And where I feel people want to have it both ways -

People want to act like everything has been turned around and everything is good now (I agree some things have been turned around) but they also refuse to put any clear, hard expectations on this FO
- sbroads24

I don't get why you keep saying this. I think everyone says that the expectation is to make the playoffs this year. I want to be good for a good long time and win multiple cups. As was said a minute ago, they haven't screwed up yet. They just have a different plan / style / whatever than some people here.

How do you produce when you aren't used right. Probably not, but I would have taken 50pts and solid play.
- Buff36

The whole team wasn't used right and that's the problem. Brought him no value.

Tough to harp on Adams about that year cause Stanky held all power.

I don't get why you keep saying this. I think everyone says that the expectation is to make the playoffs this year. I want to be good for a good long time and win multiple cups. As was said a minute ago, they haven't screwed up yet. They just have a different plan / style / whatever than some people here.
- Slump Buster

Granato and Adams have publicly stated the goal is to improve when asked by reporters if next season the goal is to make the playoffs.

I dont begrudge them, and I will likely join them if Comrie is still a top 2 option on the depth chart come july 5th or whatever. But I feel like in general we should wait for them to screw up before accusing them of screwing up.
- Michael Ghofrani

Would inactivity count as screwing up?

Like, we tried but nothing worked out, so here's a sack of nickels because this is all we could get?

Ok
- washedup20

It isnt a great list

The whole team wasn't used right and that's the problem. Brought him no value.

Tough to harp on Adams about that year cause Stanky held all power.
- DirtyDan

That like 99% of all of these issues fall on ownership. What moron hires a soccer manager to be a hockey coach and then hire a rookie GM to manage said coach?

It isnt a great list
- DirtyDan

Time will tell, history shows all those teams have been and currently are better than the Sabres.

That like 99% of all of these issues fall on ownership. What moron hires a soccer manager to be a hockey coach and then hire a rookie GM to manage said coach?
- washedup20

I don't think they hired KA to manage the coach, It was the other way around IMO... But that flipped pretty quick when Terry realized his coach was a moran

This is a good question that got skipped over a bit.

2 big factors to me:

-3 years left on a great value deal for Tuch, who is 27. 4 years left on Skinner, who is 31.

-2 ELC years remaining on Quinn, Peterka, and Levi.

They have a phenomenal opportunity this year and next, but don't seem interested in giving this year their best effort. Year 3 might be the peak.

Beyond that are big questions and changes. What do you do with a 30 year old Tuch? Skinner's deal is almost up. Questions on 2/3 of you top line, who is going to step up? What does Levi turn in to? How do you handle the next wave of contracts?

If you think this is a 5+ year window, it's based on assuming a couple of these recent picks become very good 1st line players and Levi is the guy.
- Lunaion

While management is about asset management, it is not about hoarding all of your assets.

There's nothing wrong with trading any of Quinn, Peterka, Krebs, Mittelstadt, Kulich, Savoie, Ostlund or Rosen.

Hell, there's nothing wrong with trading three of them, if it means it'll help your team.

If they traded Krebs and Savoie for Andersson, then used the forward opening to get an impact forward, wouldn't that improve the team short and long term?

I dont begrudge them, and I will likely join them if Comrie is still a top 2 option on the depth chart come july 5th or whatever. But I feel like in general we should wait for them to screw up before accusing them of screwing up.
- Michael Ghofrani

I know it's GM speak, but was really hard to listen to:


Adams was asked for his perspective on the Sabres' goaltending situation, with three returning netminders under contract in Eric Comrie, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Devon Levi.

"Personally believe we're in a position of strength," Adams said. "When it comes to this, we feel that we have three NHL goaltenders, which is a great thing to have. So, we're open minded."

Would inactivity count as screwing up?

Like, we tried but nothing worked out, so here's a sack of nickels because this is all we could get?
- kingcong39

Yes I would count that as screwing up. It's not the same equation as last year. There were a lot of unknowns last summer, so I accepted that they may need to wait and re assess.

They can't do that now. Can't sell growth, turn around, look at all these players that dont hate us anymore, then come back on August 22nd and say "well I gave it my best shot".

