had a stretch like that. Injuries and goaltending got us. They were good before that and good after it.

I think the only situation in which they trade back is if they think that everyone between 10 and 22ish are the same caliber. they would have to really like someone that others don't seem to like as much. Also, usually people trade back to get more assets - we don't seem to fall into that category.
- Slump Buster

Well true, but there are Teams picking behind us that have players that could help us now or have been linked to us.
15- Fabbro
16-Hanifan Tanev
18- Winnipeg been linked to 3 of there D and so forth

I am sorry - it might not have been you, but the point is the same. No, I think it worked out for the best the way that they did it. Bringing in the declining HOF center moves Cousins to 3C. What if brining in a couple vets squeezed guys like Mitts off of the roster? I get the complaints about the deadline moves - there is some validity there. But I think that this management has maximized their assets in a way that few of us thought possible. With the exception of Olloffson, I dare say that they got way more out of just about everyone on the roster than we thought they could. That means a ton and bodes well for the future.
- Slump Buster

I agree it worked out well but what I will also say is that they got pretty lucky that

A. They rarely had any center injuries all season

B. Mitts moved to Center and played well which wasn’t the case before

What did i miss?

I agree it worked out well but what I will also say is that they got pretty lucky that

A. They rarely had any center injuries all season

B. Mitts moved to Center and played well which wasn’t the case before
- sbroads24

Right, but at the same time they had a belief in their players and - over the course of the last two years - that belief paid off big time. They were right. Again, that doesn't mean that they are all part of a long-term solution. It means that a guy like Mitts went from having zero value to pretty decent value.

Right, but at the same time they had a belief in their players and - over the course of the last two years - that belief paid off big time. They were right. Again, that doesn't mean that they are all part of a long-term solution. It means that a guy like Mitts went from having zero value to pretty decent value.
- Slump Buster

Eh. It's also a lot of luck. If they believed in Mitts he would've been on a 5-6 year deal right now at like 3 mil instead of them staring down a potential 5.5-6mil contract coming up.

They believed in Coznes, Samuelsson and Thompson though.

So if you are a free agent, which franchises are unquestionably ahead of us when it comes to being a desired location?

My list:

- Vegas
- Colorado
- New Jersey (they are a year ahead of us)
- Rangers (not as sure about this)
- Florida