I don't think they hired KA to manage the coach, It was the other way around IMO... But that flipped pretty quick when Terry realized his coach was a moran
- DirtyDan

If we are talking about Ralph, he tried to perform a coup over Botterill so Ralph could take over as coach and GM.

The fact is all the posters celebrating the Sabres current situation only have potential and what if's to back up their praise.

Hope sells in sports

I know it's GM speak, but was really hard to listen to:


Adams was asked for his perspective on the Sabres' goaltending situation, with three returning netminders under contract in Eric Comrie, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Devon Levi.

"Personally believe we're in a position of strength," Adams said. "When it comes to this, we feel that we have three NHL goaltenders, which is a great thing to have. So, we're open minded."
- Lunaion

I dont see anything here that would preclude them from adding a goalie. All i see is leveraging. Wants teams to pay little more for UPL.

The fact is all the posters celebrating the Sabres current situation only have potential and what if's to back up their praise.

Hope sells in sports
- washedup20

One of the Top offensive teams in the league is just potential?

I dont see anything here that would preclude them from adding a goalie. All i see is leveraging. Wants teams to pay little more for UPL.
- Michael Ghofrani

Like I said, I don't take it at face value, but he's laying it on a little thick.

If we are talking about Ralph, he tried to perform a coup over Botterill so Ralph could take over as coach and GM.
- kingcong39

Ah yes Botterill, I forgot aboot him

I know it's GM speak, but was really hard to listen to:


Adams was asked for his perspective on the Sabres' goaltending situation, with three returning netminders under contract in Eric Comrie, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Devon Levi.

"Personally believe we're in a position of strength," Adams said. "When it comes to this, we feel that we have three NHL goaltenders, which is a great thing to have. So, we're open minded."
- Lunaion

Finish the quote....

Like I said, I don't take it at face value, but he's laying it on a little thick.
- Lunaion

I feel like all first time GMs are like this though. Briere lays it on kinda thick too. Its like a combo of inexperience and trying a little too hard to fit in.

Granato and Adams have publicly stated the goal is to improve when asked by reporters if next season the goal is to make the playoffs.
- washedup20

First, I was talking about the people here and not the regime. People assume that "being ok with going into the season with most of this roster isn't a bad thing" with "not wanting to win". Second, as I said earlier, that kind of nonsense is for the fans. Do you think it makes one bit of difference in the locker room if he says it or doesn't say it? Hell, for all we know he did say it to them.

One of the Top offensive teams in the league is just potential?
- DirtyDan

Regular season means little - there is no real value to winning the presidents trophy.

The fact is all the posters celebrating the Sabres current situation only have potential and what if's to back up their praise.

Hope sells in sports
- washedup20

I hope Tage turns into a 40 goal scorer.
I hope they fix Jeff Skinner
I hope Dahlin becomes a Norris candidate
I hope Cousins becomes an ideal 2nd line center
I hope Tuch isn't just a second line winger
I hope Mitts looks like an NHL player

wow, you're dead right. They've got a lot of things to figure out

First, I was talking about the people here and not the regime. People assume that "being ok with going into the season with most of this roster isn't a bad thing" with "not wanting to win". Second, as I said earlier, that kind of nonsense is for the fans. Do you think it makes one bit of difference in the locker room if he says it or doesn't say it? Hell, for all we know he did say it to them.
- Slump Buster

A lot of typing for you today to prove nothing.

I hope Tage turns into a 40 goal scorer.
I hope they fix Jeff Skinner
I hope Dahlin becomes a Norris candidate
I hope Cousins becomes an ideal 2nd line center
I hope Tuch isn't just a second line winger
I hope Mitts looks like an NHL player

wow, you're dead right. They've got a lot of things to figure out
- Slump Buster

Don't get emotional, individual stats are meaningless in a team sport.

Regular season means little - there is no real value to winning the presidents trophy.
- washedup20

For once, I agree. I hate that we have the President's trophy banner hanging up. All that says is that you failed in the playoffs.

Look at it another way. So many people here were shot in the arse with the Vegas owner saying that they had to win in X years. He didn't say this year, he didn't say next year. He said x years. They had a plan (he also didn't say go out and replace every player with a better player, which is how some of you interpreted it). Adams has a plan as well, and so far it is going well. You have to walk before you can run. We are jogging right now.